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Postgame Quotes: Utah at Arizona State
9/25/2022 1:16 AM | Football
Postgame Quotes
No. 13 Utah 34, (at) Arizona State 13
Tempe, Ariz. (Sun Devil Stadium)
Sat., Sept. 24, 2022
Kick: 7:35 p.m. AZT | End: 10:42 p.m.
Attendance: 39,876
Utah Head Coach Kyle Whittingham
Opening Statement…
"Solid game overall, all three phases. Offense was productive. Sputtered a little bit in the red zone at times. Still a work in progress in that respect. Run game was much more efficient in the second half, which is something that we came out with a purpose and intent to do that. Defense, I felt like it was lights out and they ended up with almost zero yards rushing, maybe a few yards, it was negative yards for most of the game. So, the run defense was outstanding. Had we not had two miscues in kickoff coverage, we gave them great field position twice. Could have had less points given up, it is just how it is… Special teams, another game that's four weeks in a row there really was no impact on game-changing plays, they really swung the game. You talk about field position, we lost a couple of times but crowded the ball a few times… Our field goal kicker continues to be perfect, so that's a positive but Brant Kuithe is probably the big name of the game, we'll find out more tomorrow but it doesn't look good. I'll have a report on Monday at the press conference. I just felt horrible for the kid. He's such a great teammate, he's a leader, he's a captain. He came back another year to be with this team and help us win, so we'll hope for the best. It's not definitive but like I said, it doesn't look good."
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On the red zone miscues…
"Well, we had a false start at 4th-and-one, and 4th-and-six pushed them right to the field goal situation. I think that might have happened twice. I can't remember; I'll have to watch the tape but overall for the entire year we're pretty good. Our percentage is still pretty good, touchdown percentage but it's always a work in progress and it's such a critical element to the game. A key facet of winning is being efficient and effective in the red zone both ways, offensively and defensively. That's something that we spend a lot of time on."
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On how wide receiver Devaughn Vele played…
"He's a guy that I've been talking about since last spring. [And] you've seen his impact on the game. He's a tremendous athlete and he's done a great job returning punts for us as well. We didn't have a lot of them tonight, only one for 16 yards but he's a very valuable member [of the team] and one of Cam's go-to targets."
Â
On Karene Reid's performance tonight…
"Very pleasing, the guy is distinctive, tough, student of the game. Much more athletic than you think. He can run, change direction and always a good position. Between him and our true freshman Lander Barton, those two are holding it down in the inside linebacker spot and hopefully Mohamoud Diabate will be available next week. We thought there was a possibility of getting him this game but it wasn't quite there so next week may give us another core linebacker, but those two guys have done outstanding."
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On Ja'Quinden Jackson moving to running back and if it's permanent for the season…
"Yes, he's a natural, he did play running back in 8th, 9th and 10th grade full time. Maybe 10th grade is when he transitioned to quarterback, but he has the background and he's explosive, a big back at 230 pounds. Just shy of that, he's fast, got really good vision. He makes some runs in practice and cuts back which is really impressive. The rest of this season we expect gives us another viable option at running back. When Chris went down, you're a guy short, if anybody could fill the bill and we decided to give him a shot and he embraced it and said absolutely with his mentality and his skillset. What you saw tonight was just a taste of what he could bring to the table. [Until] further notice he is a running back, we'll re-evacuate that at the end of the season."
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On Cole Bishop…
"He's an absolute phenom at safety. He's everything you look for, so athletic, great in coverage, great blitzer and tackler. He's the whole package. He's got size at 6-2, 225 pounds. So you're seeing one of the best safeties in the Pac-12 and in the country."
Â
On the defense shaping up...
"They're starting to get into sync and I think you've seen the last three weeks now we went through some progress. But as the season progresses there will be challenges down the road. After that first game we were so disappointed so they've answered the bell for three weeks in a row."
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Junior Quarterback Cameron Rising
Opening statement…
"Shout out to the defense for just holding it down. They did a great job dominating on all facets and we just have to be better in the red zone as an offense and just keep it going."
Â
What was it like seeing Ja'Quinden Jackson out as a running back?
"That was awesome. He's running downhill and hitting it like it's supposed to be hit, and it's fun to see him develop and progress as a running back like that."
Â
On the second touchdown to Dalton Kincaid and what he saw…
"Just making sure he had enough room to make a catch. He's a guy that's just a play maker and any time you can put it in his vicinity he's probably going to come down with it more times than not."
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On what he learned from the offense in this game…
"I think I learned that we don't flinch, and whatever happens we're just going to keep going and keep giving it our best and just taking it one rep at a time. That's the most important thing, and we just have to keep continuing to do that."
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Sophomore Safety Cole Bishop
On being dialed in defensively and the game prep…
"Coach Scalley and all the staff really helped us get a good game plan going in the week, we knew a lot of their tendencies, we just came out and executed it. We played physical and fast and got the job done."
Â
On importance of starting off conference play with a win…
"It's more just the first week of Pac-12 play and we got a win, we're at the top of the conference right off the bat so you're starting off strong and try to come back and that was really important for us."
Â
On the targeting review…
"I was more concerned about next week. We were already up by a good bit and obviously I wanted to finish that game but I was just worried about being suspended for the first half of Oregon State but luckily they didn't call me for it."
Â
On what was working well for the defense…
"The play calling was great for a lot of them, my targeting almost-call was a great call. I was lined up on the other side of the field and he changed it so I had to run over and ended up blitzing right into it so it worked out perfectly."
Â
Sophomore Linebacker Karene Reid
On being dialed in defensively and the game prep…
"I feel like I've seen a big change in practice this week. I feel like the intensity is turned up a notch. Coming into the game it was 'we practice hard so you can play the games easily.' So I feel like that is how we were."
Â
On the team getting five sacks today and what was working…
"I think it was a couple things. The D-line definitely got after it but there were a couple of times where the quarterback would try and get the ball out but the secondary was able to keep him in the pocket and have him hold on to the ball, so a combination of the D-line and coverage."
Â
On the key to his success and team-lead in tackles tonight…
"Just trying to take it day-by-day. We knew this was the first game of the Pac-12 but we're really just trying to take it a game at a time and for me taking it a day at a time."
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Senior Tight End Dalton Kincaid
On coming out and starting faster than the last couple of weeks…
"It was definitely a big emphasis this week. It was on our minds a lot. We kind of feed off the defense's energy too, so just being able to go out there and start fast, I feel like they kind of feed off that too. It kills two birds with one stone."
Â
On the second touchdown, his catch, and what he was seeing…
"To be honest, I don't really remember most of those. It kind of is just a blink of the eye thing. But, I knew I had a chance with the play call and then just getting out there and giving me a chance to go get it."
Â
On stalling three times in the end zone and what attributed to it…
"Not quite sure honestly, if I had the answer then we wouldn't really be stalling but that's definitely a big emphasis for us. We started fast and then we scored in the red zone every time we had a chance to."
Â
What was it like seeing Ja'Quinden Jackson out there as a running back…
"It was awesome, I got see him go and do that and you guys got another taste of Thomas Yassmin today so it was pretty cool to see both."
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No. 13 Utah 34, (at) Arizona State 13
Tempe, Ariz. (Sun Devil Stadium)
Sat., Sept. 24, 2022
Kick: 7:35 p.m. AZT | End: 10:42 p.m.
Attendance: 39,876
Utah Head Coach Kyle Whittingham
Opening Statement…
"Solid game overall, all three phases. Offense was productive. Sputtered a little bit in the red zone at times. Still a work in progress in that respect. Run game was much more efficient in the second half, which is something that we came out with a purpose and intent to do that. Defense, I felt like it was lights out and they ended up with almost zero yards rushing, maybe a few yards, it was negative yards for most of the game. So, the run defense was outstanding. Had we not had two miscues in kickoff coverage, we gave them great field position twice. Could have had less points given up, it is just how it is… Special teams, another game that's four weeks in a row there really was no impact on game-changing plays, they really swung the game. You talk about field position, we lost a couple of times but crowded the ball a few times… Our field goal kicker continues to be perfect, so that's a positive but Brant Kuithe is probably the big name of the game, we'll find out more tomorrow but it doesn't look good. I'll have a report on Monday at the press conference. I just felt horrible for the kid. He's such a great teammate, he's a leader, he's a captain. He came back another year to be with this team and help us win, so we'll hope for the best. It's not definitive but like I said, it doesn't look good."
Â
On the red zone miscues…
"Well, we had a false start at 4th-and-one, and 4th-and-six pushed them right to the field goal situation. I think that might have happened twice. I can't remember; I'll have to watch the tape but overall for the entire year we're pretty good. Our percentage is still pretty good, touchdown percentage but it's always a work in progress and it's such a critical element to the game. A key facet of winning is being efficient and effective in the red zone both ways, offensively and defensively. That's something that we spend a lot of time on."
Â
On how wide receiver Devaughn Vele played…
"He's a guy that I've been talking about since last spring. [And] you've seen his impact on the game. He's a tremendous athlete and he's done a great job returning punts for us as well. We didn't have a lot of them tonight, only one for 16 yards but he's a very valuable member [of the team] and one of Cam's go-to targets."
Â
On Karene Reid's performance tonight…
"Very pleasing, the guy is distinctive, tough, student of the game. Much more athletic than you think. He can run, change direction and always a good position. Between him and our true freshman Lander Barton, those two are holding it down in the inside linebacker spot and hopefully Mohamoud Diabate will be available next week. We thought there was a possibility of getting him this game but it wasn't quite there so next week may give us another core linebacker, but those two guys have done outstanding."
Â
On Ja'Quinden Jackson moving to running back and if it's permanent for the season…
"Yes, he's a natural, he did play running back in 8th, 9th and 10th grade full time. Maybe 10th grade is when he transitioned to quarterback, but he has the background and he's explosive, a big back at 230 pounds. Just shy of that, he's fast, got really good vision. He makes some runs in practice and cuts back which is really impressive. The rest of this season we expect gives us another viable option at running back. When Chris went down, you're a guy short, if anybody could fill the bill and we decided to give him a shot and he embraced it and said absolutely with his mentality and his skillset. What you saw tonight was just a taste of what he could bring to the table. [Until] further notice he is a running back, we'll re-evacuate that at the end of the season."
Â
On Cole Bishop…
"He's an absolute phenom at safety. He's everything you look for, so athletic, great in coverage, great blitzer and tackler. He's the whole package. He's got size at 6-2, 225 pounds. So you're seeing one of the best safeties in the Pac-12 and in the country."
Â
On the defense shaping up...
"They're starting to get into sync and I think you've seen the last three weeks now we went through some progress. But as the season progresses there will be challenges down the road. After that first game we were so disappointed so they've answered the bell for three weeks in a row."
Â
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Junior Quarterback Cameron Rising
Opening statement…
"Shout out to the defense for just holding it down. They did a great job dominating on all facets and we just have to be better in the red zone as an offense and just keep it going."
Â
What was it like seeing Ja'Quinden Jackson out as a running back?
"That was awesome. He's running downhill and hitting it like it's supposed to be hit, and it's fun to see him develop and progress as a running back like that."
Â
On the second touchdown to Dalton Kincaid and what he saw…
"Just making sure he had enough room to make a catch. He's a guy that's just a play maker and any time you can put it in his vicinity he's probably going to come down with it more times than not."
Â
On what he learned from the offense in this game…
"I think I learned that we don't flinch, and whatever happens we're just going to keep going and keep giving it our best and just taking it one rep at a time. That's the most important thing, and we just have to keep continuing to do that."
Â
Sophomore Safety Cole Bishop
On being dialed in defensively and the game prep…
"Coach Scalley and all the staff really helped us get a good game plan going in the week, we knew a lot of their tendencies, we just came out and executed it. We played physical and fast and got the job done."
Â
On importance of starting off conference play with a win…
"It's more just the first week of Pac-12 play and we got a win, we're at the top of the conference right off the bat so you're starting off strong and try to come back and that was really important for us."
Â
On the targeting review…
"I was more concerned about next week. We were already up by a good bit and obviously I wanted to finish that game but I was just worried about being suspended for the first half of Oregon State but luckily they didn't call me for it."
Â
On what was working well for the defense…
"The play calling was great for a lot of them, my targeting almost-call was a great call. I was lined up on the other side of the field and he changed it so I had to run over and ended up blitzing right into it so it worked out perfectly."
Â
Sophomore Linebacker Karene Reid
On being dialed in defensively and the game prep…
"I feel like I've seen a big change in practice this week. I feel like the intensity is turned up a notch. Coming into the game it was 'we practice hard so you can play the games easily.' So I feel like that is how we were."
Â
On the team getting five sacks today and what was working…
"I think it was a couple things. The D-line definitely got after it but there were a couple of times where the quarterback would try and get the ball out but the secondary was able to keep him in the pocket and have him hold on to the ball, so a combination of the D-line and coverage."
Â
On the key to his success and team-lead in tackles tonight…
"Just trying to take it day-by-day. We knew this was the first game of the Pac-12 but we're really just trying to take it a game at a time and for me taking it a day at a time."
Â
Senior Tight End Dalton Kincaid
On coming out and starting faster than the last couple of weeks…
"It was definitely a big emphasis this week. It was on our minds a lot. We kind of feed off the defense's energy too, so just being able to go out there and start fast, I feel like they kind of feed off that too. It kills two birds with one stone."
Â
On the second touchdown, his catch, and what he was seeing…
"To be honest, I don't really remember most of those. It kind of is just a blink of the eye thing. But, I knew I had a chance with the play call and then just getting out there and giving me a chance to go get it."
Â
On stalling three times in the end zone and what attributed to it…
"Not quite sure honestly, if I had the answer then we wouldn't really be stalling but that's definitely a big emphasis for us. We started fast and then we scored in the red zone every time we had a chance to."
Â
What was it like seeing Ja'Quinden Jackson out there as a running back…
"It was awesome, I got see him go and do that and you guys got another taste of Thomas Yassmin today so it was pretty cool to see both."
Â
Players Mentioned
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