Utah Utes football: Cornerbacks working hard, getting better every game

R.J. Stanford and Brandon Burton are settling into their roles as Utah's starting cornerbacks. They're closing the void left by the NFL departures of Sean Smith and Brice McCain.

After four games, the Utes lead the Mountain West Conference in pass-efficiency defense (93.8 rating) and pass defense (159.8 yards per game).

"That feels great," Burton said. "Now we're just working to be the best pass defense in the country."

The cornerbacks, though, aren't enjoying complete satisfaction. Both acknowledge there's continual room for improvement.

"We're never complacent," Burton explained. "We just work harder and harder every day to get better."

Added Stanford: "Obviously, we're not satisfied. We've got to keep working."

Stanford, a senior, leads the Utes with four pass breakups. He has 13 tackles and is tied for third in the MWC in passes defended.

Burton, a sophomore, has also made 13 stops — along with three pass breakups, two tackles-for-loss and a sack.

"They're progressing in a lot of ways. We've still got to do a better job of finding the ball on the fade route. That is something that is not a strength of ours right now," said Utah coach Kyle Whittingham. "We're doing some good things in pass coverage. But you're never satisfied. You've always got things to work on."

Stanford and Burton, who have both been in the program for a couple of years, are making progress.

"I don't think anybody's ever where you want them to be. You're always looking for perfection," Whittingham said. "But I'd say four games into it — relative to where they started — I think they've done a nice job."

Linebacker Mike Wright agrees.

"They've had plays where they've gotten beat a couple of times, but there's other times where they've stepped up. They're doing a real good job," Wright said. "They're getting better every game. They're getting better every day in practice. As a defense, we've just got to push those guys to keep getting better and as they push us, get better."

Defensive coordinator Kalani Sitake said the entire defense can improve. The potential, he continued, is there to improve on their current rankings.