Fall camp builds on first scrimmage

PROVO, Utah — Coming off its first scrimmage on Saturday, BYU football participated in the 10th practice of fall camp Monday afternoon.

The team was excited to get back on the field Monday to make adjustments after reviewing film from the scrimmage. Coaches and players talked about the scrimmage as well as Monday's practice session when they met with the media following practice. 

VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS

Head coach Kalani Sitake

Saturday’s scrimmage
“We had some good drives. We had a couple of mistakes but I thought they did better than I anticipated.”

Today’s practice
“I love the way the team is working. I feel really excited about all of the position groups and the way they’re being coached.”

“I think our guys are doing what we anticipated, what we expect. I just want our leaders to keep leading and this team will be fine.”

Offensive line’s play
“Our offensive line is really physical. And the defense is going to have to learn. The best way for our young guys to learn is to throw them into the fire right away.”

“I like how they’re battling in the trenches and they’re a deep group. And we were able to run the ball and throw the ball because the o-line did their job.”

“They seem to have good communication with each other. Obviously Tejan (Koroma) is the guy who is leading the group but they’re getting comfortable playing together. We’re mixing in guys and they feel a lot more comfortable having all those practices, being in pads and just getting ready to go live. It’s motivating for them.” 

Looking to the first game
“We’re a few weeks out and our guys are excited. They want to play the game already so we’re just keeping them anxious and excited for the game. And when it comes, we’ll let them fly.”

Offensive coordinator Ty Detmer

Saturday's scrimmage
"We had a few drops that could have been big plays for us. We talked to the receivers, the tight ends, the backs, they’re all involved in that, it’s not just the receivers. And so you let them know that there are plays left out on the field. And we could have been really good on Saturday had we made some of those plays. Things like a dropped ball here or there win or lose a game when you’re playing really good teams."

Depth
"I think with the skilled players, we’ve got a lot of depth there. We’ve got youth, but we’ve got a lot of depth. On o-line we’ve got three seniors up there, and so we feel like the young guys behind them they need some reps, they need to see different looks they’re going to get. So they’re getting some work right now because we feel pretty comfortable with the older guys that are in there. We’re trying to get the younger guys plenty of work to be ready to go. 

Offense's progress
"I’m happy with our progress, we’ve still got work to do. I hate to talk about last year, but compared to last year we’ve got more in right now because the recall’s been good by our players. They did the work in the offseason, so we feel comfortable with where we’re at, but comfortable gets you beat a lot of times too. There is plenty of work to be done, but we're overall excited with the progress the guys have made. The younger guys have gotten a feel for things and understanding when to run and when to sit in the pass game. It’s a good combination right now. It’s a matter of just fine tuning and as we get to game week, putting a game plan together and really getting comfortable with that."

Backup quarterbacks
"They’re doing great. Combined, the quarterbacks were about 70 percent throwing in the team period on Saturday. When you’re having that consistency with that group you feel pretty good about things." 

"In the next week, we’re probably going to have to name that backup or just have a couple guys ready to go based on the situation. Beau (Hoge) is doing well and still needs the reps. For a quarterback it’s all reps, and then once the season starts they don’t get a lot, so you try to mix in a couple here and there every day. We need to get them all as many as we can right now and then see where it ends up. But he’s done well. He’s athletic; you see him move around and make some plays with his legs. Koy (Detmer Jr.) understands it. He sees it, he knows where to go with it. Then you’ve got Joe (Critchlow) and Kody (Wilstead), kind of returned missionaries that are starting to figure out the timing of things and get their legs under them."

Offensive lineman Tuni Kanuch

Fall camp so far
"For me, it’s been great. We’ve been physical — it’s been one of the most physical fall camps I’ve been a part of. It’s been so fun and so physical. I feel great, I feel healthy. Our team looks healthy as a whole. It’s one of the best teams I’ve been a part of."

What makes the team different this year
"We’ve really bonded as a team, a family. We say that every year, but we really are a family off the field. Everyone is hanging out with each other, going to each other’s houses and eating dinner together. That shows on the field because we trust each other, we know that someone is going to be there. And we don’t want to take a day off. You want to be competitive on the field, otherwise you’re letting your brother down. You don’t want to let the coaches or BYU down."

Depth of offensive line position
"We have a ton of guys ready to play. Everyone is gritty. Everyone is competitive — it’s not just the ones, but also the twos and the threes. Everyone is trying to get a piece of that field and trying to travel. That’s one reason why it’s been so physical. Everyone is trying to play and be better than the next player."

O-line adjustments to be made before the first game
"For us, it’s about getting better every day. We can never be where we want to be — you always want to take that next step. We covered a lot of scheme, so we’re trying to ramp up technique and be physical."

Defensive back Tanner Jacobson

Status of safeties
“I think we’re doing great. I think it’s been said multiple times that the safety group is a very deep group talent-wise and skill-wise, so it’s exciting to go out and compete with all of your buddies and people you’ve been working with for forever.”

Scrimmage giving confidence
“There’s nothing quite like a game, but the scrimmage was a nice change to up the intensity a little bit and to get some contact in and tackle again.”

Secondary adding competition
“It pushes everybody to get that much better. You know the guy behind you, in front of you or beside you is bringing it, so it’s just that little extra push that you need to become great.”

Improvements going forward
“Like the coaches have said, it’s the little things. Just kind of fine tuning your fundamentals because all of us can run, all of us can tackle, all of us can make plays. It’s really just getting down to the details, getting to the right spot, getting your eyes right and then making plays.”