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Coaches' Corner: Kiel McDonald and Colton Swan
9/14/2021 7:43 PM | Football
Utah's running backs and linebackers coaches offer insight ahead of San Diego State matchup
SALT LAKE CITY - It's another edition of Coaches' Corner as Utah running backs coach Kiel McDonald, along with linebackers coach Colton Swan met with the local media this week to assess their respective position groups.
The Utes conclude non-conference play this Saturday, Sept. 18, visiting former WAC and Mountain West rival San Diego State. The game kicks at 5 p.m. MT (4 p.m. PT) on CBS Sports Network.
Running Backs Coach Kiel McDonald
On Micah Bernard's growth since his true freshman year…
"I think that he has became mentally tougher and physically tougher. This program will do that to you. He's learned the game, he's really developed on and off the field. He's growing into being a man. He's truly, truly become a tougher person…He can do it all, he can catch, he can block. A lot of guys here in this program can do those types of things. He is really growing into someone that can be a three-down back for us."
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On the satisfaction of Bernard staying the course to this point…
"It's always about the players. All we do [as coaches] is try to steer them in the right direction that we know they can be in, develop them, and push them to where their goals are. It's never about the coaches, it's always about the players."
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On working with Tavion Thomas and helping Thomas improve his ball security…
"Gotta get him right! He's talented, hard to tackle for sure. We're going to spend some extra time after practice, pre-practice, whatever it takes. We have to be able to hone in and be able to maximize our players. That's part of my job, and I have to do a better job with that…It's all about getting better and maximizing your potential, who we think he can be. We know that he can help this program win games. He's shown that he can help us. My job is to get him there."
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On the team's depth at running back…
"I think we're getting real close to having a set hierarchy. But those guys are really good. TJ's a good player, Chris is a good player. Everybody's going to have their moments this season and we're going to need them all. It's really going to be per play call, but I think you're starting to see things iron themselves out."
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On San Diego State…
"They bring a lot of pressure…They run to the ball, they have a fanatic finish. They are really well-coached, disciplined. They are a really, really good team."
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Linebackers Coach Colton Swan
On evaluating the linebackers' performance in Week 2…
"I more so evaluate what they've done the last couple months since we started Fall camp. A couple guys, Devin Lloyd and Nephi Sewell, have had good Fall camps and played well. They're leaders of the defense. The expectation is always high for them, and they've been meeting expectations. I'm proud of what they've done thus far."
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On challenges posed by San Diego State…
"A really good, well-coached offense. A lot of different looks, complications in the run and passing game. They try and do a bunch of things that will be hard on the linebackers. They're going to demand physical play from the defense. We have to do a good job of stepping up and making sure we're there for the challenge.
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"[The running backs] give them multiple looks. The more looks we face, the harder it is. They do a great job moving guys around, with multiple running backs, multiple styles of play. They do a great job of it. That's tough on a linebacker because we have a huge role in our assignments…We have to prepare and be ready."
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On Devin Lloyd's leadership and the importance of leadership after Week 2…
"He's always been a leader, ever since day one. He's a natural leader. He brings not only defensive guys along, offensive guys too. He demands a lot from himself, a lot from his teammates. He's constantly striving for success. He's very compelling in the fact that he tries to bring others along. That's what we need from a guy on the defensive side."
Â
On what he is looking for in the team's final non-conference game…
"I don't even call it a tune-up game. Every one of them is a war to us, and we go into it with the same mentality. Every day we're striving to get better, every game we're striving to get better. That's our mentality as a blue-collar, hard-working group. They're out on the field after practice working to get better. It's an every day, not just every game mentality."
Â
On describing an identity for this defense…
"Physicality, no doubt. We've got to be physical at the point of contact. We have to stop the run, own the trenches, own the line of scrimmage. That's the identity of what we need to establish day in and day out, game in and game out."
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The Utes conclude non-conference play this Saturday, Sept. 18, visiting former WAC and Mountain West rival San Diego State. The game kicks at 5 p.m. MT (4 p.m. PT) on CBS Sports Network.
Running Backs Coach Kiel McDonald
On Micah Bernard's growth since his true freshman year…
"I think that he has became mentally tougher and physically tougher. This program will do that to you. He's learned the game, he's really developed on and off the field. He's growing into being a man. He's truly, truly become a tougher person…He can do it all, he can catch, he can block. A lot of guys here in this program can do those types of things. He is really growing into someone that can be a three-down back for us."
Â
On the satisfaction of Bernard staying the course to this point…
"It's always about the players. All we do [as coaches] is try to steer them in the right direction that we know they can be in, develop them, and push them to where their goals are. It's never about the coaches, it's always about the players."
Â
On working with Tavion Thomas and helping Thomas improve his ball security…
"Gotta get him right! He's talented, hard to tackle for sure. We're going to spend some extra time after practice, pre-practice, whatever it takes. We have to be able to hone in and be able to maximize our players. That's part of my job, and I have to do a better job with that…It's all about getting better and maximizing your potential, who we think he can be. We know that he can help this program win games. He's shown that he can help us. My job is to get him there."
Â
On the team's depth at running back…
"I think we're getting real close to having a set hierarchy. But those guys are really good. TJ's a good player, Chris is a good player. Everybody's going to have their moments this season and we're going to need them all. It's really going to be per play call, but I think you're starting to see things iron themselves out."
Â
On San Diego State…
"They bring a lot of pressure…They run to the ball, they have a fanatic finish. They are really well-coached, disciplined. They are a really, really good team."
Â
Linebackers Coach Colton Swan
On evaluating the linebackers' performance in Week 2…
"I more so evaluate what they've done the last couple months since we started Fall camp. A couple guys, Devin Lloyd and Nephi Sewell, have had good Fall camps and played well. They're leaders of the defense. The expectation is always high for them, and they've been meeting expectations. I'm proud of what they've done thus far."
Â
On challenges posed by San Diego State…
"A really good, well-coached offense. A lot of different looks, complications in the run and passing game. They try and do a bunch of things that will be hard on the linebackers. They're going to demand physical play from the defense. We have to do a good job of stepping up and making sure we're there for the challenge.
Â
"[The running backs] give them multiple looks. The more looks we face, the harder it is. They do a great job moving guys around, with multiple running backs, multiple styles of play. They do a great job of it. That's tough on a linebacker because we have a huge role in our assignments…We have to prepare and be ready."
Â
On Devin Lloyd's leadership and the importance of leadership after Week 2…
"He's always been a leader, ever since day one. He's a natural leader. He brings not only defensive guys along, offensive guys too. He demands a lot from himself, a lot from his teammates. He's constantly striving for success. He's very compelling in the fact that he tries to bring others along. That's what we need from a guy on the defensive side."
Â
On what he is looking for in the team's final non-conference game…
"I don't even call it a tune-up game. Every one of them is a war to us, and we go into it with the same mentality. Every day we're striving to get better, every game we're striving to get better. That's our mentality as a blue-collar, hard-working group. They're out on the field after practice working to get better. It's an every day, not just every game mentality."
Â
On describing an identity for this defense…
"Physicality, no doubt. We've got to be physical at the point of contact. We have to stop the run, own the trenches, own the line of scrimmage. That's the identity of what we need to establish day in and day out, game in and game out."
Â
Players Mentioned
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