Utah is known for their family atmosphere but cornerbacks coach Sharrieff Shah has taken it to a whole other level. When you talk to him about his players his face lights up like one proud papa.

Those aren't just players he sends out onto the field, those are his kids- his sons and the pride he takes when they learn something new and grow from something he's taught them, or one of the other coaches has taught them is something to behold. After unexpectedly being out two players this year (Dominique Hatfield has found himself in some legal trouble that is still pending and Eric Rowe graduated and moved on to the NFL) Shah couldn't be happier with how his group has stepped up and seized the opportunities available to them.

"Getting better; saw some improvement- it's subtle and not always as much as you'd like to see every day but we're taking baby steps and getting good improvement from everybody in the room," Shah said of his talented but mostly inexperienced group. "It's nice. This is the first time in a number of years you have good competition between everybody. Nobody is an automatic anything- automatic number one or number two- first string, second string. It's good for me and a good problem for us to have. People are learning and sometimes making mistakes but getting better from both of them."

One guy who is still very green to the cornerbacks group but has high potential to be a standout is Cory Butler who Shah says he knew was special when he recruited him. "He's lightening quick although he has made mistakes in his alignment and his assignment just because he has never done this before. He makes up for it with his tremendous lateral change of motion and direction," Shah said of the multi-position player. "He's unbelievable. I love that he has good hands. You want a ball player that can not only make plays but finish plays and he's a finisher."

While Justin Thomas spends most of his time in safety coach Morgan Scalley's room Shah has a special place in his heart for Utah's nickel back. "He's truly an inside corner and he'll work on some things with me," Shah said. "Justin is such a firecracker. We call him 'Little Big Man' because he plays like a big man. He's so tough and he's gotten so comfortable in the defense. I love every single thing Justin brings to the program. He's a silent leader but he just makes play after play after play."

The "Little Big Man" has grown his leadership capabilities by taking Utah's future under his wings coaching up Jordan Fogal and Boobie Hobbs. Much like linebacker Jared Norris last year the public and media talk about Thomas' playmaking capabilities but have yet to fully acknowledge what he does on the field every game. Shah thinks that's about to change though. "I think everyone in our conference appreciates what he brings in terms of his contribution as an inside nickel," he said. "It's the hardest position to play. You have to be lightening quick, lining up against over-sized players and be a good tackler."

As for Reggie Porter and Brian Allen Shah couldn't be more pleased with how they have picked up where Rowe and Hatfield left off in terms of work ethic, energy and leadership. "Outstanding. Really, really good despite the many things they have to continue to do to improve," Shah said. "I love that they are getting better in the defense and I love that they are teaching more and showing the young kids more subtleties, intricacies and nuances of the defense. Brian is making plays in terms of run recognition- you can't just be a pass guy in our defense. You have to be a good run stopper. Reggie made a play- he missed a tackle but had the tenacity and aggressive nature- his reactionary skills- I love that and he didn't have that last year."

Coming from a tough world in Los Angeles and working his way to success not only on the football field, but also as an attorney Shah has high expectations for his group. His feelings are if he can do it they certainly can and probably better too. One of the most recognizable voices out on the Utah practice field Shah may sound overly harsh at times, but at the end of the day it's nothing but love for his boys.

"If we have a high aspiration we're looking for and if we should fall short of that then you know what? We're pretty good as a group," Shah said. "I'm proud of them. It's hard. This is such a hard grind. People do not appreciate what these boys go through. This is unbelievably difficult but I expect and hope they continue on the upward trend that they are showing right now."