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The University of Utah Athletics
Postgame Quotes vs. Arizona State
10/21/2017 5:25 PM | Football
UTAH PLAYER QUOTES
#97 Matt Gay
On what happened today…
"We struggled with everything today. We could not score points or get stops. We need to get back to basics on Monday."
On how the team feels…
"Upset. Angry. We have each other's back and we know we need to step up, players and coaches. We will bounce back from this. We are fighters."
On what adjustments need to be made…
"Things have to change. We have to figure out what we are doing wrong and where to improve. Each person and each unit needs to figure out what they can do better to improve each week. We have five games left. That's a lot of football."
#5 Kavika Luafatasaga
On what happened defensively…
"We just did not get to the quarterback. We did not find a way."
On the defense's overall performance…
"We need to come back on Monday and do a better job. We will watch film and try and figure some things out. Everyone needs to reset and finish this season strong."
#1 Tyler Huntley
On issues with the offense…
"We did that. Not to take away from Arizona State, but it all came out wrong today. We did not pass our assignments and we failed today. We did not make plays. We did not come out to play and it showed."
On his health…
"I felt pretty good coming into the game. I felt I could still be mobile, but I did not get out of the pocket as much."
UTAH HEAD COACH KYLE WHITTINGHAM QUOTES
Opening statement…
"Not a lot of positives to take away from that game. We were inept offensively and soft against the run. There are just a lot of things we need to figure out right now. In the back of my mind, we were coming off of two tough, emotional losses in previous weeks. It took its toll, so that is my fault for not having us ready. We still have a lot of football left to figure some things out and it will be a challenge for us. That is what we are paid to do as coaches, put them in a position to win. They did not quit. We have a tough group of guys. They hung in there but just nothing going on offensively right now."
On what needs to improve offensively…
"Everything. Nothing was good. We are disjointed. There is not a lot of flow. We do not have an offensive rhythm. It's not one area. Saying we are young is an excuse, we need to be better as coaches."
On what ASU presented defensively…
"Give them credit, they were outstanding on defense like last week. They put out essentially the same performance as what they accomplished last week. Our defense played well in stretches. We did give up a 94-yard drive. We were soft against the run but the passing game did not hurt us. It was the rush defense."
On what ASU did well in the run game…
"Their offensive line did a great job. They are well coached and had a great scheme. Their plays complemented each other nicely and that is a good job by their coaches. They had a good game plan. Their two backs ran it well and were physical. Right now, we need to get an identity on offense. We have no identity."
On the team's lack of big plays on defense…
"We only had one sack and one takeaway. We were not good enough. I do not want to sit here and point fingers at the offense. If we score 10, we have to hold them to nine. If we score 30, we have to keep them from getting 31. There was nothing positive to talk about except for Mitch Wishnowsky's punting and Matt Gay's 53-yard field goal. We have some work to do, we are in a tough spot. We are down and need to find a way out this."
On what the team does from here…
"We need to be tough enough mentally and rebound. There was a sneaking suspicion in my mind that after two emotional games against Top-25 teams, where you spill your guts emotionally, there would be a tendency to let it linger. I did not see it in practice this week. There was no one moping around but we sure did not play well today. Practice did not match up with what we showed today."
ARIZONA STATE HEAD COACH TODD GRAHAM
On winning the game...
"I thought we had a great plan. The team we beat today is a really good football team. We came in here on the road and I'm just proud of all three phases. Really proud of our football team. Ready to go to work on next week."
On his third down defensive numbers continuing to improve today...
"That's why stats don't matter early in the year. What matters is who you play. Reality is it reminds me a lot of 2013. When you play really good people—I mean, we've played a really good schedule, we've played some football teams—I think it's helped us to get better. It's like I've said all along, it's about our guys getting on the same page, adapting to our players and then getting the right personnel in the right spot. We've made a lot of improvement, we're mixing things up and we're doing some nice things. Obviously, the staff's done a nice job as well."
On how his team won the game...
"Each week there's a different challenge based upon who you play. The thing that we've done a great job of that you really want to do, it's all about snaps. I say that all the time. Just like their punter kept flipping the field—that guy is unbelievable. So, we're getting it inside our 10-yard line but we're getting it out of there all the time. And that was big in the game. So, our offense controlling the ball, making first downs, and the fact that we had 15 more plays today than they did, that gives you a chance to win football games."
"Really pleased with that, and that we've gotten more physical every week. We're playing our best football right now. But it's just another week. Now you have to get ready to go to work and get ready on USC. It's going to be fun this week. That's what I love about being in the Pac-12, because I'm telling you we've beaten two really good football teams in the last two weeks."
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#97 Matt Gay
On what happened today…
"We struggled with everything today. We could not score points or get stops. We need to get back to basics on Monday."
On how the team feels…
"Upset. Angry. We have each other's back and we know we need to step up, players and coaches. We will bounce back from this. We are fighters."
On what adjustments need to be made…
"Things have to change. We have to figure out what we are doing wrong and where to improve. Each person and each unit needs to figure out what they can do better to improve each week. We have five games left. That's a lot of football."
#5 Kavika Luafatasaga
On what happened defensively…
"We just did not get to the quarterback. We did not find a way."
On the defense's overall performance…
"We need to come back on Monday and do a better job. We will watch film and try and figure some things out. Everyone needs to reset and finish this season strong."
#1 Tyler Huntley
On issues with the offense…
"We did that. Not to take away from Arizona State, but it all came out wrong today. We did not pass our assignments and we failed today. We did not make plays. We did not come out to play and it showed."
On his health…
"I felt pretty good coming into the game. I felt I could still be mobile, but I did not get out of the pocket as much."
UTAH HEAD COACH KYLE WHITTINGHAM QUOTES
Opening statement…
"Not a lot of positives to take away from that game. We were inept offensively and soft against the run. There are just a lot of things we need to figure out right now. In the back of my mind, we were coming off of two tough, emotional losses in previous weeks. It took its toll, so that is my fault for not having us ready. We still have a lot of football left to figure some things out and it will be a challenge for us. That is what we are paid to do as coaches, put them in a position to win. They did not quit. We have a tough group of guys. They hung in there but just nothing going on offensively right now."
On what needs to improve offensively…
"Everything. Nothing was good. We are disjointed. There is not a lot of flow. We do not have an offensive rhythm. It's not one area. Saying we are young is an excuse, we need to be better as coaches."
On what ASU presented defensively…
"Give them credit, they were outstanding on defense like last week. They put out essentially the same performance as what they accomplished last week. Our defense played well in stretches. We did give up a 94-yard drive. We were soft against the run but the passing game did not hurt us. It was the rush defense."
On what ASU did well in the run game…
"Their offensive line did a great job. They are well coached and had a great scheme. Their plays complemented each other nicely and that is a good job by their coaches. They had a good game plan. Their two backs ran it well and were physical. Right now, we need to get an identity on offense. We have no identity."
On the team's lack of big plays on defense…
"We only had one sack and one takeaway. We were not good enough. I do not want to sit here and point fingers at the offense. If we score 10, we have to hold them to nine. If we score 30, we have to keep them from getting 31. There was nothing positive to talk about except for Mitch Wishnowsky's punting and Matt Gay's 53-yard field goal. We have some work to do, we are in a tough spot. We are down and need to find a way out this."
On what the team does from here…
"We need to be tough enough mentally and rebound. There was a sneaking suspicion in my mind that after two emotional games against Top-25 teams, where you spill your guts emotionally, there would be a tendency to let it linger. I did not see it in practice this week. There was no one moping around but we sure did not play well today. Practice did not match up with what we showed today."
ARIZONA STATE HEAD COACH TODD GRAHAM
On winning the game...
"I thought we had a great plan. The team we beat today is a really good football team. We came in here on the road and I'm just proud of all three phases. Really proud of our football team. Ready to go to work on next week."
On his third down defensive numbers continuing to improve today...
"That's why stats don't matter early in the year. What matters is who you play. Reality is it reminds me a lot of 2013. When you play really good people—I mean, we've played a really good schedule, we've played some football teams—I think it's helped us to get better. It's like I've said all along, it's about our guys getting on the same page, adapting to our players and then getting the right personnel in the right spot. We've made a lot of improvement, we're mixing things up and we're doing some nice things. Obviously, the staff's done a nice job as well."
On how his team won the game...
"Each week there's a different challenge based upon who you play. The thing that we've done a great job of that you really want to do, it's all about snaps. I say that all the time. Just like their punter kept flipping the field—that guy is unbelievable. So, we're getting it inside our 10-yard line but we're getting it out of there all the time. And that was big in the game. So, our offense controlling the ball, making first downs, and the fact that we had 15 more plays today than they did, that gives you a chance to win football games."
"Really pleased with that, and that we've gotten more physical every week. We're playing our best football right now. But it's just another week. Now you have to get ready to go to work and get ready on USC. It's going to be fun this week. That's what I love about being in the Pac-12, because I'm telling you we've beaten two really good football teams in the last two weeks."
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Players Mentioned
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