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

[redandwhite10]

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

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.

BYU's four seniors will all play on Sunday next year. One of my closest friends is their starting LT and I happen to know the level of interest the NFL scouts have in that line. Good lines do exist outside the SEC. Utah's defense also plays against our Oline each day in practice and our Oline has similar size to yours.

 

[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

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.

BYU's four seniors will all play on Sunday next year. One of my closest friends is their starting LT and I happen to know the level of interest the NFL scouts have in that line. Good lines do exist outside the SEC. Utah's defense also plays against our Oline each day in practice and our Oline has similar size to yours.

BYU has 3 guards projecting to be drafted. One is a fourth rounder, one is a fifth rounder, and one a seventh. Alabama's Andre Smith may be the #1 overall pick, and center Antoine Caldwell should go in round 1.
...and you might want to consider that BYU had 419 yards and over 200 yards rushing against you...and had 6 turnovers with five interceptions. Whatever else we do, I can guarantee you we will not turn the ball over 6 times.

If BYU's offensive line is your defense that you have played against good offensive lines, you might want to go ahead and pack it in. Their line is not as good, and they ran all over you.

 

[utefan]

Stats are stats!

If games were played by stats, why play. The only one that counts is the one at the end of the game called the scoreboard.

 

[Guest]

Re: Stats are stats!

If games were played by stats, why play. The only one that counts is the one at the end of the game called the scoreboard.

No doubt, and it will be just as disproportionate as the rest of them when we finish the game.

Seriously, this is a bad match-up for the Utes. Texas or Georgia or some other spreadish team would have been better for you. Bama's variety of smash mouth football is not what your defense is geared to stop.

This game is going to be the proverbial mosquito verses the windshield.

 

[utefan]

I have to respectfully disagree

As a Ute fan, we are very used to being on the losing end of these types of comparisons. How a team game plans for other teams is very important. Utah plans to give up portions of the game that they feel won't kill them. Thereby focusing on what would kill them.

I would expect our Coach to plan against the run and force your QB to beat us through the air. If you can run against us for 80 yard drives, you will beat us, if we keep you between the 20's, I believe we will win.

 

[TerryP]

Re: I have to respectfully disagree

As a Ute fan, we are very used to being on the losing end of these types of comparisons. How a team game plans for other teams is very important. Utah plans to give up portions of the game that they feel won't kill them. Thereby focusing on what would kill them.

I would expect our Coach to plan against the run and force your QB to beat us through the air. If you can run against us for 80 yard drives, you will beat us, if we keep you between the 20's, I believe we will win.

I'd agree with that on this certain point...we score when we get in the red zone @ 80% of the time...problem is, 20% of that is FG's.

On the other end, you'll need to score outside of the red zone...figure you'll fail to get a TD 1 out of every 2 times.

 

[utefan]

I would agree with that assessment

If we can keep you out of the red zone, our chances go up considerably. Can we do that? That is the 17 million dollar question.

 

[TerryP]

Re: I would agree with that assessment

If we can keep you out of the red zone, our chances go up considerably. Can we do that? That is the 17 million dollar question.

That, I don't think you can.

Just as an example, and you'll have to bear with me on this one for a minute...

When a team finds itself in a goal line situation, on defense, they are going to put the guys in their that can move the line...who have that lower body strength and have that ability.

When we go into our defensive, goal line groupings one of the guys we use in that group is one of our tight ends. McCall, who isn't the strongest on the team when it comes to pushing guys off the line...but he's a good one.

All five of the OL beat him hands down.

My point comes to this...

It's going to take some stunting to put pressure on our QB in passing situations. That stunting isn't going to have an effect on the rushing downs.

If I were a part of your coaching staff, I'd be working on run-blitz situations. More importantly, how to disguise them.

 

[utefan]

I would agree.

Our focus will be on the run. Run Blitzes etc...

 

[TerryP]

Re: I would agree.

Our focus will be on the run. Run Blitzes etc...

Here's one for you to chew on...

Over/under on our TE's getting 50 yards in receptions.

 

[utefan]

In my opinion

your TE's will be the deciding factor in the game. If they get a number of yards, it will keep our defense off balance and you will be able to run and pass. I really don't look for your WR's to do much that will hurt us (they may gain yards, but not long TD's), but good TE's can be extremely dangerous.

 

[reger60]

Re: In my opinion

your TE's will be the deciding factor in the game. If they get a number of yards, it will keep our defense off balance and you will be able to run and pass. I really don't look for your WR's to do much that will hurt us (they may gain yards, but not long TD's), but good TE's can be extremely dangerous.

If that's indeed the case, you have cause for concern. Our Tight Ends have been very productive all season.

 

[Guest]

Re: In my opinion

your TE's will be the deciding factor in the game. If they get a number of yards, it will keep our defense off balance and you will be able to run and pass. I really don't look for your WR's to do much that will hurt us (they may gain yards, but not long TD's), but good TE's can be extremely dangerous.

One of many deciding factors. The #2 receiver on our team is a tight end.

Like I have been saying, this is not a good match up for Utah. The Utes are a good team, and would give a lot of BCS big dogs a hard time...but we are not one of them.

 

[dirtroadlizzard]

The deciding factor in the Sugar Bowl will be our defense . Utah will be lucky to score ! rtr...

 

[Red_Tsunami]

The Utes have us beat considerably in every statistical category on special teams except for punt returns. Javier needs to have a great game.

 

[SkinyUte]

...and you might want to consider that BYU had 419 yards and over 200 yards rushing against you...and had 6 turnovers with five interceptions. Whatever else we do, I can guarantee you we will not turn the ball over 6 times.

If BYU's offensive line is your defense that you have played against good offensive lines, you might want to go ahead and pack it in. Their line is not as good, and they ran all over you.

Those BYU stats are very misleading. The defensive gameplan that day was geared entirely towards shutting down their potent passing attack (they have the #1 yardage receiver in the country, after all), so obviously the run defense was going to suffer as a result.

Why BYU chose not to exploit that (and whether or not Utah would have adjusted) is an entirely different discussion.

The Utes have us beat considerably in every statistical category on special teams except for punt returns. Javier needs to have a great game.

Special teams will be a big X-factor in this game. We have the best kicker and punter in the nation, and he simply does not miss from inside 45 yards. He's also ridiculously accurate with his punts, and I doubt Javier - as freakishly good as he is - will get many opportunities for returns.

 

[SoCalPatrick]

Re: In my opinion

your TE's will be the deciding factor in the game. If they get a number of yards, it will keep our defense off balance and you will be able to run and pass. I really don't look for your WR's to do much that will hurt us (they may gain yards, but not long TD's), but good TE's can be extremely dangerous.

One of many deciding factors. The #2 receiver on our team is a tight end.

Like I have been saying, this is not a good match up for Utah. The Utes are a good team, and would give a lot of BCS big dogs a hard time...but we are not one of them.

So which is it? You started this thread by saying SEC dreck like Arkansas could beat Utah, now you're saying Utah is a good team and would give a lot of BCS big dogs a hard time. Which is it?

 

[TerryP]

Special teams will be a big X-factor in this game. We have the best kicker and punter in the nation, and he simply does not miss from inside 45 yards. He's also ridiculously accurate with his punts, and I doubt Javier - as freakishly good as he is - will get many opportunities for returns.

51 punts, 9 returns, 9 touchbacks.

Yeah, one might call that a little strong. :wink:

If we look at kick-offs and those stats, leads one to say we'll be able to get some good field position a time or two in the game.

 

[Guest]

Re: In my opinion

your TE's will be the deciding factor in the game. If they get a number of yards, it will keep our defense off balance and you will be able to run and pass. I really don't look for your WR's to do much that will hurt us (they may gain yards, but not long TD's), but good TE's can be extremely dangerous.

One of many deciding factors. The #2 receiver on our team is a tight end.

Like I have been saying, this is not a good match up for Utah. The Utes are a good team, and would give a lot of BCS big dogs a hard time...but we are not one of them.

So which is it? You started this thread by saying SEC dreck like Arkansas could beat Utah, now you're saying Utah is a good team and would give a lot of BCS big dogs a hard time. Which is it?

The two are not mutually exclusive.

Its about matchups. Arkansas would give some BCS teams a difficult time. They did beat LSU. I think they would out-Utah, Utah.

We will just pound them senseless.

 

[Guest]

...and you might want to consider that BYU had 419 yards and over 200 yards rushing against you...and had 6 turnovers with five interceptions. Whatever else we do, I can guarantee you we will not turn the ball over 6 times.

If BYU's offensive line is your defense that you have played against good offensive lines, you might want to go ahead and pack it in. Their line is not as good, and they ran all over you.

Those BYU stats are very misleading. The defensive gameplan that day was geared entirely towards shutting down their potent passing attack (they have the #1 yardage receiver in the country, after all), so obviously the run defense was going to suffer as a result.

Why BYU chose not to exploit that (and whether or not Utah would have adjusted) is an entirely different discussion.

So we should expect John Parker Wilson to throw for 400 yards...he did hit Tennessee for 360 last year.

Gotcha.