Estimated read time: 6-7 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
It was practice number 12 on Day number 10 of camp for the BYU Cougars Wednesday morning in Provo. "I don't think (the offense) responded that well today," said head coach Bronco Mendenhall. "Defensively, they had a good day."
*******
You can hear all of Mendenhall's post-practice comments and an interview with RB Bryan Kariya by going to the "Cougar Cuts" area to the right.
*******
The team ran only three series of 11-on-11 play in the "team" session to end practice, and there was not much doing today.
Series 1:
50 yards from the end zone, Jake Heaps hands off to J.J. DiLuigi for no gain. Heaps is then incomplete on his next two pass attempts, and Riley Stephenson is called in to punt.
-
Series 2:
On a 50-yard field, Riley Nelson runs for no gain on first down, and is then sacked on back-to-back plays: by Jameson Frazier/Austen Jorgensen, and then Ziggy Ansah. Stephenson punts.
-
Series 3:
Starting again 50 yards from end zone, Heaps throws deep, incomplete to Cody Hoffman. Offensive penalty on second down, after which Juice Quezada busts off a 10-yard run. Coaches decide to move the chains, after which DiLuigi and Kariya take hand-offs for three and five yards, respectively. Heaps throws to Dallin Cutler for 17 yards on 3rd and 2. On first down, Heaps misfires on a pass intended for Austin Holt. DiLuigi then runs for 17 yards to the three-yard line, and coaches choose to end the series, as Justin Sorensen is called in to attempt a 20-yard FG. It is good, as is an attempt from 37 yards. Sorensen misses from 47 yards, and practice ends.
--
Stats--
Heaps: 1/5, 17 yds
DiLuigi: 2 rushes, 20 yds
Kariya: 1 rush, 5 yds
Quezada: 1 rush, 10 yds
Cutler: 1 rec, 17 yds
Sorensen: 2/3 FG (goood 20, 37; no good 47)
-
Sacks: Frazier/Jorgensen, Ansah
*******
"The offense was missing a (player) or two, and it certainly affected their execution and mindset," said Mendenhall. WR Ross Apo practiced, but did not go live in "team" sessions; he has been dealing with some groin soreness/tightness.
There were other notable starter absences today, including both corners, Corby Eason and Preston Hadley. Mendenhall said both have had "multiple" injuries flare up, and were held out by the training staff. Asked if he would expect both players to play through the maladies and retain their starting spots, the coach said "Yeah, based on if they come back in a timely manner. If it's long term, no--if it's short term, yes."
*******
Which brings us to today's injury update...
OLB Brandon Ogletree: out more than a week with a groin strain; expected back for tomorrow's practice.
OLB Alani Fua: concussion; out for the last two days, will return when asymptomatic.
OL Famika Anae: suffered a calf strain in practice; left midway through.
CB Preston Hadley: general soreness; held out for today's practice. "No injuries, just beat up," said head trainer Kevin Morris.
CB Corby Eason: same deal. Note that Mendenhall called both players' ailments "injuries." Semantics, but it does not appear either player will be out long.
TE Kaneakua Friel: hamstring; "Early next week, or maybe end of the week," says Morris.
DL Moses Kaumatule: remains out with back soreness.
TE Colby Jorgensen: season-ending surgery today; suffered shoulder dislocation earlier in camp.
FS Travis Uale: remains out with bruised/cracked rib.
MLB Tyler Beck: working back from shin contusion.
OLB Jadon Wagner: flare-up of patellar tendinitis.
WR Ross Apo: kept out of live segments (groin).
DLs Ian Dulan (groin) and Matt Peterson (quad) are working their way back to full activity.
*******
Notes:
Without Eason and Hadley, Robbie Buckner (field) and Joe Sampson (boundary) manned the first-string corner spots today.
Carter Mees and Jray Galea'i continue to battle for the spot behind starting Kat Daniel Sorensen. Sorensen is not injured but was kept out of the last two practices by position coach Nick Howell. With Sorensen out, Mees has taken first-team reps in each of the last two days. "Neck-and-neck," says Mendenhall about the Mees/Galea'i battle. "It's close."
After starting camp as a corner, Skye PoVey has been moved to free safety (third behind Mike Hague and Travis Uale at FS). Mendenhall says PoVey is "a year away," and has a redshirt season available. Chase Pendley has moved from free safety to Kat (fourth behind Sorensen, Mees/Galea'i).
Mendenhall says "I believe we'll have at least six" defensive lineman to rotate this season. Based on camp daily depth, it appears those six are Graham Rowley, Romney Fuga, Eathyn Manumaleuna, Loni Fangupo, Travis Tuiloma and Jordan Richardson, with Mike Muehlmann right there. Of Fuga, Mendenhall says "It's going to be really hard to run the football on us, because of him."
Players were in shells (helmets/shoulder pads) for the first of two practice sessions today. The afternoon sessions are closed to the media.
Mendenhall says the only scrimmages remaining in camp will be a stadium scrimmage on Saturday, and a similar exercise for "young players" next Wednesday (traditionally the final day of camp).
In "skelly" (six offensive v. eight defensive players; no down linemen), the offense ran what amounted to 18 3rd-and-5 situational plays (all passes). The offense converted 13 of 18 for first downs, with Kyle Van Noy and Carter Mees recording interceptions, while DeQuan Everett and Robbie Bucker had additional pass break-ups.
Freshman Stehly Reden has moved from defensive line to tight end for the rest of camp and this season. "It's really out of high school what he preferred," says Mendenhall. After his LDS mission, Reden could end up anywhere tight end, to D-line, to offensive tackle. Reden is anticipated to redshirt this season.
In addition to Reden's jersey color and number change, there were a number of other numerical modifications, with the gameday roster beginning to take shape. Most notably:
CB Joe Sampson: #17 to #5
WR Dalin Tollstrup: #21 to #17
RB Ryan Folsom: #36 to #30
OLB Seth Probert: #35 to #38
DL Mike Muehlmann: #82 to #95
*******
Day 10 Depth Chart
OFFENSE
LT: Matt Reynolds, Ryker Mathews, Michael Yeck (Yeck plays with the twos; Mathews only with the ones at LG or LT in place of M. Reynolds)
LG: Houston Reynolds/Ryker Mathews, Marco Thorson
C: Terence Brown, Blair Tushaus
RG: Braden Hansen/Houston Reynolds, Walter Kahaiali'i
RT: Braden Brown, Famika Anae (out), Brock Stringham
TE: Austin Holt, Richard Wilson, Devin Mahina
WR-Y/X (flex TE): Marcus Mathews
WR-X: McKay Jacobson/Cody Hoffman, Dalin Tollestrup
WR-Z: Ross Apo (not live), Rhen Brown, Dallin Cutler
WR-H: J.D. Falslev, Matt Marshall
QB: Jake Heaps, Riley Nelson, James Lark
TB/Combo: J.J. DiLuigi/Juice Quezada/Bryan Kariya, David Foote/Mike Alisa
FB: Zed Mendenhall
--
DEFENSE
LE: Graham Rowley, Hebron "Loni" Fangupo
NT: Romney Fuga, Travis Tuiloma
RE: Eathyn Manumaleuna, Jordan Richardson (also NT), Mike Muehlmann (also LE)
SLB: Jordan Pendleton, Jameson Frazier
MLB: Uona Kaveinga, Austen Jorgensen
BLB: Brandon Ogletree (out), Spencer Hadley, Aveni Leung-Wai
WLB: Kyle Van Noy, Ziggy Ansah/Jadon Wagner (out)
FC: Corby Eason (out), Robbie Buckner/Jordan Johnson
Kat: Daniel Sorensen (held out today by position coach), Carter Mees/Jray Galea'i
FS: Mike Hague/Travis Uale (out), Skye PoVey
BC: Preston Hadley (out), Joe Sampson/DeQuan Everett
*******
After another day of two-a-days today BYU holds a single morning session tomorrow.
*******
The BYU Basketball team opened a six-game tour of Greece with a win in their opener today in Athens.
Charles Abouo led the way with 20 points, while freshman Damarcus Harrison added 15, with four steals.
*******
"The Power and the Passion": BYU Football on your Radio Home of the Cougars, KSL Newsradio.
*******
