Asiata Back on the Field
Senior running back Matt Asiata is participating fully in practices and describes his knee as 100 percent. Asiata was granted a fifth year of eligibility by the NCAA after tearing his ACL four games into the season last year while celebrating a touchdown against Louisville.
Last year, Asiata came into camp slimmer than in the past, saying he wanted to gain agility and quickness. However, he is back at his old playing weight of 230 lbs, which he said is his natural size. “I still have to work on my speed,” he said, but said he feels stronger than he did at 220 lbs.
With Eddie Wide coming off of a 1,000-yard rushing season and the emergence of Sausan Shakerin as a spell back, finding touches for all three backs might prove to be difficult.
“It’s all a team effort,” Asiata said. “Eddie’s got speed, I’ve got power and Shak is all over. You got to use all the weapons on the field.”
When asked what he’d do to celebrate scoring his first touchdown this year, in light of the freak injury that nearly ended his college career, Asiata laughed and replied, “Walk off.”
Linebacking by Committee
Perhaps more than any other position, the linebacking crew has not been one of concern for the Utes’ coaching staff over the last couple years, with veterans Mike Wright, Kepa Gaison and Stevenson Sylvester, now a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers, locking down the middle of the field.
But with all of them gone, defensive coordinator Kalani Sitake is left with the job of finding their replacements. He isn’t looking for three replacements, though, but instead is looking to put together a variety of linebacking packages to use throughout the game.
“We just have really good players,” Sitake said. “To say I’m looking for a starting three, I don’t have to. I feel like I’ve got six starters.
The six “starters” Sitake refers to are senior Chad Manis, juniors J.J. Williams, Chaz Walker, Jamel King and Matt Martinez and sophomore Boo Anderson. Sitake added that it is possible King could see time at the defensive end position in certain situations.
“For some reason, everyone wants everything to be set,” Sitake said. “I think the game’s changed so much that, week to week, you’re going to see different offenses and matchups so why (limit) yourself. I always tell my guys that the only difference between the starter and his backup is who plays the first down.”
Johnson teaching quarterbacks confidence
In his first season as quarterbacks coach, Brian Johnson, the winningest quarterback in Utes’ history, said he is confident with what he sees.
Johnson echoed what head coach Kyle Whittingham said about backup QB Terrance Cain’s boost in self-confidence. He’s making decisions quicker and with more authority, Johnson said.
Last year, when Cain got into trouble, it usually came down to confidence, Whittingham said.
As for Jordan Wynn, who is entering his first full season as a starter, Johnson said he is working on he and Wynn to be at one with each other. “We have to be thinking exactly alike,” Johnson said. “When I see something, I want him to be seeing it as well.”
Home Opener Sold Out
The Sept. 2 home opener for the Utes has officially sold out, according to Liz Abel, head of public relations. There are still some standing room only tickets available, Abel said, but no actual seats remain.
The Utes will take on the Pittsburgh Panthers, ranked No. 15 in the preseason coaches poll, on Sept. 2. The last time the teams squared off was in 2005 at the Fiesta Bowl, when Utah became the first mid-major conference school to win a BCS bowl game, defeating the Panthers 35-7.
This is the second home game to sell out thus far, BYU being the first. Another notable game to be played at Rice-Eccles Stadium this year happens on Nov. 6 when Utah battles last year’s Mountain West Conference champion TCU, ranked seventh overall in the preseason polls.