This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Having rolled up 601 yards and 38 first downs against Nevada, but getting just 35 points out of the deal, it is no surprise what BYU's offense is working on this week.

"Ball security," said offensive coordinator Robert Anae, who met with reporters Tuesday morning after an outdoor practice in Provo.

"We continue to do what we do," Anae said. "Ball security is a fundamental we work on every single day. And when [fumbles] happen, it is usually a lack of focus. We do not detour from that intent, that intention."

It could be argued that Algie Brown's fumble against UCF cost the Cougars a chance to win that game, and Terenn Houk's fumble against Nevada was the biggest mistake of that 42-35 loss — at least by an offensive player.

"Well, he is supposed to expect a late option look by the quarterback, which he got," Anae said of Houk's fumble when I asked him what was supposed to happen on the awkward-looking play, a throwback from the QB to an H-back. "A lack of focus caused the fumble. There's no other way to look at that. Simply a lack of focus."

Now, here's an injury report, and then I will get back to more of Anae's comments today.

* It appears that Craig Bills (concussion), Jamaal Williams (ankle) and Brayden Kearsley (ankle) will play against Boise State.

Bills came to the interview room and said he "feels good" and has been cleared to play and that he hasn't had any concussion symptoms since the Saturday after the UCF game.

Anae said, "We hope to get Jamaal back this week and have him to what he can do."

* Linebacker Alani Fua also came to the interview room, then said he hasn't practiced all week and that his ankle was "hurting too much" when he tried to do some running today.

"I mean, I want to play. That's the plan," he said. "Once Friday comes around, I will see how I am feeling." My take: it will be a major surprise if Fua plays.

* Receivers coach Guy Holliday said Devon Blackmon suffered an ankle sprain in practice on the Monday after the Cougars returned from Orlando and that it is a pretty substantial sprain. He spoke as if Blackmon will not play, although a BYU spokesperson put Blackmon and Fua in the "questionable" category for the game.

* BYU said running back Algie Brown (ankle) and kick returner Adam Hine (foot) will not play. It has been reported in places that Hine's injury was season-ending, but BYU said Tuesday that is not the case.

Anae acknowledged that BYU RBs are "snakebit right now" with all the ankle sprains, but said there's no talk of moving another player into that position. Late in fall camp, Toloa'i Ho Ching was moved from linebacker to running back, and the former Alta High product lined up in the backfield for a couple plays Saturday night, but did not get a carry.

Of course, walk-on Nate Carter got seven carries, and made the most of them, picking up 87 yards.

"I am really proud of Nate, and what he has done in the course of his career here in the program," Anae said. "I am very happy he stepped up in a critical moment for us."

Asked whether Carter will get more carries in the future, Anae nodded affirmatively.

"Oh, there is no doubt. He gets a lot of reps in practice, and will continue to get reps in the game. We are kinda snakebit injury wise, in the running back spot, and that opens up opportunities for a guy like Nate."

* Offensive lineman Brock Stringham suffered a career-ending shoulder injury a few weeks ago, but I apparently missed the tweet from BYU on the senior's situation. Best wishes to the senior from Highlands Ranch, Colo., who played a lot last year but could never shake several major injuries in his BYU career.

OK, here's more from Anae, mostly about quarterback Christian Stewart's development:

On Christian Stewart's growth and what he's better equipped to do now:

"Just familiarity, being able now to get a couple games under his belt, to do things at a fast, familiar pace. So that's always a challenge when a new guy comes in as a quarterback. It is never quite the same when you are in that backup role. That's tough, just developing and moving at a pace that a starter moves at."

On the offensive changes he's made with Stewart at the helm:

"He's a different brand of quarterback than Taysom. The offense is geared to the strengths that these players have, right now.

The main thing we have to work on as an offense is to secure the football. That's what we are going into this game preparing to do, preparing to be way better at that than we were."

On Boise State's defense:

"Very similar to our defense. Very similar schematically to what our guys do. There is familiarity with that part of it. But a game like this, there is always a wrinkle. Even if we were playing against our D, there would be a bunch of wrinkles. But the base defense is very similar. Their players play hard, and they have been in a couple close ones that they've won.

I do believe their momentum is pretty good, so we are going to have to go in there and account for that, and respond."

On whether the players have needed encouragement to keep from getting too down:

"Well, we don't talk about it much, streaks, of winning or losing, so far. All we focus on is one week. You got to look through the windshield, and not back at your rearview mirror. So we are going forward, and right now, it is this week. And this week it is Boise State, and that's what we are looking forward to."

On the players' morale:

"No, our guys worked hard yesterday and today. The guys are committed and very interested in doing better than we did last week. That's what we are measuring. You would like to have the end result [being better]. But the focus has to be on right now, getting better, and focus on the journey part of it."

On what attributes Christian Stewart has displayed the last few weeks:

"He has been able to manage the certain amount of chaos that, if you are a backup, you don't manage on a weekly basis. And I think he is growing in that regard. Very pleased with what he has been able to grow with at this point."