This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated.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.
It'd be an undesirable character trait in most walks of life, but nothing is ever good enough for Kyle Whittingham, and that's probably what you should expect from a head football coach.
Utah racked up 59 points against Fresno State in the first FBS test for offensive coordinator Dave Christensen. They're No. 6 in the nation in pass efficiency rating (189.99). They're No. 4 in scoring offense (57.5).
But it could be better, Whittingham said Tuesday.
They missed blocks. Their blitz pickups were not perfect. And … well, that might be about it, but it's still something.
"I don't think you ever come out of a game thinking, 'OK, that's just how we want it to be,'" Whittingham said. "You're always looking to get better in some respect."
Junior starter Travis Wilson has 446 passing yards, six touchdowns and no interceptions in little more than one combined full game of play. Wilson said Monday that with the return of junior wideout Kenneth Scott and senior tight end Westlee Tonga, "it doesn't feel like all the pressure is on my shoulders," and in Christensen's offense he has faith that if he makes the easy throws and takes care of the football, the guys around him will take care of the rest.
"There's no telling what they'll do with the ball after they catch it," he said.
And maybe it's because they have yet to lose or because they've been through tough times together, but Wilson said the team — on both sides of the ball — has a new vibe this year.
"I definitely feel like this team is a lot different from last year. I just think the brotherhood and the bond we have is stronger."
That feeling will be put to the test next week on, literally, college football's biggest stage.
O-line lineup
During the media observation period at Tuesday's practice, redshirt freshman Salesi Uhatafe was at right guard, sophomore Isaac Asiata moved over to left guard, and Hiva Lutui was at center.
This after senior left guard Junior Salt and junior center Siaosi Aiono left Saturday's game for undisclosed reasons and were replaced by sophomore Nick Nowakowski and Lutui, respectively.
Whittingham said, however, that it's common practice during a bye week to change the arrangement of the offensive linemen, in case disaster strikes.
"You never know when somebody's going to be pressed into duty," he said. "You'll also see [sophomore] J.J. Dielman play some left tackle, while [sophomore] Sam Tevi's playing some right tackle. In emergency situations, you've got to have at least some experience lining up in a few different spots."
Wilson said Monday that Nowakowski and Lutui were up to the task against Fresno State's frequent blitzes.
"I think they did great," he said. "I don't think there was any drop-off when they came in."
Bye some time
What does a team do on an early season bye week?
This week's schedule for the players is as follows: Lift Monday, practice Tuesday and Wednesday, lift Thursday, practice Friday, take the weekend off.
Every coach except Whittingham and his two coordinators will hit the road Wednesday night to sneak in some recruiting, and then the remaining trio will head out for some recruiting of their own Friday and Saturday.
White helmets
Whittingham reiterated Tuesday that there are more important things in the world than uniforms and uniform combinations.
Still, regarding Utah's new white helmet, he said, "I'd have to say that they were more excited than I am, but I think it looks pretty sharp."
Players, who went berserk at the unveiling (posted to Youtube on Monday) had requested the helmets for "a couple years now," Whittingham said. "We got it done this year."
The team will wear the helmets with an all-white look against Michigan. After that, it's up to the players' leadership committee to decide what they wear each week, he said.
Back to the Big House
Whittingham has coached twice at Michigan. Once, in 2002, in a 10-7 loss, and then again in 2008 in a 25-23 victory that launched an undefeated, Sugar Bowl season.
Tuesday, he said that 37-0 trouncing at the hands of Notre Dame aside, he expects much the same as he saw the first two times in Ann Arbor: people who are excellent at playing football.
"They're an upper-echelon Big Ten team, have been for many years, and they're loaded with talent," he said. "This year's no different. They've got some guys on both sides of the ball who are tremendous athletes. So it's very similar to what — this is the third time I've faced Michigan as a coach — and it's very similar to the last two teams that we played."
Fresno State-ment
It was no secret that there were some things that needed shoring up after Utah beat Idaho State, even if as Fresno State offensive coordinator Dave Schramm would later say, they were only ever showing a base defense.
Against Fresno, Utah did that, forcing five straight three-and-outs.
"But there were some things, especially in the second half, that we look back at and didn't necessarily get punished for making those mistakes," said senior safety Brian Blechen. "… If we do everything right, there's no reason that our D shouldn't be one step better next week."
One step better would mean that Utah's twos, who were responsible for allowing 20 Bulldogs points in the second half, become more like Utah's ones.
Of course, it could also mean that Utah — in a tighter game — sticks with the ones.
Twitter: @matthew_piper —
Utah at Michigan
O Saturday, Sept. 20
Time TBA