Dan Lanning provides expectations for environment at Utah

This weekend, the Oregon Ducks are going to travel to Salt Lake City where they will take on the Utah Utes. That’s a game that Oregon head coach Dan Lanning expects to have an excellent environment.

Ahead of that game, Lanning shared that because of the job both teams have done this season, he’s preparing for a loud environment in Salt Lake City.

“I think it’ll be a great environment,” Dan Lanning said. “You know, I know that they get loud there. I know that they love their team. So, it should be a lot of fun for us. I think that speaks you know, obviously, to the job that Utah has done this year and the job that we’ve done this year to put ourselves in that position to have GameDay there.”

This will be Dan Lanning’s first time coaching on the road against Utah since getting to Oregon. However, the Ducks did play the Utes last season in Eugene, winning a close game 20-17. It’s expected to be a great game, with ESPN’s College GameDay in town for the key Pac-12 game.

Utah has had a phenomenal season to this point, despite dealing with several major injuries. That ability to handle injuries is something that Dan Lanning is incredibly impressed with.

“The amount of injuries that they’ve dealt with, and for him to be able to utilize defensive personnel on offense and shuffle positions and utilize offensive linemen at tight end and I think it’s just really impressive,” Lanning said.

“You know, everyone’s always known that he’s a great coach, but the way that he’s been able and his staff has been able to utilize the people they have, you know, I know the beginning the year he spoke about the depth of his team, it’s starting to really show up. He has good depth, but they’re utilizing people in different ways than they anticipated when the year started and he’s done a great job coaching that group.”

Dan Lanning shares impressions of Utah QB Bryson Barnes

Ahead of the game, Dan Lanning praised Utah quarterback Bryson Barnes.

“I think he’s getting more and more comfortable each week, which you appreciate as a football guy watching him play. The guy plays tough. I mean he’s fighting for hard yards there at the end of the game -[vs. USC] to put their team in position to win. He took some big hits, got up, and kept playing. He’s impressive,” Lanning said.

“Like I said, he’s dangerous as a runner. He has done a good job of passing the ball, he has gotten more efficient each week. They do a great job putting him in position and using his talents.”