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Two more notable injuries marked the final day of two-a-days on an otherwise pleasant morning in Provo.
In a 16-period session that had the players in "shells" (helmets and shoulder pads only), RB Harvey Unga (hamstring) and FC Scott Johnson (concussion) went down and did not finish practice.
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Unga was hurt on an innocuous play during "skelly" (6 on 8), after catching a pass over the middle. Trainers immediately iced him up and he watched the remainder of practice, but Bronco is not concerned, saying Unga "won't be out" for the Oklahoma game.
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Johnson was the victim of a collision with FB Manase Tonga, who was taking part in his first padded practice since the 2007 season. Tonga turned the corner and lowered the shoulder into Johnson, who was down for at least five minutes before being helped to his feet. He spent the remainder of the "Team" session of practice in the shade with an iced towel on his neck. Bronco says even with the modern concussion guidelines, Johnson should have enough recovery time ahead of the Oklahoma game.
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While Andrew Rich (groin), Brian Kariya (ankle), and Vic So'oto (ankle) were not practicing, some previously injured players made it back today—at least for some drills, if not "live" segments of practice. Notably, LB Terrance Hooks (hamstring), CB Brandon Bradley (groin/hamstring) and CB Robbie Buckner (hamstring) were in pads but otherwise "eased in," spending some time in position drills, and some time conditioning.
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The So'oto injury is new, and was suffered during Saturday's scrimmage, when he was "rolled up" on. It doesn't appear to be too serious. J.J. DiLuigi (shoulder), who was also hurt Saturday, was practicing in drills, but kept out of "live" action and any contact. Rich, meantime, ducked his head out, but was in athletic shoes and spent his morning conditioning indoors.
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As Bronco indicated would happen, Shiloah Te'o was back at Kat safety today, running with the ones in place of Andrew Rich. Meantime, the developing story is the situation at Buck linebacker, where Te'o played last week. Today, the defensive coaches were trying out previous middle backer Brandon Ogletree at Buck, with middle backer Shane Hunter seeing most of his time at backup Mike, playing behind Matt Bauman.
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I asked Bronco and then linebackers coach Paul Tidwell specifically about the inside linebacker situation, which has been in flux without Terrance Hooks in the mix. The coaches are looking to establish a two-deep inside, but they are also ranking linebackers as an inside group, and Ogletree is part of the "top four" right now, so on a day when Buck depth was hampered by Shawn Doman's sore back, Ogletree was moved over, in favor of a backup Buck who might be 0utside the "top four."
Either way, Shane Hunter is getting some backup snaps at Mike, and it should be noted that as Ogletree moves around, Hooks is also able to play Mike if needs be, just as Ogletree had played some Buck before this fall.
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I haven't harped a great deal on BYU's injury issues, other than to report them as they happen. But it has been a rather ailment-plagued camp, and with the exception of only a couple of injuries (Johnson's concussion, for example), so few have been contact-related.
The number of groin and hamstring injuries suffered by key starters has been worrisome, since athletes and trainers will tell you that those two particular maladies tend to linger if not rested to full healing.
Certainly, BYU's training staff will err on the side of caution as it prepares the injured players for the season, but when Harvey Unga went down, it was a stark reminder that all of the caution in the world can be undone in an instant. Unga has been protected more than any other non-quarterback at camp, yet there he was, clutching the back of his leg after a play that has been run dozens of times for dozens of backs with no ill effects.
You can sense Bronco's frustration with the injury situation as you listen to his comments near the tail-end of today's post-practice interview (hear Bronco and Coach Paul Tidwell in the "Cougar Cuts" box to the upper right). The coach says "if they're going to happen, I think they're going to happen," regardless of the practice protocol. He adds "at some point, you have to play the game, and you have to be physical."
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Moving on...
It was a good day for the placekickers, as all three "live" field goals attempted were good. Mitch Payne hit from 32 and 50 yards, and Riley Stephenson hit from 37 yards. A fake field goal resulted in an incomplete pass from Matt Marshall to... well that was the thing, it wasn't really to anyone, although I think Braden Brown might have been in the vicinity.
Only one touchdown was scored during five "Team" series, and the Riley Stephenson PAT was good.
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Speaking of "Team," as good a days as it was for the first-string offense on Saturday, the pendulum swung back toward the defense today.
Max Hall's three series went as follows:
#1: After back-to-back first down pass completions, the drive stalled on a third-down sack, two plays after Tonga knocked out Scott Johnson. Payne 32 yd FG: good.
#2: three-and-out. Stephenson 37 yd FG: good.
#3 (v. third-string defense): a 30-yards pass completion to Dennis Pitta is followed by three straight completions to George, Jacobson and Hafoka--the last of which was for a six-yard touchdown. Stephenson PAT: good.
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Riley Nelson got two series in "Team," neither of which went well. His first sequence resulted in a three-and-out; the second ended on a fumble by RB Maolsi Te'o. "Team" went a little shorter than normal, with Bronco calling practice after the Hall-to-Hafoka TD.
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Consider:
...the injuries to Unga, DiLuigi, Kariya, and Hague (still nursing a tender hamstring)
...the five-day acclimatization period for Manase Tonga
...plus the absence of Peni Maka'afi (I'll need to follow up with Bronco, since he missed Saturday's scrimmage and then practice today)
...and suddenly, the BYU backfield is anything but full-strength right now. Walk-on Tucker Lamb (son of coach Barry) has essentially been the featured back during the last two days of camp.
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Today's only other 11-on-11 work was "situational," with the Cougars working on various third down scenarios. Max Hall and the first-string offense were sharp on their first set of scenarios, converting four of six attempts ranging from third-and-short to third-and-long. Riley Nelson's unit converted only one of six, then Hall returned to go three for three, before getting sacked on one fourth down scenario.
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The punt/kickoff return group was narrowed today; Jacobson, O'Neill Chambers and J.D. Falslev were the PR group, with Cody Hoffman being added for KOR.
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Camp is winding down, with a closed afternoon practice today followed by a final "camp" practice tomorrow. A "situational" scrimmage is scheduled for Wednesday, with Thursday a "lift day" (no practice) to allow the coaches to finalize the Oklahoma game plan. Friday then marks the first "Oklahoma" practice, with the depth chart to be more or less finalized that day.
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Meantime, here's the "Cougar Tracks" version of the daily depth chart...
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Depth Chart, Day 11:
(I'll try and go just two-deep today, unless position battles or tactical deployment indicate otherwise. Players moving up into or within the two-deep up from the day before are noted in bold.)
OFFENSE
LT: (Matt Reynolds--injured) Braden Hansen, Terrence Alletto
LG: Marco Thorson, Ryan Freeman
C: R.J. Willing, Fono Vakalhahi
RG: Terence Brown, Tui Crichton
RT: Nick Alletto, Ryan Mulitalo
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TE: Dennis Pitta, Andrew George, Braden Brown
WR (X): O'Neill Chambers, Spencer Hafoka
WR (Z): McKay Jacobson, Luke Ashworth
WR Notes: Outside receivers are to be able to play both X and Z. While the pattern run will depend on formation and play call, "X" receivers line up left, while "Z" receivers line up right. For example, a receiver could line up as an "X," but then motion could change formation strength and require the "X" to run the "Z" pattern, and vice versa. Basically, however, "X" lines up left and "Z" lines up right.
WR (H): Matt Marshall, Stephen Covey
TB: Harvey Unga, J.J. DiLuigi
FB: Manase Tonga, Bryan Kariya or Braden Brown
QB: Max Hall, Riley Nelson
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DEFENSE
LE: Brett Denney, Matt Putnam
NT: Russell Tialavea, Tevita Hola or Romney Fuga
RE: Jan Jorgensen, Vic So'oto
(note: RE and LE are inter-changeable)
SLB: Jordan Pendleton, Grant Nelson or Richard Wilson
MLB: Matt Bauman, Brandon Ogletree or Shane Hunter
BLB: (Terrance Hooks--injured) Shawn Doman, Brandon Ogletree
WLB: Coleby Clawson, Jordan Atkinson
FC: (Robbie Buckner--injured), Garrett Nicholson, Brian Logan or Corby Eason
BC: (Brandon Bradley--injured) or Lee Aguirre
Kat: Andrew Rich, Shiloah Te'o
Free: Scott Johnson, Craig Bills
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"Clip 'n Save"...
A reminder: the first Bronco Mendenhall show of the season is nine days away. The schedule can be accessed on the show page in the "BYU Sports Menu," but here it is--
KSL Newsradio's Bronco Mendenhall Show airs "live on location," Wednesdays from 7:00-8:00pm. Listeners are encouraged to join us at the Utah County Ken Garff Dealers!
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September 2, 2009
Ken Garff Ford of American Fork
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September 9,2009
Ken Garff Porsche Audi Volkswagen
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September 16,2009
Ken Garff Nissan of Orem
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September 23,2009
Ken Garff Honda of Orem
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September 30,2009
Ken Garff Ford of American Fork
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October 7,2009
Ken Garff Honda of Orem
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October 14,2009
Ken Garff Nissan of Orem
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October 21,2009
Ken Garff Porsche Audi Volkswagen
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October 28,2009
Bye
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November 4,2009
Ken Garff Ford of American Fork
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November 11,2009
Ken Garff Porsche Audi Volkswagen
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November 18,2009
Ken Garff Nissan of Orem
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November 25,2009
Ken Garff Honda of Orem
