This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Travis Wilson, the right side of his face red with leftover turf burn, shifted uncomfortably in his seat as Kyle Whittingham addressed the media in the front of the room.

He knew what was coming.

"He's a tremendous competitor," Whittingham told the press. "Exceptionally tough, and he's very smart. Just didn't use the best judgement on that one isolated play."

Oh, that play. The one where he literally landed on his face on Saturday at Michigan.

After the initial shock of seeing his body curving unnaturally back before hitting the turf subsided, Wilson started hearing it from media, coaches, even his own family.

Why did you take that leap? Why didn't you slide? Why did you take such a risk?

He's seen the clip a few times, and it makes him wince, he said. But all he can do now is try to remember to be safer.

"Yeah, I think that's probably the worst hit I've had so far," he said. "Something I've got to be aware of and be smarter about, but I was happy I was able to come back and finish the game."

Wilson's parents were at the game, he said, and he described his dive and the subsequent smashing of his face as that put a little terror in them. His medical history hasn't exactly put them at ease when he lands on his head.

"My mom was definitely a little shaken up and scared for me," he said. "I hate to put them through that worry. I'm happy I'm OK, I'm happy nothing serious happened."

Starting right tackle J.J. Dielman said the linemen got "upset" when they saw their quarterback crunched by the Michigan defense. A quick postgame chat with Wilson put Dielman at ease that he would be OK.

Everybody, fans included and maybe especially, would like to see Wilson slide more in the interest of keeping his nose stitch-free. But at the same time, Dielman said he's not really in position to dole out that kind of advice.

"He's a playmaker," he said. "I can't tell him to stop doing what he's doing."

Pass rush prepared for major test • Whittingham said he's been impressed with a defense that, right now, has "no real weakness." A big part of that has been the defensive front, which has mostly generated pressure with a four-man rush and without having to blitz as frequently as in years past.

But here's the trick: Try sacking a guy who gets the ball out as fast as Connor Halliday.

"It's tough to get to him because the ball gets out of his hand so quick, and he makes such quick reads," Whittingham said. "Same problem we had with him last year."

Utah is tied for No. 2 nationally with sacks per game, averaging five per contest. But last year, when Utah had one of the best sack totals in the nation: Zero against Washington State in a 49-37 loss.

And this year's Cougars offense is no less potent. Halliday leads the nation in passing yards with 1901 and in passing touchdowns with 16. Wazzu has four receivers in the Pac-12's top 10 in receiving yards. And the way Washington State plays offense, he'll drop back and throw over and over and over — maybe 70 or more times.

Junior end Jason Fanaika said there will be a few keys for the defensive line: emphasizing power and speed, putting their hands up to swat close screens, and letting Halliday feel their physicality and landing him on his back a few times.

Fanaika was impressed how Halliday hung in the pocket to make his throw against Oregon, even if he was about to get hit. The Utes want him to regret that decision.

"We can let him know that we're there, hit him when we get a chance," he said. "Not get any stupid penalties, but let him know we're here, we're gonna be here all game."

Finding running lanes • While there were a lot of strengths that showed during the Michigan game, there's still a few bones to pick.

Like the rushing attack. It never feels good to total only 81 yards on 37 carries.

Travis Wilson said he expects the running backs, Bubba Poole and Devontae Booker, to be bigger weapons this week. The duo has each had their moments, and last week was Poole's time to shine, particularly on a 67-yard screen that was the most explosive and longest play of the game.

There needs to be more of that this week, he said.

"I think Michigan's defense is really good at stopping the run," he said. "We didn't get that many rushing yards, so I think that's something we can improve on."

Washington State is not a juggernaut quite like the Wolverines were. The Cougars are the No. 89 defense against the run, and Oregon gashed them for 172 yards on the ground last week.

Dielman said there could be a few tweaks in the run game, but Utah feels like its on the right track.

"I think we can improve our physicality," he said. "Our speed and tempo needs to improve when we play a team like that. But overall, I think we're doing pretty well."

From scout team to first team • This time last year, Gionni Paul was making tackles. Fanaika and Filipo Mokofisi were getting sacks.

Just not the kind that matter.

What a difference a little time and eligibility make. Even as the 3-0 Utes come off their biggest defensive triumph, Fanaika couldn't help but think about more humble days wearing the yellow jersey of a scout team player.

"For me, I was just thinking about it during the game, playing in the Big House with my boys I was grinding with on the scout team," he said. "That was really fun for us, making plays on scout team, helping out the offense."

It's been refreshing for him to be able to win a chance to play, Fanaika said. With Nate Orchard now as a floating linebacker/end, someone needs to play on the other side of Hunter Dimick. Fanaika now has a single sack - but it actually counts. And that's meaningful to him.

"If a guy was on the bench, but put in the work over the summer, everyone's willing to step down and give him a chance," he said. "The coaches are committed to playing the best players, and they're bought in and all that."

Whittingham on McMahon • OK, we get it: Some very vocal fans think BYU-related questions have no place at Utah press conferences.

Tough.

Here's a slight consolation: If you listen to Whittingham's response to a question about Super Bowl-winning quarterback and former teammate Jim McMahon finally getting into the BYU Hall of Fame, he never actually said the name of that old school down south, his alma mater.

But he did speak with passion - and a sense of fun that is often slow to emerge. When talking about how much time he and McMahon spent together in college, he paused for comedic effect before dropping this line: "Umm, I don't want to elaborate."

But it's clear McMahon, whatever their relationship now, still means a great deal to Whittingham. As does that long-awaited honor.

"It was great to see him finally get that recognition," he said. "I guess it was just that one class or whatever holding him back, I didn't quite get the whole story. But it's great that he's now where he should be: In the Hall of Fame. And he's a great guy, great team leader.

"We were captains together our senior year. It's a guy that I have all the respect in the world for and loved playing with. He's awesome."

Kyle Goonkgoon@sltrib.comTwitter: @kylegoon