‘We gotta perform in the games’: BYU coaches mostly reserving their praise in preseason camp

BYU offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick talks with defensive coordinator Jay Hill after BYU held their first fall football practice in Provo on Wednesday, July 31, 2024. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

A year ago, as BYU welcomed more than 60 newcomers to its Big 12-bound football team, several longtime assistant coaches proclaimed that it was one of the deepest and most talented collection of players in recent memory.

Offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick was perhaps the most effusive in his praise, saying the offense he oversees had upgraded in every position with the exception of quarterback, where Kedon Slovis was replacing one of the better QBs in the past decade at the school, Jaren Hall.

But a face-plant in the opener against Sam Houston, similar duds on offense in several Big 12 games, and a 5-7 overall record has a way of changing attitudes, approaches and perspectives.

Early in preseason training camp this year, coaches have been decidedly more reserved in their praise, particularly Roderick, who met with reporters after Friday’s third practice, and the first one in shoulder pads.

“I think it is a good group,” Roderick said, when asked specifically about the receivers. “I think we have a good group of offensive players. We have depth at every position. But it is time for us to go do it in a game. And that’s pretty much what you are going to hear from me all camp — is we gotta perform in the games. I believe that we will. I believe in those guys, yes, absolutely.”

Defensive coordinator Jay Hill also met with reporters for the first time in camp on Friday, and was a bit more liberal with his praise — saying coaches “hit a home run” with the freshmen recruits they’ve brought in to play defense — but also stressed that this group hasn’t done anything yet.

More of Hill’s thoughts on the…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/gotta-perform-games-byu-coaches-193000343.html

Author : Deseret News

Publish date : 2024-08-05 19:30:00

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