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Preseason football camps are always an exercise in optimism and hope. It’s no different in BYU’s fall camp after two weeks. Coaches, players and media reports from camp are positive and glowing. You hear it regarding the defensive front and secondary, as well as praise heaped on running backs and receivers and how second-year QB Bear Bachmeier has stepped up.
Defensive tackle Keanu Tanuvasa told reporters Monday he was pleased with the team’s progress and called it the epitome of “complementary football.”
Still, there is plenty of work to do. The offense needs polish brought by constant repetition. Bachmeier needs increased chemistry and timing with receivers, and the offensive line needs continuity and trust between the five positions and those backing them up. The kicking game needs to emerge when pressure is applied, and who is going to replace kick and punt return ace Parker Kingston?
The next few weeks leading up to the opener against Utah Tech is all about fine-tuning the work. The clock is ticking.
Question of the week
One week into fall football practice, has there been some evidence of progress by an inexperienced receiving corps under pass game coordinator Fesi Sitake?
Jay Drew: Fesi Sitake, Aaron Roderick and Kalani Sitake have repeatedly said that the current group of BYU receivers is as good, collectively, as any in the Sitake era. At first, that seems hard to believe. Maybe we just have to take the coaches’ word for it. After all, they’ve seen much more of spring camp and the first week of preseason training camp than the media has.
I will say that the highlights BYU has posted on its social media sites have been impressive. In particular, true freshman Legend Glasker has made some notable plays, including one over all-everything cornerback Evan Johnson and another during the media viewing portion of Monday’s practice. I’ve personally heard that Oregon transfer Kyler Kasper is proving to be a handful for the secondary, along with the tight ends, Walker Lyons and Roger Saleapaga.
I’m still not sold that BYU has a true burner among this group — JoJo Phillips and Glasker are probably the closest to earning that distinction — or that a bona fide go-to guy, like Chase Roberts was last year, has emerged. But so far, what has been displayed has been encouraging.
Dick Harmon: I don’t think the WR corps will be that big of a question mark once this season kicks off and all is unveiled. The problem for the media is the limited access to witness the progress of this group. So, we turn to folks who see things every day.
I’ve spoken to several people, one who has seen nearly every practice in the Kalani Sitake era. He said Legend Glasker, who is a freshman from Lehi playing with the first team, is the most impressive freshman receiver he has ever seen. JoJo Phillips is making impressive plays and stepping up as the veteran receiver he is and should be.
I think Glasker can take the top off a defense and become a legitimate deep threat that will stretch defenses and enable Aaron Roderick to more fully exploit defenses with the runs and his tight end duo of Walker Lyons and Roger Saleapaga.
In speaking with former BYU linebacker coach Barry Lamb, who now lives in Lehi and has seen Glasker play, he echoes what I’ve heard: that he is very talented, extremely skilled and will make an impact immediately in the program.
Cougar tales
With fall practice entering its second week with half a dozen practice sessions, here is a list of some of our camp stories:
- Explaining roster comings, goings (Jay Drew)
- New RB addition bolsters offense (Jay Drew)
- New beginnings, familiar faces (Dave McCann)
- Gentry prepares for Season 2 (Dick Harmon)
- Bear, A-Rod speak about backups (Jay Drew)
- Why BYU didn’t bring in more WRs (Jay Drew)
- Way ahead of last year (Jay Drew)
In other news, BYU basketball made it official with announcement of signing of big man from Poland.
From the archives
From X-verse
Extra points
- Zach Wilson, wife have baby 7 weeks early (KSLsports)
- Knowing CB coach Lewis Walker (Provo Daily Herald)
- Former Cougar John Fought fixes golf layouts (Deseret News)
Fanalysts
Comments from Deseret News readers:
Sans injuries, no player behind Bear has a shot at ever playing meaningful snaps at BYU. If Watson is truly good, he will transfer.
With Lyons returning from his half-mission for next season, I actually wonder what happens between the two of Lyons and Bachmeier.
Does Bachmeier transfer? Try and get drafted or stay to start his junior season?
If BB stays, what does Lyons do? I don’t believe he served a one-year mission to come back and sit a year. Can the BYU billionaires convince him to stay and wait one season? And what if BB wants to play his senior season?
There is no way on this earth Lyons sits two years behind BB. And BB would not stay if he got beat out by Lyons.
The timing is not ideal to keep both. Ideally you can pay Lyons enough to sit a season and then have to make sure BB goes to the draft or transfers after his junior season.
And what if his draft grade is low and he doesn’t want to go to the draft? So many scenarios. And very few where BYU keeps both for any length of time.
— ArizonaUte
They might end up being the best group of receivers that BYU has ever had. But let’s be honest, if there was a receiver that had entered the portal in the fall (remember, there no longer is a spring portal window), and was still available, and worth signing, they would have signed one. I guarantee you they looked. If Roderick or any coach says they didn’t look they are either lying, or not doing their job.
— 2020
Up Next
- Aug. 12 | 8 p.m. | women’s soccer | @ UCLA
- Aug. 15 | 1 p.m. | women’s volleyball | BYU
- Aug. 19 | 6 p.m. | women’s soccer | @ Wisconsin
- Aug. 22 | noon | women’s volleyball | Utah Tech
- Aug. 22 | 7 p.m. | women’s soccer | USC
- Aug. 27 | 7 p.m. | women’s soccer | Minnesota
- Aug. 28 | noon | women’s volleyball | @ Florida State