Are changes coming to BYU's kicking game? Coaches mulling 'lack of discipline'

PROVO — Changes may be coming to BYU's personnel groupings following a road loss to No. 15 Oregon, at least in a handful of key positions.

The competition will be over the 19th-ranked Cougars' place kicking job, which has been won for years by Jake Oldroyd. But after the redshirt junior missed his last three field-goal attempts, including one Saturday in a 41-20 loss to the Ducks that might have held back at least a rout for a little longer, everything has to be on the table.

"We need the kicking game to be a strength," BYU coach Kalani Sitake said. "They've done it before, so there is not much to it other than to be accountable. That's from everybody."

Special teams coordinator Ed Lamb stopped short of saying Oldroyd, who kicked his first field goal on a 33-yarder to beat Arizona in Sitake's first game as head coach in 2016 prior to a two-year mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, has lost the starting job. But the assistant head coach who manages special-teams duties confirmed that the former Lou Groza Award finalist and second-team All-American likely needs something to "bring out the best" in his leg.

"We have to continue to evaluate it and see if it is the right thing for the team at this point," Lamb said. "(Oldroyd) has to continue to earn it to be the No. 1 guy. He has got to make those field goals."

In addition to Oldroyd, who stayed atop the team's depth chart that was released Monday, redshirt freshmen Justen Smith from Brighton High and Cash Peterman from Chandler, Arizona, are also on the roster as kickers. Oldroyd handles both place kicking and kickoff duties, but Smith and Peterman are available as co-starters on both positions.

Oldroyd isn't the only player who struggled in BYU's road loss to Oregon that dropped the team to No. 19 in the latest Associated Press Top 25. Run defense was porous, allowing 212 yards on 44 carries as Oregon scored on its first six possessions, and the Cougars struggled to find a run game of their own on offense.

But a lot of issues simply went back to a lack of discipline, Sitake summed up. That includes special teams issues — not limited to the kicking game. After Oldroyd missed a 38-yard attempt in the second quarter, Keenan Pili was flagged with a penalty for a late hit following a 35-yard punt, and another player was hit with a fair catch interference for tackling the would-be punt returner.

In all, BYU (2-1) was penalized seven times for 64 yards against the Ducks (2-1).

"Lack of discipline is a problem, and that's the entire team," Sitake said. "We need to figure it out. We had some really bad penalties at bad times. We've got to keep working on the fundamentals. The fundamentals of the game is what hurt us the most; it wasn't a lack of effort or scheme, but not doing the little things or fundamentals of the game."

In other words, changes are likely in store — with the hope, of course, that BYU coaches can fix any issues before the season begins to spiral.

"This is a talented team with a lot of pride," Lamb said. "We learned a lesson, we made mistakes as coaches and players; we are embarrassed. But it would be a real mistake for anyone to write off the 2022 Cougars."

Of course, BYU also brought in plenty of new faces amid injury absences Saturday afternoon. Early Tuioti-Mariner was held off the traveling squad with an injury, and Tyler Batty attempted to warm up before the game before being held out with his own injury suffered a week prior in a 26-20 win over Baylor.

Tuioti-Mariner and Batty, along with long-suffering wide receivers Puka Nacua and Gunner Romney, were all listed in some degree of "possible" to "probable" for Saturday's game against Wyoming (8:15 p.m. MDT, ESPN2).

There's a chance all four could return against the Pokes, but the star defensive end is probably the most likely, Sitake added.

"We're hopeful to get Earl and Tyler back, as well as Puka and Gunner back, too," Sitake said. "I felt this way a couple of weeks ago, too, so I have no idea anymore. We're going to prepare for the worst and hope for the best.

"But today, I think Batty's closer than the others."

The Cougars also lost starting cornerback Kaleb Hayes near the end of Saturday's game against Oregon, leaving his status questionable.

"If you ask him, he was ready to go; he just needed a breather," Sitake said. "But we'll work with our trainers and will figure it out.

"The last thing I want is for him to come back in when he's not ready and make things worse. He has a bright future in this game, so we'll keep him safe — even from himself."

If Hayes isn't available Saturday, Vanderbilt transfer Gabe Jeudy-Lally would likely be elevated to starter, nickel Jacob Boren could spend more time at cornerback, and freshmen Chika Enuboha and Korbyn Green would see more time, as well.

Pili left the game in the second half, and returned with his hand wrapped in a bandage. But the linebacker from Timpview High said he simply dislocated a finger or two and had to have them "popped back in" prior to the end of the game.

The defensive standout is surprising healthy as he hits the one-year anniversary from a devastating torn ACL that derailed his 2021 season.

"I feel way better than I thought I would. I feel 100%," Pili said. "I feel like I can trust my ACL. It's not very sore after the games. It's a nice answer to prayer. I've been blessed."

Another player returning to full strength is tight end Isaac Rex, who caught two passes for 32 yards, including a 28-yard touchdown from Jaren Hall in Saturday's loss to Oregon. Rex isn't 100% recovered and healthy following a pair of offseason surgeries to repair a brutal ankle injury that left him non-weight-bearing for a couple of months and postponed his wedding following the Cougars' regular-season finale at USC last year, but he's close, he said.

"Obviously, the ankle is still an ongoing process," he added. "But I've been feeling good, feeling healthy and I feel I've been playing good. I'm still working on rehabbing the ankle but I'm happy with how I've progressed so far throughout the season."

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