Kyle Whittingham Coaches Show ft: Wayshawn Parker + Blake Cotton

Utah's #1 sports talk and home University of Utah Athletics!

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:02):
It's time to talk Utah football with the head coach
Kyle Whittingham on ESPN seven hundred and the Ute Sports Network.
The Kyle Whittingham Coaches Show is presented by bud Light,
Easy to Drink, Easy to Enjoy and Pepsi. Grab a
Pepsi zero sugar and cheer on the Utes now Here
to Talk Utah Football with you is the voice of

(00:23):
the Utes, Bill Riley and head Coach Kyle Whittingham.

Speaker 2 (00:28):
Utah Fans, Good evening and welcome into the Kyle Whittingham
Coaches Show, which is presented by Smith. We're live tonight
in the Eccles Football Building here on campus as Utah
prepares itself for a matchup this weekend and Waco against
the Baylor Bears. Talk some Utah football tonight with a
head coach on this show brought to you by Smith,
where the app will help you save on weekly sales,

(00:50):
personalized coupons, fuel points, and more so. Stop by your
local neighborhood Smith the official grocer of the University of Utah.
We're here on Tuesday nights and we'll be here for
the rest of the season by weeks or over. Utah
now focused on the final three games and what lies
ahead of them. So we'll talk a little bit about
the bye week, how it was, what Utah did, how
they approached it, and some of the other stuff that

(01:10):
went on last week. We'll talk a little bit about
the Baylor Bears tonight as well. Baylor good football team.
Utah has played them now three years in a row.
They played them two years ago in Waco last year.
What's funny is neither one of those games were conference games.
This is the actual first true conference matchup with Baylor.
They're five and four and three and three in Big
Twelve play and they're coming off of by themselves. We'll

(01:31):
have a couple of athletes come in here and talk
to us tonight, way Sean Parker, who's having himself a
really nice first season at Utah, good sophomore campaign, and
we'll play Cotton's gonna come by as well. There's a
guy that's really come on as this year's gone along,
playing that great lockdown Manda Man coverage on the outside.
And we'll go round the Big Twelve conference as well.
So a lot to do on tonight's edition of The

(01:53):
Kyle Whittingham Coach to show the you know we're later
in the season because for most of the year, when
we were sitting here on Tuesday nights, the sun was
shining in our eyes at this time and Kyle would
lower the shades just a little bit. But tonight it's
pitch black outside, which means it must be November.

Speaker 3 (02:08):
It's dail end of the season. And I'll tell you
what it's gone quickly. I mean, it seems like every
season goes faster than the last one. I can't believe
it's already game ten and here we are with three
games left.

Speaker 2 (02:20):
It's a little bit like life right time feels like
it doesn't move at all, and then the older you get,
it just flies by and flies by and flies back.
Football season is always like that too. Yeah, it's dark,
but I'll tell you what, Mother nature's been on your
side for the last week or two you had. I
this is more like late September October, whether you get right.

Speaker 3 (02:38):
No complaints there, and it's impacted practice only a time
or two all year long. And that's I don't know
if there's ever been a year where it has such
good weather in that regard.

Speaker 2 (02:47):
Well, it's gonna be great weather. Saturday eighty three degrees
right around kickoff time in Baylor at Waco, Texas and
the rain that was in the forecast now gone. Now
it's going to be a great night and it's not
going to be the sauna that we experience the last
time we were in that day was really really hot.
So how was the bye week for you? Guys? You've
had really a good you know, as good as you

(03:09):
can be with setups, bye after five games and then
a bye after nine games beginning of October, beginning of November.
The buys have set up pretty good for you. How
did you approach this past week and was it a
different than a month ago?

Speaker 3 (03:21):
No, it was almost a carbon copy of what we
did a month ago. We felt like that was a
good routine that we had and we followed it almost
to a tea. We tweaked it just a touch, but
the players had Sunday Monday off of bye week. Then
we came in and watched the film and had a
Monday type routine on Tuesday, and then Wednesday was like
a normal Wednesday in season, so we just omitted Tuesday

(03:44):
that's the heavy work day, and then Thursday was a Thursday,
and then we gave him Friday, Saturday, Sunday off. Came
back this week front loaded the week where we had
our padded practices excuse me yesterday and today, and now
we'll take the pads off and ramp up towards the game.

Speaker 2 (03:58):
Well, and you've always said this, you get in the season,
you back off a little bit of contact and practice.
Not that you do a ton in season anyway, but
you kind of back it off a little.

Speaker 3 (04:07):
Bit, you do. Yeah, those hits accumulate after nine games,
and we've had some guys that played six hundred snaps
and that's a lot of reps, and so you got
to be careful and make sure that as the season
winds down that you back off a little bit. And
it's really just on the physicality and you're still out
there for you to spend X amount of time to
keep your timing and your execution, but you try to

(04:28):
take some of the hits off them.

Speaker 2 (04:29):
I'm not a big believer in jinxes, so I don't
know if you are or not, But I'm not superstitious anyway,
So I don't mind asking this question. Considering where we
are in the season, how healthy are you guys right now?

Speaker 3 (04:40):
We're a good shape no complaints. I mean, we've got
what five or six guys that would be starting or
playing a lot for us that are on the shelf.
But I think everyone in the country's probably in that
same boat. There might be a few teams that have
dodged injuries more so, but I think in the big picture,
relative to what we've had to endure the last couple
of years, I think we're in really good shap.

Speaker 2 (04:59):
Yeah. I know when you and I sat here in
twenty three and twenty four, you know, they was the
walking wounded Nash unit. So comparatively speaking, I think you guys,
I thought you guys woud be a pretty good hyeah.

Speaker 3 (05:08):
Yeah, what we're missing a couple of safeties are really
valuable to us. Rabbit and a Nate Ritchie and then
Paul Fitzgerald the defensive end. ZIP the wide receiver was
scheduled to be a you know in the starting rotation.

Speaker 2 (05:20):
You really haven't had him all year LONGO, No, we haven't.

Speaker 3 (05:22):
He was he was an early camp guy, and so
that was unfortunate and so but and then we lost
hundred You know, Hunter Andrews was an integral part of
the offense while he was healthy and so other than
those you know, five or six guys, we feel like
we're in a really, really good position.

Speaker 2 (05:38):
You mentioned the wide receiver spot, and yeah, we all
thought Dadrian Zipper, based on how he's kind of finished
last year and one of the veterans coming back would
play a role. But you know, we wondered as the
year went along and as the year began, would be
some of those weapons in the past game. Early on,
he was very apparent, Ryan Davis, he had connection with
the quarterback, and then of course Alan Bentley back for
his senior year, had had a good start. But last

(06:00):
couple of weeks we've seen some other guys begin to
emerge in the past game. Just a little bit guy
like Larry Simmons has emerged, a little bit guy like
JJ Buchanan has emerged a little bit too.

Speaker 3 (06:09):
Yeah, JJ really has been consistent for us all year long.
He hasn't been a you know, the number one target
week in and week out, but he's played a good
complimentary role to the to r D and Dollan Dowen's
really had a good year and he's been playing hurt.
I mean, he's been playing with you know, some pretty
banged up body parts, and he just keeps going and

(06:30):
he's a finalist or a semi finalist for the Mackie Award,
which I think there's only eight guys left, which is
the award for the best tight end in the country.
And so that's a real testament to how he's played
Force this year.

Speaker 2 (06:40):
And that's good, you know. And that's also a testament
to the fact that you guys have developed good tight
ends well has gone by. Usually when you have that,
people are like, oh, let's let's look at what Utah
has over there, and you have another good tight end,
Let's slide him in here, because they've got a good
pedigree of tight ends.

Speaker 3 (06:55):
Yeah, and if you know, if Dollan wants to pursue it,
you know, there's that JC little rule that's been challenged
and people have won many times where they get those
JC years not to count. And so if he wants
to explore that he may have one more year. We'll
see what he wants to do after the season. But
that's a possibility.

Speaker 2 (07:15):
Well, it kind of feels like if you just tell
the NCAA you're gonna get a lawyer, they don't want
to mess around with you. They give you that Ed.
He pass out those extra years like they're passing out
candy at Halloween time. That being said, he's had a
fantastic year for you. Yes, and he looks like a
guy Kyle that could play on the next level, could
play tight end at the next level.

Speaker 3 (07:32):
I agree. He's got the prototypical size. You know, he's
just about six y five, he's two fifty five. He
runs real well, he's got great hands. You know, he's
made some big catches for us this year, and he
can block. You know, he's kind of one of those,
you know tight ends that can do it all. That's
a rarity these days.

Speaker 2 (07:47):
One other wide receiver I wanted to mention because we
had him on the post game show last week or
two weeks ago after the big win again Cincinnati, was
Creed Wittemore. This was a guy that you know, we
we knew he came in from an SEC Schoolsissippi State,
thought okay, maybe Creed was going to come in here.
And he really didn't impact much the first part of
the season, and then the last couple of weeks, the
last couple of games Colorado, we had a couple of

(08:09):
grabs and then he hit the touchdown catch yep against
against Cincinnati. So what has he done to kind of
work through this season and work his way into kind
of the rotation and start to make an impact.

Speaker 3 (08:20):
Well, two things that were really holding Creed back early,
and number one was ball security. We weren't confident enough
in the way that he was taking care of the
football through fall camp and early in the season. So
he's worked hard on that and got that correct. And
then he had his drop ratio was a little bit
too high during fall camp and early part of the
season in practices, and so that that was another thing
that kept him from playing time. But he's, to his credit,

(08:42):
he's worked extremely hard in both those areas and got
himself to the point where coach Simon and coach back
have confidence in him now and you'll see him continuing
to play a role in certain situations.

Speaker 2 (08:52):
Yeah, he's kind of slots in behind rd and that
kind of that slot what although I call Ryan Davis
a slot wide receiver, but you guys line him up
all over the field.

Speaker 3 (09:00):
Yeah. Yeah, Jason's done a great job being creative with
him and getting him in situations and positions where he
can really accentuate and excel what he you know his
skill set.

Speaker 2 (09:11):
Something interesting about r d You guys haven't had a
thousand yard receiver.

Speaker 3 (09:15):
Since let me thank you.

Speaker 2 (09:17):
It was the last guy. There was one guy that
came close.

Speaker 3 (09:20):
Vailey didn't get it. Heph Timmy Patrick.

Speaker 2 (09:24):
No, Timmy didn't get it either, Dres Anderson. Last out now,
Darren Carrington the one year he was here, would have
probably gotten it, but he got injured and missed a
game or two.

Speaker 3 (09:34):
He came up just shorts, right.

Speaker 2 (09:36):
But Ryan Davis, if he kind of stays on the
pace that hundred yard game pace, at just over one
hundred yard pace, he's got a shot to be a
thousand yard receiver for you guys. And he's going to
be in the neighborhood of eighty catches or so too.

Speaker 3 (09:48):
Yeah. Yeah, he's been our go to guy all season long.
And he's so reliable and runs such good routes and
is so savvy. He's one of those guys that's just
is so intelligent with his approach to the game and that.
Plus he's got physical tools. I mean, he's quick, he's fast,
he's he's got a good body control, and he's got
exceptional hands.

Speaker 2 (10:06):
Yeah, and he's a little faster than you think. He's
been able to get behind the defense a few times
this year, and I think it's initially the route that
he runs, but then he's got that speed then to
make the difference after he breaks out.

Speaker 3 (10:17):
Of that route exactly. You're right.

Speaker 2 (10:19):
So we didn't get a chance to talk about Cincinnati.
Just a couple of big picture thoughts from you. I
thought it was your most complete game of the year,
all three phases, and considering the opponents. I know we
said that the week before against Colorado, but Cincinnati was
a better team than Colorado. Just looking back, a couple
of big picture thoughts on what you like most about
that win.

Speaker 3 (10:37):
Again, Well, you said it. I think all three phases
were exceptional. We had about four hundred and seventy yards
a total. Low defense gave up a few yards, but
they only gave up fourteen points. And I think we're
on track right now to have the least points per
game since like nineteen sixty six or something like that
on defense. If we can continue to do what we're doing,
we're average like fourteen point three games, I think, is

(10:58):
what I said. And so that was a good, good
outing there. Special teams took up punt to the house
Mona Carvallo or a put return to the house. That was.
That was a great job by the entire foot return
team and I'm on a great individual effort and so yeah,
I think there was really no not much to complain about.
We watched that film. It was pretty good film to watch.

Speaker 2 (11:19):
Yeah. I had Mana on my podcast last week on
the bye Week, and I asked him about that, and he's,
you know, he's such a nice kid and such a
good nature, down to earth freshman kid from the Islands.
He loves returning kicks, he said, I've done it. He
was the returner Special Teams Player of the Year a
couple of times in Hawaii. And there's a dart to this.
You and I used to talk about it when Britain
Covey was here, and Britain's told me a lot of things,

(11:40):
but Mana says the same thing. You got to be
fearless back there, and you've got to be able to
take some risks sometimes, and he does that, and it's
such a weapon for you to have the difference between
starting on your own twenty two and say the thirty
seven or the forty yard line is such a huge
such a huge deal.

Speaker 3 (11:56):
It is, and I think right now he has more
he's a masked more tur yards and anybody in the
Big twelve, and I think he's in the top ten
in the country with how many yards. That's that's what
really we put a premium on that. That's you know,
putt return is a two faceted unit. The first, before
the ball's punted, you're on defense, you know, making sure
you don't give up a fake or anything like that.
And then once the ball leaves the punter's foot and

(12:17):
now you transition to offense and you got to get
every yard you can. And when you get what do
we have down near one hundred yards of punt returns,
that's like adding one hundred yards to your total offense output.
So now instead of four to seventy, at five seventy,
because that's exactly what it is, is offensive production, and
so it's very valuable. And coach Shaan does a great
job with those return units. He has the kickoff return

(12:38):
and the put return, and those have been pretty solid units.
For kickoff return, We've only had like five or six
opportunities all year long.

Speaker 2 (12:44):
Just that's really college football. In Jenny or everybody's got
a kicker that could just boot it through the end
zone anymore.

Speaker 3 (12:50):
Yeah, they need to either stop kicking off or transition
to NFL style or something.

Speaker 2 (12:53):
Because what do you like? Would you rather see the
kickoff go away or would you rather see him go
to the nile?

Speaker 3 (12:59):
Does I like kick I played on kickoff, you know,
earning my career, and I really liked it. I think
if we backed it up to the thirty, you know,
kick off from the thirty, I think you'd see, you know,
double triple the amount of kickoff returns.

Speaker 2 (13:11):
Because again, when you've got a good returner, and you've
got one on your staff, guy named Reggie Dunn who
used to be pretty good at it, that's a difference
maker too.

Speaker 3 (13:19):
It is, it is, and so yeah, I'm a fan
of it. But you know, I know, you know, the
injury data will tell you that it is a dangerous play.
But you know, football is a dangerous sport. But right now,
and if you want to do away with it, do
that or you know whatever, But right now, it's it's
like an act of futility. I mean, you just can't
getting the sales ten yards out of the end zone
and you just line up on the twenty five and play.

Speaker 2 (13:40):
Yeah, Dylan Curtis gets to go out there kick the ball,
you know, almost nine ten yards deep and then comes
out of the twenty five and has that yeah.

Speaker 3 (13:48):
And so those the other kickers, you know, the kickers
we faced, have had all our strong legs, so haven't
had many opportunities of our own.

Speaker 2 (13:54):
What's your rule on kickoff this year? Where where do
you guys want to bring them out? Because eight yards
deep we get it right, But when that ball is
in the.

Speaker 3 (14:01):
Zone one d in if you cross the inside the
end zone, statistics will tell you your chances of getting
out past the twenty five are very slim. And so
we drove it used to be the three yard line
and then a couple of years ago coach Shah backed
it up to the goal line. So we have a
sweet spot and we have a chart that tells, you know,
shows where the where the green zone is, the yellow
zone which is a player discretion, and the red zone

(14:23):
which means don't take it out or don't return it. So, uh,
our sweet spot is from the goal line. And you know,
if you get too close to the sideline too, you
want to think about a fair catch, because that you know,
you get pinned in the in the corner. That's not
a good outcome usually as well.

Speaker 2 (14:36):
You probably don't want anybody backing up either if you're
not moving forward with it or standing stationary.

Speaker 3 (14:42):
Yeah, that return of the primary returner on the goal
line and the off returner on the five yard line
opposite him.

Speaker 2 (14:49):
Did you get to watch any football last week? End
of I did you watch?

Speaker 3 (14:53):
Who? Did I watch? Gosh? I watched?

Speaker 4 (14:55):
Uh?

Speaker 2 (14:55):
You watch that Texas Tech game?

Speaker 3 (14:57):
Uh? I didn't see that. We've already played those guys, right,
both those teams, so I didn't. I didn't pay attention
to that one. But there was some other really good
games on and I'm drawing a blanket. I was wrestling
with my grandkids at the same time, so it was
hard to fully concentrate on it.

Speaker 2 (15:12):
So you certainly weren't watching for work. It would have
been purely for fun.

Speaker 3 (15:16):
Yes, exactly. And I was able to watch a full
day of NFL on Sunday.

Speaker 2 (15:20):
That was a good which is nice. And by the way,
I don't know if you saw the end of that
Indiana game, but the catch the guy made yes in
that Indiana game, maybe as good a catch as you
can make incredible catch, you're right in football. All right,
We're gonna take a break. By Week two is over
and now it's three games to. It's kind of a
race to the finish. Now three games left, it's Baylor,
it's Kansas State, and it's Kansas and its Baylor. This week.

(15:42):
We'll talk about the Bears when we get back here
on the Kyle Whittingham Coaches Show, which is brought to
you by Pepsi and Pepsi Zero Sugar, proud partner of
University of Utah Football. Grab a Pepsi zero Sugar and
cheer on the Utes. Football watching is better with Pepsi.
We're back to talk about Baylor. Then we'll talk to
way Sean Parker, then we'll talk to Blake Cotton, and
we'll talk to Kyle one more time before we get

(16:02):
out of here. On the Kyle of a Game Coaches
Show from ESPN seven hundred and the Youth Sports Radio Network.

Speaker 1 (16:07):
You were listening to The Kyle Whittingham Coaches Show, brought
to you by Pepsi on ESPN seven hundred and the
Ute Sports Radio Network.

Speaker 2 (16:23):
By budd Light, proud sponsor of Utah athletics. Bud Light's
easy to drink and easy to enjoy. This week, it's
on the road. Interesting fact, the Utes have not left
the state of Utah in six weeks. The last time
we left for a road trip, Kyle was West Virginia.
I guess that's right. Yeah, out of state, out of state. Yeah,
there was that little trip down south. But outside of that,

(16:44):
we've not hopped on an airplane to go do a
football game six.

Speaker 3 (16:47):
Weeks between what do we have the bye weeks? Two
of those in the rivalry game, and then two or
three home games. You're right, it's been a good stretch
and U you know at all when you look at
the season, it's it's entirety. It all balances out. But
this has been a pretty good middle middle section of
the of the season where we didn't have to do
much traveling.

Speaker 2 (17:06):
No, that's really nice. Two weeks ago Baylor, who's good
this year, beat UCF before the bye. They beat him
thirty to three. This is your thir I mentioned this earlier,
third straight year playing them. You played him two years
ago down and what do you remember about that? For
your first ever trip to wake.

Speaker 3 (17:19):
Ups that our players cleats were melting the plastic, but
literally the molded cleats that they like to wear on
that turf, the synthetic turf were literally melting and we
had to change a bunch of cleats out because they
were they were disfigured. So it was like, I think
somebody said one hundred and forty on the field, on
the field on the surface temperature. Yeah, so it was

(17:40):
wickedly hot. And I remember Nate Johnson, I believe, came
in and really rallied us and and comfort behind victory.
And Nate was the wasn't the spark from Spark he was.

Speaker 2 (17:51):
Indeed, that was the Nate Johnson game. It was an
eleven am kick, humid and hot. It's the first game
I've ever done where I got sunburned because my booth
was facing the sun for three quarters. So I walked
out of U walked out of Waco with a sunburn
that night. Then you played them a year ago in
Rice ecl Stadium. What do you remember about that game?

Speaker 3 (18:10):
The Gatorade cooler incident. Yeah, that was the turning point
in the season, and that was unfortunate, and uh, you know,
we ended up you know, I think we got a
big league early and then then hung on to it
was like twenty nothing and a half or something like that.

Speaker 2 (18:22):
They ended up winning twenty three twelve.

Speaker 3 (18:24):
Yeah. Last year, Yeah, so Cam, uh, you know, that
was the beginning of tough times for CAM. So that
was really really unfortunate.

Speaker 2 (18:32):
So what stands out about this year's Baylor team? One
that you're going to face a lot of people thought
before to you they might be a contender.

Speaker 3 (18:37):
Yeah, well you look at their personnel and there they
got length, they got athleticism. I mean, there's there's some
good looking players. And they've been uh, you know a
little bit up and down this year, but when they're on,
they're they're a really good team. They beat SMU early
in the season and who else they beat Arizona State
at Arizona State. So yeah, they've they've got the ability.

(18:58):
They've got a quarterback who's playing lights out far as
the throw game. He's not a guy that likes to
do a lot of running, but he's leading the league
in Big twe in the Big twelve, in total offense
and pass offense, and that really is there forty They
still have a decent run game. They don't just completely
abandon it. They're about one hundred and forty yards a
week rushing, but they're gonna be three hundred plus throwing

(19:18):
the ball every week.

Speaker 2 (19:19):
Yeah. The quarterback you mentioned is Sawyer Robertson. He's the
top passer. He's thrown for twenty eight hundred and seventy yards,
twenty six touchdowns already, ye seven picks. Ironically enough, the
Sawyer Robertson era began after last after last year's game here,
because you guys ran poor to Kwan Finn crazy that
day and he got benched the next week, and Zawyer

(19:39):
Robertson began. He's really good. Why is he What makes
him so difficult? Kyle?

Speaker 3 (19:45):
Well, I'll tell you what. He's got a really good
supporting cast at receiving core. They got three guys that
all have around forty catches forty plus catches that that
are athletic and do a great job for him. The
tight end catches everything throwing his one.

Speaker 2 (19:57):
It's Michael Trigg.

Speaker 3 (19:58):
Yeah, he is a. He's a. He's a there's no
question about that in my mind. And he's got I
think he's got forty catches or thereabout.

Speaker 2 (20:04):
He leads them with just over six hundred yards receiving.

Speaker 3 (20:07):
Okay, there you go. They got a back who's probably
going to be a thousand yard back again. He was
a thousand yard back last year and he's approaching that
this year. I think he's in the mid six hundreds
with what three games to go, so we'll see what
happens there. But in his offensive line is very efficient,
so he's good. He's got a big arm and really
is a you know, a pocket guy. But he's got
a supporting cast that really is is special.

Speaker 2 (20:29):
By the way, this is the second time around you've
seen Michael Trigg. He played for them last year, but
he began his career at USC.

Speaker 3 (20:35):
That's right.

Speaker 2 (20:36):
He was a he was a wide receiver at USC.
He's now a tight end. So much like a lot
of players in college football to the well traveled, he
also had to stop at Old Miss in between.

Speaker 3 (20:44):
That's right.

Speaker 2 (20:45):
Yeah, he's on his third school. David Randa, he's a
guy that coached here at Utah State for a year.
He was on your friend Gary Anderson's staff up there.
Do you know Dave much?

Speaker 3 (20:54):
I know a little bit. You know Dave, I don't
or a little bit about him and just a casual
relationship what I do know is a great guy, exceptionally
smart guy and not it's kind of a quiet guy.
He doesn't say a whole lot, but there's a lot
going on inside. And and he's really a defensive guy.
That's his background, and did a great job for Gary

(21:15):
up there at Utah State. That was with him at Wisconsin,
I believe too for a for a few years. And
he's a very like I said, very intelligent coach, very
even keeled, and uh, you know, he's just a guy
that has really had an outstanding defensive pedigree and and
uh you know, he's very they're on the verge right
there that it seems like they've been on the brink

(21:36):
of really turning the corner the last couple of years,
and and we'll see what happens.

Speaker 2 (21:39):
Well, it's interesting they have some similarities to the team
you beat here in your last game. Their numbers defensively
aren't great when you look at him against the run
and some other things, but if you look at him
at the different levels, they've got guys that are playmakers.

Speaker 3 (21:53):
They absolutely do. And so that's why I say they're
they're a dangerous team. They're a dangerous team, and they're
five and four. They could very easily be seven and two,
eight and three or yeah, seven two, eight and.

Speaker 2 (22:03):
One eighteen one. Yeah my math at some point maybe
eighty three. But right now, we'll talk a little bit
more about Baylor coming up in a few minutes. I
wanted to ask you. He'll probably come in here in
just a minute. Way Shan Parker. He's in his second
year's as college football player, played his freshman year up
at Wazoo. You guys have had a lot of good
running backs in this program when you were an assistant coach,

(22:24):
since you've been a head coach. So what makes was
Sean different and unique as a back?

Speaker 3 (22:28):
Well, to me, he's got first of all, great vision,
you know, he can see the whole seat things develop.
But his contact balance, you know, when he gets hit,
he's able to stay on his feet and continued to
you know, run with violence, and that really is his
strong suit is the is the way he handles contact.
He gets a lot of yards after contact. And he's
also got excellent breakaway speed. I think you've seen him,
you know, two or three times this year, pop through

(22:50):
there and go the distance, and it's I think it's
a product of you know he was about two ten,
two fifteen during camp. I said, you know, I said, wait,
let's let's cut cut a little wait and see what happens.
And now he's down on two oh two and he
looks like a whole different guy, and he's he's really
coming into his own. He has separated himself as the
lead back, you know, in our offense, and he was

(23:12):
going forward. He will get the majority of the carries.

Speaker 2 (23:14):
Well, I'll tell you what he is good, whether you'll
line him up as a tailback, you move him in motion,
or even is that wildcat. The only thing I would
say is when he wears those pink gloves.

Speaker 3 (23:23):
I think, shoe, how much of it?

Speaker 2 (23:25):
You're not fooling many people?

Speaker 3 (23:26):
Not very incognitiob No, not not at all.

Speaker 2 (23:29):
But he's done a really nice job. So well, we'll
talk to was Shan coming up here in just a
moment or two here on the Kyle Whittingham Coaches Show.
Utah fans catch any Utes game home or on the
road and with Utah. With book seats dot com, you
can book a travel experience and save up to thirty
percent on your flights or hotels, your tickets. Book seats
dot com and start planning your trip today and go
use quick time out was Shawn Parker next, Ky Whittingham

(23:50):
Coaches Show from ESPN seven hundred and the Youth Sports
Radio Network.

Speaker 1 (23:58):
If you were listening to Kyle White Coaching the show
brought to you by Smith's on ESPN seven hundred and
the Ute Sports Radio Network.

Speaker 2 (24:15):
Kyle Whitningham Coaches Show continuing on here from the Echos
Football Building, brought to you by Smith proud sponsor of
Utah Football, Utah Athletics, Smiths fresh for everyone. Well, he
is RB one on this football team. Now, he kind
of had that in mind when he got here in
the spring. He and I did a little walk and
talk in the spring out on the football field. We
got to know each other a little bit. But gonna

(24:36):
bring way Sean Parker in here with us right now.
Let you guys get to know about this young man
from Sacramento, California, Northern California. How are you?

Speaker 4 (24:44):
I'm done great, just got off that bioley, so ready.

Speaker 2 (24:48):
How's your body? I mean I don't think normal people understand.
I mean, if you played high school football, Okayla, but
what you guys go through and what your bodies go
through week in and week out. So what does it
mean to have not just one, but two bye weeks,
especially this late in the year, to get your body rest.

Speaker 5 (25:05):
It's great, I mean the perfect time of the year.
This is when everybody get the chance that I get
their wady back, because everybody like a little dance hurt
and shoot.

Speaker 4 (25:14):
That Bie week was real nice.

Speaker 2 (25:16):
It's nice. Is there a part of you though? That
was like, man, we were rolling. We beat the heck
out of Colorado, We beat the heck out of Cincinnati.
Wouldn't be bad if we kept it rolling. But that
arrest that body a little bit.

Speaker 4 (25:28):
Yeah, I mean it was still hungry. We still are.
But that Bie week it was.

Speaker 5 (25:34):
Really needed, like it really needed it, just to get
everybody back to where Week one was.

Speaker 2 (25:39):
So when you made the decision last end of last
year early this year to leave Wazoo after your freshman year,
what were you looking for? What did way Sean Parker
want out of his next destination and why did you
pick Utah?

Speaker 5 (25:52):
I mean what I was looking for it was like
a coast that's gonna be honest with me, like the
things that I need to work on and things that
I need to fix out, want him to be honest. And
then I wanted to come to a school that's a
running school, getting in the right program, make sure that
he used me correct and coming to Utah. I feel
like it was the best decision I can ever make. Uh,
knowing that that we're running the ball like how we

(26:13):
are right now, it's great.

Speaker 4 (26:15):
We got two backs.

Speaker 5 (26:16):
That's almost two one hundred yards I mean to one
hundred carries and that's perfect, like two headed monster for sure.

Speaker 4 (26:22):
And now we're adding the third one in. Yeah, that's great.

Speaker 2 (26:25):
Sprinkle it a little Daniel Bray right, put you eat.

Speaker 4 (26:28):
A little bit, yes, sir, yes, sir.

Speaker 2 (26:30):
So how big an influence was that the coach out
to why I was coming. Let's just say he stays
at Wazoo. He loves Pullman. Would you still have thought
about coming to Utah?

Speaker 3 (26:39):
Yes?

Speaker 2 (26:40):
Of course.

Speaker 5 (26:40):
I had a running back from my high school come here,
Devontae Booker. Yeah, yeah, he was. We got a close bond.
So when he when I hopped in the portal, he
was like, yeah, like keep this in mind, like this
is a running school, this is where I came from.
It's like already know, like you play against my older
bernho in high school. So I was like, yeah, but
him coming here would help me make my decision easier.

(27:02):
He made that call, and I was just happy. I
was like, Okay, yeah, already know my destination. Everybody else sorry.

Speaker 2 (27:07):
Did you see him when he was here? A couple
of weeks ago he came. I think he came for
a game or something. A couple of weeks ago.

Speaker 4 (27:13):
Did you see Yes, Yes, he came in the locker room.
We had a little conversation.

Speaker 3 (27:17):
It was hype.

Speaker 5 (27:17):
We had that little moment talking about Yeah, Pacers for life,
for sure, payers for life. It was having a great
time talking to him, had a great time talking. So
he told me everything that he went through and how
to go through it in separate ways, and what he
was there.

Speaker 2 (27:29):
It was the first time he had been back since
he graduated. He you know, life gets in the way.
He get busy, you get a family, things like that,
and I know he talked to some folks and I
always loved Davonte when he was here. But he said, hey,
I've got to come back more off and this was great.

Speaker 5 (27:43):
Yeah, I mean, I'm definitely trying to convince him to
come back more. He was supposed to come back for
a camp, but then he like had something going on,
which his life is life. But yeah, I'm for surely
trying to get him to come back more often so
the running backs just can talk to him more and
understand what's the next level.

Speaker 2 (27:59):
Like all right, tell us about coach out Towia because
I think Utah fans listening have seen them on TikTok
or seen him on Instagram singing and goofing and having fun.
But is there a serious side to him too?

Speaker 6 (28:09):
Oh?

Speaker 5 (28:09):
Yes, of course. When we touched that field, Uncle Mark,
he goes crazy. I mean, that's my uncle. He do
whatever he needs to do to get you motivated. Like
it doesn't matter you might have the ball in your hand.
He's gonna say, forget about the ball. I'm hitching your
head to get you prepared. But when they get down
to that field, once it clicks on and the time
gets to go ready, he's like, okay, now a serious time.

Speaker 4 (28:30):
And I really appreciate that.

Speaker 2 (28:32):
What did you know about Utah football before you got here?
Did you know did you follow Davante when he was
here because he played against your brother and stuff, or
did you know much about Utah Nah, not that much.

Speaker 5 (28:42):
I knew a little bit just because Davonte, Uh, my
brother and him played against each other. So I was like, okay,
like he's a big guy, Like let me see. So
I sprink it in a little here. But I didn't
know much about it until I answered that portal and
I heard the real details about it.

Speaker 1 (28:56):
For real.

Speaker 2 (28:56):
Have you looked back at some of the other bags,
like Zack Mass, I know Zack's been around. Zach was
the real deal. He's the all time in rusher here
and a bunch of guys in the NFL.

Speaker 4 (29:05):
Yeah.

Speaker 5 (29:06):
When I first got here and I just like seen
everybody that went in the NFL, I was like, oh,
this is a real deal, Like this is where a
running back is supposed to be at.

Speaker 2 (29:12):
So how's your experience been so far?

Speaker 5 (29:14):
It's been great. The environment has been wonderful. I mean
I came here in the spring, nice and cold. Really
I got used to it. I had a year Washington State,
but coming back it was it was great. Uh the environment,
Like I said, it's nice. Everybody's nice to you, Like,
nobody really bothers you that much. When you're not doing
that to night, you're not supposed to do, but the
football team itself perfect, couldn't ask them them more?

Speaker 2 (29:38):
So, what's that running back room? Like, it's you, it's Nakari,
it's Daniel Bray. Bryce Duke's in that room as well.
Devin's kind of a running back. You got Nate Johnson
who's in there. It's kind of a he's just kind
of a weapon. He had hunter before he got hurt
in that room. So what's that room?

Speaker 3 (29:55):
Like?

Speaker 5 (29:55):
It's it's real funny. Like we joke around a lot,
but we also push each other to a like an extent, like, Okay,
we're going it's game time.

Speaker 4 (30:02):
Let's see who can get a hundred.

Speaker 5 (30:03):
Like we not make a bet, but we sit there
and like have conversation with each other like Okay, let's
do this, or let's both do it at the same time,
Like why won't we all get a hundred? Like it's
just a mindset that we set each other too. It's
a it's a mindset and the standard that we have
in our running back room all together with outside outside
the coach.

Speaker 2 (30:20):
How competitive is that room?

Speaker 4 (30:21):
Oh it's a real.

Speaker 5 (30:22):
Competitive It's real competitive, right be for the next playing
a person go and we'd be like, oh, it's not.
I wish I had that play, but he's like, oh,
we trust him out there. So either as soon as
the team win, we all happy at the end of
the day.

Speaker 4 (30:33):
That's for real.

Speaker 2 (30:34):
That's good. That's the kind of room you gotta have
to have a winning culture and a winning program. I
gotta ask you for those that were at the Cincinnati game.
The pink gloves, the pink shoes, where that come from.

Speaker 5 (30:43):
I mean, I'll been holding the pink gloves back just
for a little bit, just for that Blackout game.

Speaker 3 (30:48):
Uh.

Speaker 5 (30:48):
The pink cleats I'm going to continue wearing because everybody
says pop out. And I got a little niece at home.
She like watches the game. She'd be like, oh, that's
my uncle.

Speaker 2 (30:56):
That'suckaway Sean.

Speaker 5 (30:57):
Yeah, so I wear those for her and like my face,
family members, I really don't can't see that well. So
I'm gonna continue to wear it though, and the mouthpiece
just not the gloves, just because the gloves is just
for the Blackout game.

Speaker 2 (31:08):
Okay. I like that. Plus it's gonna be like eighty three.
Yea if Waco this week. You don't want your hands
to stuff like that, You're You're fine. Without that. But
I gotta say, when you break into the open field
and those pink those pink kicks, it looks good.

Speaker 4 (31:22):
Appreciate it.

Speaker 2 (31:22):
It looks good, and I like calling those Touchdownso so
what's the vibe around the team this week? Get bye week?
Last week, you're back at it, You're getting ready for Baylor.
Three games left in the regular season, and honestly, you
know this, You guys still have everything to play for.

Speaker 4 (31:37):
Yes, we do.

Speaker 5 (31:38):
I mean, coming off that bye week, it was nice
having them three days off, but coming back, we all
have to say mindset, like, Okay, it's back to business.

Speaker 4 (31:45):
Let's handle it like.

Speaker 5 (31:46):
Let's go out there, ball out these last three games.
Let's make it the last three games that we ever
gonna play, Like, put our mindset to where it's like
it's our game, last game every week, like you don't
know what's going to happen before. So that I said,
it's like carrying on throughout the whole team. We have
fun with it though, but at the same time, yeah,
we're hungry.

Speaker 2 (32:05):
So you guys know, if you want to play for
a championship or in the playoffs, you gotta win all three. Yes,
there's no marchin Freer. But how are you approaching that possibility?
You're watching the scoreboard a little bit, seeing the rankings,
or you just laser focused on Baylor.

Speaker 5 (32:19):
I mean, my focus is just a Baylor. Like this
weekup is an important week. Last week was that importantly,
but now this week we got a Baylor. Just another team.
They're not beg us to us, they're not small to us.
They're just another team. I've gotta go out there on
this player of butts out.

Speaker 2 (32:35):
Well, because honestly, you can only control what you can control,
and if you don't beat Baylor, nothing else matters exactly.
If you don't beat the next team, nothing else matters exactly.
So that's kind of you know, in some way, there's
a freedom to that, right, Yeah, you just gotta go
out and win, yes, and then whatever happens, the universe
will take care.

Speaker 4 (32:51):
Of it, exactly.

Speaker 5 (32:51):
You just gotta go out there and play ball, like
let the game come to you, like have fun with it.
Don't ever just like take it so serious. It's like
you off your own game and like you just realized, like, oh,
cut it this, like no, just do it right thing,
and there.

Speaker 2 (33:04):
I'm gonna get it. I don't want to put any
words in your mouth, but is this what you came
to Utah for to be in November and playing meaningful
football games?

Speaker 5 (33:11):
Yes, I always wanted to be playing uniform games. I mean,
coming out of high school, it's like, Okay, Washington S
eight was the kind of UNFL, but coming here it's
way better just because like I'm gonna hold out a level.
I feel like like I'm gonna step closer to the
NFL and I want to be in a pros.

Speaker 2 (33:26):
All right, Well, keep doing what you're doing. You're on
a good path through it now and we'll see Saturday. Yes,
Sir Way Shaun Parker with us here on the Coaches
Show Tonight. Coach Show being brought to you by G
two G. At G two G, your performance is their passion.
All natural ingredients, no preservatives, and extra protein G two
G bars ready to give you that healthy boost you
need to reach your full athletic potential. At G two

(33:48):
G we'll go from offense to defense, play Cotton next.
Kyle Whittingham Coaches Show for ESPN seven hundred at the
Sports Radio Network.

Speaker 1 (33:55):
You were listening to the Kyle Whittingham Coaches Show brought
to you by bud Light on ESPN seven hundred and
the Ute Sports Radio Network.

Speaker 2 (34:07):
Tonight's Coach You show being from of You by America
First Credit Union Here to help you reach your financial
goals fast or whatever products, tools, or services you need
to succeed. America First has you covered. So head to
America First dot com and join the winning team. Speaking
of having you covered, our next guest has had those
wide receivers blanketed the last couple of weeks. He was

(34:27):
actually on my podcast, by the way, plug here for
this the Crimson Corner podcast dropping tomorrow this week. I
had the voice of the Baylor Bears on with me
last week because it was a bye week. I was
lucky enough to have Blake Cotton on with me, and
he's back with me, and so we're just kind of
continuing our conversation from last week.

Speaker 4 (34:46):
Yep.

Speaker 2 (34:46):
So, how was the trip home to Sherman Oaks.

Speaker 4 (34:48):
It was good.

Speaker 6 (34:49):
It was good, good to see the family for a
little bit, you know, relaxed a little.

Speaker 2 (34:53):
Bit when you go home. Is there a place you
like to hit while you're home to grab some food
or a drink or something.

Speaker 6 (35:02):
You know what I like? I love Korean barbecue. So
I like to hit those spots.

Speaker 2 (35:07):
They're a spot nearby near dear home.

Speaker 4 (35:09):
Yeah.

Speaker 6 (35:09):
Yeah, with my brother, we like to go eat, so
that's always a plus.

Speaker 2 (35:13):
It used to be when i'd go to California for business,
I'd always hit in and out.

Speaker 4 (35:16):
Oh oh yeah, I forgot about but you.

Speaker 2 (35:18):
Got in and out here. Now I've got one a
couple of blocks from my house, so it's not as
big a deal to go down. I don't have to
hit in and out in La anymore. But that was
a big deal for a long time because we weren't
blessed with that in Utah till a few years ago. Anyway,
you're rested and ready to go stretch run of the
season three weeks ago.

Speaker 4 (35:34):
Yeah, of course, of course.

Speaker 2 (35:35):
How's your body feeling after a mostly a week off.

Speaker 4 (35:38):
I feel great.

Speaker 6 (35:40):
I think that's why bye weeks are so important, you know,
just get your body back a little bit, recalibrate.

Speaker 4 (35:46):
Yeah, so I'm feeling good.

Speaker 2 (35:48):
Do you do a little self reflection, little self. You've
always gonna have your coaches that are watching tape, Coach Shaws.
But by the way, Coach Shaw told me to tell
you you're a loser. He was joking, you know, Coach Shaw,
he was joking. Yeah, he loves you, but he said
till Blake, he's a loser. You're not. Yeah, yeah, he's
joking with it.

Speaker 4 (36:05):
Okay.

Speaker 2 (36:06):
But with that being said, do you do a little
self coaching yourself?

Speaker 4 (36:09):
Of course?

Speaker 6 (36:10):
I mean I would say, you know, obviously this sports
a mental game. Yeah, so you know when I watch practice,
you know, just watch myself, see what I messed up
on or what I can improve on. And then you know,
whether it's in game or in practice, you know, just
telling yourself what you need to do or what you

(36:30):
need to do better.

Speaker 2 (36:32):
What do you guys may or may not know about
Blake is he played three years at UC Davis and
the Big Sky before he came to Utah. So what
made you choose Utah? When you're coming at you decide
you want to level up, play a little bit of
higher level football. Would you like about Utah? Uh?

Speaker 6 (36:44):
Just the coaching, the culture, you know, I think. I mean,
on my visit, I know, I just got this feeling
like the coaching staff was genuine. So I knew I
wanted to, you know, come here, and I knew it
was the right choice.

Speaker 2 (36:57):
Well, it's been a good fit for you. I mean
Morgan Scalley's defenses, Sharif Shaw and his secondary they play aggressive.
You play a lot of tight press man. Yeah, as
a corner, you gotta love that.

Speaker 4 (37:11):
Yeah, I love it.

Speaker 3 (37:11):
I love it.

Speaker 2 (37:12):
But your favorite part about lining up, you know, a
yard off the line of scrimmage with that wide receiver
right in your face?

Speaker 3 (37:19):
Uh?

Speaker 6 (37:19):
Favorite part just winning the rep? That's the I think
that's the best part. Uh, Just knowing when you you know,
lock a receiver down is a good feeling.

Speaker 2 (37:28):
Was there an adjustment period for you this spring or
this summer in you know, leveling up in competition but
also adjusting to a new system. Did it take you
a minute or did you feel like you jumped in
pretty quick?

Speaker 6 (37:41):
I would say I jumped in pretty quick, but there
was a you know, there was a little there was
a big difference, I would say, but I knew I was,
you know, up for the task. So I just got
to get used to the you know, intensity of everything.

Speaker 2 (37:54):
You lined up last week. There are two weeks ago
against the team they had three really good receivers, the
really good quarterback and you're pressing them. You guys weren't
playing much off You weren't playing a ton of zone.
You were just pressing them. How excited going into a
game are you when you know what that game plan
is and you know you're gonna be challenging these receivers
on every rep.

Speaker 6 (38:15):
I mean it's thrilling, you know, I mean, we know,
like you know that comes with playing the position. You know,
you gotta do things that you know can be uncomfortable.
But that's that's the best part of it.

Speaker 2 (38:27):
So this week your face Baylor, another team with a
really good quarterback and good weapons on the outside too.
So I know you watch some tape, what are your
thoughts on this Baylor team, this offense in particular that
you're gonna see this week.

Speaker 6 (38:41):
I think they got a pretty good receiving corps. They
got some quickness, size, you know, some speed. But again,
you just you know, you gotta do what you're tought,
you know, play the technique and I'm looking forward to it.

Speaker 2 (38:55):
How much when you line up across is do you
have an idea of what it is based on film
study or formation or how many times are you lining
up just going We're gonna go and see what happens.

Speaker 4 (39:08):
You know there.

Speaker 6 (39:09):
You know, there'll be those those plays where you really
recognize the formation and you know what's coming, but at
the same time, you can't guess. You know, you just
gotta you gotta react. You know, this position is all reaction.
So but yeah, there'll be those couple of plays where
it's like, Okay, I know what's coming, I got an idea,
and then you know, go about it.

Speaker 2 (39:29):
It's gotta be great when you run the ret just
as well or better than the wide receiver.

Speaker 4 (39:32):
Yeah, it's a great feeling.

Speaker 2 (39:34):
Get that hand on the ball or jump that route
and get that pick. That's nice. You have three games
left now in the regular season. Everything is still to
play for most teams, probably three quarters of the teams
out there, they know that they're not playing for you
guys are still in line for a championship and possibly
the playoff. So what are your thoughts on how these

(39:55):
last getting ready for these last three games?

Speaker 6 (39:58):
Man, Just you know, you know, treat it like it's
any you know, other game. You know that they're important,
but you know, just going there and then play our
our standard of football, and that's the best way to
do it well.

Speaker 2 (40:10):
And the good news for you is it's it's good
and bad news.

Speaker 3 (40:13):
Yeah.

Speaker 2 (40:13):
The good news is you know you have to win,
right right, right right. If you don't win, it doesn't matter.
So that's a little bit of a liberating feeling, right right.
You're not worried about what everybody else does. You just
have to win the game.

Speaker 4 (40:24):
Just gotta win.

Speaker 2 (40:25):
That's it being part of this Utah family. What's been
like for you? It's only been one year, but you're
ingratiated in it. Now. How's that been?

Speaker 4 (40:34):
Man?

Speaker 6 (40:34):
I mean, I know it's only been one year, but
it feels like I've been here for a while. That's
how special I think it is. Just like the culture,
like I mentioned, you know, the team bond, all of
it is just special.

Speaker 2 (40:48):
Who's your favorite receiver line up against in practice? Who's
the guy you love to battle with in practice?

Speaker 6 (40:57):
Favorite receiver? I think me and me and and Justine Stevenson.
We'll go at it sometimes.

Speaker 4 (41:02):
I like guarding.

Speaker 6 (41:03):
Hell yeah, yeah, I let's say yeah, I let's justin Yeah.

Speaker 2 (41:10):
Big Justin's will transfer from Wyoming. Yeah, big target, just
like you big A couple of big guys going at
each other. Yeah all right, Well, hey, thanks for doing this. Blake,
thank you good catching up with you again. Have a
good game on Saturday. We'll see Dona Waco. Yes, sir,
there you it's Blake Cotton with us here on the
Coaches Show tonight. Coach Show being brought to you by
University of Utah Health where you can get the same
great care that the Utes Trust. Go to u of

(41:32):
U Health dot org slash Utes. We'll come all back
on the other side, talk a little bit more about
the Baylor Bears with Kyle Whittingham on the kylewitting Game
Coaches Show. Final segment ahead here on ESPN seven hundred
of the Youth Sports Radio Network.

Speaker 1 (41:44):
You were listening to the Kyle Whittingham Coaches Show brought
to you by PEPSI on ESPN seven hundred and the
Ute Sports Radio Network.

Speaker 2 (41:58):
Coaches showed a night tam brought to you by our
friends in Slackwater Pizzeria. Great locations all over the state,
whether it's downtown, whether it's up in Ogden, whether it's
out West and Harriman, whether it's in Sandy, wherever you
might go. It's great to bring your family, great pizza,
good vibes, the whole thing. You've been down to slack
Water downtown.

Speaker 3 (42:16):
Good spot. Yeah, very good spot.

Speaker 2 (42:17):
That's right. So we've got a good game before we
talk about Baylor one more time. Blake Cotton. We just
had Blake in here. Yeah, he's been such a great
addition to your secondary.

Speaker 3 (42:26):
Oh yes, yeah, he's been. He's been a guy that
has really filled the void we're coming into the season.
We knew we had Scooby, who was a proven commodity
and and Smith stowed, but we didn't know who that
third guy was going to be. And he he took
over that third position and really just ran away with it.
I mean, he's played as good a football as we
could have possibly hoped for so far the season.

Speaker 2 (42:47):
And you've seen him just get better and better better
by the week. And I'll tell you what he and
I talked about this when he joined me on my podcast.
I think it'd be great to have him for another year. Unfortunately,
but his size, he's six' one six y. Two, yeah
he's got the size and the features to be able
to play on that next.

Speaker 3 (43:06):
Level he, does he, does and he's about one hundred
and ninety one hundred ninety five, pounds so he's got
a good frame as, well and he's got the top.
End you see, him you, know no receivers can run by.
HIM i, mean he's always in a great, position and
he's got good ball, skills he's got good, anticipation he's
got good, feet and he's a good. Tackler he's a
very sure.

Speaker 2 (43:22):
Tackler so The Baylor, bears we talked about them a
little bit early in the show. Tonight what do they
do really? Well throw the? Ball they just they throw. It,
well what about, defensively what are they?

Speaker 3 (43:33):
Doing? Well they're even front four to two as most
teams are at this day and age eleven person back
to the, offense they are almost exclusively eleven personnel ninety
percent plus eleven. Personnel, defensively they're gonna Get you're gonna
get pressure about a third of the. Time by the,
way we're the most pressure team in the. COUNTRY i

(43:53):
think somebody told me that. Today, statistically we we're the
number one blitz team in the. Country So scaley's getting
aggresive in his own old.

Speaker 2 (44:00):
Age but, well you, SAID i think you told me
The colorado game you thought was the most you guys
had blitzed in a single. Game And i'm.

Speaker 3 (44:09):
Here. Ever, yeah, ever that's that's quite a. Statement i'm
standing by. IT i THINK i think it's it's absolutely a.
Fact but but, uh anyway back to The Baylor, bears
got some size up, front got a three hundred plus
pound defensive end and a three hundred you, know big
monster de. Tackle linebackers are. Active. Uh they play quarters.

(44:31):
Coverage that's their base IS a IS a is a
cover cover Four and AS i mentioned about a thirty
four percent blitz. Rate haven't been really effective against the
run this. Year that's probably been their achilles. Heel but you,
know on, offense they're they're decent in the red, zone touchdown,
percentage are pretty decent on third. Down, uh but LIKE i,

(44:52):
said really good throw in the football that's really where
they make their.

Speaker 2 (44:55):
Money and those weapons on the outside are. Legit the
tight end runs like a wide. Receiver he's a big wide.
Receiver and then you've got those other speed guys and.
Burners and the backs catch the ball well out of
the bat for them as.

Speaker 3 (45:06):
Well yeah they. Do AND i mentioned the back there
was a thousand yards last, Year, yeah thirty, four thirty,
six yeah, three.

Speaker 2 (45:14):
He is number thirty four as camera returner and. Receiver that's.

Speaker 3 (45:18):
Right he's a heck of a punt returner, too by the.

Speaker 2 (45:19):
Way he.

Speaker 3 (45:20):
Is in, FACT i think he was maybe the best
in the nation last. Year he. Was, yeah so All
american put. Returner but, anyway a thousand yard capable back
went for a thousand last. Year and the, quarterback of,
course is the guy that makes it all.

Speaker 2 (45:32):
Go he's really, good Say. Robertson you'll hear me call
his name a lot coming up On saturday before we
get out of. Here, tonight the playoff rankings came out.
Tonight you guys came state at number thirteen. Again, okay
so that's is that a good position for you to?

Speaker 3 (45:44):
Be, yeah you, know all we can do is focus
on the next game and. Win if we if we keep,
winning we think good things will. Happen but we just
got to put all our attention On baylor as we
do every single, week the one game at a time,
mentality and we're we know where we're positioned in THE
cfp right now is not too.

Speaker 2 (46:03):
Bad, well, really where your position to The big twelve
isn't bad, either because a lot of teams heading into
Mid november would love to be able, to you, know
say they're still in the. Race you guys are still
in the.

Speaker 3 (46:14):
Race we're still in, it and you got to have
some help. Obviously but there's some good matchups coming, up you,
know some some teams playing some tough, games and so
we'll see how things shake.

Speaker 2 (46:22):
Out but, again nothing matters if you don't win the
last three, games starting With.

Speaker 3 (46:26):
Baylor, well we just got to Beat. Baylor, beally if
we'll Be, baylor then we'll worry about who's next to Beat.

Speaker 2 (46:30):
Baylor you've got to do What we've.

Speaker 3 (46:32):
Got to slow down the throw. Game if they throw
for their three hundred, plus that doesn't bode well for. Us,
offensively we've been so. Consistent we're among the top ten
in the nation and points per drive and doing a
lot of good. THINGS i think we've scored on seven
of our nine opening drives in the. Game so we started.
Fast it would be good to start fast, again which

(46:53):
we have been doing most every. Week, defensively we're still
waiting for that breakout takeaway game where we at four
or five. Takeaways that would be an ideal time this
week to get that out of.

Speaker 2 (47:04):
Pat he puts the ball in the air enough the
opportunities will certainly be. There they. Will, well that will Be.
Saturday we'll be on the air with our pregame show
locally on The Flagship Radio home at one. O'clock Scott
sly AND i will be in the booth at three
In waco and we'll kick things off just after five
o'clock for The utes and The Baylor. Bears big thank

(47:24):
you as well to our friends At El, cholo, right.

Speaker 3 (47:26):
That's, right, Yeah and they come feed us every weekend
and great, food Great.

Speaker 2 (47:31):
Mexican, food Excellent mexican. Food they're located In Sugar. House
they're A Southern california, original family owned and. Operated one
of the only restaurants they have outside Of Southern california
is right here In Salt Lake. City right twenty Second
south and Ninth east is where you'll find the good
folks At El. Cholo that will do it for. Us
The Kyle Whittingham show airs Every tuesday night from six

(47:53):
to seven right here ON espn seven hundred and we'll
be back again next. Week we'll talk to You. Saturday
thanks To Blake, cotton thanks as well to Way Shawn,
Parker Kyle. Whittingham alonso was Here Porter's back of the
studio and Even drew showed up. Tonight thanks to everybody
who joined. Us this is The Kyle Whittingham Coaches show
FOR espn seven hundred and The Youth Sports Radio network