Spring Roundup: BYU Football

BYU started spring practice March 17.  The Cougars, who had consecutive 11-2 seasons and back-to-back Mountain West Conference titles are looking to make it to the BCS in 2008.

The Cougars do not lose much offensively with freshman All-American Harvey Unga and QB Max Hall, plus multiple other key positions returning. The thing that BYU needs to figure out this spring is to find replacements for Bryan Kehl and Kelly Popinga at the linebacker position.

They need to find more depth and improve the secondary overall. 

BYU should be fine because of the amazing job the coaching staff did when injuries really hurt the defensive backfield, playing second- and third-string players and still able to defeat Utah and UCLA.

So far the coaching staff has limited full-contact drills to save players from being injured and not at 100 percent for fall camp and the season. The staff still gets the necessary knowledge with limited contact to create a early depth chart, as well as, to get the walk ons and younger players the ability to get a grasp on the scheme.

2008 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
DATE	OPPONENT
8-30-08	NORTHERN IOWA
9-6-08	at Washington
9-13-08	UCLA
10-3-08	at Utah State (Fri.)
TBA	at Air Force
TBA	NEW MEXICO
TBA	UNLV
TBA	at Colorado State
TBA	at TCU
TBA	WYOMING
TBA	at Utah
TBA	SAN DIEGO STATE

So far this spring the linebacker position is WIDE open.  Shawn Doman and Matt Bauman worked with the first team and gave way to Matt Ah You and Terrance Hooks who have been working with the second team.  Nothing is finalized as of yet. 

Offensively, according to coach Bronco Mendenhall, the team is ahead of last years pace.  That can be attributed to the offense being unchanged and not as many spots to fill.

According to the amazing website National Champs, they have their early bird spring analysis with QB Max Hall and TE Dennis Pitta who are both ranked in the top 15 players at their position nationally.

The annual Blue/White Spring game will take place on April 12.

For more spring news go check out Cougar Legion.