Cougars kick off final week of spring practices


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PROVO— The BYU Cougars returned to the field for their final week of spring practice Monday and it was "a hard work day," according to head coach Bronco Mendenhall, who, after practice, also gave reporters a follow-up assessment of Saturday's scrimmage.

Mendenhall revised Saturday's play count to 105, up from his post-scrimmage 102-play tally, noting that the total did not include penalty or kicking plays. He said the scrimmage featured "a lot of good things."

"There was a ton of work for a lot of players that we needed to see, depth wise," Mendenhall said Monday. "A few players emerged, (including) Dallin Leavitt and Trevor Bateman in the secondary. I already mentioned (linebacker) Zac Stout right after the scrimmage, and I would add (LB) Austin Heder and (defensive lineman) Tanner Balderree.

"Offensively, (wide receiver) Kurt Henderson did a nice job; (inside receiver) Terenn Houk really stepped up; and (WR) Michael Davis started to emerge not only Saturday, but today."

Mendenhall said the volume of scrimmage plays allowed for coaches to get "a great assessment" of how quarterback Taysom Hill is progressing behind an experienced offensive line.

"There are still a lot of (pass) protection things to clean up, and some procedure things, but I was pretty pleased overall," Mendenhall said. "I would like to have seen more dynamic plays, meaning bigger chunks (of yardage), but we were consistent. Overall, with 34 points ... on 105 plays, it was solid, but can still be improved."

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Defensive coordinator Nick Howell saw a number of things he liked in Saturday's stadium run-through, while acknowledging that the defense gave up "too many points."

"But the yards per play (allowed) were really good and the rushing defense was pretty good," Howell said. "We've got a lot of young guys missing assignments, but I thought they played hard with good energy. Scoring (defense) and blue zone is what we've got to work on. I think we're in a pretty good spot right now. I like where we're at."

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Howell provided updates on a couple of injured secondary players, one of whom, safety Craig Bills, has been practicing all spring with a braced elbow, which is the result of a ligament injury suffered during the 2013 campaign. Bills was kept out of Saturday's scrimmage. He is currently not allowed to have contact.

"He's OK. He's going to be fine," said Howell. "He has gone through every practice and he has done a good job. He can't have contact, but (the elbow) is healing. I don't think he'll be wearing that brace in the fall.

"I didn't think he was going to have any spring ball, and that would not have been good at all. I've played him a bunch at KAT (safety) and he looks super comfortable there right now."

Howell said cornerback Jordan Johnson (knee) is three weeks away from full clearance, and defensive back Sam Lee (back) is projected to be back in the fall: "He's working for it, and that would help," Howell said.

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You can hear post-practice interviews with Mendenhall, Howell, Bills, Henderson and Houk in "Cougar Cuts."

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Greg Wrubell

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