Upcoming Event: Football versus No. 21 Texas Tech on September 20, 2025 at 10 a.m.
10 a.m.
Football
vs No. 21 Texas Tech
.png&width=31&height=31&type=webp)
Coaches' Corner: Sione Po'uha and Freddie Whittingham
10/26/2021 7:42 PM | Football
Utes' defensive tackles, tight ends coaches meet with the media ahead of UCLA game
SALT LAKE CITY - It's Coaches' Corner time of the week as we check in with Utah defensive tackles coach Sione Po'uha and tight ends coach Freddie Whittingham ahead of the Utes' matchup with UCLA.
The Utes will kick it off against the Bruins Saturday night in Utah's annual Dark Mode game, which begins at 8 p.m. MT on ESPN.
Defensive tackles coach Sione Po'uha
On last Saturday's game at Oregon State…
"Credit to those guys. They played in unison, had great technique, came with physicality. That was something we knew going into the game, and to come out of that game with that many yards rushing is an indicatior that we didn't do what we had to do."
Â
On developing Utah's youth up front and the rest of the defense…
"When you put guys on the field, you put guys that we prepared and feel that they've prepared themselves. It wasn't like it was their first start during that game. It was just a game where we didn't go in and play the kind of defense that we knew how to play. Junior Tafuna has been starting for a few games. All of the defensive tackles in the room have started at some time or another. All of them are expected to play to a certain standard. Whether you're a senior or a freshman, when we put you out there, we know that you've prepared yourself, we've put our coaching into you [so] that you're able to perform."
Â
On UCLA's rushing game…
"Talented running back, talented front line. Our challenge is right in front of us. We know where we've got to get better. We know that we have to play our type of defense, our type of defensive front specifically. That's what we're working on this week."
Tight Ends Coach Freddie Whittingham
On red zone execution at Oregon State…
"That was the biggest disappointment offensively in the game, our production in the red zone. We were down there eight times, got four touchdowns, two field goals and were stopped inside the five-yard line twice. Really that's the difference in the game right there for us. Very disappointing. It comes down to execution and making it go. That's what we need to do, that's what we need to focus on every time we have those opportunities, put the ball in the end zone and get six points."
Â
On assessing the tight ends group at this point of the season…
"I feel like 12 and 13 personnel are groups that have been very productive for us. I feel like any one of the guys that's out there at any given time can make plays in both the run game and the pass game. I feel like we're getting good, efficient run blocking, physical run blocking. I feel like we're getting good production in the throw game with receptions. We've just got to focus on taking steps forward and getting better every single week; every single day in practice, so that it shows up in the game. If our group does what we're supposed to do, I feel good about the offense being productive and scoring points."
Â
On Dalton Kincaid…
"He's not a surprise any more. He wasn't a surprise to me when we got him from the transfer portal, because I saw what he could do on tape at San Diego. What makes Dalton special is that he's got prototypical size for a tight end, but he runs like a wide receiver. He's got ball skills like the best of the wide receivers. You throw a ball up there, you feel better than a 50-50 chance that he's going to come down with it between him and a defender. He's a good run blocker, an all-around really solid tight end. While we knew what we had in Brant Kuithe and Cole Fotheringham—they've very high-performing tight ends as well—just being able to add Dalton to the mix creates more matchup possibilities for us against the defenses."
On UCLA…
"There's a ton of movement. They've got guys pre-snap flying everywhere. They stand their defensive linemen all over the place, so you never know what technique they're going to be in until right before the snap. There's a lot of blitzing. There's a lot of speed and athleticism over there on that side of the ball. A lot of varied coverages. You're going to have to be patient. You're going to have to be smart, you're going to have to more than anything, just be physical."
Previous Editions of Coaches' Corner
Oct. 19 - Kiel McDonald (RBs) and Colton Swan (LBs)
Oct. 13 - Chad Bumphis (WRs) and Sharrieff Shah (CBs/Special Teams)
Oct. 5 - Jim Harding (OL) and Lewis Powell (DEs)
Sept. 22 - Sione Po'uha (DTs) and Freddie Whittingham (TEs)
Sept. 14 - Kiel McDonald (RBs) and Colton Swan (LBs)
Sept. 7 - Andy Ludwig (OC/QBs) and Morgan Scalley (DC/Safeties)
Â
The Utes will kick it off against the Bruins Saturday night in Utah's annual Dark Mode game, which begins at 8 p.m. MT on ESPN.
Defensive tackles coach Sione Po'uha
On last Saturday's game at Oregon State…
"Credit to those guys. They played in unison, had great technique, came with physicality. That was something we knew going into the game, and to come out of that game with that many yards rushing is an indicatior that we didn't do what we had to do."
Â
On developing Utah's youth up front and the rest of the defense…
"When you put guys on the field, you put guys that we prepared and feel that they've prepared themselves. It wasn't like it was their first start during that game. It was just a game where we didn't go in and play the kind of defense that we knew how to play. Junior Tafuna has been starting for a few games. All of the defensive tackles in the room have started at some time or another. All of them are expected to play to a certain standard. Whether you're a senior or a freshman, when we put you out there, we know that you've prepared yourself, we've put our coaching into you [so] that you're able to perform."
Â
On UCLA's rushing game…
"Talented running back, talented front line. Our challenge is right in front of us. We know where we've got to get better. We know that we have to play our type of defense, our type of defensive front specifically. That's what we're working on this week."
Tight Ends Coach Freddie Whittingham
On red zone execution at Oregon State…
"That was the biggest disappointment offensively in the game, our production in the red zone. We were down there eight times, got four touchdowns, two field goals and were stopped inside the five-yard line twice. Really that's the difference in the game right there for us. Very disappointing. It comes down to execution and making it go. That's what we need to do, that's what we need to focus on every time we have those opportunities, put the ball in the end zone and get six points."
Â
On assessing the tight ends group at this point of the season…
"I feel like 12 and 13 personnel are groups that have been very productive for us. I feel like any one of the guys that's out there at any given time can make plays in both the run game and the pass game. I feel like we're getting good, efficient run blocking, physical run blocking. I feel like we're getting good production in the throw game with receptions. We've just got to focus on taking steps forward and getting better every single week; every single day in practice, so that it shows up in the game. If our group does what we're supposed to do, I feel good about the offense being productive and scoring points."
Â
On Dalton Kincaid…
"He's not a surprise any more. He wasn't a surprise to me when we got him from the transfer portal, because I saw what he could do on tape at San Diego. What makes Dalton special is that he's got prototypical size for a tight end, but he runs like a wide receiver. He's got ball skills like the best of the wide receivers. You throw a ball up there, you feel better than a 50-50 chance that he's going to come down with it between him and a defender. He's a good run blocker, an all-around really solid tight end. While we knew what we had in Brant Kuithe and Cole Fotheringham—they've very high-performing tight ends as well—just being able to add Dalton to the mix creates more matchup possibilities for us against the defenses."
On UCLA…
"There's a ton of movement. They've got guys pre-snap flying everywhere. They stand their defensive linemen all over the place, so you never know what technique they're going to be in until right before the snap. There's a lot of blitzing. There's a lot of speed and athleticism over there on that side of the ball. A lot of varied coverages. You're going to have to be patient. You're going to have to be smart, you're going to have to more than anything, just be physical."
Previous Editions of Coaches' Corner
Oct. 19 - Kiel McDonald (RBs) and Colton Swan (LBs)
Oct. 13 - Chad Bumphis (WRs) and Sharrieff Shah (CBs/Special Teams)
Oct. 5 - Jim Harding (OL) and Lewis Powell (DEs)
Sept. 22 - Sione Po'uha (DTs) and Freddie Whittingham (TEs)
Sept. 14 - Kiel McDonald (RBs) and Colton Swan (LBs)
Sept. 7 - Andy Ludwig (OC/QBs) and Morgan Scalley (DC/Safeties)
Â
Players Mentioned
TE
/ Football
TE
/ Football
TE
/ Football
DT
/ FootballCrimson Corner with Bill Riley - Keith Kelley, voice of the Wyoming Cowboys
Tuesday, September 09
Ute greats Ron McBride and Roy Jefferson Ring of Honor Induction
Monday, September 08
Utah: 63, Cal Poly: 9 | POST GAME PRESS CONFERENCE
Saturday, September 06
Crimson Corner with Bill Riley - Ron McBride
Wednesday, September 03