Bronco: 'We have a lot to play for'

Saying "we still haven't played to the best of our ability yet," BYU head coach Bronco Mendenhall assessed his team's season at Monday morning's weekly press conference, calling the prospects of a five-game regular season stretch to end the season "exciting; we have a lot to play for."

"We're 5-2 with a chance, gaining momentum, to compete and win every game remaining on our schedule."

You can hear the entirety of Mendenhall's press conference comments, plus interviews with DL Matt Putnam and WR Cody Hoffman, in "Cougar Cuts," to the left.

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Injury news was the first item addressed in the Q and A session, with the coach confirming that tight end Richard Wilson has been lost for the season with a torn ACL suffered in the win at Oregon State. Mendnehall says Wilson could be headed for surgery as soon as tomorrow.

DLs Loni Fangupo (re-aggravated ankle injury) and Romney Fuga (knee sprain) were also banged up at OSU; Mendenhall called them "day-to-day," while an MCL sprain suffered by LB Ziggy Ansah was termed "more significant." Jordan Pendleton, who was hit in the chiest on a late Oregon State onside kick, was deemed "ready to play Saturday" versus Idaho State.

Mendenhall said LB Uona Kaveinga, who also left the OSU game, was fine, but he added that watching his team get off the plane upon returning to Provo, his thought was "how are we going to practice?"

"It might be one of those weeks where we don't go in pads at all and just try to get fresh bodies for Saturday (v. Idaho State)," said Mendenhall. "Too early to speculate, but it probably won't be a normal week."

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Of course, BYU's quarterback situation was an item of interest, with Mendenhall confirming that Riley Nelson will get the start against the Bengals. He went on to say that it will "still be a week-to-week" assessment.

"The way he is currently playing, I'm impressed," Mendenhall said. "He's making a lot of good plays, he's leading our football team through two and a half games, and I think we will continue to battle and compete."

"That doesn't mean that (he has) tenure, or all of a sudden the starting job becomes his, regardless of how he plays--so it's week to week."

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I asked Mendenhall how Nelson's personality frames the "element of risk" that exists in having QB who is as mobile and runs as often as he does, using a play in the Oregon State game to illustrate.

On the play, after a successful downfield run, Nelson took a hard hit during which his helmet came off. A mini-war of words ensued with an Oregon State player who had gotten in Nelson's face after the hit.

"I think that he has to be himself," said Mendenhall, "and that's part of Riley leading our team."

"If he's not taking hits, and his helmet is not coming off, he's probably not as effective. That sounds maybe counter-intuitive, but our defensive players and offensive linemen and running backs, they like our leader at quarterback being one of them, so to speak, and he is."

"He's a football player and he's not afraid of contact, he's not afraid to take a hit, he's very composed, he's also super-competitive, and our team likes that."

"It's one of his strengths as a quarterback, when elements like that do happen (referring to the play at OSU), he bounces up and isn't afraid of whoever hit him, no matter if he's outsized or not, puts on his helmet and plays again."

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More from Mendenhall--

On his team's general progress:

"Our team took another step forward (at Oregon State); we're gaining momentum, we're adding balance offensively, and we continue to play consistently on defense."

"Our improvement is showing not only to our players, but our coaches. There is a sense of urgency to see how fast we can help this team reach its potential, with five regular season games to go."

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On newly-reinstated DL Matt Putnam:

"Matt has already proven to be a big boost. He tipped a number of passes in (the Oregon State) game, one of which became an interception. he recovered a fumble just by sheer effort, just by trying harder than anyone else out there. He wanted the ball more than anyone else."

"I think it means a lot to Matt to be with our program...he's making the most of his opportunity to this point; one of the great success stories."

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On his team's momentum after four straight wins:

"It's shaping out to be a season similar to some other of the double-digit win seasons that we've had. Because there is talent, and there is potential, the execution is now starting to catch up...and that's really what we've been pressing and would like to see continue."

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On if there is the possibility of his players looking past Idaho State:

"I certainly hope not; the focus is so much on improving our own performance and reaching our potential; there wasn't much talk that we were playing Oregon State last week--it was just about our team getting better. Our opponent this week doesn't change anything at all."

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On if similarities exists between former BYU RB Harvey Unga and current back Michael Alisa:

"There are elements there; Mike is a little bit leaner, and maybe a little bit more top-end speed right now, but the mindset and how difficult he's becoming to tackle, or being able to break tackles and fall forward--we like big running backs who can break tackles, and right now, that's what Mike is doing. Haven't thrown the ball to him much out of the backfield, but he's being used similarly to how Harvey and Curtis (Brown) were used."

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On the visiting Bengals:

"They throw the ball almost every down...up-tempo, a lot of times they're getting 90+ plays in a game, throwing the ball quickly, wide splits by the offensive linemen."

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BYU QB Riley Nelson and LB Brandon Ogletree were honored as FBS Independent Players of the Week for their efforts in the win at Oregon State. It is the second weekly honor in three weeks for Nelson; Ogletree is a first-time winner.

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