Upcoming Event: Football versus Nebraska on December 31, 2025 at 1:30 p.m.
Football
vs Nebraska
.png&width=31&height=31&type=webp)
The University of Utah Athletics
Quotes From Kyle Whittingham's Weekly Press Conference
10/30/2017 1:38 PM | Football
Opening Statement…
"Another tough loss, another disappointing loss. The short version would be that we didn't run the ball well enough and we didn't defend the run well enough. That is the big overriding factor in the game and the outcome of the game. They ran the ball on the perimeter at will. We had struggles in the Arizona State game on the perimeter, but this was a different kind of struggle. This was more of a speed issue. We didn't adjust well and we didn't make in-game changes and adjustments that we should have done, so we as coaches have to do better. We played the pass well, they threw for 69 yards but it wouldn't have mattered if they threw zero yards, it wouldn't have changed the outcome. If you can't stop the run, there is not a whole lot else that matters. We threw the ball well on offense, nearly 300 yards, but we had less than 100 rushing the ball. That is our issue right now. If you look at our main issue right now, it is that. The inability to stop the run the last several weeks and the inability to run the ball with efficiency and enough production. We have other issues as well, but those are the primary issues. We have UCLA coming in on Friday night back in Rice-Eccles. It is a short week, so we get back on the practice field today and get back to work. Some positives from the game, our guys played hard. We seem to be missing that edge. You need that edginess to you when you play and even though we are playing hard, we don't seem to have that edge that can really make that difference. I can't really define what that is, but it's just an edge to your team. UCLA, I think they are in the exact same situation we are, so it will be two teams in search of a win and needing a win, so we will go at it Friday night."
Â
On if they have been able to pinpoint the issues in the red zone…
"Ongoing and ongoing. It seems like an eternity going back to last year. We just have to make plays down there and as coaches put our players in better positions to make plays. It is driving me nuts and it has been driving me nuts for quite some time. It has not been rectified. We were 1-for-4 on Saturday in the red zone. All that matters are touchdowns; I've said that many times. Field goals are a loss because that means you got stopped. If you get a field goal in the red zone that means they stopped you and that's a loss. That has been an overriding factor dating back to last season and into this season."
Â
On how he felt Darren Carrington II handled going back to Oregon…
"Pretty good. He had a nice game, eight or nine catches and he was over 100 yards. He performed well. I don't think he pressed. Obviously, there was the one fumble that was returned for a touchdown and that was a huge play, but we missed a block and the guy was right in his face. There is no excuse to ever fumble, but there were a couple of reasons that led to that. Other than that play, I thought he played very well."
Â
On if he is worried about the confidence of the team…
"Yeah and that is kind of the edge thing I am talking about. That little extra. I don't know what you want to call it, mojo, swag, confidence, edge, whatever. Because we are playing hard, no one is quitting. We are running the ball on defense and the offense is working hard, but just seems to be a little something missing. We have to get that back."
Â
On if the edge can be something they work on in practice or if they have to learn it in the game…
"It is something that should be there in a practice, game, everywhere. I still believe we have good leadership on this team. I told the team that after the game and in the team meeting last night, but we just have to find a way. Passion, maybe that is the word for it, we have to find it."
Â
On losing several offensive linemen to the NFL and if that has had an effect on this year's group…
"We did take a hit with some talent and to go into the year as a rebuilding year. I try to never look at it as a rebuilding year, maybe that is wishful thinking, but I never play that card. I never try to use that as a crutch, but we did rebuild that offensive line. They have been doing some good things. I thought it was a step backward on Saturday, we didn't play as well as we have in previous weeks. But it is back to the practice field, get back to making corrections and trying to progress. If you ask if we are where we want to be right now, not quite, but it hasn't been a disaster. Usually the line of scrimmage has been a big plus for Utah, but it hasn't been this year."
Â
On what he meant by being at a crossroads…
"We are 4-4 with four to go and you can go one of two directions. We can either continue to take our lumps and not play as well as we need to or we can get back on track and get back to playing football the way we know we are capable of playing."
Â
On what issues they can address in the rushing defense game…
"Definite issues and they are all on the perimeter. Very few of the yards are coming between the tackles. We have very good defensive tackles that are very stout and physical inside. It is an issue on the perimeter. Two weeks ago where we were fitting with the safeties, we weren't fitting and like I said last week it was more of a speed issue and getting out schemed by a lineman, getting outflanked, the kind of thing."
Â
On if they will use the UCLA game as a motivation to get bowl eligible…
"Well that is our entire focus right now. It has shifted to try and get these seniors to a bowl game and that is the point of emphasis. The goal right now is to make sure these seniors get the opportunity to play in a bowl game this year. They have done so much for our program. They have won over 30 games in the last three and a half years and have just been an instrumental part of our success. They deserve it and they can't do it by themselves. The underclassmen have to step up and make sure it happens."
Â
On if he felt the execution in the run game was there on Saturday…
"We have to be more committed in the run game this week as well. Zack Moss had 10 carries for like 5.3 yards a carry, so we have to get him the ball more. That was going to be a point of emphasis going into the game and then we got behind and went away from that a little bit too early."
Â
On if he feels like they have zeroed in on a focal point on the offense…
"We would like to become better at running the football. Like I said, if you throw for close to 300 yards, that is good output, you don't need a whole lot more than that to win a game. And we didn't turn the ball over that much outside of the one fumble, which was damaging because it was a touchdown going the other way, but we just had the one turnover. So, we are doing a pretty good job of taking care of the football. The glaring aspect of just the production is the run game and then obviously the red zone and third downs are right there behind it, which ties in because if you run the ball better you are going to be better in the red zone."
Â
On if the UCLA game will be a good opportunity to push the run game because of their lack of a run defense…
"What better chance to bounce back than this. They have had their issues with the run game as well and their game last week against Washington was very similar to our game against Oregon. Washington threw the ball like 13 times but then rushed for like 330 yards, so it was almost a carbon copy of the issues we had on defense. I'm sure they are working hard to get it fixed just like we are."
Â
On how hard it has been having to talk about a poor run game as opposed to previous seasons…
"It is different for sure. If it isn't one thing, it's another I guess. You are never going to have everything exactly where you want it. But we have had a dominant run game for many years and our inability to throw the ball with effectiveness is what we felt was holding us back. We got to a certain point with that M.O. and that mentality and tried to jump start the throw game this year and consequently the run game has suffered. It is not just because of that one factor, but it is odd. It is different than what we have done in the past."
Â
On UCLA quarterback Josh Rosen…
"I think he is tremendous. He is the whole package. You look at the way he operates in the pocket with his release and arm strength, he looks like an NFL quarterback right now. There is no difference from what I can see whether you are watching him on Sundays or watching him on Saturdays. He is a tremendous talent. Whether he plays or not, I don't know. The freshman behind him did a nice job. He came in and looks very similar as far as his tools. He doesn't have the experience that Josh does, but we will just have to wait and see. It didn't do us any good last week when their starter was out, so you can't be overly concerned about that."
Â
On what went into the process in making Cody Ippolito a tight end…
"He is more of a fullback than a tight end, but we don't really have that. We don't recruit that boyd type. We aren't a fullback team, but there were some things that Troy Taylor wanted to install that utilized a fullback. He has the fullback type body and we thought who is a guy that maybe isn't getting as much playing time somewhere else that we can get some mileage out of, so that was the reasoning there. He caught a nice pass and had a nice gain, but unfortunately it was nullified. Cody is a hard worker and for what he has been asked to do, I think he is doing a pretty good job."
Â
On if he thinks they need to get both the run defense and run offense fixed to be successful the rest of the season…
"The answer is yes, I think they both need to come to the party. Which one is closer, we started out a really good run defense in the first half of the season. I know the degree of difficulty factors into that as well. We have played two Top 25 teams in the last four games, so that obviously is part of it. We are not ignorant to that fact, but I think they both need to gain ground and become much better."
Â
"Another tough loss, another disappointing loss. The short version would be that we didn't run the ball well enough and we didn't defend the run well enough. That is the big overriding factor in the game and the outcome of the game. They ran the ball on the perimeter at will. We had struggles in the Arizona State game on the perimeter, but this was a different kind of struggle. This was more of a speed issue. We didn't adjust well and we didn't make in-game changes and adjustments that we should have done, so we as coaches have to do better. We played the pass well, they threw for 69 yards but it wouldn't have mattered if they threw zero yards, it wouldn't have changed the outcome. If you can't stop the run, there is not a whole lot else that matters. We threw the ball well on offense, nearly 300 yards, but we had less than 100 rushing the ball. That is our issue right now. If you look at our main issue right now, it is that. The inability to stop the run the last several weeks and the inability to run the ball with efficiency and enough production. We have other issues as well, but those are the primary issues. We have UCLA coming in on Friday night back in Rice-Eccles. It is a short week, so we get back on the practice field today and get back to work. Some positives from the game, our guys played hard. We seem to be missing that edge. You need that edginess to you when you play and even though we are playing hard, we don't seem to have that edge that can really make that difference. I can't really define what that is, but it's just an edge to your team. UCLA, I think they are in the exact same situation we are, so it will be two teams in search of a win and needing a win, so we will go at it Friday night."
Â
On if they have been able to pinpoint the issues in the red zone…
"Ongoing and ongoing. It seems like an eternity going back to last year. We just have to make plays down there and as coaches put our players in better positions to make plays. It is driving me nuts and it has been driving me nuts for quite some time. It has not been rectified. We were 1-for-4 on Saturday in the red zone. All that matters are touchdowns; I've said that many times. Field goals are a loss because that means you got stopped. If you get a field goal in the red zone that means they stopped you and that's a loss. That has been an overriding factor dating back to last season and into this season."
Â
On how he felt Darren Carrington II handled going back to Oregon…
"Pretty good. He had a nice game, eight or nine catches and he was over 100 yards. He performed well. I don't think he pressed. Obviously, there was the one fumble that was returned for a touchdown and that was a huge play, but we missed a block and the guy was right in his face. There is no excuse to ever fumble, but there were a couple of reasons that led to that. Other than that play, I thought he played very well."
Â
On if he is worried about the confidence of the team…
"Yeah and that is kind of the edge thing I am talking about. That little extra. I don't know what you want to call it, mojo, swag, confidence, edge, whatever. Because we are playing hard, no one is quitting. We are running the ball on defense and the offense is working hard, but just seems to be a little something missing. We have to get that back."
Â
On if the edge can be something they work on in practice or if they have to learn it in the game…
"It is something that should be there in a practice, game, everywhere. I still believe we have good leadership on this team. I told the team that after the game and in the team meeting last night, but we just have to find a way. Passion, maybe that is the word for it, we have to find it."
Â
On losing several offensive linemen to the NFL and if that has had an effect on this year's group…
"We did take a hit with some talent and to go into the year as a rebuilding year. I try to never look at it as a rebuilding year, maybe that is wishful thinking, but I never play that card. I never try to use that as a crutch, but we did rebuild that offensive line. They have been doing some good things. I thought it was a step backward on Saturday, we didn't play as well as we have in previous weeks. But it is back to the practice field, get back to making corrections and trying to progress. If you ask if we are where we want to be right now, not quite, but it hasn't been a disaster. Usually the line of scrimmage has been a big plus for Utah, but it hasn't been this year."
Â
On what he meant by being at a crossroads…
"We are 4-4 with four to go and you can go one of two directions. We can either continue to take our lumps and not play as well as we need to or we can get back on track and get back to playing football the way we know we are capable of playing."
Â
On what issues they can address in the rushing defense game…
"Definite issues and they are all on the perimeter. Very few of the yards are coming between the tackles. We have very good defensive tackles that are very stout and physical inside. It is an issue on the perimeter. Two weeks ago where we were fitting with the safeties, we weren't fitting and like I said last week it was more of a speed issue and getting out schemed by a lineman, getting outflanked, the kind of thing."
Â
On if they will use the UCLA game as a motivation to get bowl eligible…
"Well that is our entire focus right now. It has shifted to try and get these seniors to a bowl game and that is the point of emphasis. The goal right now is to make sure these seniors get the opportunity to play in a bowl game this year. They have done so much for our program. They have won over 30 games in the last three and a half years and have just been an instrumental part of our success. They deserve it and they can't do it by themselves. The underclassmen have to step up and make sure it happens."
Â
On if he felt the execution in the run game was there on Saturday…
"We have to be more committed in the run game this week as well. Zack Moss had 10 carries for like 5.3 yards a carry, so we have to get him the ball more. That was going to be a point of emphasis going into the game and then we got behind and went away from that a little bit too early."
Â
On if he feels like they have zeroed in on a focal point on the offense…
"We would like to become better at running the football. Like I said, if you throw for close to 300 yards, that is good output, you don't need a whole lot more than that to win a game. And we didn't turn the ball over that much outside of the one fumble, which was damaging because it was a touchdown going the other way, but we just had the one turnover. So, we are doing a pretty good job of taking care of the football. The glaring aspect of just the production is the run game and then obviously the red zone and third downs are right there behind it, which ties in because if you run the ball better you are going to be better in the red zone."
Â
On if the UCLA game will be a good opportunity to push the run game because of their lack of a run defense…
"What better chance to bounce back than this. They have had their issues with the run game as well and their game last week against Washington was very similar to our game against Oregon. Washington threw the ball like 13 times but then rushed for like 330 yards, so it was almost a carbon copy of the issues we had on defense. I'm sure they are working hard to get it fixed just like we are."
Â
On how hard it has been having to talk about a poor run game as opposed to previous seasons…
"It is different for sure. If it isn't one thing, it's another I guess. You are never going to have everything exactly where you want it. But we have had a dominant run game for many years and our inability to throw the ball with effectiveness is what we felt was holding us back. We got to a certain point with that M.O. and that mentality and tried to jump start the throw game this year and consequently the run game has suffered. It is not just because of that one factor, but it is odd. It is different than what we have done in the past."
Â
On UCLA quarterback Josh Rosen…
"I think he is tremendous. He is the whole package. You look at the way he operates in the pocket with his release and arm strength, he looks like an NFL quarterback right now. There is no difference from what I can see whether you are watching him on Sundays or watching him on Saturdays. He is a tremendous talent. Whether he plays or not, I don't know. The freshman behind him did a nice job. He came in and looks very similar as far as his tools. He doesn't have the experience that Josh does, but we will just have to wait and see. It didn't do us any good last week when their starter was out, so you can't be overly concerned about that."
Â
On what went into the process in making Cody Ippolito a tight end…
"He is more of a fullback than a tight end, but we don't really have that. We don't recruit that boyd type. We aren't a fullback team, but there were some things that Troy Taylor wanted to install that utilized a fullback. He has the fullback type body and we thought who is a guy that maybe isn't getting as much playing time somewhere else that we can get some mileage out of, so that was the reasoning there. He caught a nice pass and had a nice gain, but unfortunately it was nullified. Cody is a hard worker and for what he has been asked to do, I think he is doing a pretty good job."
Â
On if he thinks they need to get both the run defense and run offense fixed to be successful the rest of the season…
"The answer is yes, I think they both need to come to the party. Which one is closer, we started out a really good run defense in the first half of the season. I know the degree of difficulty factors into that as well. We have played two Top 25 teams in the last four games, so that obviously is part of it. We are not ignorant to that fact, but I think they both need to gain ground and become much better."
Â
Players Mentioned
Former Utah Football Head Coach Urban Meyer inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.
Wednesday, December 10
Crimson Corner with Bill Riley - Kyle Bonagura
Wednesday, December 03
Crimson Corner with Bill Riley - Yogi Roth
Tuesday, December 02
NSD26: Dylan Waters
Tuesday, December 02