This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2015, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
There's nothing definitive about the lessons of fall camp. This time last year, we told you "for better or worse, Utah is Travis Wilson's team," and to expect a committee approach at running back.
That proved true for about a month.
Last August, then-offensive coordinator Dave Christensen stressed tempo to the extent that Utah practiced with a 20-second play clock.
Utah finished ninth in the Pac-12 in plays per game.
Things change. Teams change.
Still, the 2014 fall camp did provide a first look at quarterback Kendal Thompson and return game dynamo Kaelin Clay, and more broadly, a sense that Utah had more depth than it did in two 5-7 seasons.
Saturday was a wrap for Utah's 2015 fall camp — a little light on revelations and, importantly, light on major injuries. Here's what we think we know as the Utes begin to shroud their actions from media and watchful opposing coaches during "game week"-style preparations:
Cory Butler-Byrd, Britain Covey and Caleb Repp will have instant impacts • Weeks after coach Kyle Whittingham implied that the door is not closed on dismissed cornerback Dominique Hatfield, a misdemeanor assault charge lingers and there has been nothing to indicate the junior will rejoin the team soon.
The bright side, for Utah: Butler-Byrd might live up to his four-star billing at the outside cornerback spot opposite Reginald Porter.
Since switching from wideout less than two weeks ago, the L.A. Harbor transfer has snagged five interceptions — a rate that would translate to double-digits if he could maintain it during the season.
The emergence of Covey as a potential starting slot receiver helped facilitate Butler-Byrd's move to corner, and Covey and Repp — a 6-foot-4 speedster with long arms and soft hands — may have led fall camp in post-practice "standout" nods from Whittingham — no minor feat for true freshmen.
The return game is still a work in progress • Few teams in recent years have had more home run threats fielding punts and kickoffs than Utah.
Like last year, though, 2015's returners were nowhere to be found on the depth chart at the end of spring.
Covey will return punts after demonstrating that he's better at tracking the ball than Butler-Byrd, and sophomore cornerback Boobie Hobbs also has the coaches' trust as a capable punt-catcher.
Nobody who watched Covey play quarterback at Timpview will doubt his shiftiness. After a 4.47-second 40 in summer conditioning, he proved he can break away. But how will the 5-foot-8, 166-pounder hold up to a direct hit at full steam?
Butler-Byrd seems likeliest to get first crack at returning kickoffs, with Covey and junior college speedster Kyle Fulks in the mix, as well.
There's plenty of promise. Both spots remain unsettled, though, with Whittingham even hinting that workhorse running back Devontae Booker could provide a return game spark, if called upon.
Skill positions are deeper than they once seemed • Receivers took the brunt of this fall camp's injuries.
That's not what Utah fans wanted to hear about a group that's trying to replace Bucs draftee Clay and 49er Dres Anderson. But the injuries seem to be minor, and Utah might be deeper than previously thought.
Freshmen Repp, Siaosi Wilson and Tyrone Smith have all shown flashes as lanky downfield threats. Covey, Fulks and senior Bubba Poole are capable playmakers in the slot. And senior captain Kenneth Scott is back to full health and determined to play a bigger role on intermediate and deep routes.
Whittingham also praised the cornerback corps as a pleasant surprise. Thanks to Butler-Byrd, junior Brian Allen — once listed as a starter despite not having any game experience at the position — can ease into game speed as the first guy off the bench, and Hobbs, Casey Hughes and Tavaris Williams have all reportedly made giant strides since their first year in the program.
Sophomore junior college transfer Jordan Fogal was steady as a backup for junior nickel Justin Thomas, and sophomores Marcus Williams and Andre Godfrey won raves for their improvement at safety next to senior Tevin Carter.
The defense is as deep as it's ever been • Thompson said the quarterbacks have noted in their team meeting, essentially: These guys we're facing every day? They're pretty good.
Maybe, even, better than last year.
There is less star power with Nate Orchard, Eric Rowe and Brian Blechen all plying their trade in the NFL, but facing Utah is a daunting proposition for 2015 blockers.
Behind Hunter Dimick, Filipo Mokofisi, Lowell Lotulelei and Jason Fanaika are Kylie Fitts, Viliseni Fauonuku, Stevie Tu'ikolovatu and Pita Taumoepenu — a No. 2 defensive line some teams might trade their No. 1s for. That's not even mentioning Pasoni Tasini, Sione Sina and Kendall Huey, still unknown commodities after transferring to the U.
At linebacker, where Utah often fields only two anymore, senior captains Gionni Paul and Jared Norris are thought to be all-conference candidates, as is senior Jason Whittingham. That may mean reps are hard to come by for Snow College transfer Sunia Tauteoli, but watch out on special teams for one of Utah's most explosive tacklers.
The offense may not be as different as some might have hoped • At least Utah knows what it is. That's an improvement from last year, when Christensen was all about breakneck pace until it became apparent that Utah was best-served being able to control the clock with Booker.
Co-coordinators Jim Harding and Aaron Roderick have said they hope to play more to the strengths of their players, and that players' familiarity with the scheme has allowed them to build upon what's already in place.
But based on what we've seen in fall camp — granted, against what seems to be a strong defense, without the threat of a fully live Booker — it would be a surprise if Utah is dramatically more explosive than the team that finished ninth in conference scoring last season.
That's based on limited observations, of course. It's possible that earlier in practices, there were dozens of big plays downfield, or extended periods where the defensive line wasn't draped all over Wilson, Thompson and Chase Hansen within three seconds of the snap.
But maybe there's no magic bullet solution to playing offense at the level of Utah's Pac-12 opponents, and Utah fans should hope that the 2015 version is simply "better."
If the defense is also improved, "better" might be good enough.
Twitter: @matthew_piper —
Utah vs. Michigan
P At Rice-Eccles Stadium
Thursday, Sept. 3 at 6:30 p.m.
TV • Fox Sports 1 Radio • 700 AM