PROVO -- Coming off one of BYU's most impressive wins of the season, head football coach Bronco Mendenhall addresses the media at his weekly press conference about Saturday's contest against San Diego State University.
BM: "I'm optimistic about our chances this week and every other week from this point on. We have an exceptional chance to continue to play good football because of our player's work ethic, diligence and hunger to move this program forward. We expect to play very well this Saturday."
Q: Which quarterback do you think you will face this week, O'Connell or Craft?
BM: "The word that I've received is Craft. I've learned that there is no for sure thing until you come up to the first play, but that is from their media reports. They've listed Craft as the starter and I am taking that as face value and preparing that way."
Q: Can you breakdown Craft for us?
BM: "I've seen seven plays up to this point and one of those was a long run against the University of Utah where he is chasing the tailback in support. He's tall, 6-foot-5, runs very fast and has played sparingly up till this point but has received the reps that a third has received. With O'Connell out he has received a good amount of reps as the backup. I think the strength of their team is how they run the ball. I would see them continuing along that path."
Q: Can you contrast the team's identity from last year heading into SDSU this year?
BM: "I'll not only contrast our team but our coaching staff too. Our program was searching and a new head coach was trying to find the correct answers and the correct formula in terms of managing a team and a program. Our assistant coaches were trying to do the same. They were providing the effort and the determination, but I think the schemes and the games were not managed at the highest level. We've all made progress since that point. Our coaches and players' expectations are at a higher level with a lot more confidence and security on having less unknowns. Our team is becoming aware of who they are, what we expect and what they are capable of doing. They are carrying themselves with a clearer identity and focus than a year ago."
Q: So last year's game against SDSU was kind of a landmark game?
BM: "The results after the game proved that it was a landmark game. They out-coached us and outplayed us in that game. They gave us a chance to examine our scheme as a coaching staff and how to use our players more effectively. We went on to win five of the next six with the changes we made based on that one particular game. When you have a loss like that when it is not close then you know what you are doing is not the right answer. The changes we made on both sides gave our players the best chance to move forward and we've carried on since that point with slight modifications."
Q: Last year you were called for 18 penalties on pass defense and this year only two so far. Can you tell us why there has been such good improvement?
BM: "There are three things that contribute to that. One, the coverages we are playing allow us to see more downhill instead of uphill which put us in panic mode. Experience of those same players last year that went through the 18 pass interferences called and balls caught over their heads has also played a factor. They've been through the ridicule, scrutiny and exposure that is part of being a BYU football player when you don't perform at your highest level. They also are being coached at a very high level by Coach Hill and he has done an exceptional job of giving them the proper technical skills and weapons to perform at their highest level."
Q: Last week you opened the playbook a little bit more against TCU, will you continue to do that as you move in Mountain West Conference play?
BM: "We take advantage of what a defense allows us to do. TCU had spent the entire summer scheming what they would do against Baylor, Texas Tech and BYU which are all similar in pass-game philosophy. With each alteration in change there is a risk of being exposed. They provided an opportunity to throw the ball downfield more through the emphasis of taking away the short pass. What I think that provided us to open the playbook a little bit more was converting third and long situations and that was tributed to John's accuracy and our offensive execution. Those situations are the hardest to convert and since we were able to do it that many times gives the perception that we were able to open the playbook. Those are really the same things just executed at a higher level and taking what the defense allows us to do."
Q: Only giving up 17 points a game this year how big of a leap of faith was it for you to change from the defense you brought with you and when did the team finally get confidence in what you were trying to do?
BM: "It was a significant adjustment. I've never been a relatively conservative coach on defense. Through the research of the program it all comes down to points and getting the best personel to manage those points. All those things led to and contributed to how it is working. It is working right now how it was designed to work and when did I notice that or see it change? I would say the Arizona game. No one expected us to play that well that early and it has stated the course since then. We're five games into it and certainly more to go, but we're improving and have improved each week. We are playing the same things week to week just at a higher level."
Q: You haven't given up many big plays this year why is that?
BM: "Its all part of the defensive philosophy and alignment. There are multiple levels like the first level, second level and third level and then leverage from the outside in so most of those plays are all in front of us or inside of us. It makes it difficult to move the ball in significant chunks against this defense and that's part of the approach. What it comes down to is making enough plays when we need to through turnovers, field goals or even blocking field goals to manage that. It is a more patient approach but requires an offense to execute at a higher level longer. If it is a fourteen-play drive it is amazing to see how many times on play 11 or nine there is a miscue that allows you to get out of a drive. We are willing to play those percentages and say that our execution will beat your execution. As long as we don't give up those big chunks you are talking about we should be able to win the battle of managing those points."
Q: Last year verse Utah they had a new quarterback and you had to prepare for that, are there any similarities in preparing for a new quarterback like you did before?
BM: "it helps our team knowing that we've already had a number of new quarterbacks come in and play well against our team like TCU and Utah. We've seen enough of Craft to know that he has the size and the mobility to move the ball. He's a coach's son so football is not new to him. He's probably craving the opportunity to come to BYU, to start and show what he can do. On the surface he's the third quarterback but we are preparing for San Diego State's best game."
Q: How do you anticipate not having a let down after a big game?
BM:: I'm remaining consistent. Our coaches and players don't expect anything less. We have a job to do, expectations to meet, but more importantly we have goals to meet. Our two captains stood up and addressed that yesterday in our team meeting and addressed that very thing, it didn't have to come from me. When that happens I feel a lot better and that they already understand what is at stake and what the possibilities are. We haven't won 13 straight, 30 at home or the conference championship last year so we still have a lot to prove. It was a significant win but it was just one win. We have more that we need to accomplish."
Q: Talk about SDSU's defense?
BM: "Nine of their 11 players are back that held us to 10 points last year. They had a change in the defensive coordinator and secondary coach but they have speed and athleticism and probably have as good talent defensively as any team in the league. I've been impressed."
Q: How big of a loss is Hamilton and what does the backup Henderson mean?
BM: "Hamilton is a loss because of his experience, he is a rallying point for their team and some one that their team has confidence in. If you watch Henderson, his backup, he is quick, fast and confident. If you just went on pure athleticism there isn't much difference but I would say the experience, chemistry and continuity is probably what you will lose with Hamilton."