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Provo • BYU defensive coordinator Nick Howell answered no fewer than 22 questions on Tuesday about how poorly his group played in Friday's 55-30 loss to Boise State, losing his play-calling duties for that game, what Saturday opponent Middle Tennessee will try to do offensively and several other related topics.
It took him all of five minutes. And he said the same things he did after the 41-33 win over Virginia moved the Cougars to 4-0 but exposed a lot of defensive weaknesses. Four straight losses later, losses that have seen the defense repeatedly torched, haven't changed his opinion of what's wrong.
"I would not say it is one main thing," Howell said. "I would say [it is] guys not doing their jobs, poor tackling and stupid penalties, is what I would say. Same things that have been [happening all season]. We just need to keep emphasizing it, keep getting after it, keep growing, keep doing it."
Bronco Mendenhall said Monday that Howell will call the defensive plays again Saturday and that the second-year defensive coordinator took the one-game reduction of duties well and positively.
Howell's reaction to losing the play-calling duties, then getting them back: "It was just, let's go, let's try to win, try to help the guys win. That was it."
Howell said a couple defensive stalwarts who returned from injury and played against Boise State, linebacker Alani Fua (ankle) and safety Craig Bills (concussion), probably were pressed back into duty too quickly and didn't play well. Fua lasted only five or so plays, while Bills played a lot at strong safety instead of his normal free safety spot and never got comfortable there.
Langi staying put • Injuries to Jamaal Williams, Algie Brown and Adam Hine have severely weakened BYU's group of running backs, but former Bingham High star Harvey Langi, who played the position in high school and at the University of Utah before transferring to BYU last summer, won't be moving back to the offensive side of the ball.
"I love our running backs," Langi said. "But I have committed to the defense. I just want to play linebacker."
Injury update • Howell said Fua (ankle) didn't practice Tuesday and probably won't play on Saturday against the Blue Raiders.
BYU officials said they would provide injury updates Wednesday on the four players who missed the Boise State game: offensive lineman Brayden Kearsley (ankle), kick returner Adam Hine (foot), receiver Devon Blackmon (ankle) and running back Algie Brown (ankle). Of the four, only Blackmon is on the two-deep chart this week.
Twitter: @drewjay —
BYU at Middle Tennessee
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Saturday, 1:30 p.m.
TV • CBS Sports Network