Coaches' Corner: Jim Harding and Lewis Powell
SALT LAKE CITY - Coaches' Corner returns this week as Utah (2-2, 1-0 Pac-12) is back to game week and preparing for a Saturday, Oct. 9 game at USC. This week, it's assistant head coach/offensive line coach Jim Harding as well as defensive ends coach Lewis Powell sharing a look into their position groups ahead of the weekend's matchup.
It'll be a 6 p.m. MT kickoff for the Utes, with the game available on Fox as well as ESPN 700 radio.
Assistant Head Coach/Offensive Line Coach Jim Harding
On how the team has managed through the last few days of practice…
"These kids have gone through way too much in the last 10 months or so. I thought they came out and they practiced well. This kind of gives them an hour or two to forget about what's going on outside. They had some time off over the weekend. But it's a tough situation, and there is no manual on how to deal with it. I think Coach Whittingham is doing a great job with it, and the kids are managing it as best you can expect them to."
On assessing the offensive line following Washington State…
"We had an issue, I believe it was on the third drive, we got beat on a twist and I felt we had to make a move. I thought the five guys that were in there did a nice job. I think we had three or four quarterback hurries, which is still three or four too many but an improvement. I thought we ran the ball a little bit better. But we certainly recognize the challenge this week will be even greater. We're going to have to come ready to play."
On USC's defense, particularly, the defensive ends…
"They're a really talented group. They played really well the other day. They played base football. You can see [the coaches] just let them use their talents. They are an extremely talented group…We recognize that the matchups and overall approach is going to have to pick up this week. I think our guys will be ready for it."
Defensive Ends Coach Lewis Powell
On the events of the last week…
"It's been tough. There's never an easy way to go through it. But the guys have a good mindset. Guys have been working their butts off and are excited to move on in tribute of both number 22s."
On Van Fillinger's progress…
"The competition doesn't end. Every single week, we still compete. Whoever does the best in practice will start. Fortunately for him, he's been doing good. [Xavier Carlton] and Miki Suguturaga have been doing really well. They're all starting to turn a corner. I don't remember the last time we had a freshman starting defensive end since Jason Kaufusi, back when I was playing. Those guys are all coming in, they're competing every single day, they're getting better and excited to play this week."
On how hard it is to win in the L.A. Coliseum…
"They have a lot of good players, well-coached and tough guys. We're excited to go play in the Coliseum and hopefully bring home the W."