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SALT LAKE CITY — Fall camp has begun on the hill and according to head coach Kyle Whittingham there are three position groups that have significantly improved since a year ago.
Offensive line
It is difficult to begin this discussion without remembering what a disaster the offensive line was a year ago. The entire fall camp the line shifted, changed, reworked and it showed in the first couple games of the season.
2013 is a new year and what was a weakness has now become the most stable and improved position groups at Utah. One of the greatest compliments an offensive line can have is if no one talks about them. If that is the case, they are doing their job. Right now, no one is talking about them.
The line is anchored by C.J. Poutasi at left tackle, Jeremiah Tofaeono, Vyncent Jones, Junior Salt, and Siaosi Aiono at the right tackle.
Tight Ends
No hyperbole here - this could be the best tight end group in school history. Jake Murphy and Westlee Tonga played a ton last season, but in 2013, the quarterbacks are being taught to find them. They are playmakers.
Jake Murphy has been named to the John Mackey award watch list for 2013. He was honorable mention Pac-12 in 2012 and ready to build on that in 2013. He had 33 receptions last season with four touchdowns.
Westlee Tonga is certainly not widely known for being a prolific pass-catching tight end. He just hasn't had a plethora of opportunities yet. His career highlight has to be the 17-yard touchdown catch vs. BYU in 2012. Expect to see more of that in 2013.
Linebackers
This position group really can't go anywhere but up.
Defensive Coordinator Kalani Sitake believes in his linebackers and contends, "It's not like they didn't perform, they were hurt. I had a guy out there playing with a torn ACL. Right now, I have no complaints."
Maybe that is simply the issue with the linebackers. According to Sitake we saw mostly the two's and three's (depth chart) out there and if hopefully the one's will be healthy.
However we categorize the linebacker position, Utah needs to get more out of them than they got a season ago and if Coach Whittingham and Coach Sitake don't have complaints and think they will be one of the most improved position groups, that will help improve the defense.
