Football back in action during third week of camp

On the ceiling of this team
“We have a lot to go. I’m not going to make any statements. We just got to show it on the field and let people find out for themselves.”

On the state of QB battle
“I think A-rod knows where he’s going with everything. The key is we settle it on the field. I don’t control it, it’s the players. If you want to win the spot, it’s there for the taking. Our job is to put them in a position where they can win the spot, and that’s in every position including quarterback. We still have some more time to see who’s going to be the best fit for running our offense and the best fit for game one.”

How Bear Bachmeier compares to other true freshmen in past QB battles
“You have to be something special with your mindset coming out of high school right into college and then learning the offense, adapting to it, studying it. He has a good feel for the game. The more he’s around the team, the more he and McCae practice and play with the guys on the field, the more comfortable they get. Then, the more they won’t look like a newcomer.”

On him and the staff being cool under pressure
“We just trust the system that we’ve been in. It comes with a little bit experience and knowing how to handle camps and how to make adjustments. We’re in a really good feel right now and have good momentum as a staff. It helps that we were able to keep the whole staff together. With all the continuity going on and the foundation settled, we can focus on other things.”

Other positions in need of clarity
“We have an idea on what we’re going with. We can rotate a lot of different guys at different spots. Quarterback is the one you have a hard time rotating through. Getting as many guys as we can to be able to start is the goal that we want to do and then decide how we want to do our 11 at different times.”

On the team being on track
“Hard to say. I feel good about where we’re heading and the progress we’ve made since last Saturday. The guys are all bought in.”

On adjustments needing fixed today and moving forward from scrimmage
“The main issue was the pre-snap issues. We weren’t set, so we got a few illegal formations. Defensively we had a few missed tackles and probably more than what we would. We had two defensive penalties, one holding and one PI. Playing man coverage, you got to use your feet and not your hands, so we’re still working on that. Overall, the team did a great job with everything. Seeing the film, I was really, really impressed with it all.”

On where McCae shines best with the first team
“I think A-rod does a great job at calling plays that are suited to his strengths. But, there’s things we need to do that are strengths for us. It’s a matter of how we attack the defense and who we give the ball to, who we ought to highlight in certain areas on what the defense is giving us. Having A-rod being able to do that with McCae and do that with Bear is going to be key.”

On the progression of Isaiah Glasker and Jack Kelly’s leadership
“They’re leading the way with live work. They’re out there tackling and hitting and doing all the drills and playing all the special teams. It helps when your top players are doing that. The guys are all bought into being team first.”

On splitting up reps today
“Bear took up the majority today and McCae got some reps, too. As I mentioned on Saturday, we can’t keep doing equal reps with three guys.”

On Bear’s passing
“He throws a lot of completions. He doesn’t take sacks and he’s very accurate at throwing completions.”

On the stress level of the QB battle
“I feel an obligation to do the right thing for our program, our players and our coaches and their families. We have great fans and we want to make sure that we put the guy on the field that earns and deserves it. It doesn’t matter if it is a freshman,a sophomore or a transfer, there is a standard at quarterback. We aren’t going to lower that standard. We need guys to keep stepping up like QBs of the past year.”

On the starting 11
“We still have a lot of work to do, but it’s getting a little cleaner everyday. That’s why you practice. Having a Big 12 officiating crew on Saturday in the stadium was great. We learned a lot of great lessons that day about all the little details that can cost you.”

On confidence level of the O-Line
“I think we’re confident with about eight guys. There is some really good competition going on for those five spots.”

On the team’s confidence
“It’s similar to last year. Nobody thought we were good and I think there’s that going on this year, too. People have lost a little faith in us offensively and the players are determined to show that we still have a really good team.”

On the defense at practice today
“It was a great day of performance. We just stick to our fundamentals. Now that it’s day ( eight, nine, ten, eleven) it’s just can we do the fundamentals even better. We’re looking good.”

On being a leader on the team
“I just try to see it as a role of service. I just want to give them everything, I’ve played four years of college football and they deserve my all. It could be called leadership but I just try to love my team.”

On balancing the excitement for the team and fine tuning things at practice
“I think we’re trying to stay in our rhythm. I think that’s the biggest thing. There’s a lot of joy and there’s a lot of chippiness that’s now getting into practice. And with that it’s just can we stay within our zone and stay within our performance levels. We don’t need to be too high and we don’t need to get too low. If we’re able to maintain that steady level, then we’ll be right where we need to be.”

On his time in the film room and how that affects his game
“I think film is everything. There’s a lot that you need to feel out within your technique, but when you’ve done the basics you know. They say to be a master it takes 10,000 hours and I feel like I’m getting close to that range. Now it’s how can I keep my mind mentally sharp? And that’s what film does, it’s putting yourself in that position prior to the game happening, and that just refines me every day.”

On the starting defense
“I think we’re playing in sync. We grew together as a unit in the off-season, and now we’re able to perform not as individuals but more as a unit and that’s been the biggest thing. And having a great offense of 11 has pushed our defense to be even greater together.”

On how “game ready” the defense is
I think if we needed to play in a few days we’d be ready. Because of the attitude, the effort and the fundamentally sound way that we’re playing, it’s the way we want to see it. I think our defensive line is doing really well. We saw some really great things today and we’re just consistently building. I’d give our defensive line a couple more days as well, but I don’t think we’re far out.”

On his personal goals for the season.
“I had a goal last year, but I didn't achieve it. I’d love to reinstate that goal and that’s to have a QB sack every play. I think the NFL looks for people that are pass rushers as well as run stoppers, and I try to cause havoc. I may not be the terminator of the play but I try to determine where the play goes. So just having a natural and big presence on that field every play, though I may not make the play, just being patient within my technique and bringing that defense along and bringing the best out of everybody.”

On the coaches ability to make tough decisions
“I think the thing that makes challenges easy is synchronization. They’re synchronized into decisions. They’re synchronized into how they’re able to spend their time evaluating, understanding the perspective of others and seeing who’s best to play. That's the tough decision is finding out who's going to play, who’s going to perform and what the team is going to look like. Their synchronization and ability to work with one another is what’s making those hard decisions easy for them.” 

On the culture of the BYU football team
“I think it speaks to the aspect of we love this game. And that’s one of the things that we pride ourselves on, we’re grateful to work hard, but we love the process and we’re learning throughout it. As we see things start to unfold we’re starting to feel comfortable now. The joy is spiking. We’re feeling ourselves back at the level. That we want to be at. This team and the culture really is the love aspect for the game that we play.”