PROVO, Utah – BYU football held its second full scrimmage of fall camp on Thursday afternoon.
The team scrimmaged in a modified game format at LaVell Edwards Stadium. The following quotes are from Thursday's post scrimmage media availability.
Head coach Kalani Sitake
On how the scrimmage went
It was a good day today. We had 90 live reps and had some live reps with our special teams as well. I thought defense did pretty good today. I’ll have to watch the film but the first half was really controlled by a lot of what the defense did. But, I think there were some good things later in the second half. I can’t say who I think won. I think the defense did better than they did last time, but I don’t know what statement that makes about how good they did. Everyone played, we didn’t hold anyone out. It was a good day. I thought the guys handled it really well. I didn’t really want to do any conditioning but the guys wanted to so we’ll do a good lift tomorrow and be ready to have a good weekend off, refocus, get ready to finish up camp and get ready for Arizona.
On how the quarterbacks look
Good. They didn’t throw any interceptions so that was good. Our defense forced I think one turnover off of a fumble. I can’t say exactly but I think we got five or six sacks today and had some good work. I think the defense was kind of fed up about hearing about the offense and they wanted to do something about it. That’s kind of what happens in camp. Now that we’ve got two good scrimmages in we’re able to evaluate our guys and start working on the depth chart and guys that will help us on our travel squad.
On the position group that stood out on the defense
I thought the defensive line did a good job of collapsing the pocket a little more. With our pressures and covers, I thought we handled some man covers really well. I’m just really please with them. I think the guys have a lot of pride, they want to play and they want everyone to remember that they’re still here too. I think they did a pretty good job today. Much better than they did the first scrimmage.
On the depth chart
I’m seeing a lot of good movement and guys for ones and twos are really starting to step up. We need more than just eleven guys on offense and defense so we’re just trying to see how many starters and how many game-ready type players we can have.
Assistant head coach Ed Lamb
Overall impressions of the scrimmage
(We saw) improvement on the defense in four-minute situations. Our offense has been bullying around the defense for several practices and in the last scrimmage in big personnel, but defense took it to heart and went to work on their techniques. No changing scheme or strategy—just one side of the ball challenging the other side of the ball and that healthy back and forth. That’s what makes a winning team, so I’m pleased that that’s been going on back and forth in camp.
On turnovers being created
Turnovers usually happen when one side starts to press, so the defense got a few stops early and offense starts to press a little more and getting some long yardage situations and that’s when turnovers occur, so it was good from that standpoint.
On Skyler Southam's progress in the kicking game after returning from a mission
Yeah, I am surprised because it’s hard. I haven’t experienced it, but I’ve seen guys go through that and I think it can be hard for a skill player, and a kicker is a skill player, to get back those skills. It’s one thing to get back in the weight room and get back in shape, it’s another thing to get a skill level back up and he has done that really well. I hoped that it would happen and it has.
Offensive Coordinator Jeff Grimes
Thoughts on the offense
I didn’t feel like we performed as well as we have in some other practices and scrimmages. The positive is we didn’t throw any interceptions. We did have one fumble—a costly one at the end of a drive when we were going in to score—so that was probably the biggest negative. We didn’t make as many plays as we have at other times in both the run game and the passing game. We didn’t really get into rhythm the way I would like to and I think it started with not being as efficient on first down. We had too many times where we didn’t get enough on a first-and-10 so we then were looking at 2nd and 8 and we just kind of got out of rhythm. We didn’t have a great start the first half, but we gathered ourselves at half time. I told the guys during half time that this is a positive to actually see how we respond when we haven’t played as well and made the plays that we have at other times. So, we came out after half and the guys were a little more composed and relaxed and we played better the second half.
On the playmakers for the offense
I think so. I don’t know if we have that one guy who’s going to necessarily go the distance and he’s the guy who the defense thinks they have to worry about and know where he is. I think we have a group that has the potential to play well together and if they play well together then they will have the opportunities for big plays.
On the tight ends
It’s interesting, we have played a couple different guys there and we have great competition—more so than most people realize. We have JJ who is a great blocker and has become a better receiver. We have also given Addison Pulsipher some work at tight end from offensive line. He is a guy who is a little lighter and we felt that could help bring some beef into that position when we want to go heavy and so he has done some good things and catches the ball okay. Then we have guys who are built a little more in the receiving mode—Moroni, Holker and Bushman—but are becoming better blockers as well. I think all three of those guys have the potential to be duel threats and do a little bit of it all.
Quarterback Tanner Mangum
On second scrimmage of fall camp
We had some mistakes but a lot of good plays to build on too. We’ll have to go watch the film and see what we can improve on. Overall, it was a pretty solid day. Both sides of the ball made big plays. It’s always a toss-up in scrimmages as far as who had the best day. We ran a lot of plays today and I think the more the better so we can get comfortable. I like the direction we’re heading.
On watching film
It’s never as good as you think it is but it’s never as bad as you think it is. That’s kind of how I feel about it. It’s good to go in and see things that you missed or things that you could have done better. It’s always a good learning opportunity.
On quarterback competition
Every day is a chance to come out, compete and just play football. We don’t worry too much about the competition itself. We just try to approach it one day at a time, one play at a time and that will take care of itself. Zach Wilson and I are good friends and we’re helping each other out to see things. We’re making sure we’re having fun too just coming out and making the most of every practice. We’re still teammates, we’re still friends and we’re on the same team. We have to do this the right way and help each other. Competition always brings out the best in one another. You can’t take any days or plays off. It has been a really healthy competition to this point.
On offense’s level of preparedness
We’re close, we’re getting there. We have to make the most of every day of camp. We’re definitely not 100 percent but that’s what’s fun about football is that you’re never perfect. You’re never at your complete best, there are always things to get better at. What I love about our team is that we’re willing to put in that work, we’re willing to come in every day and get better.
Quarterback Zach Wilson
Thoughts about scrimmage
I feel that we executed well as a team all around. We mixed it up a lot, a lot of run, jet sweeps, just trying out new things. I think as a team we did pretty well, but have a lot of things to work on as well.
On live practice reps
The live stuff is my favorite because you’re not going to get a better simulation of a game. We’re out here practicing every day and then we come to the stadium. We’re coming out here and doing the same thing.