Offensive coordinator Brandon Doman continues to retool BYU’s offense

BYU offensive coordinator Brandon Doman continued to implement his new scheme for the offense, as BYU fall football camp resumed Monday evening.

Doman has been given complete responsibility over the offense from BYU head coach Bronco Mendenhall and sophomore quarterback Jake Heaps said he is confident with the offensive scheme that Doman has been implementing. The new offensive coordinator’s attitude and enthusiasm was more than noticeable during Monday’s practice.

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“I think it’s one of those things that he [Mendenhall] has trust in his staff,” Heaps said. “He has total trust in coach Doman and the new offensive staff that he’s just put in and you got to love that. You got to love that he has the confidence in us to get it done and that he doesn’t have to worry about that. All he has to do is worry about defense.”

Heaps looked impressive during Monday’s practice, including completing passes to senior running back Bryan Kariya and freshman wide receiver Ross Apo. He is also working to involve the tight ends more in the offense and wants opposing defenses to feel threatened by BYU’s tight ends this season.

“We have a great offensive scheme. We’re just putting it into place,” Heaps said. “The start of fall camp, it’s a marathon, not a race, and it’s going to take some time to put it together, but you love we’re where starting off right now and where our team’s at, and the talent level that we have.”

Junior backup quarterback James Lark also looked sharp with the second offense Monday evening during scrimmage time against the defense. The junior quarterback had some nice completions and lead the offense down the field on a drive, capped off by a touchdown pass to wide receiver Dallin Cutler on third and goal.

“The drive went great, we went down and were able to score,” Lark said. “My teammates did a great job. My offensive line picked up all of the blitzes that were coming. I had plenty of time to throw on each pass and those receivers made great catches. Everyone did great.”

Lark said he just wants to get better in certain areas during this fall camp and doesn’t think about his spot in the depth charts at quarterback. Riley Nelson, a senior, appears to be the clear-cut back-up to Heaps, but things could change during fall camp.

“I don’t thing about that. Honestly that’s not really my decision,” Lark said. “That’s the coach’s decision. I come in with the same mindset, do my best and see what the coaches do.”

When asked if there could be a shuffling in the depth chart of the quarterbacks, Mendenhall said that anything is possible during fall camp.

“James is doing a really nice job,” Mendenhall said. “He came back in excellent, excellent shape and I’ve been impressed so far in two days and he had a good spring. I’m not saying right now there will be any changes, but camp is long and James has done a nice job through two days.”

In other notes, on Saturday, during the Cougars’ first day of fall camp, BYU secondary coach Nick Howell kept the defensive backs on the field after practice was over. Howell said it was normal and they were just doing some post practice. Sophomores Jray Galea’i and Daniel Sorenson, along with junior Carter Mees, are all competing to fill the whole left by the departure of strong safety Andrew Rich. Sorenson is doing good in practice right now, according to Howell, and all three defensive backs are looking to contribute on defense this season.