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The University of Utah Athletics
Utah Football Quotes: Arizona State
10/7/2024 5:49 PM | Football
Freshman Quarterback Isaac Wilson
On what the bye week was good for…
"Recovering the body and, especially with that loss, sitting on something sour and I feel like we're going to come out and do something good."
On if the bye week was tougher after a loss…
"For sure, because you want to get back out there and show yourself, but we just had to sit on that loss for a whole week, with makes it so much more sour."
On how his high school program prepared him for this season…
"Coach [Kjar] did an amazing job. If you really look at his offense and his scheme, he's pulled a lot of stuff from coach [Ludwig]...I think he prepared me pretty well. My dad being along side me and having Zack, too, they all went to Corner Canyon, so just having that extra step."
Senior Running Back Micah Bernard
On how the bye week went and what his focus is on right now…
"The off-week was good. Didn't feel too good, but that's what this week is for. We're supposed to rejuvenate, we feel good right now. We're going into the week, we feel good right now and we're ready to play."
On how they can execute better in the red zone…
"Just finishing drives. We can move the ball and its hard when the field starts to condense and there's fewer options for you, so I think that's what we have to figure out, how we're going to do when the field is condensed."
On how it feels to be contributing…
"It's feels good, but its not about my weight. We all have to pull our weight and when we all do that, we can be unstoppable. We have a little bit to clean up. We keep preaching that and you can see it and we feel it."
Senior Tight End Brant Kuithe
On the bye week…
"It felt good just to have a few days off. We had a few practices last week, but we kind of reset and got our minds right after the loss. It was much needed. We have a little earlier game this week on Friday against Arizona State. So we just have to prepare the right way and come out with a win."
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On bouncing back…
"If we go out here and work, kind of get (the Arizona game) off our minds a little bit; it feels good. After a few days, you don't even think about it. On to the next."
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On the red-zone…
"We just have to execute. That's the biggest thing. We had opportunities (against Arizona) in the red-zone to execute and make plays, but we just didn't. This week, there's an emphasis on red-zone and trying to score touchdowns instead of turnovers or field goals. As long as we keep working, hopefully can get the job done."
Sophomore Safety Tao Johnson
How are you feeling coming off the bye week?
"The bye week can go one of two ways; it can be a good little recovery week, or you buckle down and work on things we need to work on. It's good for us; it may be a little tiresome, but it's good for us and what we needed."
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On how the defense can improve…
"Eliminating personal errors and our own little things that keep all 11 people from working together. Myself, staying over the top; defensive linemen doing their thing, keeping quarterbacks contained and just getting to the ball. Things like that."
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On Alaka'i Gilman's increased role…
"They call him The Professor, because he's picked up the playbook really fast. He understands our defense really well. He makes great reads and pre-snap reads. He's able to make a lot of plays with his mind first. And he flies around—he's a fast, physical, smart guy. A vet, for sure."
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Senior Defensive Tackle Junior Tafuna
On improving tackling…
"(During the bye week) we worked on tackling. That, and assignment-wise, keeping things simple. That's R.S.N.B. football."
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On leading the younger guys through a loss…
"It's about loving up on everyone. Nobody likes to lose. It's just about making sure everyone's in the right head space. You come out here and work with a purpose. We lost (last week), so we made sure that purpose was to not let that happen again."
Â
On what the bye week was good for…
"Recovering the body and, especially with that loss, sitting on something sour and I feel like we're going to come out and do something good."
On if the bye week was tougher after a loss…
"For sure, because you want to get back out there and show yourself, but we just had to sit on that loss for a whole week, with makes it so much more sour."
On how his high school program prepared him for this season…
"Coach [Kjar] did an amazing job. If you really look at his offense and his scheme, he's pulled a lot of stuff from coach [Ludwig]...I think he prepared me pretty well. My dad being along side me and having Zack, too, they all went to Corner Canyon, so just having that extra step."
Senior Running Back Micah Bernard
On how the bye week went and what his focus is on right now…
"The off-week was good. Didn't feel too good, but that's what this week is for. We're supposed to rejuvenate, we feel good right now. We're going into the week, we feel good right now and we're ready to play."
On how they can execute better in the red zone…
"Just finishing drives. We can move the ball and its hard when the field starts to condense and there's fewer options for you, so I think that's what we have to figure out, how we're going to do when the field is condensed."
On how it feels to be contributing…
"It's feels good, but its not about my weight. We all have to pull our weight and when we all do that, we can be unstoppable. We have a little bit to clean up. We keep preaching that and you can see it and we feel it."
Senior Tight End Brant Kuithe
On the bye week…
"It felt good just to have a few days off. We had a few practices last week, but we kind of reset and got our minds right after the loss. It was much needed. We have a little earlier game this week on Friday against Arizona State. So we just have to prepare the right way and come out with a win."
Â
On bouncing back…
"If we go out here and work, kind of get (the Arizona game) off our minds a little bit; it feels good. After a few days, you don't even think about it. On to the next."
Â
On the red-zone…
"We just have to execute. That's the biggest thing. We had opportunities (against Arizona) in the red-zone to execute and make plays, but we just didn't. This week, there's an emphasis on red-zone and trying to score touchdowns instead of turnovers or field goals. As long as we keep working, hopefully can get the job done."
Sophomore Safety Tao Johnson
How are you feeling coming off the bye week?
"The bye week can go one of two ways; it can be a good little recovery week, or you buckle down and work on things we need to work on. It's good for us; it may be a little tiresome, but it's good for us and what we needed."
Â
On how the defense can improve…
"Eliminating personal errors and our own little things that keep all 11 people from working together. Myself, staying over the top; defensive linemen doing their thing, keeping quarterbacks contained and just getting to the ball. Things like that."
Â
On Alaka'i Gilman's increased role…
"They call him The Professor, because he's picked up the playbook really fast. He understands our defense really well. He makes great reads and pre-snap reads. He's able to make a lot of plays with his mind first. And he flies around—he's a fast, physical, smart guy. A vet, for sure."
Â
Senior Defensive Tackle Junior Tafuna
On improving tackling…
"(During the bye week) we worked on tackling. That, and assignment-wise, keeping things simple. That's R.S.N.B. football."
Â
On leading the younger guys through a loss…
"It's about loving up on everyone. Nobody likes to lose. It's just about making sure everyone's in the right head space. You come out here and work with a purpose. We lost (last week), so we made sure that purpose was to not let that happen again."
Â
Players Mentioned
RB
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QB
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