It’s the second week of fall camp, and the Utah football team is gearing up for the season with three weeks to go before the opening game against Michigan. Head coach Kyle Whittingham sees progress in many aspects of the team, as well as in discipline on the practice field.
“It was [a] good [practice]. Sometimes the tendency after a day off, they come back a little sluggish the next day, but that was not the case,” said Whittingham after his team was back on the field following their first day off since camp began last week.
The defense appeared energized by the day of rest, with defensive tackle Stevie Tu’ikolovatu being active at the line of scrimmage, batting passes down and generating pressure. The defensive line, as a unit, was able to generate constant pressure in the twenty-minute media session as the end of practice, pushing quarterback Travis Wilson out of the pocket often. Wilson’s mobility got better as the session went on, and he showed off his legs as he took off for nice gains several times.
Bubba Poole stood out quickly among the receivers, making a leaping catch that drew applause from the coaches and players as he fell to the ground. Another receiver buried in the depth chart is Tyler Cooperwood, who made plays by scoring a touchdown and creating separation on several routes.
Defensive back Andre Godfrey was near the ball on several plays, and almost came up with an interception after rushing to the ball, but he couldn’t secure it.
Hackett shaking off some rust
Though they’re not the flashiest players on the field, it’s no secret that punter Tom Hackett and placekicker Andy Phillips will be pivotal in the team’s success this upcoming season.
Whittingham emphasized that point by saying, “They’re great weapons for us, they’re both first-team All-Pac-12, and we expect them to have the same type of year as they had last year, if not better.”
Hackett received the Ray Guy Award, awarded to the nation’s top punter, in 2014 and having another year under his belt only increases expectations. Facing top offenses in the Pac-12 will lead to the coaching staff trusting Hackett to pin teams deep and make drives tougher for those offenses.
Whittingham made it clear that the team does not like touchbacks when, during a practice drill on Monday, players gave Hackett heat for sending the ball into the end-zone. He reiterated the point by telling reporters, “We don’t like touchbacks. Touchbacks are not good.”
Hackett was able to pin punts deep during that same drill, showing how his prescience will greatly impact the team, especially when drives stall in the middle of the field.
Left tackle battle still ongoing
The coaching staff is busy putting pieces in place for the best offensive line to take the field against the Wolverines on September 3 to keep the quarterback upright and open lanes for Devontae Booker. The most crucial position on the line, left tackle, is also the most heated battle at camp, currently being played out by junior Sam Tevi, and redshirt freshman Jackson Barton.
Whittingham said about the competition: “Right now, neither of them are ready to play, but,they continue to work and progress. We still got time for them to develop. We have some other alternatives as well if we can’t get the development we need in the next couple of weeks and we have some other possibilities. But for right now, Tevi and Jackson are slugging it out at that left tackle spot.”
The competition is tightly contested, but another viable option for the left tackle position is the current starter at right tackle, J.J. Dielman.
“J.J. played right all last year, and that’s where he feels most comfortable and Sam and Jackson actually both feel more comfortable on the left, just as far as feeling comfort,” Whittingham said. “If it doesn’t work out, it looks like we move J.J. back to left.”
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