BYU Football: Hiking the ball now a snap for Cougar center

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Provo » What looked like a weakness in spring camp -- the snap to the quarterback from the center -- is now one of the strengths of the BYU football team in fall camp.

Coaches can thank the hard work of offensive lineman Terence Brown for that. A regular at guard in 2009, Brown took over at center in spring camp and his snaps in shotgun formation those first few practices of spring left a lot to be desired.

But Brown worked on the technique all summer, and so far in fall camp mistakes have been few and far between.

"I have had a couple [bad snaps], but it is a lot better than spring. I am very confident with that, so we are not worried about that anymore," he said. "I just have to make sure I do it every time, and we will be fine."

Coach Bronco Mendenhall said last week that Brown's improvement in that vital aspect of any offensive play has been one of the best developments of fall camp. Brown said he had never played center before in his life before March, but the position has grown on him.

"When you start something new, it is always frustrating. But now I love it. I am happy to contribute on the team where ever I can," he said.

Defense in front?

In live scrimmages at LaVell Edwards Stadium, BYU's first-team offense has had trouble scoring on its first-team defense. The same was true at Wednesday's scrimmage at the practice field.

Monday, the Cougars worked on third-down situations in their first scrimmage session, and the offense was able to pick up a first down only once in 10 plays. But Mendenhall said he's not concerned, yet.

"Based on today ... I am not really ready to make a collective statement [that the defense is ahead]," he said. "I think it swings back and forth. When it comes to live work, it seems like that might be the case [that the defense is ahead], but the day to day, I think, swings pretty evenly."

Starting quarterback candidates Jake Heaps and Riley Nelson fared much better in the other team session Monday, with Heaps completing 7-of-7 passes for 62 yards and Nelson going 4-for-6 for 40 yards. Nelson also rushed four times for 21 yards.

Mendenhall said the Cougars will conduct another fully padded scrimmage Wednesday at the practice field, but the emphasis will be on the younger players and many veterans will be held out, as they were Saturday.

Linebacker battle

Shane Hunter and Aveni Leung-Wai ran with the first team at inside linebacker Monday, with freshman Zac Stout and Brandon Ogletree working with the second team. That spot is perhaps the most hotly contested on the team, along with starting tight end.

Sophomore Austen Jorgensen is also in the mix, but he left practice early Monday with a sore shoulder.

After viewing the film from Saturday's scrimmage, Mendenhall said the leaders in the inside linebacker battle had not changed.

Briefly

Mendenhall said the Cougars will begin installing the game plan for Washington at Thursday's practice. ... He said plans right now are for offensive coordinator Robert Anae to remain in the press box during games, and for quarterbacks coach Brandon Doman to be on the field, just like last year.