PROVO -- Coming off a comeback win over New Mexico last Saturday, Oct. 8, BYU head coach Bronco Mendenhall addressed his team's progress and its homecoming game against Colorado State at the weekly media luncheon at Legends Grille on Wednesday.
Opening Comments:
"Good afternoon. I like our football team, I like the direction we're going, and I like the result we had last Saturday. That win came at a perfect time for our program, not only that we did get a win, but it was on the road and it was a come-from-behind victory. It was a game in which we overcame a lot of adversity and played well enough to win, making plays at the critical time to secure the victory in all phases -- offense, defense and special teams. Why is that significant? It is significant now because one of the better teams in our league comes in to play in or stadium, and I think our football team will have to show improvement, even from last week to perform at a higher level for us to compete well and win against Colorado State. We're looking forward to the challenge. We respect Colorado State and think they have an excellent football team, and are anxious to play well at home. What questions now can I answer for you?"
Q: How do you find consistency now?
BM: "I think consistency comes from the coaching staff. I'm not sure there has been a day when the players have expected me to be any different in terms of my expectation of them and the standard of play that I would hold them accountable to. I've told them I'll never get tired, and I intend to keep my word. If they see the leadership of the program varying day to day, then I think they'll vary day to day. I think right now they're doing their best to meet the imposed demand on them, knowing it's the right direction, and as our execution gets better and better, which it is, you'll see consistency manifest itself on the field at a higher level. So I think it still comes from us as a coaching staff and then the leadership of this football team as players."
Q: Coming home this week, what do you think are the unique features of LaVell Edwards Stadium as a home field?
BM: "All the billboards up there that show bowl games. I don't think there's enough room to put the bowl standards and the conference championships. Then you walk underneath the stadium and see pictures of the greatest wins, and there's a lot of those as well. Then you see the name on the side -- LaVell Edwards Stadium -- and that in and of itself holds you to a higher standard, and we are yet as a program in recent history to hold that standard, and that's something that I take personally and that I determine to get right. I think our football team is determined also, but that has yet to happen within the last few years. I think our fans are knowledgeable, I think they know the game, and I think they want us to win as well. There is an expectation when they come to the stadium that we also play to that level that has been manifest by those bowl games, by the conference championships, and by Coach Edwards' name. I think that when they show up to the stadium they expect that, and they're disappointed with anything less."
Q: After facing three option-type quarterbacks, what challenge does facing a stationary quarterback like Justin Holland present?
BM: "(Justin) Holland threw for almost 360 yards against us last year with basically the same receiving corps and not as solid of a running game, so we know very well what he's capable of. It's impressive that he's not a scrambler and he's only been sacked three times in five games, so I'm not sure you could address his durability. So they're clearly protection oriented, and what you'll see is a very precise, accurate passer who delivers the ball before the receivers come out of their routes, with two- or three-man routes that are making breaks and double-moves at 15 to 22 yards downfield, and those are very difficult to cover. Their protection scheme allows them to do that. I think Colorado State would have had a different season last year if Holland didn't break his leg, so we think he's an exceptional quarterback, we think they have great receivers, as they did last year. We know they are going to get some yards and completions, but being able to disrupt that at critical times is going to be our focus."
Q: Could you talk about Kyle Bell and the challenge he presents?
BM: "He played his first game against us last year, and we saw his first action. He's clearly improved since then. He thinks he's the starter now and he runs like he's the starter, and he gets stronger as the game goes on. Their commitment to the run game is different from what it was last year, so he's getting more opportunities to carry the football, and it shows."
Q: Could you talk about the challenge of your secondary covering David Anderson?
BM: "It's a significant challenge. David is a player who catches the ball in critical situations downfield. He's very difficult to tackle; he's like a return specialist after he catches it. He doesn't go down easily, he wants the ball in his hands, and you have to tackle him well. Not only is he a deep threat, but he's a precise route runner, a player the quarterback is going to find in any situation where they need a play. I think their coaching staff and their quarterback also know that he is an exceptional player."
Q: Could you comment on the progress of your own secondary relative to what you saw at the beginning of fall practice?
BM: "I think the execution is becoming more sound than what it was. I think more plays need to be made on the football downfield, with interceptions or knocking the ball down. I will say that if you look at the second half of last week's game where only three points were scored, Justin Robinson made two nice plays on Hank Baskett, who has a lot of inches on him. But our secondary still seems uncertain downfield when the ball is in the air in terms of tracking and going to take it, even though the position is getting better. We need to take another step this week because the ball will go downfield to players who can catch it. We need to have enough protection to make a play on the football."
Q: One team is going to lose momentum on Saturday. Can you comment on how fragile momentum is and how fast it can change?
BM: "It's perspective. As I've heard again this week, 'This is a big game for you,' just like I heard against Boston College. I've heard it each and every week with the same tone as it's presented to me: 'Boy, this a big one,' or 'Is this a make-or-break game for you?' This is now our sixth game and I've heard it each week. So yes, it is big. It will have an effect on both football teams, win or lose, and both will come back and play the next week, win or lose."
Q: Could you talk about Colorado State defensively?
BM: "I see the same system they have employed since Coach Lubick has been there. Their personnel is similar to what it was last year except they're executing the scheme at a higher level. They're making plays now to secure victories."
Q: You mentioned you went in to last week's game with a defensive game plan with relatively few calls. What did you learn from that situation?
BM: "The focus and history of getting to that point was simply our execution. In the previous game against San Diego State there were roughly 20 defenses called in roughly 80 plays where there was at least one missed assignment. When you're talking about Mountain West Conference games where four or five plays change the course of the games, how are you going to win when on 20 plays you aren't doing what you're supposed to do in execution? So that led to a completely reduced plan where some personnel groups had as few as three calls. The next part that led to that was the option part of New Mexico's offense. That forces you to reduce calls as well. But overarching all those is execution being the biggest determinant on how we play from here on out, executing our schemes better than our opponent. Fewer things to prepare for and fewer things to practice allow you to perform a certain scheme at a higher level of efficiency. The offense has taken the exact same approach so we can play harder and we can play more efficiently and with more precision than what we have. We think that, as a coaching staff, will now win the day from this point on."
Q: Will we see Fahu Tahi back this week?
BM: "Yes, you'll see Fahu back. He was back in good standing on Monday. As I commented before, he made a mistake and he was accountable for it like all of our players will be, regardless of how important the game is, regardless of whether they're a starter or anything else. That was consistent and has been with our program from the beginning."
Q: Can you give us an injury update?
BM: "There aren't many new injuries other than Aaron Wagner. We have players coming back, but Aaron Wagner suffered an ACL injury and it looks like he'll be lost for the season. Vince Feula is day-to-day still, and I'm not sure if he'll play. He did not practice yesterday."
Q: With two losses, Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham said his team is out of the conference title chase. Would you agree with that as it relates to your team?
BM: "We're not ever out of it. I still think there's a narrow possibility for TCU to come back down, even though they've played some of the better teams. They still have a lot of games to play as well. Our teams focuses on just one game at a time, and this next one, even though I see the big picture and remain consistent throughout, is an important game. I'm not sure two losses won't win it, at this point."
Q: With Kayle Buchanan coming back, will the rotation of the cornerbacks change at all?
BM: "That is still to be decided. Kayle practiced yesterday and we'll assess how he looks today and Thursday to determine his readiness in both assignments, confidence and making plays. That will determine what the rotation is, how much he'll play and what roll he'll have. It's good to have him back. He gives us size, athleticism and another corner who can play. We've moved two wide receivers to that position recently just so we can practice and develop them, and hopefully they can contribute also. We've been very thin at that position, both in terms of depth and playmakers, as has been manifest through five games. We think Kayle gives us both of those, and we're anxious for him to have a chance to prove that.
"I appreciate it. Thank you for your time."