News to Mendenhall, but BYU's offense No. 1 in red zone


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PROVO — BYU's offense wasn't clicking early against Fresno State, even by the admission of quarterback Tanner Mangum.

But there is one place where the Cougar scorers have been lethal for most of the season: in the red zone.

The Cougars (8-3) currently lead the nation in red-zone offense, converting on 41 of 43 opportunities with 18 rushing touchdowns, 13 passing touchdowns and 10 field goals in 2015. San Diego State is second with 38 scores in 40 red-zone trips, and Memphis third.

All that was news to head coach Bronco Mendenhall, who also calls plays for the defense, so he admitted he shouldn't receive any credit.

"I think (offensive coordinator Robert) Anae should get full credit for that; we haven't changed anything in practice structure, or from an organizational perspective," Mendenhall said. "It must be something that he's targeted and worked really hard on within the offensive room. It's probably something I should've known."

True freshman quarterback Tanner Mangum has helped engineer several key, remarkable drives inside the opponents' 20-yard line, and his growth as a quarterback — even at 22 — has been nothing short of impressive.

BYU head coach Bronco Mendenhall hugs BYU place kicker Trevor Samson (27) as seniors are honored prior to the game against Fresno in Provo, Nov. 21, 2015. BYU won 52-10. (Photo: Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News)
BYU head coach Bronco Mendenhall hugs BYU place kicker Trevor Samson (27) as seniors are honored prior to the game against Fresno in Provo, Nov. 21, 2015. BYU won 52-10. (Photo: Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News)

Just a few months removed from a two-year mission for the LDS Church in Chile, Mangum has completed 62.8 percent of his passes for 2,778 yards and 17 touchdowns with seven interceptions. With two games remaining (including a bowl game in Las Vegas or Hawaii), Mangum is likely to break the 3,000-yard mark — and could do it in the Cougars' regular-season finale at Utah State at 1:30 p.m. Saturday at Maverik Stadium in Logan.

"I think you really just see the maturity grow with him," wide receiver Mitchell Juergens said of Mangum. "It's a confidence level as well. We see it in his eyes. He knows that every time we step on the field, we'll make things happen."

The red-zone conversion dominance even included a Senior Day trick play from tight end Remington Peck to Terenn Houk. Juergens said he "would've loved" to throw the touchdown pass, but deferred to the two seniors after his group helped draw it up during a three-minute break in practice.

But Juergens still found it hard to believe Anae let them pull off the play, even with a comfortable lead on Fresno State.

"Remington has a great arm and he and Terenn are seniors," Juergens said. "It was an awesome fit to see those two on Senior (Day) hook up."

INJURY REPORT — Mendenhall said there were no major injury updates after the Cougars' blowout win over the Bulldogs at LaVell Edwards Stadium. But it wasn't without one name. "Zayne Anderson, a freshman defensive back, will be out for the season," Mendenhall said.

Anderson, a former Stansbury High safety who earned first-team all-3AA North honors as a senior, played sparingly as a freshman in 2015, with a tackle each against UCLA, San Jose State and Fresno State.

Senior running back Adam Hine was also limited against Fresno State, and will continue to be such. Mendenhall said the Snow Canyon High alum is not at 100 percent, and freshman Riley Burt will receive more reps in Hine's absence.

DISTURBING TREND — Nearly 15 FBS head coaches are officially out or will step down at the end of the season as of Monday, when it was announced that Syracuse's Scott Shafer and Iowa State's Paul Rhoads were the latest to join the group of departing coaches. Shafer and Rhoads will join Virginia Tech's Frank Beamer and Missouri's Gary Pinkel in coaching their teams through the end of the season.

Mendenhall said he doesn't remember as many high-profile coaching changes in one season and he even expects more to take place in the offseason.

He doesn't necessarily like the trend, either.

"They're amplified because it's more professionalized and more entertainment-driven. It's like the NFL with no security, and college is now similar," Mendenhall said. "You are expected to do more sooner for more money."


Listen to audio from Monday's post-practice media session with Mendenhall, Juergens, wide receiver Mitch Mathews and nose tackle Tevita Mo'Unga in the "Cougar Cuts" section below.

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