Are BYU's cornerbacks the Achilles' heel of the Cougar football team?

You'll know in a few days.

But in truth, it's been tough to decipher, even with head coach Bronco Mendenhall expressing his own concerns throughout fall camp.

First of all, Kayle Buchanon, the early slated starter opposite veteran Nate Soelberg, hasn't practiced much during fall camp due to a nagging hamstring muscle. Then backup Chris Hale separated his shoulder. This was before freshman returning missionary Nate Hutchison underwent summer knee surgery and won't be ready until late September.

All these health situations became even more strange when safeties started pulling muscles and sitting out during two-a-days. These have included Dustin Gabriel and Spencer White (broken finger).

The situation has forced cornerback coach Brian Mitchell to shuffle in rookies, guys like Justin Robinson, a junior-college transfer from Independence (Kansas) Community College, and freshmen Brandon Howard, Cade Hulbert and even safety Ryan Beck. Both Robinson and Hulbert promptly had a muscle pull and an ankle injury, respectively.

All the aforementioned are on the mend. Almost all should be ready for the opener against Boston College on Saturday.

On Wednesday, Mendenhall said the corner spot opposite Soelberg had not been determined because Buchanan had not returned early this week. Hale and Robinson are likely candidates to man that position, according to the head coach.

The position coach is staying positive because he's seen progression leading up to this week's game.

On one hand, his rookies are getting time. On the other hand, BYU's offense has been extremely effective in practice at attacking the defense. But the newly tweaked scheme is supposed to do that to defenses.

"I think it's going well," Mitchell said. "The young guys are getting a lot of reps, they are seeing scenarios right now they ordinarily wouldn't get a chance at. That is a positive, they get a chance to play right now in practice and learn where they wouldn't have if the guys ahead of them were out there."

The heat of the battle is how one learns, Mitchell said. "And I expect every one of our guys to be back in time to prepare and play against Boston College."

But to underline how strange Mitchell's task has been, he has used safety Ryan Beck as a corner, and Beck has had to run with the No. 1 defense, at times, as a safety. He has also played No. 1 corner opposite Soelberg. Mitchell, himself, started to participate in drills the other day before Mendenhall moved over some safeties to help.