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SALT LAKE CITY — After a lackluster showing on Monday, the Utes bounced back with a much better practice Tuesday morning.
"We came out with the right attitude and the right mindset," Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham said. "Much more like what we need it to look like."
Whittingham admitted that there may have been a little carryover on Monday from the tragic death of freshman defensive lineman Gaius Vaenuku.
"That's not something that you can just put behind you like that," Whittingham said. "That is something that is on everybody's mind. But we have to be able to move forward and get our work done in the football aspect of it."
Here are five takeaways from today's practice:
Yards after the catch
Co-offensve coordinator Brian Johnson said that the emphasis this year with the wide receivers is getting yards after the catch. "For us, that's the key."
Tight ends
Johnson also said that the Utes will game plan to involve the tight ends more. "It's about utilizing everyone on the field, making the defense cover everybody."
Johnson said that Jake Murphy and Westlee Tonga are exceptional players, and that they will "have great years."
Texas RB stands out
Both Johnson and Whittingham singled out incoming Texas running back Troy McCormick.
"He's an absolute jet," Johnson said. "When you get the ball in his hands, he's dynamic in space."
"His ability to catch the ball is what really has stood out," Whittingham added. "If he continues to stand out after we put the pads on, then we will find a place for him."
Whittingham mentioned that one of those spots for him could be as a slot receiver. Stay tuned.
Throw the deep ball
Utah's longest passing play in 2012 was a 47-yard strike from backup QB Adam Schulz to Sean Fitzgerald in mop up duty against Washington State.
Johnson feels like the Utes have the weapons this season to create more big plays in the passing game.
"We have some fast guys that we feel like we can go up top and take the top off the coverage when we need to."
Quarterback depth
With Micah Thomas in the pit recovering from a hamstring pull, the other four quarterbacks continued to impress.
"Travis (Wilson), Adam (Schulz), Brandon Cox and Conner Manning all threw the ball extremely well," Whittingham said.
"I finally feel like we are to a point where we have some very good depth behind Travis," Johnson said. "Those guys have done a good job so far in camp pushing him and making each other better."
