Tonga's impact at BYU practice immediate on Monday

Offensive coaches wasted no time placing Manase Tonga in formations as the lead blocker for Harvey Unga in the initial 11 on 11 segment of today’s morning practice. From that spot, Tonga also had a few carries and pass receptions.

Tonga’s impact is immediate because of his experience at that position; no hesitation, the correct read. On one play, safety Scott Johnson challenged Tonga who ran right over him, knocking him to the ground. The move by Johnson was gutsy, but the law of physics ruled. Johnson suffered a concussion and was not moved for several minutes while Bronco Mendenhall re-directed the practice to the other end of the field.

Tonga an impact player? Ask Johnson.

While Jan Jorgensen and Matt Bauman shared a sack on Hall, the senior responded with several impressive long passes to McKay Jacobson and O’Neil Chambers. Hall completed 7 of 8 passes for 82 yards and a touchdown to Dennis Pitta.

Interestingly enough, in a scaled-down skeleton pass/defense drill three separate corners intercepted passes. Those plays came from Scott Johnson, Brian Logan and Lee Aquirre. While those picks are kind of meaningless in that kind of drill, it did signal the focus on man coverage and the proximity Hill is asking the secondary to be in relation to the receiver this fall. That may not translate man coverage every down, but Hill believes he’s got talent capable of making plays.

A walk-on prospect attended practice. Tyson Marks is a corner from St. Louis High School in Honolulu. Marks has served an LDS mission to Riverside, California. More walk-on fodder will be showing up in camp the next week. O-lineman Jesse Taufi, a potential starter, is expected to make his first appearance in practice once school begins next Monday, Aug. 31.