For a change-up, Daniel Coats caught a short pass from John Beck, turned upfield and waited for Jonny Harline to position himself as the lead blocker and the two BYU tight ends ploughed their way down the sideline, mowing down defenders.
You could call it the poundability factor.
It also works the other way, and Coats is one of the best blockers on the Cougar team.
Perhaps the most obvious, standout feature of the Cougars this spring is the tight end position, where Harline and Coats are poised for what many believe will be stellar senior seasons. Backing them up, but making their way onto the field in myriad ways are sophomore Vic So'oto and freshman Andrew George.
These guys are pretty good, and they've got one another's back, according to Coats.
"We aren't looking over our shoulder at all, we're supporting each other because when one does well, we all excel as a team," Coats said.
At the center of it all is offensive coordinator Robert Anae, who coaches the foursome. Anae didn't recruit any of them, but he knows a stable when he sees it. Look for Anae to find a way to get as many of these four on the field at a time next fall, ranging from big wideouts and double-tight formations to placing a rangy sure-handed guy like George in the slot as an inside receiver to complement Nate Meikle.
Triggered by a quick-strike passing attack and experienced John Beck at the reins, these big receivers are a formidable wave for would-be tacklers. They come at a fast pace. They are quick, and they meet the highlight/replay test. It is a feature that has allowed Anae to distance his offense from that of Texas Tech.
BYU's tight ends are cash cards in Anae's schemes, which have evolved the past 15 months since he arrived in Provo from Lubbock. When these guys cut and turn to the ball, if they're not fronted, they immediately gain an advantage over a defender as monster targets.
When backed into a corner about use of the four, Anae — a man of few words — explained: "If we do (use more than two or three in a formation), we're certainly capable."
It's a lot of beef thrown at defenders.
Head coach Bronco Mendenhall, who directs the defense, knows the cause and effect of these sets of hooves. He's seen 13 sessions of them. His linebackers are the strength of his new 3-4 front, and they struggle to keep up with the lay-down-the-law firm of Harline, Coats, So'oto and George.
Poundability? "Oh, yeah," Mendenhall said last week. "You saw it out there today with two tight ends out there and then there's Manase Tonga and Fui Vakapuna there with Curtis (Brown). There are some big bodies coming after you."
And what does all that bulk do for an offense?
Said Mendenhall: "It gives you a chance to run the ball very effectively, which leads to more effective play action, and that leads to big plays happening more frequently, and then you can drop back to it (poundability). It makes for a well-rounded offense."
Coats has had a superb nine months of catching the football dating back to last fall. In spring, you'd be hard-pressed to count a Coats' dropped pass. "He's about 256 pounds, and linebackers who have to cover him are built to stop runners; it's a chore to have to cover Coats at that size who has the speed of a wide-out," Beck said.
Harline was named the No. 1 tight in the Mountain West last year. Beck believes Harline has significantly upped his game from last spring, when he was a relative unknown weapon one year off an LDS mission.
So'oto is a prized recruit from the San Diego area who had Pac-10 interest. He's a competitive, combative and aggressive player eager to move into the lineup.
George is a sure-handed receiver who has basketball skills common with past Cougar tight ends, and coaches believe he is too good a target to keep on the bench.
Harline is 6-foot-4, 226 pounds. Coats is 6-3, 256; George is 6-4, 226; and So'oto is 6-3, 240.
The praise for the foursome comes from a person who should know — Mendenhall. And the second-year coach does not hand out compliments with discount coupons.
"The only thing that is more impressive is our depth at running back," Mendenhall said. "Those two positions stand out on our team, not only in depth but in talent. It's not the numbers but the quality of players within that depth.
"I give coach Anae and our offensive staff credit. It was evident after the San Diego State game last year. Much like the issues that come up defensively, I feel (use of the tight end) is reflective putting your best players on the field. I think it is good coaching to use your best players, rather than have your second- and third-best on the sideline. You can only play one, but you can put two or three out there."
Harline, Coats, So'oto and George.
They're running on top of one another like contestants in "Fear Factor."
"They're all capable of putting up big numbers this year, I've just got to get them the ball," Beck said.
E-mail: dharmon@desnews.com