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News bullets and other items:
- Ty Isaac’s appeal was unsuccessful, which means he has three years of eligibility beginning next fall
- He currently is able to participate on the scout team
Opening remarks:
“Thanks for coming. It was good to get back on the field on Tuesday. Those practices, it was very physical. Had a great effort. It was another day for us to go out and compete and challenge with each other and prepare for a very good Utah team. It’s going to be great playing at home. You know, that always gets your players and coaches and everybody else, it gets them excited in the support that we’ve had, and we’re looking for that on Saturday.
“We’re not going to talk about injuries and I might as well bring that out now. And some of that is because you can say something about something and then you’re wrong. Everybody heals a little differently, and the other thing is for our kids. I want to make sure we’re doing a good job protecting them.”
Coach, what would you consider some of the biggest keys to beating Utah?
“Well, I think number one I think they’re third in the county in points scored. I mean, they’re explosive offensively. Good skill players. The two backs are kind of interchangeable in there. For the style of offense I think they really do a nice job of seeing holes. Travis Wilson has done a tremendous job when look nationally where he’s at. He’s second in pass efficiency. Gets the ball out of his hands pretty quickly.
“From the defensive side, I think they’re, depending on how they calculate it NCAA-wise, first in sacks and first in tackles for loss. Knowing Kyle [Whittingham] and Dave Christensen from [my] Mountain West time they both like to be aggressive defensively and then also on the offensive side of the ball.
“So for us, number one, we’ve got to improve. We’ve got to keep getting better every day we go on the field. I think from a defensive perspective keeping the ball inside and in front of the defense, making sure on those money downs, those third downs, [that] we can get off the field. Offensively, got to keep the sticks, got to be able to run the football, and also when you take shots you’ve got to execute.”
As someone who’s a guru in defensive line performance, is their defensive line- is it scheme? Is it the individual players that they’re so productive?
“Yeah, you know, Nate Orchard is one guy they’re using in a lot of different ways. As an outside linebacker, sometimes as a defensive end. I think from his athleticism that he has, he can cause you problems and then obviously he’s a playmaker for them so they’re putting him in some positions to make plays. I think up front they’ve got a quickness to them, and that’s something that can give you some problems. They spike a three-technique into an A gap, which is a coach’s nightmare but if you’re quick enough can be effective.”
[After THE JUMP: lots of tempo talk]
Brady, have you guys heard about the Ty Isaac appeal at this point?
“Yeah, it didn’t go through.”
How’s he handled all that? I mean, I assume he came here hoping to play or even expecting to to some degree. How has he handled the whole…
“He’s handled it great. I’ll tell ya, he’s our scout running back. You know, one of the two guys that kind of fill in that role and he had a great day yesterday. I think from an attitude standpoint and everything he’s been awesome.”
So he’ll have three years left starting next year, is that correct?
“Correct.”
Brady, Greg Mattison compared Utah’s offense to Indiana last year. Given the way that game played out, are you expecting another shootout on Saturday?
“Well, we hope not, to be honest with you. They’re a high tempo [team]. They wan to snap the ball quickly. They want to see if you’re disorganized defensively so when you look at that part of it I think some of the same schematics- you know, very similar to Ohio, very similar to Indiana so you see a lot of those things also but the tempo’s a big part of it. We practice at a high tempo and try and- every day we do that, but try and mimic as much as you can the tempo that will be played with.
MGoQuestion: It looks like Derrick Green’s vision has improved this year. I know a lot of that’s innate for a running back, but how can you coach that and how do you coach that in this program?
“Yeah, you’re right. A lot of it, guys have it or they don’t have it and I think part of his vision is the reps he’s had, the tracks he’s run. You know, a running back has certain tracks that they’re going to run and certain reads off those tracks so I think the more he’s had with that and the more reps we’ve given him I think he’s done a better job with it. I also think at the same time offensively up front there’s a little more separation and we’re getting a little more movement.”
Coach, last night Bryan Mone said when he first started working with you he was scared of you and now he says you’re like a father figure. Can you talk about the relationship because [of] the amount of work you do with him?
“You know, he’s a special kid. He’s truly a very Christian young man who…he’s a long way from home and having Sione [Houma] here I think has been a big help. I think the way he built relationships with the guys playing nose tackle for us. Ryan Glasgow has done a tremendous job bringing Bryan around. I think Maurice Hurst and Ondre Pipkins, I think all those guys. They’re a close knit group.”
Brady, if you are without Funchess on Saturday can you kind of go through the pecking order of wide receivers and how not having him out there might effect each one and their productivity?
“It just depends what personnel group. We might play more tight ends. It just depends what we want to do.”
Saw that Dymonte [Thomas] played quite a bit there last week. Was that due to injury opening a spot or was that due to him performing?
“Well, he’s played pretty well. He’s practiced well and you want to reward those guys. He’s done a nice job. He’s gotten better each time he gets on the field. He’s competing. It was good to give him those snaps.”
What was the missing piece for him to push forward coming into this season?
“I think it’s experience and maturity. I think that’s- some guys pick things up a little better sometimes and a little faster and I also think he’s been instrumental in special teams for us and the more reps he’s had at that has helped him on defense.”
On the receivers for a second, outside of Funchess who do you think is most capable today of maybe stepping up and being a number one if it’s called for?
“Well, I think we’ve got a few guys. I mean, I think Darboh and Chesson both have had good practices. They’ve had good years. I mean, they haven’t been perfect. No one has. But I think those guys. Norfleet and what he gives you. I think again, go back to the tight end position with getting guys ready for different personnel groups, I think that’s a positive.”
In terms of their tempo and trying to defend that, you mentioned the other day that you’ve faced a lot of teams like this with the tempo before. Have you done different things against different teams or is there kind of a standard way of doing things?
“Are you talking from schematically, or…”
Yeah, yeah.
“No, I think everything’s a little different. Some people are going to favor just the zone read, some are going- when you look at the run game, some of them are going to be more play action with some boots. Some of them are going to be big three-step teams to get the ball out of the quarterback’s hand. So I think it just depends, you know. From how you want to defend, who your playmakers are, where do you want to put them and get them in position so they can make plays.”
Are they one of those styles? Is Utah one of those styles or have they adjusted this year versus other years in terms of how they…
“You’re talking about Utah?”
Yeah, Utah.
“No. It’s Dave’s offense, to be honest with you, from Wyoming so it’s always been- there’s going to be a lot of three wides trying and stretch the field from the standpoint of space and all those things.”
We talked about it a little big on Monday, but the overall rotation at corner: do you guys know or have an idea of what you want to do there? With the nickel and everything else.
“Yeah. I would think that we have some ideas but they won’t be concrete until after we get done with Thursday’s practice.”
Who would be the three guys maybe right now in the lineup?
“Well, you’ve got the corners who you see on the depth chart.”
Even Raymon?
“The corners you see on the depth chart.”
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