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The University of Utah Athletics
#UWvsUTAH: News Out Of Practice
9/11/2018 7:21 PM | Football
SALT LAKE CITY – The University of Utah football program is in full preparation mode for a late-night showdown against No. 10 Washington this Saturday. The game against the Huskies will air on ESPN on Sept. 15 and kicks off at 8 p.m. MT in Rice-Eccles Stadium.Â
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Search #UWvsUTAH for conversation.
After practice, head coach Kyle Whittingham, wide receiver Britain Covey and defensive lineman John Penisini were on the ESPN 700 Smith's Coaches Show. Didn't catch it live? Listen in here.
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It is Utah's annual blackout game with the team wearing head-to-toe black. Fans are encouraged to help blackout the stadium on Saturday night.Â
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Need to update your black gear for Saturday? Visit UtahUtes.com or any Red Zone location.Â
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Washington came in at No. 10 in the AP Top 25 this week, marking the 11thtime that the Utes have hosted a top-15 ranked team (AP only) in Rice-Eccles Stadium.Â
Head Coach Kyle Whittingham on the big game atmosphere…
"We prepare the same way and our routine stays the same. Our players are smart guys and they know this is a big challenge, but I don't believe that we prepared inadequately for the first two games, we just didn't execute as well as we needed to."
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The Utes are 2-0 heading into Pac-12 play, including last week's road win against Northern Illinois. Even with a slow start, the Utah defense continued to be key with Chase Hansen headlining an outstanding group of players.Â
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Voices from Practice:
Offensive Coordinator Troy Taylor and Defensive Coordinator Morgan Scalley
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Scalley on Chase Hansen's performance against Northern Illinois…
"He did a nice job. He would be the first person to tell you that he left some plays out there, but he has a nose for the ball and when he plays an assignment sound game, he is productive. That is a lot of it too though is lineman doing their job as well. That is one of the biggest benefits of playing linebacker in this defense is you have defensive lineman taking up those blocks. So no question Chase has a nose for the ball and he has always been one of our most productive defenders, but it is also the guys upfront doing their job and the guys behind them doing their jobs."
Scalley on the pairing of Cody Barton and Chase Hansen…
"They are perfect examples of what happens when studying football means something to you. When you aren't taking your down time and playing video games and messing around and you are actually using it as a stepping stone for the next level. This is a profession to them and they are all about business."
Scalley on being ranked the No. 1 defense in the first two weeks and how he sees the production continuing in Pac-12 play…
"Those are basically preseason accolades and don't mean much until the end of the season, so we are only two games into the season and will find out a little bit more about ourselves this week. We are going against a very efficient offense and a quarterback that we have faced time after time. We will play against very skilled wide receivers and running backs that will cause problems. Against these guys a lot of it is just having disciplined eyes, getting in line correctly and not giving the quarterback any good pre-snap reads."
Taylor on his long relationship with Washington QB Jake Browning…
"We go back a long time when he was just a little guy with a big head. He was fun to work with and at an early age you could tell he had the focus. That guy is an assassin when he gets on the field and he is really tough and really competitive. He is a great friend and a big part of our family. We root for him every time, but not this Saturday."
On the six sacks against the offense at NIU and what they will do to improve…
"You know it wasn't all the offensive line. There were a couple that the line gave up and there were a couple where Tyler came off his progression and should have gotten rid of the ball. We have to protect better, and again that isn't just the offensive line. That is the play caller, the quarterback, the offensive line, the running backs, the receivers getting open. So we took a little step back, but we will take a step forward this week."
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Search #UWvsUTAH for conversation.
After practice, head coach Kyle Whittingham, wide receiver Britain Covey and defensive lineman John Penisini were on the ESPN 700 Smith's Coaches Show. Didn't catch it live? Listen in here.
Â
ÂReady for the storm?
— Utah Athletics (@utahathletics) September 11, 2018
Join us Saturday, wear black and be loud as we take on No. 10 UW. #goutes #UWvsUTAH pic.twitter.com/y0b4tgKvvW
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It is Utah's annual blackout game with the team wearing head-to-toe black. Fans are encouraged to help blackout the stadium on Saturday night.Â
Â
Â????????All Black Everything???????? pic.twitter.com/WCMlYzddtm
— Utah Football (@Utah_Football) September 11, 2018
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Need to update your black gear for Saturday? Visit UtahUtes.com or any Red Zone location.Â
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ÂGame 3#UWvsUTAH pic.twitter.com/VhatYM2okw
— UtesEquipment (@UtesEquipment) September 11, 2018
Washington came in at No. 10 in the AP Top 25 this week, marking the 11thtime that the Utes have hosted a top-15 ranked team (AP only) in Rice-Eccles Stadium.Â
- 2007: No. 11 UCLA
- 2008: No. 11 TCU
- 2010: No. 15 Pittsburgh
- 2012: No. 13 USC
- 2013: No. 12 UCLA
- 2014: No. 5 Oregon
- 2016: No. 4 Washington
- 2018: No. 10 Washington
Head Coach Kyle Whittingham on the big game atmosphere…
"We prepare the same way and our routine stays the same. Our players are smart guys and they know this is a big challenge, but I don't believe that we prepared inadequately for the first two games, we just didn't execute as well as we needed to."
Â
Â
The Utes are 2-0 heading into Pac-12 play, including last week's road win against Northern Illinois. Even with a slow start, the Utah defense continued to be key with Chase Hansen headlining an outstanding group of players.Â
Â
ÂAnother big honor for Chase Hansen's monster game! He's the Bednarik Award Player of the Week ??#goutes #mfc #bednarikwatchme pic.twitter.com/fAzRLWX3G4
— Utah Athletics (@utahathletics) September 11, 2018
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Â12 tackles, 2.5 TFLs, 2 sacks, 1 INT, 1 TD, 1 fumble recovery? That'll get @Utah_Football LB Chase Hansen #RoseBowl @pac12 Player of the Week honors! pic.twitter.com/6ogdTOppxi
— Rose Bowl Game (@rosebowlgame) September 10, 2018
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ÂWatch out for Chase Hansen. ??He had 1??2??tackles and an interception for @Utah_Football this weekend.
— Pac-12 Network (@Pac12Network) September 10, 2018
He is the #Pac12FB Defensive Player of the Week: https://t.co/X6nS6v0uU2 pic.twitter.com/WBRMyK8tgB
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Voices from Practice:
Offensive Coordinator Troy Taylor and Defensive Coordinator Morgan Scalley
Â
Scalley on Chase Hansen's performance against Northern Illinois…
"He did a nice job. He would be the first person to tell you that he left some plays out there, but he has a nose for the ball and when he plays an assignment sound game, he is productive. That is a lot of it too though is lineman doing their job as well. That is one of the biggest benefits of playing linebacker in this defense is you have defensive lineman taking up those blocks. So no question Chase has a nose for the ball and he has always been one of our most productive defenders, but it is also the guys upfront doing their job and the guys behind them doing their jobs."
Scalley on the pairing of Cody Barton and Chase Hansen…
"They are perfect examples of what happens when studying football means something to you. When you aren't taking your down time and playing video games and messing around and you are actually using it as a stepping stone for the next level. This is a profession to them and they are all about business."
Scalley on being ranked the No. 1 defense in the first two weeks and how he sees the production continuing in Pac-12 play…
"Those are basically preseason accolades and don't mean much until the end of the season, so we are only two games into the season and will find out a little bit more about ourselves this week. We are going against a very efficient offense and a quarterback that we have faced time after time. We will play against very skilled wide receivers and running backs that will cause problems. Against these guys a lot of it is just having disciplined eyes, getting in line correctly and not giving the quarterback any good pre-snap reads."
Taylor on his long relationship with Washington QB Jake Browning…
"We go back a long time when he was just a little guy with a big head. He was fun to work with and at an early age you could tell he had the focus. That guy is an assassin when he gets on the field and he is really tough and really competitive. He is a great friend and a big part of our family. We root for him every time, but not this Saturday."
On the six sacks against the offense at NIU and what they will do to improve…
"You know it wasn't all the offensive line. There were a couple that the line gave up and there were a couple where Tyler came off his progression and should have gotten rid of the ball. We have to protect better, and again that isn't just the offensive line. That is the play caller, the quarterback, the offensive line, the running backs, the receivers getting open. So we took a little step back, but we will take a step forward this week."
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