PROVO -- Near freezing temperatures and damp conditions were not enough to keep the Cougars indoors as the defense shined at Thursday's practice.
"It was just another work day," head coach Bronco Mendenhall said. "We focused on making some needed adjustments and correcting some of the things that needed improvement. We are not trying to add any wrinkles to our game plan, but just the opposite. We're trying to streamline everything even more."
In team drills, the defense allowed the offense into the Blue Zone only one time and kept them from scoring with an interception in the end zone.
"Last season only nine teams allowed fewer points than us," Mendenhall said. "It's all about the points. That was and is our main goal."
Quarterback Cade Cooper saw most of the action with the first team offense Thursday. He completed his first seven passes as the offense drove the ball into the Blue Zone before Jeff Sorensen intercepted a pass to end the threat.
Cooper recorded the longest pass completion of the day, a 19-yard toss to tight end Dennis Pitta. Running back Harvey Unga recorded the longest run of the day with a 19-yard scamper. Sophomore Kelly Bills also recorded an interception against a pressured Max Hall on a third-down screen pass over the middle of the field.