Press Conference: Elko & Co. host Utah State in Week 2 matchup

The following are live, paraphrased notes from the Monday afternoon media availability:

Mike Elko

• They say talking season is over, and I keep winding up at this podium.
   
• Wrapping up the first one, it played out like a lot of openers play out. There are some areas we need to clean up. Offensively, consistency of execution, but we stalled out. Defensively, good job in pass defense. Second half, we put our foot down. Rushing yards given up were way too many.
   
• Scout team POTW were Layne Gerke, Eli Morcos and Luke Braden. Trey Zuhn III was OL POTW. Tyler Onyedim was out DL POTW. Mario Craver was the offensive POTW. Defensive POTW was Taurean York. Special teams POTW was KC Concepcion.
   
• We move on to Utah State. Aggies vs. Aggies. We keep setting them up. They are led by quarterback Bryson Barnes. He had a big week last week. He is a dual threat and a capable threat. They have two transfer running backs. They have a talented tight end, as well.
   
• Dalton Brooks will be back this week.
   
• I thought Marcel Reed did a nice job. I thought he was comfortable and poised. He delivered confident balls in the middle, on time.
   
• I told the guys we have to realize those four or five plays we give up are it. Those couple of plays are what separates being elite, average or bad.
   
• Tiger Riden is back now. He got in a car crash this summer. He was cleared fully today. Jordan Shaw is dealing with a little bit of a lower-body injury. He is day-to-day, game-to-game.
   
• Everyone who played this weekend, they are all fine.
   
• Brooks is a talented player. He is a good run-and-hit safety. We are excited to get him back and get him in the fold.
   
• I think we are at our best when we have a rotation and depth. That allows us to play fresh, play our hardest. The level can’t drop.
   
• Special teams is about getting your best players to buy into how important it is. You have veteran players playing hard in roles that aren't the limelight. For example, EJ Smith blocked three people on Concepcion’s punt return touchdown. He understands how important it is and put together one of the best effort plays I have seen in my coaching career.
   
• York started playing faster midway through last year. He was patient. I thought it clicked. He is a kid who flourishes when he is comfortable.
   
• I thought Will Lee III and Dezz Ricks played well. Great to get Tyreek Chappell back out there. Julio Humprey and Bravion Rogers got out there as well. It looks like we had a much better pulse, coverage-wise.
   
• York and Marcus Ratcliffe, you see a joy come out of those guys. We discussed regaining that joy in the older guys. They play hard, and it becomes infectious for the defense.
   
• We are excited about Nate Boerkircher, Theo Melin-Öhrström and Amari Niblack bringing to that group.
   
• I didn’t even realize we did anything about the LED lights. They tried to get me in meetings about them. I said, “I don’t care.” Just get them back on so we can put the ball down and play.