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Quotes From Kyle Whittingham's Weekly Press Conference
10/22/2018 1:35 PM | Football
Opening Statement…
"I was proud of the way our guys played on Saturday night. It was another strong performance. Our offense has been very productive three weeks in a row. The defense was very good. We had a couple of breakdowns on special teams, which is concerning, but we will get those fixed. Otherwise, it as a good game. The atmosphere was great. Shout out to our fans for making it a great home field advantage for us. The Muss was there in full force, so there were a lot of good things on Saturday night. Now it is on to the next one. We are at UCLA on Friday night and it is a short week, so we have to accelerate our preparation. We have a plan in place and so we will jump into that this week. They are coming off a couple of wins and have some momentum right now. They scored 30-plus points in each of those games, so we have to go down and play well again. That is the nature of the conference, you have to play well week-in and week-out. Right now, we have a little momentum on our side."
On after watching film if he would consider the USC game the best game of Tyler Huntley's career…
"Probably so. He has had some really good games for us. His passing rating was outstanding, it was right in the 200s, which is as good as you are going to find. He took care of the football. He ran the football effectively and got out of some really tough spots in the pocket a couple of times. So yeah, I think I would have to agree with that."
On leading the nation in rush defense and what the difference is with this group of defensive linemen and linebackers than in years past…
"We have had some stout run defenses in the past and that has always been the first objective as a defense is to take away the run. We have outstanding personnel, and we've had good personnel in the past as well, but this group really seems to be finding their place at each position. Each guy has really done a good job. We haven't really had a spot that has been concerning or not getting production. There is always room for improvement, but everyone is playing pretty well across the board on defense, particularly in the front six."
On trying to maintain consistency in this league…
"Staying on an even keel, trying to avoid being too high or too low. We just want to be consistent in our approach. This group has been great about that. Their preparation each week has been very consistent. No peaks or valleys, they come out and take care of their business on the practice field, in the meeting room and that is really where it starts. They have done a great job of that."
On the difference between UCLA's two quarterbacks…
"Well Speight is the guy we saw at Michigan several years back. He is a big kid, 6-6, more of a pocket guy. And then the freshman is more of a dual threat. A Chip Kelly offense is traditionally a run first offense. He really had that going on Oregon, they just ran the ball up and down the field and were averaging like 300 yards a game. We don't know who is going to play though, so we will prepare for both of them."
On why he thinks the passing game has improved so much over the last three games…
"Probably the same things I've said the last few weeks as far as the catalyst for the offense in general is that it starts up front. The offensive line has been very good in protection the last several weeks. The drops with the receivers seemed to have become much fewer. Tyler has been very good with his reads and being patient in the pocket. So, I think you just combine all of that, plus as much as anything the run game. People have to respect the run game, and usually the throw game is a benefactor of that, but in years past we have had a strong run game and the throw game hasn't been able to get the efficiently we needed. Zack did a great job on Saturday night, so when they have to pack the box to stop the run game, that opens up options for the throw. We are also getting very proficient in the RPO game, and that is a strength of Tyler's. So that is something that we have gotten a lot of mileage out of."
On if he thinks their defense would get more attention nationally if they were in a different conference…
"I don't care, I don't pay attention to that. That is just kind of one of those things that you only control your controllable and we don't put a lot of stock in that. You are only good as your last performance. We are just barely over the halfway point in the season, so there is still a lot of ball left to play. We have a lot of challenges ahead and so we are just trying to be consistent in our approach. There are things we are doing well, but there are a lot of things we can improve on, and that is where our focus is."
On Maxs Tupai's strong showing this season…
"The light switch has just come on and sometimes there really is no explanation for that. A guy will be in your program and not make a lot of noise and then all of the sudden, something clicks. That is what has happened with Maxs. He is turning into the exact player that we had hoped he would be when we recruited him and that has been a huge plus for us. We were a little thin at depth at defensive end and to have him playing at the level he is playing at has made a ton of difference. With Mika Tafua out for a period of time, he not only picked up the slack but exceeded everybody's expectations."
On how closely UCLA's offensive scheme resembles Oregon's during the Kelly era…
"Quite a bit. He is just getting it implemented and get it started and I am sure it will continue to get closer to what he wants it to be. The basics are there. He plays with tempo and the formations are very similar."
On how well the tight ends have been doing this year…
"They have been a good weapon for us. We have four that play the bulk of the snaps. Jake Jackson is a converted linebacker and has really adapted to that position well. He had a touchdown reception on Saturday night. The freshmen, Cole Fotheringham and Brant Kuithe, have been good pluses. Brant is a tough matchup. He needs to get bigger and needs to put on some weight to be effective in the run game, but he is a tough matchup for a linebacker. He has a good feel for running routes and has exceptional hands. Then Connor Haller has been the other guy that has taken some reps. It is a big plus for us at the tight end because the more weapons you have, the better you are. The tight ends have really stepped up and become very reliable."
On if he puts more stock in certain defensive rankings than others…
"We always start with the run defense. If you can defend the run and then run the ball on offense, you are going to have a chance, so that is our starting point on defense. But everything is important. The turnover margin, being able to get takeaways, sacking the quarterback for those havoc plays, that is something that is very important that maybe doesn't get as much attention as the other stats. The guys are all functioning well. Morgan Scalley and the defensive staff have them in a good spot right now."
On if he is happy with how balanced the run, pass offense has been in the last three weeks…
"Very happy. The blue print that we have had the last several weeks has been very productive and we hope that we can continue that. In our estimation, when we are at our best, that is who we are. What you have seen in the last three games, we know not every week is going to be like that. Some weeks you are going to have to run more, some you are going to have to pass more, but the last few weeks have been very balanced. It has been ideal as far as what we are looking for."
On Chase Hansen and Cody Barton this season…
"They have been outstanding. Not only from a production factor on the field, but also from a leadership standpoint, making sure everything is going how it should be going, in the weight room, in the meeting room, those two have been outstanding for us. They are both very productive and making a bunch of plays. Chase had an outstanding game last week. That interception is as athletic of a play as you will see a linebacker make. So those guys have been invaluable to our success as a program."
On after a player leaves the program, does he reevaluate the player and what the general process is to recruit and then bringing in a new player to the program…
"Well you are always evaluating everything. You hate to see players leave, but you try to move on. As far as guys coming into the program, we don't reevaluate everything. If you ever think you have all of the answers and don't think you need to get better, then you are going to be in a bad spot. The culture of this program is very important to us and I think we have developed a pretty good one here. Our guys seem to be close knit and get along with each other, but in this day-in-age in football to say you aren't going to have anybody leave your program ever is unrealistic. You just have to focus on the players you have in the program and if anybody chooses to move on, we wish them well and hope it works out."
On if he thinks coaches are having a harder time keeping players around because of the amount of transfers around the country in recent years…
"Yeah it is probably a little more difficult in recent years. With the new rule, I didn't think that it would make that much of a difference, and I don't think it has. Most of the time, if an athlete thinks he will have a better opportunity somewhere else, you aren't going to hold him back. Also the other problem with early departures is the NFL. So yeah, you recruit them to get them in the program and you have to keep recruiting them while they are with you and try to hang on to them. Some positions are more prone to transfer than others, that is just the nature of the beast."
On the effect a game like they played against USC has on their recruits…
"Obviously very positive. It is great to be able to be on a national stage that when you play well and the kids see that, it projects well. We had a fairly substantial recruiting weekend this past weekend, so it was very positive. I think it had a big impact, but we will see."
On what he thought USC was able to do scheme wise to get at Utah's punting game…
"They had a good plan. We knew coming in that they had been fairly aggressive with their punt return units, they do a great job typically with special teams. The two issues we had, one was a near block and we didn't block it correctly with a miscount on the protection and then the one they got a hand on, we had a snap that pulled Mitch off his spot and he had to scramble to get back to his launch spot. When they are bringing max heat and the timing is disrupted, it usually isn't a good thing." Â
On the challenge they have ahead of them with the rest of their Pac-12 schedule…
"We have UCLA and that is our challenge right now. You can't look past anyone in this conference. Our guys do a great job of not looking past any team. So, I couldn't even tell you who we play next week. We have all of our focus, all of our attention, everything is centered on the Bruins."
"I was proud of the way our guys played on Saturday night. It was another strong performance. Our offense has been very productive three weeks in a row. The defense was very good. We had a couple of breakdowns on special teams, which is concerning, but we will get those fixed. Otherwise, it as a good game. The atmosphere was great. Shout out to our fans for making it a great home field advantage for us. The Muss was there in full force, so there were a lot of good things on Saturday night. Now it is on to the next one. We are at UCLA on Friday night and it is a short week, so we have to accelerate our preparation. We have a plan in place and so we will jump into that this week. They are coming off a couple of wins and have some momentum right now. They scored 30-plus points in each of those games, so we have to go down and play well again. That is the nature of the conference, you have to play well week-in and week-out. Right now, we have a little momentum on our side."
On after watching film if he would consider the USC game the best game of Tyler Huntley's career…
"Probably so. He has had some really good games for us. His passing rating was outstanding, it was right in the 200s, which is as good as you are going to find. He took care of the football. He ran the football effectively and got out of some really tough spots in the pocket a couple of times. So yeah, I think I would have to agree with that."
On leading the nation in rush defense and what the difference is with this group of defensive linemen and linebackers than in years past…
"We have had some stout run defenses in the past and that has always been the first objective as a defense is to take away the run. We have outstanding personnel, and we've had good personnel in the past as well, but this group really seems to be finding their place at each position. Each guy has really done a good job. We haven't really had a spot that has been concerning or not getting production. There is always room for improvement, but everyone is playing pretty well across the board on defense, particularly in the front six."
On trying to maintain consistency in this league…
"Staying on an even keel, trying to avoid being too high or too low. We just want to be consistent in our approach. This group has been great about that. Their preparation each week has been very consistent. No peaks or valleys, they come out and take care of their business on the practice field, in the meeting room and that is really where it starts. They have done a great job of that."
On the difference between UCLA's two quarterbacks…
"Well Speight is the guy we saw at Michigan several years back. He is a big kid, 6-6, more of a pocket guy. And then the freshman is more of a dual threat. A Chip Kelly offense is traditionally a run first offense. He really had that going on Oregon, they just ran the ball up and down the field and were averaging like 300 yards a game. We don't know who is going to play though, so we will prepare for both of them."
On why he thinks the passing game has improved so much over the last three games…
"Probably the same things I've said the last few weeks as far as the catalyst for the offense in general is that it starts up front. The offensive line has been very good in protection the last several weeks. The drops with the receivers seemed to have become much fewer. Tyler has been very good with his reads and being patient in the pocket. So, I think you just combine all of that, plus as much as anything the run game. People have to respect the run game, and usually the throw game is a benefactor of that, but in years past we have had a strong run game and the throw game hasn't been able to get the efficiently we needed. Zack did a great job on Saturday night, so when they have to pack the box to stop the run game, that opens up options for the throw. We are also getting very proficient in the RPO game, and that is a strength of Tyler's. So that is something that we have gotten a lot of mileage out of."
On if he thinks their defense would get more attention nationally if they were in a different conference…
"I don't care, I don't pay attention to that. That is just kind of one of those things that you only control your controllable and we don't put a lot of stock in that. You are only good as your last performance. We are just barely over the halfway point in the season, so there is still a lot of ball left to play. We have a lot of challenges ahead and so we are just trying to be consistent in our approach. There are things we are doing well, but there are a lot of things we can improve on, and that is where our focus is."
On Maxs Tupai's strong showing this season…
"The light switch has just come on and sometimes there really is no explanation for that. A guy will be in your program and not make a lot of noise and then all of the sudden, something clicks. That is what has happened with Maxs. He is turning into the exact player that we had hoped he would be when we recruited him and that has been a huge plus for us. We were a little thin at depth at defensive end and to have him playing at the level he is playing at has made a ton of difference. With Mika Tafua out for a period of time, he not only picked up the slack but exceeded everybody's expectations."
On how closely UCLA's offensive scheme resembles Oregon's during the Kelly era…
"Quite a bit. He is just getting it implemented and get it started and I am sure it will continue to get closer to what he wants it to be. The basics are there. He plays with tempo and the formations are very similar."
On how well the tight ends have been doing this year…
"They have been a good weapon for us. We have four that play the bulk of the snaps. Jake Jackson is a converted linebacker and has really adapted to that position well. He had a touchdown reception on Saturday night. The freshmen, Cole Fotheringham and Brant Kuithe, have been good pluses. Brant is a tough matchup. He needs to get bigger and needs to put on some weight to be effective in the run game, but he is a tough matchup for a linebacker. He has a good feel for running routes and has exceptional hands. Then Connor Haller has been the other guy that has taken some reps. It is a big plus for us at the tight end because the more weapons you have, the better you are. The tight ends have really stepped up and become very reliable."
On if he puts more stock in certain defensive rankings than others…
"We always start with the run defense. If you can defend the run and then run the ball on offense, you are going to have a chance, so that is our starting point on defense. But everything is important. The turnover margin, being able to get takeaways, sacking the quarterback for those havoc plays, that is something that is very important that maybe doesn't get as much attention as the other stats. The guys are all functioning well. Morgan Scalley and the defensive staff have them in a good spot right now."
On if he is happy with how balanced the run, pass offense has been in the last three weeks…
"Very happy. The blue print that we have had the last several weeks has been very productive and we hope that we can continue that. In our estimation, when we are at our best, that is who we are. What you have seen in the last three games, we know not every week is going to be like that. Some weeks you are going to have to run more, some you are going to have to pass more, but the last few weeks have been very balanced. It has been ideal as far as what we are looking for."
On Chase Hansen and Cody Barton this season…
"They have been outstanding. Not only from a production factor on the field, but also from a leadership standpoint, making sure everything is going how it should be going, in the weight room, in the meeting room, those two have been outstanding for us. They are both very productive and making a bunch of plays. Chase had an outstanding game last week. That interception is as athletic of a play as you will see a linebacker make. So those guys have been invaluable to our success as a program."
On after a player leaves the program, does he reevaluate the player and what the general process is to recruit and then bringing in a new player to the program…
"Well you are always evaluating everything. You hate to see players leave, but you try to move on. As far as guys coming into the program, we don't reevaluate everything. If you ever think you have all of the answers and don't think you need to get better, then you are going to be in a bad spot. The culture of this program is very important to us and I think we have developed a pretty good one here. Our guys seem to be close knit and get along with each other, but in this day-in-age in football to say you aren't going to have anybody leave your program ever is unrealistic. You just have to focus on the players you have in the program and if anybody chooses to move on, we wish them well and hope it works out."
On if he thinks coaches are having a harder time keeping players around because of the amount of transfers around the country in recent years…
"Yeah it is probably a little more difficult in recent years. With the new rule, I didn't think that it would make that much of a difference, and I don't think it has. Most of the time, if an athlete thinks he will have a better opportunity somewhere else, you aren't going to hold him back. Also the other problem with early departures is the NFL. So yeah, you recruit them to get them in the program and you have to keep recruiting them while they are with you and try to hang on to them. Some positions are more prone to transfer than others, that is just the nature of the beast."
On the effect a game like they played against USC has on their recruits…
"Obviously very positive. It is great to be able to be on a national stage that when you play well and the kids see that, it projects well. We had a fairly substantial recruiting weekend this past weekend, so it was very positive. I think it had a big impact, but we will see."
On what he thought USC was able to do scheme wise to get at Utah's punting game…
"They had a good plan. We knew coming in that they had been fairly aggressive with their punt return units, they do a great job typically with special teams. The two issues we had, one was a near block and we didn't block it correctly with a miscount on the protection and then the one they got a hand on, we had a snap that pulled Mitch off his spot and he had to scramble to get back to his launch spot. When they are bringing max heat and the timing is disrupted, it usually isn't a good thing." Â
On the challenge they have ahead of them with the rest of their Pac-12 schedule…
"We have UCLA and that is our challenge right now. You can't look past anyone in this conference. Our guys do a great job of not looking past any team. So, I couldn't even tell you who we play next week. We have all of our focus, all of our attention, everything is centered on the Bruins."
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