Utah State coach Gary Andersen to take a more hands-on approach through the final weeks of the season

Utah State head coach Gary Andersen looks on in the first half of a college football game against Air Force Saturday, Oct. 26, 2019, at Air Force Academy, Colo.  | David Zalubowski, Associated Press

Andersen to take a more hands-on approach and involve himself on offense, defense and special teams

LOGAN — There was a time this season when Utah State coach Gary Andersen, in addition to his normal head coaching duties, focused largely on the Aggies’ defensive line, particularly defensive tackles.

Now he plans to expand that focus.

After Utah State’s disappointing 31-7 loss to Air Force over the weekend, Andersen took some time for self-reflection.

“I looked at myself and asked, ‘What can I do to help them be better?’” he said.

The answer was to take a more hands-on approach and involve himself on offense, defense and special teams.

“I am watching more of the offense, defense and special teams as we move into the latter part of the season,” Andersen said. “I’m trying to spend (more time with everybody). I need to make sure that I do more head-coaching things. I have always done that in my career. Sometimes I am more with a position (group) and sometimes I go around more. I feel like it is really important for me to now be in different positions rooms and show a presence.”

That isn’t to say Andersen has all the answers to the Aggies’ recent struggles.

He knows he doesn’t. His hope is to be a help wherever he can, though.

“It is not that I have all the answers,” he said. “I’m not walking into the running back room and saying, ‘Here is what is going to make you good.’ I am watching more of the offense, defense and special teams and I will do everything I can to help them.”

Andersen addressed a number of additional topics during his weekly press conference with the media.

— On what the Aggies’ offense needs to do better:

“We have to execute. We need to look at each other and understand that there are 10 guys on that football field that need to produce in order to allow the 11th guy to be successful. Obviously with that 11th guy I am talking about the quarterback. It is not taking place as a whole. That includes everyone that is out there and every coach. Offensively, we have to functionally have an offense that gives us an opportunity to win games against good defenses. We have to have more offense.”

— On the team’s offensive woes being blamed on quarterback Jordan Love:

“I keep harping on it, because all of it (the blame) tends to go right back to No. 10. That is the biggest cop-out of any cop-out that anyone can have. It is catch the ball. Block. Strain to keep him (Jordan) protected for one more second so the route opens up. Then make a play wide receiver. Run your route right. Break another tackle running back. Do a better job in protection running back. That is the way a competitor reacts when you get backed into a corner and that is where we are on offense. We are backed into a corner. You better fight your way out of it and battle like crazy to get to where you are supposed to be.”

— On the need for improved play along both the offensive and defensive lines:

“We need to be stout in the trenches. We had been every week, except last week. We were out-physicaled on both sides of the line of scrimmage last week, hands down. That is not where we want to live and there are no excuses. We need to do a better job up front.”

— On the coaches responsibilities amid the Aggies’ struggles:

“There is no crutch and there is nowhere to run. We are who we are. It is our job as coaches to work hard to get it to where the kids have an opportunity to compete and be successful. That is the coaches job.”

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Aggies on the air

Utah State (4-3) vs. BYU (3-4)

Maverik Stadium, Logan

Saturday, 8 p.m. MDT

TV: ESPN2

Radio: KZNS 1280 AM

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