SALT LAKE CITY — An unusual problem often requires a unique solution.
And that’s why Utah coaches did something that assistant head coach, and running backs coach Dennis Erickson said has only seen a few times in 47 years of coaching.
“Joe is back,” Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham announced after practice Tuesday, in reference to the return of senior running back Joe Williams, who retired less than a month ago due to ongoing health concerns. “But we’re just kind of taking it day by day; we’re seeing how he feels. And that’s the best I can tell you right now. He is practicing; (he) practiced today. But it’s a day-by-day thing. If it looks good, and if everything goes well, then he’ll play on Saturday.”
Whittingham and Erickson said they approached Williams, who was projected to be the starter for the 2016 season, on Monday.
“I’ve seen it happen,” Erickson said. “But not very often. I’ve seen it happen a couple of times. It’s unusual. We reached out to him, and the reason he came back was to help the team.”
But then, Erickson said, he’s rarely had to deal with the situation Utah now faces as four of the five running backs they’d played to rely on are out with injuries. Sophomore Armand Shyne is out for the season, while junior Troy McCormick and freshman Zack Moss are out indefinitely. Whittingham said Moss is questionable for this week, which left them with redshirt freshman Marcel Manaolo as their only running back.
When asked how Manaolo needed to improve in order to help the Utes, Erickson said, “It’s just to learn how to play to the speed that needs to be played in this league. He’s got a lot of physical talent; he’s getting better all the time.”
Utah does have freshman Devonta’e Henry-Cole, who was going to redshirt this season. Whittingham and Erickson said they’re still considering him as a possibility against Oregon State this weekend.
“There is a possibility that we take him out of redshirt,” Erickson said. “That was the plan before Joe decided to come back, so that’s still the plan right now until we see what kind of shape Joe is in.”
Erickson whose coached for nearly five decades said he had one season that was anything like the situation Utah’s dealing with this fall.
“Actually, my last year at Arizona State was maybe worse than this,” he said. “But this is pretty bad. You’re always going to have injuries; that’s part of the game.”
The issue comes, he said, in having so many injuries within a position group. Which is part of what prompted the coaches to seek Williams’ help.
Whittingham said he consulted with the team’s captains and leadership council before approaching Williams, who wasn’t available for interviews, and may not be for the remainder of the season.
“I checked with the team absolutely,” Whittingham said. “I don’t make a move like that without checking with the leadership council. It was unanimous as far as wanting him back.”
Team captain and offensive lineman Isaac Asiata said the players remain positive despite the setbacks caused by injuries.
He said the players try to support any player who fills in for an injured teammate or who moves from one position to another.
“It has to be all positive or it’s not going to be work,” said Asiata. “Everybody in the country is hurt. Now, it’s not an excuse.”
He’s optimistic that Williams will be able to help the team through the injuries.
“The thing that Joe brings is experience with the ball,” Asiata said, who took some reps at center as the team deals with the loss of JJ Dielman. “And being able to deal with that in-game speed, it’s hard. … I think that’s great that he wanted to do that. He didn’t have to, still doesn’t have to. But I’m grateful he decided to come back and help. We still have some other guys at running back as well, so we’ll be ok.”
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