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On a 60-degree day in Provo, the BYU football team held its fifth practice of spring ball, and its second outdoors session of the week.
After practice, head coach Bronco Mendenhall met with the media and said "I think we're making progress; we're certainly pushing them really hard, we're demanding a lot of work, getting a lot of volume in a very short amount of time...really high intensity, super-fast tempo."
"The offense is progressing very, very quickly, (with) still a lot of work to go. (There's) equality in terms of players (and) how hard they're working in position groups, and coaches are pushing the players, really, really hard. So, I'm really encouraged by what I've seen to this point."
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Mendenhall has been particularly impressed with the play of three key offensive players: quarterback Taysom Hill, and running backs Jamaal Williams and Adam Hine.
Of Hill, whose 2012 season was cut short by a serious knee/leg injury in the sixth game of the campaign, Mendenhall said the sophomore signal-caller has looked good so far during spring practices.
"They say (he's at) 80(%), but his 80 looks like 100 for a lot of us," said Mendenahall. "I would say 85(%)-ish would be kind of where is. He's not to have any contact; no one's to be around his legs...(but) certainly (he's) beyond where we thought he would be in terms of repetition and what he could participate in."
About the backs, Mendenhall singled out Williams and Hine for their work so far, saying Williams "looks great; Jamaal is working really, really hard... I'm really impressed. Right now, at number two would be Adam Hine."
"Those two right now are in the backfield at the same time. Adam has done a really nice job."
Media observed only a limited number of snaps at the end of Wednesday's practice, but among the highlight plays was Hine taking a sprint-swing pass from Hill and racing it down the sidelines for a score.
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Mendenhall says he was hoping to get as much outdoors practice time in as possible during spring ball, noting that he "much prefers" to be outside if at all possible. The coach pointed to two torn ACLs suffered last week (by DB Trent Trammell and LB Tanner Huber) during indoor turf practices as one of the reasons behind his preference.
"There will be some who say there's no correlation there; I think there is. I was hoping to be outside as much as we could."
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Injury/personnel notes:
QB Jason Munns hasn't been cleared to practice since suffering a concussion last Wednesday.
LB Spencer Hadley isn't cleared for spring practices after undergoing offseason shoulder surgery.
LB Kyle Van Noy is "is just very limited in what we're allowing him to do," said Mendenhall. "We just are being really smart in terms of where we put, when we put him (in)...managing his risk (of) getting injured." Mendenhall said Van Noy did not have any medical procedures performed in the off-season. Mendenhall said if Hadley were healthy, he's get the same workload treatment as Van Noy during spring ball.
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About his on-field role during March practices, Mendenhall noted that "I haven't called a defensive play yet this spring; I don't intend to."
"This spring I'm watching both sides and making sure the practice is going exactly the way I want it to, from an effort standpoint, from a tempo standpoint, and really from a 'will' standpoint. That's what I focused on this spring."
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Mendenhall said the kicking game is getting additional emphasis during the spring; "it's been probably been four-to-one already in spring from what we've normally done. Competition is great; we have a walk-on placekicker (Tyler Jackson) who isn't that far, in terms of trailing percentage-wise, from where Justin (Sorensen) is, which is helpful, so they're alternating every other kick right now--we chart every day."
Asked if he needs to have second placekicker ready to feel comfortable heading into the 2013 season, Mendenhall said "I think so. Based on last season, that would be wise."
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You can hear post-practice interviews with Mendenhall, Hill, Williams, safety Drew Reilly and former BYU LB Bryan Kehl by clicking on their respective audio links, in "Cougar Cuts," above left.
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BYU is attempting to fill the cleats of stalwart nose tackle Romney Fuga this upcoming season, with Tuni Kanuch and Marques Johnson identified as potential replacements. Mendenhall said both are "progressing; neither one is close to where Romney was, or how other nose tackles have played for the past...long time. They're learning, they're capable, but they need every rep they can get--all spring, and all fall camp, to be where I'd feel comfortable."
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Defensive backs Drew Reilly (Colorado State) and Michael Wadsworth (Hawai'i) both redshirted last season and played on the scout team; now they're getting main-line reps and trying to learn Mendenhall's defense.
"They're similar to where the nose tackles are," said Mendenhall of the two transfers. "They're learning, they're capable...long ways to go in terms of volume, run-pass keys, positioning themselves, communicating right, but they're willing and they're trying hard."
"That's all we can ask at this point."
About defensive back Mike Hague and defensive lineman Eathyn Manumaleuna, both of whom expect to receive medical hardship waivers and play in 2013, Mendenhall said "If I were betting, and I don't, I would bet they'll be coming back."
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BYU will hold a closed practice on Friday, bringing to an end the Cougars' second week of spring practices.
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