🏈 I realize that I am probably going to anger my share of Utes

[UtahKSIG]

rammerjammer,

I am pleased to see some Tide fans on this board who are able to see a matchup with out the crimson colored glasses completely blurring their vision. This is going to be a very tough match up for the Utes and personally I can't wait to see how we match up with the big boys from the SEC. I am pulling for the Utes and wouldn't be surprised if they pull out a close game somewhere in the 31-28 range. OTOH I also wouldn't be shocked if we got beat going away in the 4th Q.
For what it's worth if we can slow Coffee and J. Jones and limit the big plays to 3-4 we have a chance at making a real statement for the quality that has been Utah football the past 5 years
Go Utes!

 

[capooth]

Re: I realize that I am probably going to anger my share of

rammerjammer,

I am pleased to see some Tide fans on this board who are able to see a matchup with out the crimson colored glasses completely blurring their vision. This is going to be a very tough match up for the Utes and personally I can't wait to see how we match up with the big boys from the SEC. I am pulling for the Utes and wouldn't be surprised if they pull out a close game somewhere in the 31-28 range. OTOH I also wouldn't be shocked if we got beat going away in the 4th Q.
For what it's worth if we can slow Coffee and J. Jones and limit the big plays to 3-4 we have a chance at making a real statement for the quality that has been Utah football the past 5 years
Go Utes!

I don't think its slowing down coffee that is a key for you all, but rather your D-line being able to hold it's own against our O-line. From what I understand you all have an undersized D-line but they are very quick.

 

[Guest]

Re: I realize that I am probably going to anger my share of

rammerjammer,

I am pleased to see some Tide fans on this board who are able to see a matchup with out the crimson colored glasses completely blurring their vision. This is going to be a very tough match up for the Utes and personally I can't wait to see how we match up with the big boys from the SEC. I am pulling for the Utes and wouldn't be surprised if they pull out a close game somewhere in the 31-28 range. OTOH I also wouldn't be shocked if we got beat going away in the 4th Q.
For what it's worth if we can slow Coffee and J. Jones and limit the big plays to 3-4 we have a chance at making a real statement for the quality that has been Utah football the past 5 years
Go Utes!

I'll say this. The last time I remember Big_Fan being this confident was the Arkansas game...and he ended up picking the score right on the money. Just because someone doesn't pick the outcome you want or see...or doesn't sugar-coat anything...doesn't mean they're delusional.

With that said, I'm looking forward to a good game between two good teams.

 

[UtahKSIG]

Capooth,

That is true, out D-Line is undersized compared to your O-Line. The D-Line will have to use their speed as an advantage and avoid getting tangled up in straight up blocks using LB's and D secondary to stop the run.

 

[capooth]

Re: I realize that I am probably going to anger my share of

Capooth,

That is true, out D-Line is undersized compared to your O-Line. The D-Line will have to use their speed as an advantage and avoid getting tangled up in straight up blocks using LB's and D secondary to stop the run.

Also from what I have read on another thread is that you all use a lot of last second movement on the D-line. I am looking forward to a fun matchup between a power O-line and a quick speedy (+ confusion) D-line.

I also look forward to what the staff on this site have to say about this game. They are excellent in breaking down a game and I think you have seen some evidence of this on other threads.

 

[capooth]

Re: I realize that I am probably going to anger my share of

rammerjammer,

I am pleased to see some Tide fans on this board who are able to see a matchup with out the crimson colored glasses completely blurring their vision. This is going to be a very tough match up for the Utes and personally I can't wait to see how we match up with the big boys from the SEC. I am pulling for the Utes and wouldn't be surprised if they pull out a close game somewhere in the 31-28 range. OTOH I also wouldn't be shocked if we got beat going away in the 4th Q.
For what it's worth if we can slow Coffee and J. Jones and limit the big plays to 3-4 we have a chance at making a real statement for the quality that has been Utah football the past 5 years
Go Utes!

I'll say this. The last time I remember Big_Fan being this confident was the Arkansas game...and he ended up picking the score right on the money. Just because someone doesn't pick the outcome you want or see...or doesn't sugar-coat anything...doesn't mean they're delusional.

With that said, I'm looking forward to a good game between two good teams.

I do not think his intentions were to call us delusional but rather that most fans do have a tendency to be biased in favor of their team.

 

[UtahKSIG]

It will be three 1/2 long weeks of break downs and predictions until kickoff. The staff does do a great job on here with analysis. You Alabamans definitely know football.

 

[Volmania]

I know a lot of other team we have played want to see us fail.

Actually, I'm cheering for Alabama and the other SEC teams in their bowls this season, except for recruiting, football season is pretty much done for us. :cry:

I just think a close game is more likely then a blowout even though Bama has a lot more talent.

 

[TerryP]

I know a lot of other team we have played want to see us fail.

Actually, I'm cheering for Alabama and the other SEC teams in their bowls this season, except for recruiting, football season is pretty much done for us. :cry:

I just think a close game is more likely then a blowout even though Bama has a lot more talent.

:lol:

Football season is NEVER over!!! We are 3/4's of the way through recruiting season, in Jan we'll be in the midst of the 4th quarter program along with the last 1/4th of the recruiting class...then it'll be be spring camp season...summer camps and summer drills...geez man, this is a 365 day event!!!! :twisted:

 

[Guest]

I can honestly say I wasn't aware of such a strong fan base Utah has, I'm glad a lot of you found RTB. I don't want to sound like a homer, but I can't see this one being close. I however expect Utah showing a lot of heart in this one but won't be able to physically stop Alabama.

 

[RollllTide!]

My nephew from Georgia said it best when he lined up against Cody. "Thats the fastest Big guy I have ever seen". My nephew is 330lbs.

Cody will squash the Utes.

 

[Guest]

Without going into lengthy breakdowns (I will save that for the Trickle Down Bowl Prediction), this is what I see in a nutshell when I look at Utah.

On offense, I see a simpler version of Florida's spread - minus the incredible talent and overwhelming speed...and Tebow. Given that we just played Florida in our previous game, and we practiced and prepared for Florida, I do not see Utah being scary on offense. Whittingham was hired as HC to retain Urban Meyer's spread system. He did just that. Utah does not have more than one or two players on offense who would make the rotation on Florida's offense. If Florida had a mortal QB instead of Tebow, we would have shut them down. People can say what they want about Tebow's NFL QB future, but he made some throws in the SECCG that were absolutely perfect (in a shoe box where nobody but his receivers could get to it), and his receivers did not drop balls. Tebow is a 240# QB who runs in the mid 4's and he saved drives with his legs. Utah does not have that.

On defense, Utah is Arkansas part deux. They are a fast but undersized defensive front, with some decent corners and a safety who could not cover any receiver on our team in a one on one situation. Arkansas gave up a lot of points and Utah didn't, but Arkansas did not have the luxury of playing against D2 level offenses for 10 out of 12 games, and Utah will have a new DC on the sidelines. Their secondary is decent, but not spectacular. They rank 40th in pass defense, in spite of playing some incredibly weak offenses. Oregon State was probably the best passing offense they played this year, and OSU threw for over 300 yards. We didn't give up that many yards to Matthew Stafford on 42 attempts.

I really hope that Utah puts 8 or 9 in the box. JPW will pick them apart...and honestly, I think we can run on them even with 8 in the box, and passes to the TE and RB's out of the backfield will kill them.

Games are made with match-ups. Some teams match up well with others...case in point was Ole Miss against us or Florida. Others are poor match ups - see Arkansas against us. Tennessee is still trying to cover DJ Hall from 2007.

I just don't see where Utah matches up against us. That is not to say that there are not BCS teams that they could beat, I think there are...I just don't see us being one of them.

 

[RollllTide!]

I'm thinking that many fans on this site lost some credibility after picking Bama to beat Florida.

Fans losing credibility for picking a college game? WTH.....

I can keep my credibility. I guess you picked Floorda over BAMA. Does that make you feel better being right or wouldn't you rather pick BAMA everytime. Look at your header in internet exployer. My says RollTideBama.com I will always pick BAMA because it is the most credible thing to do here. I didn't have my lucky BAMA socks on at the game and so it is my fault they lost. (Incredible)

 

[Red_Tsunami]

Their DL is small and not particularly strong. Their success against the run has come against teams who run to the boundary, and their speed has taken away the corners. BYU popped them for over 200 rushing. Wyoming was 20 yards away from the 200 mark. TCU and New Mexico shut down their offense.

They also held the 5th rank rushing offense in Air Force to 97 yards. The Force doesn't run to the boundary alot and they average 268 yards per game. Air Force racked up almost 200 yards against the #1 rush defense in the country. The Utes also held Oregon State to 118 yards rushing, the same team that racked up over 200 yards rushing against USC who has the #1 D in the country. The Beavers don't run to the boundary either, they hang their hat on the inside zone. We don't need to take the Utes lightly. They are undefeated for a reason. They may be undersized but they tackle really well. I think it will be close for a while but the undersized D-line Big_Fan mentioned will eventually get worn down by our big boys up front.

 

[U-Ute]

Without going into lengthy breakdowns (I will save that for the Trickle Down Bowl Prediction), this is what I see in a nutshell when I look at Utah.

On offense, I see a simpler version of Florida's spread - minus the incredible talent and overwhelming speed...and Tebow. Given that we just played Florida in our previous game, and we practiced and prepared for Florida, I do not see Utah being scary on offense.

Fair enough.

Whittingham was hired as HC to retain Urban Meyer's spread system. He did just that. Utah does not have more than one or two players on offense who would make the rotation on Florida's offense.

Careful there. That almost sounds totally subjective and random. Care to have any numbers to back that up?

If Florida had a mortal QB instead of Tebow, we would have shut them down. People can say what they want about Tebow's NFL QB future, but he made some throws in the SECCG that were absolutely perfect (in a shoe box where nobody but his receivers could get to it), and his receivers did not drop balls. Tebow is a 240# QB who runs in the mid 4's and he saved drives with his legs. Utah does not have that.

Yes. Nice observation: We do not have Tebow.

But the rest of this is uneducated drivel...

On defense, Utah is Arkansas part deux. They are a fast but undersized defensive front

Maybe you should check the sizes of the New Mexico and BYU offensive lines. They are a pair of the largest offensive lines in the country. BYU ran for over 200 yards because we dropped both our safeties daring them to beat us running the football. Their RB's are big, but out of shape and not durable. New Mexico has one of the top rushing attacks in the nation, and we held them to half their average. Air Force has *the* top rushing attack in the nation, and we held them to 100 yards.

with some decent corners and a safety who could not cover any receiver on our team in a one on one situation.

Care to cite yours sources other than some hyperbolic message board? I'm sure you would've said the same thing about Eric Weddle 2 years ago. I wonder what ever happened to him...

Arkansas gave up a lot of points and Utah didn't, but Arkansas did not have the luxury of playing against D2 level offenses for 10 out of 12 games

LOL. After Florida at #2, the next offense in the SEC is Georgia, ranked a glorious #29 in the nation in PPG. BYU and TCU are ranked #19 and #20 respectively.

and Utah will have a new DC on the sidelines.

And our old.

Their secondary is decent, but not spectacular. They rank 40th in pass defense, in spite of playing some incredibly weak offenses.
Oregon State was probably the best passing offense they played this year, and OSU threw for over 300 yards. We didn't give up that many yards to Matthew Stafford on 42 attempts.

40th? Where do you get your numbers from? Utah is #18. http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/stats/byteam?cat1=defense&cat2=Total&conference=I-A_all&year=2008&sort=1124"

I really hope that Utah puts 8 or 9 in the box. JPW will pick them apart...and honestly, I think we can run on them even with 8 in the box, and passes to the TE and RB's out of the backfield will kill them.

You will get your wish because Utah plays a man press defense to get that 8th guy in the box. Your SEC centric notion that your SEC superior athletes will run all over the Utes is intriguing. I just hope your team feels the same way.

Games are made with match-ups. Some teams match up well with others...case in point was Ole Miss against us or Florida. Others are poor match ups - see Arkansas against us. Tennessee is still trying to cover DJ Hall from 2007.

I just don't see where Utah matches up against us. That is not to say that there are not BCS teams that they could beat, I think there are...I just don't see us being one of them.

Yes, games are won and lost with match ups. That we can agree on. Still, your arrogance that your players are just so much better because of the conference they play in is naive at best. Still, we are used to it. We get it every year.

Oh, and Utah has won each of the last 7 years we have heard it too.

Go Utes!

U-Ute

 

[U-Ute]

I think it will be close for a while but the undersized D-line Big_Fan mentioned will eventually get worn down by our big boys up front.

This what I'm most worried about. Our DLine position has been pretty thin all year due to injuries and such. We've been able to make due, but I'm worried how they will hold up in the 4th quarter against you guys.

U-Ute

 

[Guest]

Without going into lengthy breakdowns (I will save that for the Trickle Down Bowl Prediction), this is what I see in a nutshell when I look at Utah.

On offense, I see a simpler version of Florida's spread - minus the incredible talent and overwhelming speed...and Tebow. Given that we just played Florida in our previous game, and we practiced and prepared for Florida, I do not see Utah being scary on offense.

Fair enough.
(snip)
U-Ute

Drivel? So Utah has a 240# QB that runs a 4.5/40 and won the Heisman? Better alert the NFL scouts because Brian Johnson is projected as an undrafted free agent. By comparison, John Parker Wilson is projecting 4th round.

Your DL may well have handled larger OL before, but has NEVER faced an OL with 5 future NFL players and two first team All-Americans. They don't hand those things out to just anyone. I don't doubt a blown assignment or two resulting in a TFL, but that will happen a lot less than Coffee off left Tackle for 10+.

USAF is a one dimension option team, and your speed beat them to the boundary. We will punish you up the middle. Big difference.

I have compared your entire three deep to Florida's three deep, and I cannot find more than three possible situations where a Utah player would make the rotation. Florida is absolutely loaded with future NFL players. Utah's recruiting classes average in the mid 60's nationally and . Your system works well against defenses who have not seen it...we have seen it.

Utah's passing defense is RANKED 40th. Reading comprehension is a good thing...I said "PASSING DEFENSE," not TOTAL DEFENSE.

Utah will bring in a defense that is statistically the 5th best defense we have faced...and that was formed against bad offenses. Two defenses ranked above Utah found themselves in 20+ point holes at half-time. One other got worn out in the second half. Florida is the other - and we moved the ball pretty well on them, we just got Tebowed in the fourth. Comparing Utah's defense to those we have played - regardless of stats, I would say that they are probably the 8th or 9th best defense we have played.

I suspect that we will end up with close to 500 yards of offense (250/250). Utah will have 250ish...175/75.

Utah does not have a single player projected to be a top 100 draft pick. The best players on the team are Sean Smith and Sakoda, and Smith does rate as a player who should enter the draft this year. You have an offensive guard that is decent, but will probably be an unsigned free agent.

Darrell Mack is rated the 25th best RB coming out - we have played 5 rated higher (and shut them all down).

I don't see the talent level being what it would have to be in order to keep this game competitive for 4 quarters. I don't think you will have success sustaining drives, and I think our offense will grind your defense into dog-food.

 

[RollllTide!]

Without going into lengthy breakdowns (I will save that for the Trickle Down Bowl Prediction), this is what I see in a nutshell when I look at Utah.

On offense, I see a simpler version of Florida's spread - minus the incredible talent and overwhelming speed...and Tebow. Given that we just played Florida in our previous game, and we practiced and prepared for Florida, I do not see Utah being scary on offense.

Fair enough.
(snip)
U-Ute

Drivel? So Utah has a 240# QB that runs a 4.5/40 and won the Heisman? Better alert the NFL scouts because Brian Johnson is projected as an undrafted free agent. By comparison, John Parker Wilson is projecting 4th round.

Your DL may well have handled larger OL before, but has NEVER faced an OL with 5 future NFL players and two first team All-Americans. They don't hand those things out to just anyone. I don't doubt a blown assignment or two resulting in a TFL, but that will happen a lot less than Coffee off left Tackle for 10+.

USAF is a one dimension option team, and your speed beat them to the boundary. We will punish you up the middle. Big difference.

I have compared your entire three deep to Florida's three deep, and I cannot find more than three possible situations where a Utah player would make the rotation. Florida is absolutely loaded with future NFL players. Utah's recruiting classes average in the mid 60's nationally and . Your system works well against defenses who have not seen it...we have seen it.

Utah's passing defense is RANKED 40th. Reading comprehension is a good thing...I said "PASSING DEFENSE," not TOTAL DEFENSE.

Utah will bring in a defense that is statistically the 5th best defense we have faced...and that was formed against bad offenses. Two defenses ranked above Utah found themselves in 20+ point holes at half-time. One other got worn out in the second half. Florida is the other - and we moved the ball pretty well on them, we just got Tebowed in the fourth. Comparing Utah's defense to those we have played - regardless of stats, I would say that they are probably the 8th or 9th best defense we have played.

I suspect that we will end up with close to 500 yards of offense (250/250). Utah will have 250ish...175/75.

Utah does not have a single player projected to be a top 100 draft pick. The best players on the team are Sean Smith and Sakoda, and Smith does rate as a player who should enter the draft this year. You have an offensive guard that is decent, but will probably be an unsigned free agent.

Darrell Mack is rated the 25th best RB coming out - we have played 5 rated higher (and shut them all down).

I don't see the talent level being what it would have to be in order to keep this game competitive for 4 quarters. I don't think you will have success sustaining drives, and I think our offense will grind your defense into dog-food.

Wow!!! Big Fan You are making me want to go home and cook some hot dogs and drink a few beers with my BAMA friends. Maybe we will watch a game cd. One of the best post ever. (che)

 

[utefan]

Personally I think....

That Big_Fan's glasses are a little too colored. I think he may be over-rating the Crimson Tide a bit and under-rating the Utes a little bit.

Then again, that's why the players play the game, and we fans watch it. As is said, "On any given Saturday" or in this case Friday.

It's much harder to compare things when you are speculating on the talent level of the competition without the luxury of seeing them play the same opponent, or each other.

I hope the coaches and players are thinking the same way as Big_Fan, as then I can guarantee you that they will be in for a surprise.

That being said, I cannot imagine that Saban will be even come remotely close to allowing your team to fall into that trap.

GO UTES!!!!

 

[TerryP]

Re: Personally I think....

That Big_Fan's glasses are a little too colored. I think he may be over-rating the Crimson Tide a bit and under-rating the Utes a little bit.

The again, that's why the players play the game, and we fans watch it. As is said, "On any given Saturday" or in this case Friday.

It's much harder to compare things when you are speculating on the talent level of the competition without the luxury of seeing them play the same opponent, or each other.

I hope the coaches and players are thinking the same way as Big_Fan, as then I can guarantee you that they will be in for a surprise.

That being said, I cannot imagine that Saban will be even come remotely close to allowing your team to fall into that trap.

GO UTES!!!!

In terms of comparing talent and classes, he's pretty spot on with what he puts out there.

What I fear in this case is he's going to run out of breath about 2 weeks before the game is played...but, it's a SMALL fear.

His looks at teams are based more on a statistical breakdown...mine tend to be a different approach.

Search: RollTideBamaBlog
Look for :Trickle down economics articles...

You'll get a good feel for how he approaches the games.

If you want to look over what we put out there you'll find a lot of stuff linked by searching that username.

www.rolltidebama.com/blog is where we'll have all of it posted.