PROVO -- With the season opener against Boston College at LaVell Edwards Stadium just around the corner, the Cougars continued to make progress Thursday through hard work and consistency.
"Another work day," BYU coach Bronco Mendenhall said. "I think this team is workman-like in its approach. What they've come to understand is that our expectation of consistency will be the same whether it's the beginning, middle or end of two-a-days.
The defense was especially impressive, limiting the offense to two field goals during a scrimmage at the end of the practice.
"I think the (defensive) execution was better," Mendenhall said. "As the secondary learns more of where to go, what to do and becomes assignment sound, that in and of itself takes away a big chunk of the problems you've been seeing.
Starting in the Blue Zone on the first drive, Davey O'Brien Award candidate John Beck got things started with an eight-yard pass to junior tight end Jonny Harline. The defense broke through on the next two plays, sacking Beck for a six-yard loss and Corby Hodgkiss breaking up a pass in the endzone. Sophomore Jared McLaughlin, who Mendenhall noted has separated himself from the rest of the kickers, kicked the ball off the right upright before it went through.
Senior quarterback Matt Berry led the next Blue Zone drive and took the offense to the five-yard line. The defense came up big again as freshman linebacker Richard Nehring broke through, dropping Berry for a five-yard loss on second and goal. After an incomplete pass, McLaughlin drilled his second field goal of the day.
"The Blue Zone was better from a defensive perspective, limiting the offense to two field goals," Mendenhall said. "That was maybe a tell-tale sign of how both sides approached today's practice."
The solid defensive effort allowed junior punter Derek McLaughlin to get some reps. His first punt went over 55 yards and landed in the endzone while his second went 51 yards and had solid hang time. The next two were well placed as one was downed on the four-yard line and the other bounced out at the six.
The Cougars will have another session of two-a-days on Friday, with the first practice being open to the public from 10 a.m. until noon.