PROVO — Some solid returning experience mixed with a lot of new, but eager faces is what defines BYU's offensive line this spring according to Cougar offensive line coach Garett Tujague.
Such an alignment provides a promising starting point, but also some unique challenges for the third-year coach as he prepares his unit for the 2015 season.
"There's a lot of dudes that got some great reps last year who were starters, but after that it sort of dies off a bit," Tujague said. "So it's going to be about developing those (new) guys so that they can get involved with every play."
The returning experience consists of center Tejan Koroma (sophomore), Kyle Johnson (junior), Ryker Mathews (senior), Ului Lapuaho (sophomore) and Tuni Kanuch (sophomore). While those five collectively are still relatively young, they each provide a solid base of leadership for the group as a whole during spring practices.
"The line is tight and that's helping this spring and will help this season if we stay that way," Kanuch said. "It's different for us this year because we all played, so it helps a lot to get going and then to hopefully bring these younger guys along."
For Tujague, having a solid base of five returning starters provides a unique and exciting element he hasn't had since coming to BYU.
"It's invaluable in that you have a starting point that's deeper this spring than it's been the last two years," Tujague said. "So when you're bringing guys along, you want to teach at the best pupil's level and (make others) catch up. So having that level elevated is definitely helping with our overall culture and (to) develop those younger guys a lot quicker."
With regards to the culture, Tujague is still intent on fielding the most aggressive and physical front five possible, but a group that is more disciplined than it was last season. Too many false-start penalties, and other mental mistakes, hurt production at inopportune times last year, and both players and coaches are working hard to cut down on those mishaps.
"Developing a focus on eliminating penalties is one of our main focuses this spring," Tujague said. "If we catch penalties being made we work to fix (them) right there because that's how it is during a game. It's an individual mistake, but it costs the entire organization. So we're taking huge steps to rectify that immediately."
The rectification process involves conditioning work known as "up-downs" and it's administered on a potentially increasing scale, according to Tujague.
"The first offense has a certain amount of up-downs, but then if there's a second that amount goes up and then up again a third time and so on," he explained. "It can get costly quick."
His players obviously want to avoid the extra conditioning work at all costs, but at the same time are willing to do what it takes.
"If up-downs get more wins, then let's do it," Kanuch said. "I don't mind the extra work when it makes us better and we're all the same way on that. But obviously, you want to do what you need to to avoid all that."
According to Tujague, he likes the attitude shown by his veteran leaders, and also sees an enthusiasm from his younger players that he feels will benefit his position group in the long run.
"All you have to do is watch our practices and see how these guys react when they take the field," Tujague said. "Guys are excited and intent on getting better every day and that's the goal. You need to get better with every day and keep that enthusiasm up. I'm seeing it so far this spring and hopefully that continues."
Email: bgurney@desnews.com
Twitter: @BrandonCGurney