This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
There are plenty of places to go: the cold tub, the film room, the training table.
But Troy Williams might spend much of his next three days in bed, without an opponent to prepare for this weekend for the first time in two months.
"I love sleeping," he said. "I don't really get as much sleep during the week with school and stuff like that. I take naps here and there. But this bye week will be good. I'm just focusing on sleeping right now."
After a injury-riddled nine-week schedule that came to a crescendo against Washington on Saturday, the No. 16 Utes (7-2, 4-2) are looking forward to a week off that can bring rest, healing, and hopefully focus for the "three-week season" down the stretch in November.
While Utah's locker room was "frustrated" after falling to the undefeated Huskies, 31-24, coach Kyle Whittingham expressed confidence that a chance to win the program's first outright Pac-12 South Division title is still its control. The Utes will be looking to run the table against Arizona State, Oregon and finally division leader Colorado in Boulder.
"Our position is good," he said. "It's not perfect or ideal but it is pretty darn good. We feel like we still have a chance to finish with a positive season and it's been positive so far."
But first things first: getting healthy.
Whittingham said he's "hoping" that Utah can return most, if not all, of the team's key playmakers who have missed recent games: safety Marcus Williams, tight end Harrison Handley, and receiver Cory Butler-Byrd. Others who suited up for the last game — like receiver Tim Patrick, center Lo Falemaka and linebacker Sunia Tauteoli — could stand to get healthier and knock some rust off their respective games.
Even players who haven't missed time could use a break: Williams has played with a brace on his left knee for several games and has nursed a cold for a few weeks. Chase Hansen winced during Utah's Monday news conference as he adjusted in his seat, and showed baseball-sized scrape on his leg.
"There were a lot of guys in that game playing hurt," Hansen said. "It's going to be a big help."
There are also things to fix in the interim, ahead of the team's next game, at Arizona State on Nov. 10.
Whittingham said he wants to see more production in the passing game, where everyone needs to improve across the board: blocking, quarterback accuracy and receivers holding onto catches. Ranked No. 9 in the Pac-12 in passing yards (212 ypg), Utah has thrown for under 200 yards in each of the last three contests. He also pointed out that the linebackers "didn't have their best game" and would be looking for a bounce-back after the defense allowed almost 200 rushing yards from the Huskies.
What irked him as much as anything was penalties: Utah had 10 against Washington, including a false start on the final drive. Whittingham pointed out that Utah is seventh in the conference in fewest penalty yards per game, but the team is also No. 11 in total penalties (68) and No. 10 in total penalty yards (573), both well outside the top 100 in the FBS. He pointed to pre-snap penalties, with five false starts this weekend, as a particular issue.
"We need to do a better job of handling it and making sure we have an answer," he said.
Twitter: @kylegoon —
No. 16 Utah at Arizona State
P Nov. 10, 7:30 p.m.
TV • Fox Sports 1