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Utah defensive ends coach Inoke Breckterfield is in his first year leading the Utes edge rushers. The defense has been dominant through three games, and his defensive ends are a big reason why. Breckterfield spoke with the media about what he's seeing from his position group as they head into September. Question: How would you assess your group's play through a couple of games so far into the season? Inoke: Solid start. There are a lot of things we need to improve. I like our run defense. We were affecting the quarterback. Sacks aren't there, but it's not about sacks. It's about affecting the quarterback and playing good defense. Question: Morgan's talked about wanting to create havoc back there with pressures, whatever it may be. How do you judge your team with that, knowing that maybe it doesn't record a stat, Inoke: Yeah, if you go outside the scheme, bad things happen. So it's about doing your best job and owning 20 square feet, doing your job, and big things happen to come to you. You make the play. If it doesn't, someone else will. So do your job. Question: Looking at Lance Holtzclaw specifically, he's led the nation in pressures for a little bit. Just what has impressed you about how he's played so far? Inoke: Man, he's left like three sacks out there. Just do your job and plays will come to you. But he does have that in him to create havoc and be in the quarterback's face. But, as I said, he knows he's that free out there, and he's just got to do his job, and those plays will come to him. Question: Saturday is looking pretty ugly condition-wise, and it's probably going to be a lot of run stuff. How would you assess the physicality of your group in that regard? Inoke: I'm not worried about that. They're ready for the challenge. We see our offensive line every day, and they're a really good offensive line. Collectively, they will work really well together, but our guys know what's coming, and they're ready for it. Question: When you have the mobile quarterback on the other side, what responsibilities does that give your defensive ends and stuff like that? Inoke: Just in the pass rush, it's about lanes and those types of things. You know, plus one run game is always a thing, trying to find the extra half. But guys have done a pretty good job, I'd say, doing that, but they're ready for what's coming. Question: You've started different guys every game we've seen. A lot of times it'll be Lance, and then one game it'll be someone else. Is that something you've done everywhere you've been, or is that just a testament to how deep this room is here at Utah? Inoke: I've done it a few places. When I was at Wisconsin, I rotated guys every day, every game. I told them I'm going to go with who I feel like—not who earned the start —but I view it as each can start. And so I don't feel any way starting this guy over that guy. I think each one has their own unique things to bring to our defense. And I tell them, hey, if people start to separate, then I'll maybe make a decision. But until then, we'll try to keep it rolling. Question: Morgan said this year it's a priority to have gap integrity, but also improve tackling. How do you feel like your group's done in those areas specifically? Inoke: It's a lot to work on, but I think they understand the scheme. They understand what is asked of them. Can we do a better job? Yeah. But I'm proud of what they've done so far. It's a big test this week, so just getting ready for that. Question: Paul Fitzgerald has been a prominent figure in your group so far, and he's returning from injury. How would you assess how he's looked? Inoke: Paul's done a good job. I mean, I would say I'm proud of everybody owning their own 20 square feet and everyone rooting for everybody to have success. They understand a new, fresh guy's there. If you do the math, everyone's got the same amount of reps. We've had that luxury to roll like that, so no one is complaining about not starting. Paul's done a really good job coming back, and I don't flinch once when he's out there, and I don't flinch when anybody's out there. You know, they'll go out there and try their hardest to do their job, and we'll make mistakes, but we'll learn from them.