This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2017, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

The Cougars conducted their first practice of 2017 preseason training camp on Thursday, and the words of the day all started with the letter C: cool, comfortable and confident.

Actually, it wasn't all that cool, as temperatures hovered in the mid-90s at the outdoor practice field in Provo. But it was clear that the Cougars think their coaching staff — led by Kalani Sitake, Ty Detmer, Ed Lamb and Ilaisa Tuiaki — are pretty cool guys. They heaped praise upon the staff and the way things are being run.

Defensive end Sione Takitaki said it was a far cry from his last time in a preseason camp — 2015 under then-coach Bronco Mendenhall.

"It was probably like Hell Week with Bronco," Takitaki said. "But now it is awesome."

Confident was the word everyone used to describe Tanner Mangum, who has emerged as the team's leader, along with linebacker Fred Warner. Those two are probably going to be the captains.

"Being the second year now with coach Kalani, it gets better and better," Mangum said. "As each week and month goes by, we are jelling more and more as a team and more as a group. He sets a good example of loving everyone and making sure we are all taken care of. He loves us, and we love him and the whole coaching staff. We are feeling comfortable and confident. I think that comes from the way we worked.

Coach Nu'u and his strength staff have really pushed us. We've done some tough stuff — running stadium stairs every Friday and we are dying. But it helps us bond. It helps us come together as a unit. So now we are excited. Here we are, one month out, we are jelling even more. It is exciting to see that."

Sitake said Mangum's confidence level is through the roof.

"He is one of our leaders on the team," Sitake said. "He's done a great job in the offseason and I am excited to see what he does during the season. Today, he had a good command of the offense and the team. I just sat there and watched him. A lot less work than we had to do last year, trying to implement an offense and defense and special teams.

"Oh, he is feeling great," Sitake continued. "I think you talk to him, he feels confident with the scheme and his looks. I thought he did really well today. He had some nice, crisp throws, and the timing was really nice. We are further ahead than we were last year, and obviously him being more familiar with the offense and being under coach [Ty] Detmer for another year has helped out. I hope that helps us out for another season. I think he is in a different spot than where he was last year, and definitely further than in the spring, so just patiently excited, I guess. One day we will be able to unleash him on the field."

Detmer said the offense is way ahead of where it was at this time last year.

"Their recall has been great," he said. "They've been working hard all summer with their own player-run practices and things like that. So, I feel like we are ahead of the game and we can progress a little quicker, a lot quicker than we did last year.

Tanner's comfort level "is totally different," Detmer continued. "Last year he watched the player-run practices and he is the guy standing in the back because Taysom [Hill] took it over. His leadership has really come through this offseason. You can see it out there, the confidence he has in the huddle knowing that he's the guy and this is his team. So, it is night and day different for him."

Detmer will have to choose soon between his nephew, Koy Detmer Jr., and fellow sophomore Beau Hoge for the backup QB spot. It will be a tough call, because both bring different skill sets to the table. It appears that returned missionaries Joe Critchlow and Kody Wilstead will be relegated to the scout team — or a redshirt year — and Austin Kafentzis will be given a chance to show what he can do at quarterback despite being a bit undersized.

"We are just first day," Detmer said when I asked him if Koy Detmer or Beau Hoge is leading the backup QB race. "So we want to give them plenty of time to know. It may be 2A, 2B, where depending on the team we are playing or the situation we are in, it may be that way. Right now it is kind of up for grabs. Beau brings a lot of athleticism to the table. So, he's got that part of it. He can go in and manufacture things for you at times.

Koy is just really familiar with the system. It is similar to what he ran in high school, so he has been in it for a long time."