Postgame Quotes: Utah vs. Washington State

Utah Quotes

Utah Head Coach Kyle Whittingham
On the game overall …
"Credit to our guys for playing the full 60 minutes. That's pretty much what it took. We talked about that all week, fighting for 60 and knowing it might take a full 60, which it pretty much did. We squandered a lot of opportunities for sure. We had fumbles, we had red zone chances we didn't capitalize on. So there's a lot of things that we need to continue to work on and we will keep addressing it. I thought the defense played outstanding. We only gave up 318 yards. That's not a lot of yards in this day in age of football. That would probably lead the Pac-12 if we could do that every week."
 
"We left a lot out there. Credit Washington State for playing a full 60 as well. We have a lot to work on. Kind of the same song and dance you've heard for the past three weeks. We have a lot to continue to get better at and become who we need to become offensively because right now we are just still a work in progress on that side of the ball."
 
On the play of the defense …
"Great pick by Devin Lloyd. That was an outstanding individual effort. We got after the quarterback, which is a plus. We hadn't done a lot of that this year. But I see eight sacks here and that was a complete turnaround from what we had done in the first three games. That needed to happen. The impact plays on defense—sacks, takeaways—were up and that's a good thing."
 
On the play of the offense …
"We have some things to continue to figure out on offense. We did some good things but we need to be more consistent, and we need to be more consistent at taking care of the football. Obviously, that was one issue this afternoon. Britain Covey gave us a little bit more in the punt return game today. He didn't have a huge one but got us some good return yards there. I thought the O line appeared to take a step forward. Bam Olaseni came in and did a nice job at left tackle. That was good to see when he came in and spelled Jaren Kump at the left tackle spot. Cam (Rising), for his first complete game, he did some good things. But I know he left some things out there that I know he wants to take care of as well and get better at."

On getting eight sacks …
"We dialed up the dose of pressure more than the first three games. So we did blitz more. Just had some really good performances. Junior Tafuna, what a pleasant surprise he's been and he really played well. Mika Tafua and Van Fillinger both got their first sacks. So it wasn't a lot of magic, just a better job by our front of getting home."
 
On the running back position …
"That's something we have to figure out this week during the bye week. Micah (Bernard) had to leave the game with an upper body injury and we have to figure out the pecking order and what that position is going to look like. TJ (Pledger) came in and did a nice job. That long of 60 was the big one, but he was very consistent. I thought Ja'Quinden Jackson gave us some good things until he put the ball on the ground in the red zone. Chris Curry gave us some carries as well. But we have to hone in on that running game and really figure out who is going to be the primary ball carrier and get the carries. We'd like Tavion Thomas to get involved, but again he put the ball on the ground after the play had been blown dead. You have to secure the football, that's the bottom line."

On the kicking situation …
"Jadon (Redding), when you look at the fall camp, he clearly beat out Jordan (Noyes). But Jordan has been coming on and Jadon has missed a couple of kicks already—two PATs and three field goals. It's all about what you've done for me lately. So we'll have a competition the next few weeks to determine who the kicker is going to be, but I though Jordan did a nice job with his kickoffs as well with no returns because they were out of the end zone."

#7 Cameron Rising, Quarterback
On getting a good flow on offense after the fumbles…
"We have to pick that up on Monday and make sure the ball security is our No. 1 priority. That can't happen again. That was terrible. We have to be better as an offense with that. We can't give up possessions.

On the defensive performance…
"They played unreal. They did their job and now it is just up to the offense to hold up their end of the bargain with that."

On TJ Pledger's performance…
"I love giving the ball to TJ. He is a playmaker and he showed it right there. I love seeing that, especially when he just hits that crease. It is a great thing to see."

#5 TJ Pledger, Running Back
On finding a rhythm…
"Our coaches did a great job on the sideline of keeping us in the game, keeping our heads focused and just highlighting the things we practice so often. They helped us pay attention to details."

On his performance in the second half…
"I've been through a lot in college and one thing I know is that you want to stay ready before you get ready. That is big for me. Just being patient and understanding that my time will come one day, so that's what I prepare for every week. It is just about taking advantage of your opportunities."

On getting the win…
"I had some tears in my eyes because it is not easy, college football is not easy. You go through ups and downs, and you are not able to remain steady all the time. You just have to keep putting the best foot forward. It meant a lot to me today, and I'm just thankful for my coaches for always believing in me."

#8 Clark Phillips III, Cornerback
On his second career pick-six…
"You know, you study film, you prepare your game plan every week like it is going to come to you. So when it happens, you take advantage of it with your guys and you celebrate."

Washington State Quotes

Washington State Head Coach Nick Rolovich
On second half offense…
"Thirteen points total is not good."

On Max Borghi being out beyond a day…
"I don't think it would change the lineup a whole lot."

On Ron Stone's performance…
"Hell of a performance, never quit. RJ is a big part of our team because of who he is as a person. There's no surprise he has success, wonderful member of this team and wonderful person of this world."

On offensive line position group…
"I'm not happy with that number, hope that group will continue to get better."

#72 Abraham Lucas, Offensive Line
On today's sacks…
"We just got to be better, it's a combination of a lot of things. Bad things obviously happened, but for the most part we just have to watch out for that."

On changes after halftime…
"It wasn't the flow, I think we played better this week than last week, I thought we battled very hard, we're still taking steps towards it, you learn from your losses."

On today vs other games…
"It's not lack of skill just missed opportunities, we have a pretty raw team, but I would say its missed opportunities."

#10 Ron Stone Jr., Edge
On mindset…
"Good approach, we needed to have better focus, there was nothing crazy that we changed today to play Utah"

On the team 4th quarter…
"Having trouble. We got closer this week."

On defensive performance…
"I think this was the game we played with defense alone, the defense really buckled down."