Utah Football Team Opens Spring Drills This Saturday

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March 19, 2001

UTES SET TO OPEN SPRING CAMP

The Utah football team will open its 2001 spring camp this Saturday with a no-pads practice that will run from around 10 a.m. until noon. The Utes will practice for the 15 days allowed by the NCAA, finishing on April 21. For the most part, practices will be held on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays for the rest of March and April, with two exceptions (see Times, Dates, Details).

TIMES, DATES, DETAILS

The 2001 spring session will begin with two days of no-pads practice (March 24 and March 26). The March 26 practice is the only Monday practice scheduled. The Utes will be in pads from March 27 on, with the exception of April 20, which is also their only Friday practice. Thirteen of Utah's 15 practices will be held on a Tuesday, Thursday or Saturday. Weekday practices will run from approximately 3:00-5:00 p.m., while Saturday workouts are scheduled for 10 a.m.-12 noon. Weather permitting, all practices will be held at the Thomas Kearns McCarthey Practice Fields (see Watch the Weather).

SCRIMMAGE SITUATION

Utah will hold 2-3 situational scrimmages and possibly a spring game. The first two scrimmages are set for Sat., Apr. 7 and Sat., Apr. 14. Ute Head Coach Ron McBride and his staff will determine at a later date whether the final day of spring ball-Sat., Apr. 21-will be another situational scrimmage or a spring game. The scrimmages and/or game will be held at the Thomas Kearns McCarthey Practice Fields. They are scheduled to start at 10 a.m., although that could change.

CHECK THE TIME

Practice times often vary from the original schedule. Call the sports information office (581-3511) for daily updates.

WATCH THE WEATHER

The Utes will practice outside under most weather conditions. In the case of heavy rain or snow, practice will move inside the Bubble. The Bubble is located just south of the Smith Center, adjacent to the McCarthey Practice Fields.

STAFF CHANGES

The Utah coaching staff features a number of new faces and titles this spring. Following is a complete list of Utah's current coaching staff, including titles and responsibilities. This supersedes anything that has come out previously, including the preseason prospectus.

Head Coach: Ron McBride  Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Tackles/Special Teams Coordinator: Gary Andersen  Associate Coach/Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers: Kyle Whittingham  Associate Coach/Offensive Line (centers/guards): Don Eck  Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks: Craig Ver Steeg  Cornerbacks: Jugi Hogue  Defensive Ends: Steve Kaufusi  Offensive Tackles/Tight Ends: Alex Gerke  Wide Receivers/Running Backs: Vincent White  Safeties: Bill Busch

BY THE NUMBERS

Utah returns 39 lettermen and 20 full or part-time starters from last year's team that finished 4-7 and tied for fifth in the Mountain West standings. The Utes lost 24 lettermen and 14 full or part-time starters. Key losses were first-team all-league defenders Kautai Olevao and Andre Dyson, as well as second-team all-conference receiver Steve Smith. Utah returns an MWC first-teamer in offensive tackle Doug Kaufusi and running back Adam Tate was named to the second team. Defensive end Jason Kaufusi was the MWC Freshman of the Year in 2000.

SOMETHING OLD

The Mountain West Conference's best defense in 2000 will likely not change a lot of its game plan this spring. The defensive line returns practically intact and figures to be a Ute strength with guys like sophomore Jason Kaufusi, junior Garrett Smith and senior Ma'ake Kemoeatu back in the trenches. At linebacker, Utah lost three-time first-team all-conference player Kautai Olevao, but it's the secondary that was hit the hardest by graduation. The Utes must replace virtually their entire defensive backfield. Establishing a two-deep at corner and safety will be the main area of concentration this spring. Defensive coordinator Kyle Whittingham will coach the linebackers this year and a new hire, Bill Busch, will replace him as the safeties coach.

SOMETHING NEW

Three new assistants on the offensive side will make for a whole new look. Craig Ver Steeg (a former Ute graduate assistant and recruiting coordinator) left a job as quarterbacks coach at Illinois to become Utah's new offensive coordinator. Ver Steeg, who helped coach the Chicago Bears' quarterbacks for two years before going to UI, will oversee Utah's QBs as well. The running backs and wide receivers will also learn from a new coach this spring: veteran coach Vincent White, most recently on the staff at Arizona State. And Alex Gerke, another former Ute G.A., is back as a full-time assistant for the offensive line (tackles/tight ends). Along with implementing a new, wide open offense, the Ute staff must replace one of the best receivers in school history, Steve Smith. The biggest "known" going into spring is the offensive line, which is loaded with experience and depth. Back after a year on the sidelines with a knee injury is senior guard Sam White, although he'll be limited in the spring.

HEAD COACH RON MCBRIDE

Head Coach Ron McBride is gearing up for his 12th year at the helm of the Ute program. He is the second-winningest coach in Utah football history with a 75-53 record. McBride is also Utah's second-longest tenured football coach ever. He has taken Utah to five bowl games-a record for a U. coach-and has shared in two conference championships. Utah tied for the inaugural Mountain West Conference championship in 1999, and also tied for the 1995 Western Athletic Conference championship. He has two of the best seasons ever at Utah. In 1994, he led Utah to the best record (10-2) and final national ranking (No. 9) in school history. In 1999, Utah went 9-3 and won the Las Vegas Bowl.

PERSONNEL PICTURE

Offensive Starters Returning (12)

Jordan Gross, OL (6-5, 306, Jr.), Doug Kaufusi, OL (6-6, 311, Sr.), Steve McKane+, OL (6-0, 281, Sr.), Dustin McQuivey*, OL (6-3, 254, So.), Scott Price*, TE (6-4, 251, Sr.), Lance Rice*, QB (6-2, 193, So.), Michael Richardson, TE/OL (6-2, 271, Sr.), Cliff Russell, WR (6-0, 184, Sr.), Ed Ta'amu, OL (6-2, 320, Sr.), Adam Tate, RB (6-1, 229, Sr.), Sam White+, OL (6-3, 291, Sr.), Kevin Wilson*, OL (6-7, 309, Sr.).

Defensive Starters Returning (6)

Sheldon Deckart, LB (6-2, 239, Jr.), Marcus Jones*, DE (6-2, 243, Jr.), Jason Kaufusi, DE (6-3, 249, So.), Ma'ake Kemoeatu, DL (6-6, 309, Sr.), Arnold Parker*, DB (6-2, 203, So.), Garrett Smith, DL (6-3, 270, Jr.).

Kickers Returning (2)

Ryan Kaneshiro, K (5-10, 190, Sr.), Golden Whetman, K/P (6-0, 201, Sr.).

*Part-time starter +Started in 1999, medical hardship in 2000

REDSHIRTS RETURN

The following is a list of Utes who redshirted last season or sat out as transfers from four-year colleges: Makai Aalona, OL, Daryl Adams, DB, Brandon Bliss, RB, Joey Bolinger, DB, Ryan Breska, QB, Kawika Casco, WR/DB, Jason Caywood, DL, Taz Decker, OL, Corey Dodds, LB, Brett Elliott, QB, Tommy Hackenbruck, RB, Jess Hacker, DL, Kasey Jackson, DL, Brian Lewis, P, Bo Nagahi, DB, James Neslen, WR, J.R. Peroulis, RB, Max Petersen, OL, Lewis Powell, DL, Rhett Scarbrough, LB, Chase Severns, DB, James Taumoepeau, TE, Zach Tune, LB, Jeran Van Alfen, LB, Eric Vialpando, WR, Justin Walterscheid, WR, Cody Weight, DB, Trevor Winegar, K.

OFF A MISSION

Making their first appearance at Utah's spring football camp after signing with the Utes back in 1998 are these returned LDS church missionaries: J.D. Jorgensen, QB, Sione Pouha, OL, Morgan Scalley, WR,

MCBRIDE ON THE OFFENSE

Offensive Overview:

"Although we will again operate out of a multiple offense, we're going to take more of a West Coast offense approach. There will be a lot of layers in the passing game. It's hard to defend because you're using the same personnel in all your formations, which creates mismatches. For instance, there will be times that a linebacker is forced to cover a running back. Since we're using the same personnel, the (opponent) can't substitute to defend the package."

Offensive Predictions:

"We'll be using a halfback and a fullback, which will allow us to better use our personnel. For instance, a guy like (senior) Thomas Fortune now becomes extremely valuable. A two back system gives you more power in the run game because you have a lead back and an additional blocker for the passing game. When the fullback carries the ball, it allows you to move the tailback in position where he can catch the football. The proven experience we have in the backfield will help us right off. We have all the guys we need at tailback in Adam Tate, Dameon Hunter and J.R. Peroulis. The QB situation is going to be interesting. Lance Rice, Brett Elliott and Ryan Breska will basically all start out even in spring ball. They all bring something different to the table. Obviously, Lance has game experience and has become a good leader on this team. What we've seen of Elliott so far is he has really good touch, is very good with his reads and knows where to put the football. Breska has really strong arm and spends hours and hours looking at film. These are three real good candidates."

MCBRIDE ON THE DEFENSE

Defensive Overview

"Evaluating personnel will be the big thing this spring. Specifically, we need to find the corners and safeties that are going to play. Last year, we needed three corners to go with Andre (Dyson). This year, we're looking for five corners and four safeties. If we come out of spring with a good idea of where we sit in the secondary, that would be a real plus. And we should. We have good athletes here on campus right now. We also need to develop three linebackers to go with the guys we already have in place: Sheldon Deckart, CR Dwinell, Brooks Bahr and Stan Moleni. Our front guys are already in position and ready to go."

Defensive Predictions

"Our strength is up front, which makes your whole defense better. If you have a weak line and are good everywhere else, you're still in trouble. Since our line is so strong it helps the other guys because it keeps combination blocks off the linebackers and gives them freedom to move. The key at linebacker is going to be at the "stud", because Kautai Olevao owned that position for so long. It's been awhile since we've had to break in a new guy. Sheldon Deckart is primed for a great season (at rover), Dwinell has proved he can play in the middle. At the stud, I expect Brooks Bahr and Stan Moleni to battle it out. My `sleeper' at linebacker is (freshman) Zach Tune. He's a big, strong, athletic kid who can really run."

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