Photo by: Hunter Dyke/Utah Athletics
What They’re Saying: Prepping for the Bears
9/6/2023 9:19 AM | Football
First road trip of the season sends Utah to Baylor’s McLane Stadium
SALT LAKE CITY – Game No. 1 saw the Utah Football team start off the season on the right foot, earning a 24-11 victory over Florida last Thursday night in front of a Rice-Eccles Stadium record 53,644 fans and an ESPN primetime television audience.
There was plenty that improved for the Utes from the 2022 meeting of the teams out in Gainesville. The defense went from 28 missed tackles a year ago to just four on Thursday. Every offensive position group helped the Utes go sack-free and interception-free. Jack Bouwmeester had one of the best performances in recent memory by a Utah punter and Cole Becker showcased his field goal range.
But it's a new week now, and there's areas to grow as Utah prepares for its first road test at Baylor.
"We're focused on playing hard," head coach Kyle Whittingham said after Tuesday's practice. "We're very confident that [Baylor] will make a big step forward between game one and two. If we come out and control the line of scrimmage like we were able to do the previous week, tackle cleanly, execute cleanly on offense, then we've got a chance. We'll see what happens."
Throughout this week, coordinators Andy Ludwig and Morgan Scalley plus several of the players met with local media to share what was learned against Florida and preview the Baylor game.
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING
Andy Ludwig | Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks Coach
Takeaways from the Florida game…
"We've got a lot of things to work on, a lot of things to clean up. It's great to win a game like that, knowing there's so many things we can improve on and put better plays on tape."
On the play-call to open the game…
"It's a great story. We have a game management meeting the day before the game. I had my list of openers. That play was on the list, but it wasn't the first play. It was Coach Whittingham that said, 'what do you think about taking a shot on the first play?' I said, 'I got it,' and just moved it up. The guys executed it very well."
On Bryson Barnes' performance…
"I'm proud of Bryson. I'm not surprised. No one's more invested than Bryson Barnes. He's shown continual improvement through his career here. He's our guy right now and I'm very proud of the way he played. But we're looking to get better. He's got to get better, as we all do."
On rotating Barnes and Nate Johnson…
"We have used (the rotation) at different times throughout my career. I thought it was okay. It could be more efficient, I could be more efficient in terms of orchestrating it—the when and the why with it. But it thought the quarterbacks did an outstanding job of handling it. It's not easy for a quarterback to be in the flow, get yanked, another guy comes in, things like that. I need to manage it better, but I thought the young men handled it very well."
On the offensive line, namely Spencer Fano…
"I thought Spencer was outstanding for his first collegiate (game). Again, plenty of things to improve on and build on. But I'm proud of him coming on in that situation against that opponent. He performed very well. The offensive line did a good job, but like the rest of the offense, there are so many things to improve on from Week 1 to Week 2."
Morgan Scalley | Defensive Coordinator/Safeties Coach
On takeaways from the Florida game…
"Number one is (our guys) played hard. They played hard, they played physical. Single-digit missed tackles were a big positive. Red zone defense was a huge positive. Third-down defense, huge positive. Too many yards in between. You had a 17-play drive. That's a third-down conversion on a defensive holding penalty, we had a jumping offsides giving [Florida] an extra opportunity. Those unforced errors that extend drives, we've got to limit them."
On having game tape…
"Any tape is huge. But particularly for the guys that hadn't played a whole lot. I was very pleased with Tevita Fotu. He's one of those guys that depth-wise, you're saying 'we've got to count on that guy.' He played well. JaTravis Broughton is another guy that showed up and showed physicality at the cornerback position. Tao Johnson was a pleasant surprise. He's a starter for a reason, but I thought he played well. Those younger guys, to get that first game against an SEC opponent, under the lights and on national television; that was good."
On Tao Johnson's transition from offense to defense…
"High football IQ, just being a (former) quarterback. I know it's a hard transition from offense to defense. But he's a high football IQ guy. He's physical, he's fast. There was a time in Fall camp where he was down a little bit. He definitely had some things he's got to improve upon…but for the most part, I thought he was productive and he's got plenty to show us going forward. But man, I was happy with his performance."
Tao Johnson | CB | R-Fr.
On his transition from offense to defense…
"I got a lot of help. It wasn't easy. It's taken a lot of work, a lot of extra effort, a lot of early mornings and late nights with coaches taking time of their day to help me learn the defense and learn my technique. Coach Scalley, Coach Shah, [Jordan] Fogal, all of them; they've all been a great help in my development."
Jaren Kump | OL | So.
Takeaways from the Florida game…
"I would say that we could have done better on our part. Of course, Florida is a very good team. Very big up front, very strong up front, very physical up front. But I felt like we could have done better. We've watched the film and know what we have to get better at. Now we're just moving onto the next game and getting those things worked out."
Money Parks | WR | Jr.
On the first play against Florida…
"I'd say it's a dream come true. Never thought I'd get the opportunity to make a play like that the first play of the season."
On Bryson Barnes' game and skillset…
"I love the way he competes. I love the way he takes on the game and how he keys in on everything he needs to do to help the team win."
FOLLOW US!
To get an inside look at the Utah Football program during its journey through the 2023 season, follow the Utes on social media along with visiting www.UtahUtes.com.
Twitter: @Utah_Football
Instagram: @UtahFootball
Threads: @UtahFootball
Facebook: Utah Football
TikTok: @Utah_Football
UP NEXT
Utah will take on the Baylor Bears on the road on Saturday, Sept. 9 in Waco, Texas. The game is set for a 10 a.m. MT kick on ESPN.
There was plenty that improved for the Utes from the 2022 meeting of the teams out in Gainesville. The defense went from 28 missed tackles a year ago to just four on Thursday. Every offensive position group helped the Utes go sack-free and interception-free. Jack Bouwmeester had one of the best performances in recent memory by a Utah punter and Cole Becker showcased his field goal range.
Players of the Game ?? pic.twitter.com/7UoRMqbqO4
— Utah Football (@Utah_Football) September 2, 2023
But it's a new week now, and there's areas to grow as Utah prepares for its first road test at Baylor.
"We're focused on playing hard," head coach Kyle Whittingham said after Tuesday's practice. "We're very confident that [Baylor] will make a big step forward between game one and two. If we come out and control the line of scrimmage like we were able to do the previous week, tackle cleanly, execute cleanly on offense, then we've got a chance. We'll see what happens."
Throughout this week, coordinators Andy Ludwig and Morgan Scalley plus several of the players met with local media to share what was learned against Florida and preview the Baylor game.
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING
Andy Ludwig | Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks Coach
Takeaways from the Florida game…
"We've got a lot of things to work on, a lot of things to clean up. It's great to win a game like that, knowing there's so many things we can improve on and put better plays on tape."
On the play-call to open the game…
"It's a great story. We have a game management meeting the day before the game. I had my list of openers. That play was on the list, but it wasn't the first play. It was Coach Whittingham that said, 'what do you think about taking a shot on the first play?' I said, 'I got it,' and just moved it up. The guys executed it very well."
On Bryson Barnes' performance…
"I'm proud of Bryson. I'm not surprised. No one's more invested than Bryson Barnes. He's shown continual improvement through his career here. He's our guy right now and I'm very proud of the way he played. But we're looking to get better. He's got to get better, as we all do."
On rotating Barnes and Nate Johnson…
"We have used (the rotation) at different times throughout my career. I thought it was okay. It could be more efficient, I could be more efficient in terms of orchestrating it—the when and the why with it. But it thought the quarterbacks did an outstanding job of handling it. It's not easy for a quarterback to be in the flow, get yanked, another guy comes in, things like that. I need to manage it better, but I thought the young men handled it very well."
On the offensive line, namely Spencer Fano…
"I thought Spencer was outstanding for his first collegiate (game). Again, plenty of things to improve on and build on. But I'm proud of him coming on in that situation against that opponent. He performed very well. The offensive line did a good job, but like the rest of the offense, there are so many things to improve on from Week 1 to Week 2."
Morgan Scalley | Defensive Coordinator/Safeties Coach
On takeaways from the Florida game…
"Number one is (our guys) played hard. They played hard, they played physical. Single-digit missed tackles were a big positive. Red zone defense was a huge positive. Third-down defense, huge positive. Too many yards in between. You had a 17-play drive. That's a third-down conversion on a defensive holding penalty, we had a jumping offsides giving [Florida] an extra opportunity. Those unforced errors that extend drives, we've got to limit them."
On having game tape…
"Any tape is huge. But particularly for the guys that hadn't played a whole lot. I was very pleased with Tevita Fotu. He's one of those guys that depth-wise, you're saying 'we've got to count on that guy.' He played well. JaTravis Broughton is another guy that showed up and showed physicality at the cornerback position. Tao Johnson was a pleasant surprise. He's a starter for a reason, but I thought he played well. Those younger guys, to get that first game against an SEC opponent, under the lights and on national television; that was good."
On Tao Johnson's transition from offense to defense…
"High football IQ, just being a (former) quarterback. I know it's a hard transition from offense to defense. But he's a high football IQ guy. He's physical, he's fast. There was a time in Fall camp where he was down a little bit. He definitely had some things he's got to improve upon…but for the most part, I thought he was productive and he's got plenty to show us going forward. But man, I was happy with his performance."
Tao Johnson | CB | R-Fr.
On his transition from offense to defense…
"I got a lot of help. It wasn't easy. It's taken a lot of work, a lot of extra effort, a lot of early mornings and late nights with coaches taking time of their day to help me learn the defense and learn my technique. Coach Scalley, Coach Shah, [Jordan] Fogal, all of them; they've all been a great help in my development."
Jaren Kump | OL | So.
Takeaways from the Florida game…
"I would say that we could have done better on our part. Of course, Florida is a very good team. Very big up front, very strong up front, very physical up front. But I felt like we could have done better. We've watched the film and know what we have to get better at. Now we're just moving onto the next game and getting those things worked out."
Money Parks | WR | Jr.
On the first play against Florida…
"I'd say it's a dream come true. Never thought I'd get the opportunity to make a play like that the first play of the season."
On Bryson Barnes' game and skillset…
"I love the way he competes. I love the way he takes on the game and how he keys in on everything he needs to do to help the team win."
FOLLOW US!
To get an inside look at the Utah Football program during its journey through the 2023 season, follow the Utes on social media along with visiting www.UtahUtes.com.
Twitter: @Utah_Football
Instagram: @UtahFootball
Threads: @UtahFootball
Facebook: Utah Football
TikTok: @Utah_Football
UP NEXT
Utah will take on the Baylor Bears on the road on Saturday, Sept. 9 in Waco, Texas. The game is set for a 10 a.m. MT kick on ESPN.
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