There's noticeably more snap, crackle and pop in Ute football practices now, and it's not just because a lot of positions are open.
Coaches are barking and hustling players onto the field and off, up the field and down, and there's just more commotion going on as the Utes finish up their first week of closed-practice spring ball.
It comes by design. After that disappointing, underachieving 4-7 2000 season, coach Ron McBride decided one of many changes would involve practice tempo.
"That's one of my big emphases is to keep a tempo in practice," said McBride, who has four new assistant coaches and has changed assignments for other coaches this spring. "I'm all over the coaches to keep a tempo. Everything is moving. I didn't want anybody just hanging around," McBride said Thursday.
"Once you (set a quick pace), you keep the players alert. In analyzing it all, I thought that was one of the things we need — we need to set a tempo all the time."
The newcomers are offensive coordinator Craig Ver Steeg, receivers/running backs coach Vincent White, tackles/tight ends coach Alex Gerke and safeties coach Bill Busch.
The defense that was the Mountain West's best is the same style as last year's, but a new two-back offense is being implemented with three mostly new quarterbacks adding to the urgency. And defensive-line coach Gary Andersen has taken over at special teams.
"Every time you make a change you hope you help out what you're doing, and so far they're all doing the job they're expected to do, and they're all doing it with enthusiasm," McBride said. "The kids are responding to what they're doing."
The quarterback battle between sophomore Lance Rice, who started the last three games last season (2-1), sophomore Purdue transfer Ryan Breska and heralded redshirt freshman Brett Elliott is competitive enough to make the coach smile knowingly. Elliott has thrown only a couple times this week after a sprained thumb from a basketball game de-activated him for six weeks, but he did especially well Tuesday, McBride said.
"The defense brought a lot of pressure today," McBride said, "but they delivered the ball with pressure, and they're getting rid of it on time, and I was very impressed with those guys the last couple-three days. If they continue to grow like they're growing, all three of those guys are going to do a real nice job for us. It looks like they're going to battle for a long time."
Veterans Adam Tate and Dameon Hunter and junior Arizona State transfer J.R. Peroulis give the Utes three big running backs, and senior Thomas Fortune and freshman Rob Sirstens look strong at fullback. McBride has noticed Sirstens. "He blocks well, catches well, runs well with the ball after he catches it," McBride said of the Skyline High product.
Returned missionary Morgan Scalley of Highland High, a freshman receiver, has come back "more ready to play than I thought he would." McBride sees a little of former Ute Brian Rowley in Scalley. "The same toughness and competitive spirit," he said.
E-MAIL: lham@desnews.com