PROVO -- With the offense getting most of the attention over the past couple days, the defense stepped up the execution and intensity, preventing the offense from reaching the endzone during team drills at the conclusion of Friday's practice.
The defense forced turnovers on four different drives, including two interceptions, a sack and a fumble recovery. All totaled the defense held the offense to just eight yards rushing, but gave up 17 completions for 125 yards. Junior quarterback John Beck led the offense with 10-of-15 (.667) completions for 87 yards.
"I think we did alright today," middle linebacker Cameron "The General" Jensen said. "Our defense kept them out of the endzone and running wise, we kept them under 85 yards. I think we can definitely can get better."
On the first drive of the drill, quarterback John Beck was two-for-three for 15 yards before being picked off by Nate Soelberg near the endzone.
On the second drive, the defense stopped Michael Morris for a one-yard loss, then stopped Curtis Brown on a completion from Matt Berry for another one-yard loss. The defense forced fourth down after stopping tight end Andrew George on a one-yard reception.
During the next series, the defense forced another fourth down after T.J. Sitake brought down Beck for a 10-yard sack. On Beck's next drive, he completed three straight pass attempts, including a 17-yard completion to Todd Watkins who climbed the ladder and fought off the defensive back for the reception. On first-and-10 from the 23-yard line, Beck's handoff to Joe Griffin was fumbled and recovered by sophomore Sean Sullivan to end the scoring threat.
On the next drive, the defense came up with key, back-to-back plays to stop the offense. Daniel Marquardt sacked Berry for a one-yard loss on second down; then, on third-and-14, Justin Robinson picked off Berry to end the drive.
After Beck got the offense inside the Blue Zone with a 28-yard reception to Michael Reed, the offense was unable to score following a missed field-goal attempt.
On the following series, senior lineman Manaia Brown came up with a key sack that forced a second-and-15. Despite a five-yard grab by freshman Luke Ashworth from Jason Beck, the offense was unable to pick up the first down.
In the final drive of the practice, under hurry-up conditions, Beck managed to drive the offense 20-yards down field in four plays, but a K.C. Bills sack forced a long, final attempt for the endzone as the clock expired. The defense batted down Beck's pass to secure the shutout.
"Overall, they did stop us from scoring," tight end Jonny Harline said. "There were some key plays, like the turnovers we had. But, I think there were some good plays by the offense as well. We had some big plays, some first downs. There are a couple little things that we need to improve on, which I think will make a big difference."
Following Friday's practice, BYU head coach Bronco Mendenhall said he's more interested in the team's attitude and approach, as opposed to which unit had a better practice.
"All I care about is how these guys come out each day--are they unified in their approach, how do they go about practice, how is their work ethic. I would like them to establish themselves as BYU football players first, regardless of offense or defense."
Mendenhall added the first four days of Fall Camp have been productive.
"I would say that we have advanced scheme and established fundamentals," Mendenhall said. "We have a lot of work that needs to be done execution and consistency wise. The re-establishment of exactly what we're doing, who's supposed to be where, knowledge of the scheme--which is advanced of where we finished in the spring--and the establishment of the fundamentals and expectations of practice is what we have accomplished.
"We have also been able to make an early evaluation of some of our new players--as much as we can with them not knowing as much. But, you can see if they are willing and if they have enough ability. Who they truly are, we don't know yet."
OF NOTE:
Junior-college transfer Chris Bolden made his first appearance in camp today. The 6-foot-1, 230-pound linebacker missed the first three days of camp waiting for academic documentation from Riverside Community College. Bolden is one of 15 linebackers in camp.
Defensive lineman Hala Paongo is expected to miss four to six weeks after breaking his hand in Thursday's practice.
The Cougars kickoff the 2005 season in just over just 22 days, playing host to nationally ranked Boston College at 1:30 p.m. (MT). According to the preseason USA Today poll, the Eagles will enter the season ranked No. 22. The Cougars have not defeated a ranked team since beating Colorado State, 34-13, on Sept. 16, 1999.