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Photo by: Brooke Frederickson
Quotes From Kyle Whittingham's Weekly Press Conference
12/2/2019 12:16 PM | Football
Opening statement…
"It was good to get a win in our last home game. We started slow and didn't have a lot going for us in the first quarter, but we got some momentum and ended up finishing strong. We did what we needed to do and that puts an end to the regular season. We had some really good performances. Brant Kuithe was outstanding, defense was solid and we got some good things going on special teams in the punt return game. There were a lot of positives in the game and we came out healthy with very few issues in that way. Now it is time to get ready for the Pac-12 Championship on Friday night. Oregon is a very good football team. They are running well, defending the run well. They have a great quarterback in Herbert. He is a big, strong guy with a strong arm and he is a big talent. Defense, they are playing exceptionally well in the red zone with only 33-percent touchdowns allowed in the red zone, which is really good. Their return game is very good, they have made a lot of plays there. They are a solid team in all three phases and we will have our hands full. We have to just have a great week of practice and go down there and compete and see what happens."
On being relatively healthy at this point in the season…
"It matters, but you don't make excuses or complain about injuries because everyone has them. We feel like we are in pretty good shape right now. We have our fair share of guys that have things that are bothering them and they are playing through it, but we should be OK."
On what he has learned from last season's championship game appearance…
"I think the experience that our players had last year playing in that stadium and playing in that environment will be a positive because a lot of these guys were in that game. Other than that, it is a new opponent and a different matchup so I am not sure if there is any big advantage other than guys being there before."
On how Brant Kuithe grades out as an overall tight end…
"He is a very good blocker. He isn't the biggest guy at 230 pounds, so he isn't a typical in-line tight end that is going to be the anchor and run power, but he plays that H-back role really well. He does exactly what we need him to do in the run game and he is a very willing blocker, he never turns anything down. He is a tough guy. He is a complete player, he just isn't your prototypical anchor tight end on the end of the line of scrimmage."
On the tight end sweep…
"I mean it is a good play because Brant is a good athlete and makes it go. You have to have the right tight end to do it with, you can't just do it with any tight end. Andy is continually adding things to the offense and I don't have a great answer to why we didn't break it out earlier, but better late than never and it is working well right now."
On how much their game plan is based on how another team was successful against Utah's opponent…
"A lot. That is why you study film – to look for ways to move the ball offensively and defensively you are looking at things schematically that people might have done against them that was successful. That definitely plays into what your line of thinking is. Now, you don't depart completely what you are doing, it has to fit into the realm of your personnel and what you are doing, but it is certainly part of the deal."
On getting back to the championship game and having unfinished business…
"It was very difficult to get back here. Running the gauntlet of a nine-game Pac-12 schedule is not easy and of course, we started out from the ideal situation when we lost that first one and then had to run the table the rest of the way. So, it was a long, hard road but the guys persevered and continued to work and continued to stay focused. They just continue to just attack them one at a time. The "unfinished business" mantra is something our returning seniors adopted. It wasn't anything that was manufactured by the coaching staff. It is basically saying that we got there last year to the championship game and we weren't able to get the win. We get another chance this year and the message is that we need to try and finish and win the whole thing. We are in position to do that, but like I said, we have a good opponent."
On if there was a defining game or moment over the last eight games that got them here…
"I would say Oregon State. We went over there and just cut loose and had a huge, lopsided victory. That is at least in my own mind that I thought this team had a chance to be special if we keep this up."
On if it is weird to think if they win if they wouldn't go to the Rose Bowl but potentially to the playoff…
"It doesn't and we haven't paid a whole lot of attention to it. We certainly understand the big picture, but you control the controllable and all we can control is trying to get a win on Friday against Oregon and then it is out of our hands at that point. We don't spend a lot of time thinking about it. It doesn't really seem odd or strange either way, whatever our fate is it will be good. I can tell you it will be good no matter what happens if we are able to win."
On if last year's loss in the championship game has stuck with him…
"Every loss is painful and as a coach, if you went back and you looked at all of the losses, you remember everyone and what went wrong. We didn't get much offense generated last year and credit the Husky defense, they were really good. So, it was tough to move the ball. That one play seemed to be the turning point in the game and we couldn't overcome that. It was disappointing but that is football. They made the play and congratulations to them."
On what is different about Oregon this year from last year when they played them…
"Not a whole lot. They had really good players last year and they have really good players this year. Their offensive line is really good. That should be the intriguing matchup of this game and a battle that is going to be pivotal in who wins the game – their offensive line against our defensive line."
On Utah's defense being on the field for the fewest plays in the country and what that stat means to him…
"Two things, it speaks to how well we are controlling the ball on offense, that is a big part of it. We are controlling the football, making first downs and we aren't turning the ball over that much so our defense is on the sidelines because of that. Secondly, it says we are doing a good job defensively on third downs, which we just snuck under the 30-percent conversion mark after last game, which is outstanding. I don't know if in Utah football history we have been sub-30-percent on allowing opponents to convert on third downs. So those two things play hand-in-hand and make for the amount of snaps that you have seen us play. That is a big plus for us on defense because we have essentially played two less games than everyone else as far as the wear and tear on our guys."
On if there is something about this team that makes them feel they can hang with anybody in the country…
"The talent level. I've got to believe this is the most talented team we've had here, at least since I have been here. That is a pretty bold statement because there have been some teams that have come through here that are really good, but I think when all is said and done and we look back, this might be the best of them all to this point."
On if this season feels like the 2004 and 2008 seasons and if he feels they have cemented themselves in the Pac-12 now…
"It does feel a lot like 2004 and 2008. Those special seasons that don't come around all the time where everything seems to be clicking, so there is that feel. As far as if we have arrived, I'll never say we have arrived but we have certainly been in the best place in our opinion since joining the conference by far right now. We are on pretty solid ground and we are continually trying to get better and recruit better. We are building buildings and stadium and I think we are in a pretty good spot right now, but there is still a lot of work to be done."
On how the staff is handling recruiting and preparation for the game…
"That is something that is a minor disadvantage that other teams in the conference are out recruiting this week, but I think in the big picture it helps us being in this game in the long run. What we do is we send out the word to the recruits that we won't be able to see them this week because of game preparations and let them know why we won't be there. I think the trade off is certainly well worth it."
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"It was good to get a win in our last home game. We started slow and didn't have a lot going for us in the first quarter, but we got some momentum and ended up finishing strong. We did what we needed to do and that puts an end to the regular season. We had some really good performances. Brant Kuithe was outstanding, defense was solid and we got some good things going on special teams in the punt return game. There were a lot of positives in the game and we came out healthy with very few issues in that way. Now it is time to get ready for the Pac-12 Championship on Friday night. Oregon is a very good football team. They are running well, defending the run well. They have a great quarterback in Herbert. He is a big, strong guy with a strong arm and he is a big talent. Defense, they are playing exceptionally well in the red zone with only 33-percent touchdowns allowed in the red zone, which is really good. Their return game is very good, they have made a lot of plays there. They are a solid team in all three phases and we will have our hands full. We have to just have a great week of practice and go down there and compete and see what happens."
On being relatively healthy at this point in the season…
"It matters, but you don't make excuses or complain about injuries because everyone has them. We feel like we are in pretty good shape right now. We have our fair share of guys that have things that are bothering them and they are playing through it, but we should be OK."
On what he has learned from last season's championship game appearance…
"I think the experience that our players had last year playing in that stadium and playing in that environment will be a positive because a lot of these guys were in that game. Other than that, it is a new opponent and a different matchup so I am not sure if there is any big advantage other than guys being there before."
On how Brant Kuithe grades out as an overall tight end…
"He is a very good blocker. He isn't the biggest guy at 230 pounds, so he isn't a typical in-line tight end that is going to be the anchor and run power, but he plays that H-back role really well. He does exactly what we need him to do in the run game and he is a very willing blocker, he never turns anything down. He is a tough guy. He is a complete player, he just isn't your prototypical anchor tight end on the end of the line of scrimmage."
On the tight end sweep…
"I mean it is a good play because Brant is a good athlete and makes it go. You have to have the right tight end to do it with, you can't just do it with any tight end. Andy is continually adding things to the offense and I don't have a great answer to why we didn't break it out earlier, but better late than never and it is working well right now."
On how much their game plan is based on how another team was successful against Utah's opponent…
"A lot. That is why you study film – to look for ways to move the ball offensively and defensively you are looking at things schematically that people might have done against them that was successful. That definitely plays into what your line of thinking is. Now, you don't depart completely what you are doing, it has to fit into the realm of your personnel and what you are doing, but it is certainly part of the deal."
On getting back to the championship game and having unfinished business…
"It was very difficult to get back here. Running the gauntlet of a nine-game Pac-12 schedule is not easy and of course, we started out from the ideal situation when we lost that first one and then had to run the table the rest of the way. So, it was a long, hard road but the guys persevered and continued to work and continued to stay focused. They just continue to just attack them one at a time. The "unfinished business" mantra is something our returning seniors adopted. It wasn't anything that was manufactured by the coaching staff. It is basically saying that we got there last year to the championship game and we weren't able to get the win. We get another chance this year and the message is that we need to try and finish and win the whole thing. We are in position to do that, but like I said, we have a good opponent."
On if there was a defining game or moment over the last eight games that got them here…
"I would say Oregon State. We went over there and just cut loose and had a huge, lopsided victory. That is at least in my own mind that I thought this team had a chance to be special if we keep this up."
On if it is weird to think if they win if they wouldn't go to the Rose Bowl but potentially to the playoff…
"It doesn't and we haven't paid a whole lot of attention to it. We certainly understand the big picture, but you control the controllable and all we can control is trying to get a win on Friday against Oregon and then it is out of our hands at that point. We don't spend a lot of time thinking about it. It doesn't really seem odd or strange either way, whatever our fate is it will be good. I can tell you it will be good no matter what happens if we are able to win."
On if last year's loss in the championship game has stuck with him…
"Every loss is painful and as a coach, if you went back and you looked at all of the losses, you remember everyone and what went wrong. We didn't get much offense generated last year and credit the Husky defense, they were really good. So, it was tough to move the ball. That one play seemed to be the turning point in the game and we couldn't overcome that. It was disappointing but that is football. They made the play and congratulations to them."
On what is different about Oregon this year from last year when they played them…
"Not a whole lot. They had really good players last year and they have really good players this year. Their offensive line is really good. That should be the intriguing matchup of this game and a battle that is going to be pivotal in who wins the game – their offensive line against our defensive line."
On Utah's defense being on the field for the fewest plays in the country and what that stat means to him…
"Two things, it speaks to how well we are controlling the ball on offense, that is a big part of it. We are controlling the football, making first downs and we aren't turning the ball over that much so our defense is on the sidelines because of that. Secondly, it says we are doing a good job defensively on third downs, which we just snuck under the 30-percent conversion mark after last game, which is outstanding. I don't know if in Utah football history we have been sub-30-percent on allowing opponents to convert on third downs. So those two things play hand-in-hand and make for the amount of snaps that you have seen us play. That is a big plus for us on defense because we have essentially played two less games than everyone else as far as the wear and tear on our guys."
On if there is something about this team that makes them feel they can hang with anybody in the country…
"The talent level. I've got to believe this is the most talented team we've had here, at least since I have been here. That is a pretty bold statement because there have been some teams that have come through here that are really good, but I think when all is said and done and we look back, this might be the best of them all to this point."
On if this season feels like the 2004 and 2008 seasons and if he feels they have cemented themselves in the Pac-12 now…
"It does feel a lot like 2004 and 2008. Those special seasons that don't come around all the time where everything seems to be clicking, so there is that feel. As far as if we have arrived, I'll never say we have arrived but we have certainly been in the best place in our opinion since joining the conference by far right now. We are on pretty solid ground and we are continually trying to get better and recruit better. We are building buildings and stadium and I think we are in a pretty good spot right now, but there is still a lot of work to be done."
On how the staff is handling recruiting and preparation for the game…
"That is something that is a minor disadvantage that other teams in the conference are out recruiting this week, but I think in the big picture it helps us being in this game in the long run. What we do is we send out the word to the recruits that we won't be able to see them this week because of game preparations and let them know why we won't be there. I think the trade off is certainly well worth it."
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Players Mentioned
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