BYU football: Bronco weighs in on offensive line, new recruits

PROVO — During this week's Mountain West Conference football coaches' teleconference, BYU coach Bronco Mendenhall addressed a variety of subjects. Here are a few of the topics he touched on:

On the problem of offensive line depth: "We anticipate having 15 scholarship offensive linemen by the fall, which is three-deep. I'd still prefer to have maybe two or three more, but that will allow us not only to have the returners healthy, but also have the young players in place to give depth and provide us a chance to have the number of practice reps divided so we can sustain what we need to get accomplished, especially in choosing a quarterback."

On the assessment that BYU is attracting more athletic players: "We are more athletic, we are faster, we are quicker. That doesn't mean that that is now in place of the character and the academics. Some of these kids, especially now that they are becoming more highly recruited, there's a level of entitlement that they feel. Sometimes, they've been allowed to hold on to that by getting away with things either in the classroom, in the community or on the field by cutting corners. We've already seen some of those things and have had to work to address it really bluntly and quickly right from the beginning to make sure that everything here is earned and that it's a privilege to be here."

On playing at Air Force early this season, on Sept. 11: "I don't like it. Air Force is a very, very good football team. The way they execute, the way the compete, and the nature of their young men, it's just a formidable challenge. Normally, I like to have an idea of who our team is first, to try to tailor our schemes and strategies to defend probably what is one of the most difficult opponents in college football. To have to play Air Force so early, and on the road, with some of the questions we have remaining at key positions on our team, it will probably be the most difficult task we will have had in playing Air Force maybe in the six years I've been the head coach. It will be a tremendous challenge."

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