There are a few people based on depth or their ability to impact our team that I think the risk-reward isn’t worth it. Probably the same guys (will be held out) that didn’t play in the first scrimmage. – BYU coach Bronco Mendenhall
PROVO — Two weeks down, two to go.
BYU opened fall camp two weeks ago and in two weeks, the Cougars open the season at Nebraska (Sept. 5).
Saturday, BYU will hold its second scrimmage at LaVell Edwards Stadium. It is closed to the public.
The first scrimmage, held last Saturday at Edwards Stadium, provided coaches with a glimpse at most of the top personnel. The focus of this scrimmage will be on execution and consistency.
“I think what I’ll look for more than anything,” said coach Bronco Mendenhall, “is where the schemes and execution is, maybe not so much the personnel identification, which was probably one of the initial things I looked at in the first scrimmage — are we practicing the right people? Now it’s where the schemes are and how consistent we’re becoming.”
In the first scrimmage, center Tejan Koroma, running back Algernon Brown, wide receiver Mitch Mathews and nose guard Travis Tuiloma were among the starters who were held out of action. Expect the same for this scrimmage.
“There are a few people based on depth or their ability to impact our team that I think the risk-reward isn’t worth it,” Mendenhall said. “Probably the same guys (will be held out) that didn’t play in the first scrimmage.”
Two weeks into camp, Mendenhall is pleased with what he’s seen from playmakers on the offensive side of the ball, even though the offense scored only one touchdown in the first scrimmage.
“It’s happening every day in practice. (Quarterback) Taysom (Hill), obviously, is (a playmaker). If anyone is within five yards, I’m blowing the whistle on him,” he said. “That would have changed the scrimmage. (Wide receivers) Mitch Mathews, Nick Kurtz, Devon Blackmon. Our running game is actually coming along during the practices. Adam Hine’s had a couple of nice days and Francis Bernard. Mostly from the receivers, quarterback and running backs. The skill players. It’s happening in practice, it just didn’t happen on that Saturday.”
Mendenhall said finding a backup center to Koroma is a “work in progress. Parker Dawe, Jacob Jimenez, those two are the leading candidates, possibly with cross-training Kyle Johnson.”
Defensively, coaches are still evaluating the depth chart and cross-training several players.
“We’re trying to find the best 11, the best two-deep,” said outside linebackers coach Kelly Poppinga. “We’ll continue to do that as fall camp goes and as the season goes. We’ve got a lot of guys that can do a bunch of different stuff.”
Defensive back Micah Hannemann did not participate in last week’s scrimmage due to a medical issue, but he’s been back on the field this week.
After hurting his knee during the summer, Hannemann underwent an MRI and a doctor was concerned that he may have seen signs of cancer. The Lone Peak High product went to the Huntsman Cancer Institute in Salt Lake City to undergo more tests. This past week, doctors cleared Hannemann to play.
“There was a little cancer scare, but no big deal,” said Hannemann, who played cornerback during spring practices but has been also gotten reps at safety in fall camp.
As for special teams, Poppinga, the Cougars’ special teams coordinator, likes what he’s seen despite the lack of experience at punter and long snapper.
And he's very comfortable with what senior placekicker Trevor Samson and senior kickoff return specialist Hine bring to the special teams.
“Trevor’s the guy that has the experience. At long snapper and punter, we’re still trying to develop those guys,” Poppinga said. “For the most part, I feel pretty confident. I think Matt Foley is a really good snapper and our punters are young, but they have the potential to be really good. As camp’s gone on, they’ve gotten better and better. As of right now, I feel really good. With Hine back, he’s a returning guy that has the most experience and has shown the most on the field as well. He has the chance to become the all-time kickoff returner in BYU history this year. As long as we can keep him healthy, I think we can do that. Special teams-wise, I think we’ll be fine.”