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Utah faced its greatest challenge to installing its new up-tempo offense after a crisp first two days of spring practice: Spring break.
The Utes lived with having spring break in the middle of camp because of event scheduling at Rice-Eccles Stadium, but there was no doubt it had a sluggish effect on the team, particularly the first day in pads.
"Especially coming off of the spring break, where a lot of them had home-cooked meals, it was a huge adjustment today," offensive line coach Jim Harding said. "It was the first day of pads. We didn't move as well as we should. We talked about it afterwards. It's not cardio club or having their weight lowered or just me being an a. It's serving a purpose."
The purpose of tempo is a higher snap count that winds defenses and forces them to stay vanilla. It's not the first time Utah has tried to run fast much of the spring in 2014 was dedicated to running a high-tempo offense led by Dave Christensen.
But even among the offensive linemen, who were chastened for being slow Tuesday afternoon, there's excitement.
"I like this new offense a lot," center Lo Falemaka said. "The tempo is going to be a surprise to everyone else. We're definitely gassing out our defense, but they're doing a good job catching up."
Offensive coordinator Troy Taylor said Tuesday was the first day where he thought the offense was a little tired. The coaching staff might take an extra practice to install those concepts before Saturday's open scrimmage.
As far as quarterback progression, Taylor said he's been happy with the current setup: Troy Williams and Tyler Huntley are taking the majority of the reps, while Cooper Bateman is getting third-string reps.
"They've been great in terms of learning it," Taylor said. "I don't think they're overwhelmed at all. Now it's just in terms of reps, getting that experience."
New-look line
One of the chief areas of overhaul is offensive line, where only Salesi Uhatafe returns as a main starter. Jackson Barton earned starts last season at tackle, and Lo Falemaka is on track as the starting center. Other jobs still are up for grabs.
Harding said he's leaning on those three as his vocal leaders, replacing some of the most respected leaders on the team in J.J. Dielman and Isaac Asiata among others.
"I definitely see the competitiveness in the younger guys," he said. "Especially in the one-on-ones, I see them antsy to get in and get their reps. When they're out there, they're going all out. It's really good to see that."
Harding said many of the run schemes that Utah used last year, including power schemes and zone run blocking, have been reinstalled and will remain relatively the same, albeit run faster. Utah will look for more passing options out of run plays, so quarterbacks even may throw with a run-block front if the coverage is favorable.
Pro Day on Thursday
With four offensive linemen who went to the NFL Combine last month, Harding could be forgiven for giving himself a pat on the back Thursday morning when all four return for Utah's Pro Day.
Harding said he's expecting a lot of NFL offensive line coaches to be there, and he hopes to learn a thing or two.
"I want to get a drill or maybe there's something that I see, a technique that I pick up," he said. "I'll be a little more around the Pro Day than I've been in the past."
The Utes will have upward of a dozen prospects either hitting weights, going through field drills, doing position work or all of the above Thursday.
Briefly
Kyle Whittingham said running back Zack Moss is out for a few weeks with a lower leg injury, "nothing serious, but he's down for a while." His injury narrows the running back depth. Armand Shyne already is recovering from a knee injury. ... After three practices, Whittingham said safety Corrion Ballard has been one of the best newcomers in the building. "He is a big-time talent and is as advertised," he said.
kgoon@sltrib.com Twitter: @kylegoon