This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2015, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
I get the question everywhere I go, especially now that the BYU basketball season is over. How is the BYU football team going to look in 2015?
The opener at Nebraska is still more than five months away, but I will say this after watching portions of three or four practices of spring ball: BYU's offense is going to be really, really good. If Taysom Hill stays healthy — a big if, I know — the Cougars will have a phenomenal season on offense, even against a schedule that includes Nebraska, Boise State, UCLA, Michigan, Missouri and Utah State.
BYU's defense? That's another story.
Spring ball doesn't provide the best indication, obviously, and it will take some time for Bronco Mendenhall to work his magic after having taken over the defensive reins from Nick Howell again in the offseason, but right now the picture on the defensive side of the ball is not a pretty one.
And it doesn't help that three inside linebackers (Teu Kautai, Harvey Langi and Manoa Pikula) aren't participating in spring ball, due to academic shortcomings. Dynamic sophomore Fred Warner is also sitting out, due to injury.
Safety Kai Nacua made an interception on Monday in 11-on-11 stuff, but his availability in the opener against Nebraska (and perhaps beyond that) is in question because of his role in the Miami Beach Bowl brawl.
The only defensive unit without huge question marks is the defensive line, where Bronson Kaufusi, Remington Peck, Graham Rowley, Logan Taele and Travis Tuiloma are the returning mainstays. From the portions of spring practice the media has been able to watch, Tuiloma looks like he put on a few pounds in the offseason. He really struggles to keep up in the post-practice conditioning drills, which probably isn't a good thing since there's not a lot of depth at the nose guard position with the graduation of Marques Johnson.
After practice Monday, offensive coordinator Robert Anae appeared in the interview room and wasn't particularly pleased when I asked him if the defense as now constituted can sufficiently test his high-powered offense. Can it put up adequate resistance?
"What kind of question is that? Our defense is a stud," Anae said. "And every play you just hang onto your seat and your guys are tested at the highest level. So I think it is more of the other way around. Which is why we needed [Christian Stewart] this spring. We needed that so everybody can progress and move forward. Man, Stew has been able to do that for the team."
What about the offense dominating in the media-viewing portions of practice, I asked.
"You guys have been completely blindsided. It is spring ball, you are throwing a lot at kids. Once in awhile a guy is out of position," Anae said. "So it is easy to draw conclusions from a little snapshot. Far from the case. It is business as usual. I will say this: the intent and level of intensity on the practice field is attributable to the kids throughout the team from top to bottom."
Here's my report from Monday's practice, which focuses on how senior receiver Mitch Mathews is looking in spring camp. In short, Mathews seems poised for a special year if he stays healthy.
"I see us in a really good position," Mathews said Monday. "Like I said before, this is my fourth spring ball, and I feel like it is the best one, discipline-wise, athletically and just competitively, by far the best spring ball we've had in quite a while on both sides of the ball. It is comforting to know that this is what is going to spring you into summer camp and into summer workouts. It is very comforting to know that we will have a good team."
Last Friday, Taysom Hill said is chemistry with Mathews has never been better.
"Honestly, I think Mitch is one of the top receivers in the country. I think he continues to get better and better, and I think where he has really developed — we came in together and developed together — and he has become extremely smart with his route running. So he doesn't run himself out of windows. If he gets into a window, he is really quarterback-friendly. With all that I have seen him do, I've got a lot of trust in Mitch in knowing that he will be where he needs to be," Hill said.
Asked about Hill's comments on Monday, Mathews said the seniors are determined to go out with a bang this fall.
Smart route running "is something that is a comfort thing, and a veteran thing, being a fourth-year guy" Mathews said. "It is hard for freshmen to do that. Being a senior, I have played in games. I played in all of them last year, and I know where he wants me, and every single play I know where he needs me to be. So our percentage rate on catches has gone way up, just because I know where to be and he knows where to be and we have that four-year jell going for us."