“Week 1 is weird because we are facing a team with a new offensive coordinator and other staff changes, so figuring out what they are going to do keeps me up,” Hill said in Tuesday’s teleconference. “Week 2 is the same thing with Southern Utah. Those are interesting because usually you spend your summer preparing for your first two or three opponents but these guys are a little different because they’ve got new coaches.”

It doesn’t get any easier, either.

Hill knows that as BYU gets into conference play, it will be lining up against some talented opponents.

“Big 12 offenses keep me up as we try to put our players in the best positions to be successful,” Hill said. “Formulating schemes and plans that fit our personnel is going to be critical but that’s what I love.”

There is still a little over a week before the Cougars will run out of the tunnel onto the grass at LaVell Edwards Stadium on Saturday night (8:15 p.m. MDT, FS1) and Hill wants to see his defense zero in on some key improvements.

“There is still a tendency for players to try to do more than their job,” Hill said. “You see guys freelancing a little bit, trying to make a play or do something that isn’t what they are necessarily supposed to do at that point. When we are giving stuff up, it’s because of that. That’s something we can clean up.”

He also will be pushing his guys to be even more sound on their fundamentals.

“Pad level is something you are always focusing on,” Hill said. “That was the biggest emphasis at practice on Monday. We can get better at getting to the football. I believe playing hard is a learned behavior, not something you are born with. That’s something we are continuing to get better at.”

The BYU offense showed Hill a couple of things he will focus on specifically, just as he’s sure Sam Houston and other foes will do in the weeks to come.

“The edge of the defense is something we want to solidify,” Hill said. “Those things are always going to come up. There will be things that pop up in Game 1 that will need to be fixed before Game 2. That’s a constant process as you work to get better from each game.”

With Hill, offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick and special teams coordinator Kelly Poppinga spearheading their specific units, Cougar head coach Kalani Sitake has spent more time roaming around the team instead of being in charge of one group.

“It has allowed me to look at players individually,” Sitake said. “I can evaluate a certain position group or see how guys are progressing. I’m not too worried about scheme or play-calling or how the technique is taught. I’m more focused on the individual player and giving my feedback on different groups.”

That has allowed Sitake to get a better gauge of how many players BYU has ready to contribute, which likely has been one reason he has spent so much time this fall lauding the team depth.

But while it is great to have units that have a bunch of potential contributors, the reality according to Sitake is that the Cougars can’t try to treat every athlete equally.

“Everyone’s roles are going to have to be different,” Sitake said. “There are only 11 guys on the field at a time and there are only so many reps in practices. The No. 1s are going to get all the reps, then eventually the No. 2s will get some. The No. 1s need all the looks while the others need to learn from film and being on the side seeing it.

“If you are a No. 3, you can get better by going against the No. 1s and 2s on the opposite side, getting that work in. Getting the No. 1s and 2s ready to go is the premier focus for us.”