Tweaks, new faces, new schemes highlight BYU defense in spring

But the buzz for what BYU’s new defensive coordinator Kelly Poppinga is doing in spring practice is solid amongst players. They like his personality, his drive, enthusiasm and schemes. Like the man he replaced, Jay Hill, Poppinga wants to create chaos for offenses, and that means getting pressure on opposing quarterbacks by switching up coverages and blitzes.

“Spring has been great,” said cornerback Tre Alexander. “It’s obviously a different voice at the helm of the defense with coach Pop out there, but it’s just taking time to adjust to how he sees things, how he calls plays, but all in all, our standard is the same, the players are the same. ” Alexander has been impressed with new transfers linebacker Cade Uluave, edge rusher Jake Clifton and corner Jaden Williams on the defense.

He says he’s found it fun, and new corners coach Lewis Walker is a new voice and gives a new perspective in wake of the departure of Jernaro Gilford with Hill to Michigan. “Every day he comes with great energy,” said Alexander. “It makes me want to show up to practice every day and give my all for them.

” Players who have been running Hill’s scheme the past two or three years have seen some things change, like they’d witness with any new coach coming in. There are questions in understanding why they want to play that way. “But it’s all been great because I feel like we have a lot of our same defense from last year, which made a lot of plays.