“We’ve just come tighter as a defense,” Utah_Football linebacker Karene Reid said. “We’ve watched more film, we’ve spent more time off the field together, and that’s shown up on the field.”
Utah Utes defensive end Gabe Reid celebrates a sack of USC Trojans quarterback Caleb Williams as the University of Utah hosts USC, NCAA football in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Oct. 15, 2022.The Utah Utes had just given up a touchdown on USC’s first drive of the game, a sequence of plays that took all of one minute, 44 seconds. It was defense so poor that coach Kyle Whittingham took it upon himself to send a message right then and there.
In the second half of that game, Utah’s defense delivered. It allowed just 14 points to the Trojans in aBut it wasn’t just that half where Utah’s defense shined. Something changed after that, and the Utes have been stingy on that side of the field ever since.Sophomore linebacker Karene Reid attributed the team’s improved defense to more togetherness.
In the last five games, Utah hasn’t allowed opponents to score more than 21 points. Only of those efforts came in a loss —As the Utes prepare for a rematch against USC in the Pac-12 Championship game Friday at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, it might be their defense that could be the difference. Utah leads the conference total defense, allowing just 317.5 yards per game, and defensive touchdowns with four. It’s also second in the conference in sacks and fumble recoveries.
“Just the way our guys have grown up this year, great job by Coach Scalley and his staff to get them ready every week,” Whittingham said. “Great job by the players taking the preparation process dead serious and making sure we don’t have any wasted time on the field or in the meeting room.”
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