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Provo • If Taysom Hill can stay healthy and Jamaal Williams returns to his pre-injury form, BYU's offense should be able to put up big numbers in 2015. At Wednesday's BYU football media day, offensive coordinator Robert Anae and some players said the offense has the potential to be one of the most prolific in Bronco Mendenhall's 11-year tenure.
BYU's defense in 2015 could be a different story.
It was dreadful at times last year, prompting Mendenhall to decide last January to take over the defensive play-calling duties for the second time.
The coach said Wednesday it "remains to be seen" how long he will direct the defense (Nick Howell still carries the defensive coordinator title), but Mendenhall said the "difficult decision" was "completely independent" and not a reaction to requests from disgruntled defensive players.
"I am not going to say how long it will be, but I think it gives our team the best chance to win this year," Mendenhall said.
Regarding Howell, who did not appear during the media event, Mendenhall said he did not give the young coach the help that he needed to be successful in 2014. During spring camp, some defensive players said their teammates — who have either graduated or transferred — lost confidence in Howell and his ability to lead the unit.
"So I understand the tradeoff [of not spending as much time with the offense as the defense]," Mendenhall said. "I also understand what has traditionally been the result if I work with the defense. I think that adds a level of confidence and security to the program."
Seven regular starters return to a defense that ranked 56th in the country in yards allowed per game (391.5) in 2014, and eight others started at least once during the injury-filled season.
The defense, and specifically the secondary, is perhaps the biggest question mark on paper for the team, but linebackers coach Kelly Poppinga and defensive line coach Steve Kaufusi beg to differ.
"In my mind, I don't think there is any question mark on defense," Poppinga said. "Maybe at safety [after Craig Bills graduated and Dallin Leavitt transferred to Utah State], but from what I saw in spring ball, I have no questions marks there."
Poppinga said Snow College transfer Eric Takenaka and returned missionary Micah Hanneman are going to be good players.
"Bottom line is the defense has a chip on its shoulder. We don't need to talk about it. We don't need to talk about how good we are going to be. We just need to go out and show everybody and play like BYU defenses have played in the past," Poppinga said.
Not having inside linebackers Manoa Pikula and Harvey Langi in spring camp set back their progression a bit, especially Langi, a converted running back, Poppinga said.
"We will see if Harvey can pick it up quickly, because he has all the tools — the size, the strength, the mindset, the ability — to be special," Poppinga said.
Defensive lineman Remington Peck said getting more pressure on the quarterback has been a big emphasis for the defensive line after the Cougars recorded just 27 sacks last year and were 112th in the country in passing yards allowed (269.7 ypg.).
"Probably the most experienced we've been at D-line in a long, long time," Peck said. "We have five guys who have played a lot of Division I football, and then we also have a couple other guys who are going to step up and help us, so I think it will be a good year."
Kaufusi said the return of his son Bronson Kaufusi to the defensive line adds depth and gives the unit a strong pass rusher.
"I feel good about six guys there we can count on," Steve Kaufusi said.
Mendenhall said he was not aware that some defensive players didn't totally buy in last year. However, he believes all the players can try harder.
"I am not comfortable right now with the level of effort that I've seen, nor the level of execution, nor the level of result," he said. "I intend to have a clear delineation of who really will play and who will pretend to play. And normally that's about 15 guys a year, is what it has shown. That means there are starters at D-line, linebacker and defensive back, and there is basically one other on those positions that qualify. So increased demand is what is expected."
Twitter: @drewjay —
BYU's defense in 2014
Yards allowed per game • 391.5 (56th)
Yards allowed per play • 4.93 (32nd)
Passing yards allowed • 269.7 (112th)
Rushing yards allowed • 121.8 (20th)