Hey guys, I'm up at the football center for the Monday press conference. Here's a summary of Coach Whittingham's interview.
- The team needs to put the rivalry game in the rear view mirror and focus all their attention on SJSU.
- Some good and bad from the BYU game. He feels the team improved overall but they still have a ways to go. Too many penalties, but overall pleased with the effort and thought that Huntley and the defense played outstanding. A lot of positives.
- Kicking game was solid, very pleased with Matt Gay and Mitch Wishnowsky.
- Huntley probably had a few more carries than they would have liked, but with true dual threat quarterbacks it's just the way he is. He's going to be a big part of the run game every week. He's a really good runner and Whitt thought he did an excellent job throwing the ball as well.
- Tauteoli's targeting was a tough call because the LB was caught in a tough spot, but with the definition of the rule, it was targeting. The rule is in the interest of player safety, which is a big positive.
- Troy McCormick is a big play threat, he has great speed, especially in the perimeter. The coaches have a lot of confidence in him and he's a "home run back". Shyne's injury necessitated TM's move back to RB and he feels most comfortable there.
- Whittingham was really concerned if the lack of contact in fall camp would result in more missed tackles, but the team only had two missed tackles in all of the game on Saturday.
- The hold that was called on Tyler Huntley on Saturday night was actually on Troy McCormick.
- Huntley is a smart runner and he usually limits the force of the hits he takes with the way he runs.
- Whitt would like more pure running back run calls, but Troy will call what's working and if it's QB runs, so be it.
- The majority of the penalties still seem to be coming on the perimeter with wide receivers getting their hands outside of the pads. but it's a fairly easy thing to fix and Whitt loves the agressiveness from the receivers.
- Whitt is very pleased with the secondary so far, said that Jaylon Johnson played the go route that he intercepted perfectly.
- No mention of any season-ending injuries.
- Marquise Blair is doing a great job so far, they actually have a sub package where he is a starter and they have three safeties on the field at once.
- Singleton and Simpkins haven't produced much so far but it's just how things have shaken out so far. They're both very talented and both will continue to be utilized heavily.
- SJSU has a tough RB and a fast WR, they appear to have a lot of the same personnel groups that Utah has and a similar approach, so it should be a good week in practice against each other.
- Won't know if Matt Gay can get a hardship waiver and get an extra year until after the season.
- Redzone struggles in game 2 were a combination of BYU having a good defense and also some things that Utah was doing. Said they have to be better and that they will be.
- Despite SJSU's head coach being on Gary Andersen's staff at Oregon State, Coach Whitt is not very familiar with him.
- Whittingham said that he's not surprised with how good Matt Gay has been, he's very cool under pressure.
