PROVO, Utah – The BYU football team started the final week of fall camp on Monday before turning its focus to game prep week for the season opener against Arizona on Sept. 1 in Tucson.
A Look at the Linebackers
BYU assistant head coach and special teams’ coordinator Ed Lamb moved over from safeties to coach linebackers for the 2018 season. One of his top priorities is finding someone to fill the shoes of linebacker Fred Warner, who was selected by the 49ers in the third round of the 2018 NFL draft.
The Cougars have 13 players, including six seniors, listed at the linebacker position for the 2018 season. Senior Zayne Anderson made the transition from safety to linebacker during spring and has added to his frame but still kept the speed needed to fill the position that Warner vacated.
Butch Pau’u returns for his final season at BYU and looks to leave his stamp at the middle linebacker position while redshirt freshman Christian Folau looks to be a star in the making. Another senior, Sione Takitaki is back at the linebacker position, his natural fit, to provide a pass rush and athleticism to the group for his final season as a Cougar. Adam Pulsipher is a savvy veteran with loads of experience that can play every linebacker spot.
Riggs Powell, Rhett Sandlin and Isaiah Kaufusi will also add their experience to the depth of the linebacker position throughout the season. AJ Lolohea and Hirkley Latu both impressed during spring and BYU also adds return missionaries Max Tooley, Drew Jensen and Jackson Kaufusi as well as Payton Wilgar to the roster.
The following quotes are from Monday’s post-practice media availability.
Head Coach Kalani Sitake
Thoughts on the last scrimmage film
“It was a good scrimmage. A lot of live work. We had about six sacks, forced three fumbles and recovered two. I was really pleased with what I saw from the defense compared to the first scrimmage. The run game looked really good. I don’t know if we saw enough separation from the quarterback position.”
On the running back competition
“Squally Canada was taking the first team reps, but I thought Lopini Katoa had a really good day. Tyler Allgeier did some really good things as a running back and Riley Burt did some good things as well.”
On the wide receivers identity
“I think you have to look at their coach. He demands a lot from them and they understand the game. If you look at them when they’re not catching the ball and when it’s not a pass play, that defines them. They block well down field. In order for us to have big plays in the run game and the pass game they’re going to have to do their job blocking down field. I’ve been really happy with that so far.”
On the timetable of naming starting quarterback
“Well, we have to do it before the first game. It can’t be a coin toss. We’d like to have it done as soon as possible. Our guys have to get used to who the starter is. In order for us to get that done right, and if we want to be prepared, I’d say a week before the first game. For most positions, we’d like to have them all determined a week before.”
Linebacker Sione Takitaki
On how the defense did in the scrimmage last week
"I feel like the defense played well. When you’re working on a lot of things, there isn’t really one thing to work on, but we just have to play as a team. The defense didn’t do too well and the offense didn’t do too well."
On the changes during practice to prepare for the game next week
"It’s coming up pretty soon from the start of fall camp to now. Everybody’s locked in knowing that they’re going to be separating the teams and scout teams and stuff like that. It’s kind of a good feeling that it’s getting close."
On locking down plays and fine tuning
Every day is a work day. We came in and we had to work on a lot of stuff in the linebacker room and I’m sure every room was like that. Every day we come in and we need to fix some things and we attacked the day.
Defensive back Troy Warner
On making the transition from safety to corner
Just getting in the film room. Preston Hadley is a really good coach, he’s super smart and he’s been able to help not only myself but other guys in the room to exceed expectations at that position.
On the preparation for game week during fall camp
"You really have to get your mind right that week because it’s only a matter of days before you play that opponent and the season is starting. There’s no way you can fool around at practice because it’ll translate directly to the games."
On what the defensive backs want their identity to be
"Just being ball players. Whether that’s going up and attacking the ball in the air and getting turnovers, or whether it’s being tackling machines. We want to be known as guys that do it all."