#CampKyle Report: Day 1 in Full Pads

8/11/2015 12:00 AM | Football

Aug. 11, 2015

Kickoff at Rice-Eccles Stadium for the Michigan game is 23 days away and UtahUtes.com will have @Utah_Football fall camp covered every step of the way. Today, Utah practiced in full gear for the first time this season so be sure to keep using #CampKyle to follow the Utes throughout the preseason.

Video, photos, quotes, social media reaction and behind-the-scenes tidbits can be found here to quench your football thirst before the Utes face the Wolverines on Sept. 3 at 6:30 p.m. MT.

Week 2, Day 2 Overview ...

? Utah practiced for the fifth time during preseason camp on Tuesday morning at the Utah baseball practice field.
? Team was in full gear for the first time this season.
? Emphasis was placed on red zone and full-team situations.

Warm up. Circle drill. Full pads. Today 😍😍😍 https://t.co/AQL2fH4U1G

-- Utah Football (@Utah_Football) August 11, 2015

Media Observation Period Highlights ...
? Periods 16 through 20 were open to the media which began with full-team work in the red zone.
? The highlight of the red zone work was quarterback Chase Hansen finding wide receiver Tyler Cooperwood on a flare route for a 10-yard score.
? Action then moved into `drive it' mode, with full-team live work beginning on the offense's own 30-yard line.
? Linebacker Uaea Masina sacked and defensive end Pita Taumoepenu sniffed out a swing pass and came up with an impactful hit that resulted in a tackle for loss.
? Bubba Poole put together a combination of moves for a nice gain on a swing pass from his slot receiver position.

Defense post practice. This is #UtahFootballFamily pic.twitter.com/0GuzblyMNH

-- Utah Football (@Utah_Football) August 11, 2015

From Coach Whittingham ...
? With full pads on for the first time today, there was definitely more physicality although there was not a lot of live work.
? The defense got after it and was flying around today.
? First two-a-day is tomorrow (Wednesday, Aug. 12). The first practice of the day will be ran the same way as today, but there will be no contact in the second practice.
? The first scrimmage is Thursday (Aug. 13). Each scrimmage is critical to evaluation of personnel and will be around 65 to 70 snaps.
? Sam Tevi may be the best athlete on the offensive line. He has quick feet and is great in recovery if he gets beat off the line of scrimmage initially.
? Jackson Barton has great length at 6-foot-7 with a huge wing span, the classic offensive tackle height and length.
? Thinking of ways to get Chase Hansen on the field because he is too talented of an athlete not to utilize in some way.
? Cory Butler, Kyle Fulks and Britain Covey are top kickoff returners at the moment with Bubba Poole and Monte Seabrook in the mix as well.

Booker days until the season! #BookerForHeisman #BookMode 📹: @pac12networks http://t.co/6hh1nq5gcL

-- Utah Football (@Utah_Football) August 11, 2015

Post-Practice Impressions from the Utah Assistant Coaches and Players ...

Defensive Coordinator John Pease
? Cory Butler had his second day of working with the cornerbacks. He is a good athlete who understands what we are asking him to do.
? Most games are lost, not won. If we tackle well, get in the correct position and avoid mental errors, we'll have a chance.
? Younger players usually reach the expectations of their coaches. If you believe they can get the job done, they play with more confidence.
? Not hung up on the number of sacks as long as we push the pocket back and make the quarterback uncomfortable and adjust his throwing lanes.
? Good teams have players who act as coaches.

Co-Offensive Coordinator and Offensive Line Coach Jim Harding
? Our goal is to get the best five guys on the offensive line.
? A player's ability to learn and play multiple positions definitely makes them more valuable.

Defensive End Hunter Dimick
? My role hasn't changed since last year after the loss of Nate Orchard.
? Coach Whittingham wants me to be a more vocal leader so I am concentrating on that this season.

Linebacker Jared Norris
? Part of what makes this defense so good is that we treat every day like it is game day.
? When we can force four turnovers, we feel like it is a good day. We will always play our hardest. If the offense can move the ball against us, we feel like they can move it against anyone in the Pac-12.
? Being in full pads shows if we are ready to tackle. You practice how you play so each one of us has to do our jobs.
? If we have our basic responsibilities taken care of in our defense, we are allowed to take calculated risks if we think we think we can make a play.

Center Siaosi Aiono
? Easy to develop relationships with each of the quarterbacks. We work out together every day during the season and lift every day during the summer.
? We're under the radar right now, but I feel we're going to put on a show this season.

Defensive end Jason Fanaika
? We have weapons on defense and the production really comes from everywhere.
? We are able to rotate fresh bodies along the defensive line so our depth will be a strength.
? At the end of the day, it's all about what we do as a team.
? As a defensive line, we just plan on meeting in the middle and chasing the play from there.
? Known as a force in the weight room, he has thought about the possibility of becoming a professional power lifter when his football career is complete. He also aspires to one day own a gym to help people reach their fitness goals.

.@jayFITA51 pic.twitter.com/sypdGwj9MZ

-- Utah Football (@Utah_Football) August 10, 2015

Quarterback Travis Wilson
? Camp is going well and he really enjoys the healthy competition at quarterback, although his main focus is just getting better every day and becoming a better leader.
? Would be awesome to become the first true four-year starting quarterback in school history, but is just looking to finish his career on a good note this season.
? Roomed with his center Siaosi Aiono in the dorms when they were freshman. Aiono is the leader of the offensive line who takes control of every situation.

#CampKyle BTS ...
? Tomorrow will be Utah's first two-a-day of fall camp.
? The #CampKyle Olympics will kick off after tomorrow's morning practice.