Fall Camp came and went quickly, leaving the Utes ready for the season after much self-improvement and preparation for the opener on Sept. 3 where they will host Michigan at Rice-Eccles Stadium.
Quarterback Chase Hansen has seen improvements in his teammates and himself since spring ball. He wanted to become a better passer in all aspects, and has done just that, throwing the ball from inside the pocket against the first team.
“At the end of spring ball, I think I knew where I wanted to work, where I wanted to improve, [and] I’ve gotten opportunities to go against the quicker, smarter defensive guys as well,” Hansen said. “I think I’ve really improved on getting the ball out quicker and being more accurate.”
With the start of the season approaching, Hansen finds the upcoming game against Michigan surreal, considering all the hype surrounding the game for the past few months.
“It doesn’t even seem real right now,” Hansen said, “There’s not much more you can do than just take it one day at a time.”
Keeping a steady pace, Hansen is focusing on the skills he needs to work on as they present themselves. This helps him progress as an athlete and player more fluently, but there’s one thing off the field that is assisting him in recognizing what he’s doing wrong.
“It helps by going back and looking at film,” Hansen said, “I look and say, ‘Here’s where I screwed up, here’s where I can get better next practice today, ortomorrow.’ Just taking it little by little.”
By reviewing film, Hansen can hold himself accountable to his own goals. Then he can make changes to perform at the level he hopes to reach in order to contribute to Utah’s offensive scheme, whether it is throwing the ball more quickly or not getting sacked.
“I don’t love it, because sometimes I come out feeling really humbled. Sometimes I feel like there is so much I can work on,” said Hansen. “But then, as a quarterback, I am able to say, ‘OK, this next practice I’m just going to try and have a higher completion percentage, no matter what that is.'”
Aside from the intense and physical practices the Utes participated in the last three weeks, Hansen has made adjustments to his mental game in order to improve to a higher level. This includes being more certain in his ability to take control of the offense as a passer or a runner.
“[I want to] go into any situation or against any team and feel very confident that I’ll be able to take the team down and square any possession,” Hansen said.
The progression of Utah’s offense during fall camp has been dependent on its defense to some extent. Hansen has seen the offense become successful by competing against the high-energy defense.
“Our defense is awesome,” Hansen said, “We’ve made a lot of progress as an offense. I think it’s comforting knowing that it was a struggle before because our defense is so good. But now as an offense, we are forcing out plays against a really good defense.”
Outside of physical practices, it is important that the players be willing to make changes as the coaching staff sees fit and this enables them to execute effectively in a game. Aside from what the coaches see, the players also have to want to work at something for any change to happen.
“It’s important to be humble, specifically when you are not playing. When you are playing, of course you want to feel like you are the greatest football player in the world,” said Hansen. “But in order to actually get better, you need to be humble enough to … say, ‘I have this weakness or that weakness, so this is where I need to work.’ If not, you’re going to feel like you don’t ever need to work.”
Hansen sees his teammates and coaches demonstrating these qualities, especially Devontae Booker and head coach Kyle Whittingham.
“[Booker’s] so awesome because he is so humble. He’s a stud,” Hansen said. “I think it’s something that coach Whitt brings into the program in general. I think toughness and humility are the two biggest things. Having the mentality that no one is going to be tougher than us — we’re never going to be soft, we aren’t going to have guys that are going to back down — whether we are the best athletes out there or not.”
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