Day 2 of Utah Football Fall Camp completed in a light rain and under cloudy skies, ideal conditions for football practice and welcomed by the players and coaches alike.
For a 2nd consecutive day, the Utah Offense went through practice without turning over the football, much to the delight of their Head Coach Kyle Whittingham. Whittingham said that Day 2 was better than Day 1 from an energy and overall execution standpoint. The offense looked crisp at times but remains a work in practice. Per Whittingham it will take at least 6-7 practices to get most of what is needed installed offensively. Whittingham says the offense is light years ahead of where they were last fall at this time. Much of the can be attributed to the continuity that Aaron Roderick and Jim Harding bring this fall and a lack of a change in terminology and philosophy.
Here’s Utah Head Coach Kyle Whittingham’s comments to the media after Day 2 of practice.
Vertical Threats
The biggest question heading into Fall Camp for Utah’s Offense has been..Who will be the downfield threats in the passing game for Travis Wilson? Whittingham addressed that today saying that he has never had so many options as vertical threats as they have this fall. He highlighted Tyrone Smith, Cory Butler, Tim Patrick (who had an outstanding Friday practice) and DelShawn McClellon as all potential deep threats.
Punt Returns
Replacing a great return man is never easy. As Fall Camp begins, Utah has a lot of options to see who can be the next Kaelin Clay. On Friday morning, Kyle Whittingham said there are 6 or 7 candidates for the job and identified Britton Covey, Cory Butler and Bubba Poole as the top options right now. Covey, who stands just 5-8, told me he caught 100 punts daily this summer from former BYU Punter Scott Arrellano in hopes of landing the job this fall. Whittingham says he’s not surprised by Covey’s ability, calling him a great natural athlete who they projected to be a weapon in the receiving and return game when they recruited him.
Britton Covey
My Newcomer Spotlight on Day 2 shines on the diminutive freshman from Timpview HS. A state Player of the Year on the 4A level, Covey is making the transition to WR from QB. After being recruited by everyone school in the state and many outside of Utah, he ultimately choose Utah because they recruited him first and he felt most at home with Utah. Covey says he plans to turn in his mission papers within a few months and go on a mission next year.
Here’s my conversation with Britton Covey from Day 2.
Jim Harding
I haven’t had the chance to chat with Jim Harding since his promotion to Co-Offensive Coordinator. In his 2nd season on staff, Harding is settling in nicely having re-shaped the offensive line last year. Now he and Aaron Roderick will run the offense together, with Harding running the offensive meeting during the week and Aaron Roderick calling plays on Game Day from the Coaches Booth upstairs. Harding was quick to point out the the offensive meeting room is very much a collaborative effort.
Here’s my chat with Utah Offensive Line Coach and Co-Offensive Coordinator Jim Harding.
News and Notes
Kyle Whittingham says Tevin Carter is overweight at 220lbs or 222lbs. He wants Carter to play this year at about 212lbs. The good news is that Carter is healthy.
DT Clint Shepherd is dealing with medical issues according to Whittingham and it will be a “reach” to see him return. Whittingham says they’ll know more next week.
