Estimated read time: 5-6 minutes
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The Cougars held their first scrimmage of camp this morning at Lavell Edwards Stadium, and the exercise was as notable for who did not play as much it was for who played well.
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Healthy projected starters held out today included David Nixon, Jan Jorgensen, Dennis Pitta and Harvey Unga , while injured players Fui Vakapuna (hamstring), Bryce Mahuika (quads), Mo Foketi (hip flexor), Matt Bauman (foot) and Austin Collie (stress fracture, leg) were sidelined.
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With as many key players sitting this one out, and so many young players getting looks at places higher up in the depth chart, it was a ragged scrimmage at times, due more to inexperience than anything else. Head Coach Bronco Mendenhall's post-scrimmage summary can be heard by clicking his audio link to the right, and he starts by adderssing the number of players held out...
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Of the players who did play, QB Max Hall, TE Andrew George and RB J.J. DiLuigi were the most impressive today.
Hall was 11/15 for 157 yards and a touchdown pass to Kelly Bills, while George caught 4 balls for 79 yards, and DiLuigi ran 5 times for 31 yards. In camp and today's scrimmage, George as proven himself a reliable downfield target, and with Dennis Pitta, combines to give BYU as good a tight-end duo as any you will find in college ball. One one drive in particular, George had three of his four catches, for about 65 yards.
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K Mitch Payne added a 28 yard field goal, while K Justin Sorensen missed from 57 yards (wide left), and was good from 38 yards. The coaches let him tack on one more "dead ball" attempt to end scrimmage, and that was good from 48 yards. In their longest pre-scrimmage warm-ups, Payne was good/no good from 42 yards, while Sorensen was good/no good from 47 yards.
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You can hear interviews with Jan Jorgensen and Harvey Unga by clicking their audio links--Jan begins by addressing the goals achieved today, while Harvey starts by assessing the running back depth in the absence of Manase Tonga. And a reminder, you can also get all of the daily camp interviews in podcast form.
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Other highlights from today included Max Hall finding O'Neill Chambers for about a 45-yard gain down the sideline--it was a play on which G Pittman let Chambers go uncovered, and all Hall had to do was throw it up there. Chambers made the catch and was ruled out of bounds while tip-toeing the sidelines. Bills scored on a third-down toss from Hall a few plays later.
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With Nixon sitting out, Vic So'oto and Coleby Clawson were the starting outside linebackers, although as Bronco notes today, So'oto is still ahead of Clawson at the starting "Will" spot.
Which reminds me, I got an e-mail from a listener/reader who wanted to know about the linebacker designations--"Sam, Will, Mike and Buck."
The four linebackers are two outside and two inside players; the outside backers are strongside ("S" is for "Sam") and weakside ("W" is for "Will"). Inside, with two linebackers, you have the true middle ("M" is for "Mike"), and the "backer" linebacker--("B" is for "Buck").
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The weather today was hot and sunny to start--cooler and more cloudy to finish. The stadium turf was in pretty nice condition, with the grass shorter than I believe it will be on game day.
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Perhaps the most serious injury suffered today was the wasp sting I picked up on the sidelines (right arm, day-to-day). The medical and training staff exploded into action to take care of me and assure that I was able to take notes the rest of the way. Well, actually, they just told me to ice it and take an antihistamine. Kudos, anyway.
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Of note, Max Hall was kept upright and justifiably so, with the quarterback "off limits" at all times.
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Late in the scrimmage, freshman safety Daniel Sorensen had RB Bryan Kariya lined up for a hit he never delivered, and the defensive players and coaches on the sidelines appeared more than a little disappointed...
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The first couple of practices next week should be particularly interesting, as Bronco hinted at some movement in the depth chart. As players move up and down, I will update you accordingly. If there's one thing I track religiously, it's "who is playing where" day-to-day and practice-to-practice.
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Soon after I crossed the finish line at the Provo River Half Marathon this morning, I was approached by someone who tapped me on the shoulder and told me he loves reading "Cougar Tracks." Well, thanks, and I love putting it together for you. And thanks to all of you for making this a record-setting week, in terms of page views. I do hope you're getting what you want, and as always, your feedback is welcome.
And in case you were wondering, this was my third straight year running the Provo River, and it was my slowest of the three. Not surprising, since my training has been a little sketchy this year, but my time was faster than I expected--1:41. I had turned in 1:34 and 1:33 the last two years, so I took a step back, but it was still a great morning for a run, and the course (although different from previous years due to the Bridal Veil fire) was scenic and challenging, with just enough downhill to make you feel fast at times.
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It's a day off for the "Tracks" tomorrow--check back on Monday, as Camp Cougar moves into week two.
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