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Utes 2011 Football Discussion

No comments on the U winning 3 in a row? Or for the second straight week they'll be facing a team (WSU) that just beat ASU, didn't see that one coming for sure.

I know at the beginning of the year most people thought WSU would be improved but not sure if anybody thought they'd be quite as good as they are this year, although it is hard to say if they beat ASU because ASU choked or if the change in QB just caught them off guard or they just played well.
Either way this game has me more excited and worried then I thought it would, going on the road wont be easy that's for sure.

Oh and lastly since I ripped them a lot this season I'd like to give my respects to the O-Line as they've been doing better (much better run blocking) these past 3 games.
 
Nice win, good job Utes.
I also think the snow helped, but they probably would have won anyways.

Good job on D.
 
//r00t 4 Jazz said:
No comments on the U winning 3 in a row? Or for the second straight week they'll be facing a team (WSU) that just beat ASU, didn't see that one coming for sure.

I know at the beginning of the year most people thought WSU would be improved but not sure if anybody thought they'd be quite as good as they are this year, although it is hard to say if they beat ASU because ASU choked or if the change in QB just caught them off guard or they just played well.
Either way this game has me more excited and worried then I thought it would, going on the road wont be easy that's for sure.

Oh and lastly since I ripped them a lot this season I'd like to give my respects to the O-Line as they've been doing better (much better run blocking) these past 3 games.
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Don't know quite how to feel about the Wazzu game yet. On one hand I could see WSU giving Utah fits, on the other hand I don't see any way in hell that Whitt's Defense let's a 3rd string, true freshman QB throw for 500 yards on them like ASU did. I think the QB change did catch ASU off guard. At least Utah is going to have 1 game of film on the kid.

The 3 straight wins have been nice. What I like most about each win is that while they may have come against "lesser" Pac12 teams, each one of those teams seemed to be trending upwards. If they can end the season with 5 straight Pac wins, you gotta like that.
 
Had a chance to watch the ASU-WSU game and the WSU freshman QB was in the zone, he was making accurate throws down the field and showed an impressive arm. But the ASU defense did little to effect him, considering that the freshman goes 6-4 and only 180 lbs we should attack this guy and make him uncomfortable. ASU's D only finished with 1 sack. Our pass D can be a little suspect at time but I know we can do a better job than that. The WSU D stacked the box and ASU had little to no running game to speak of. That said it also felt like ASU abadoned the run far too early in the game.

WSU does have talent although they are still young. The WR Wilson might be the most talented receiver we'll face, he's leading the pac-12 in receiving in spite of all the QB problems they've had...But anyways, I feel like Utah will have to get a great game from Hays in this one and think he is now capable of doing so.
 
jazzman12 said:
...while they may have come against "lesser" Pac12 teams, each one of those teams seemed to be trending upwards.
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I wasn't really concerned about Oregon St., but I was nervous about both the Arizona and UCLA games. Both teams had shown some spark prior to playing Utah. But Hays has improved each week (if only incrementally) and the defense has really stepped up.

I feel better about this game than I would had Utah lost at Arizona. They are confident in themselves. They can beat WSU.

Not to go all Salty, but the Utes are still (mathematically) in the running to win the south division. I don't believe this will actually pan out, but the fact that they aren't already dead in the water after an 0-4 start is encouraging. I don't think we will spend years languishing in the cellar of the PAC12, as predicted by some.
 
Bronco70 said:
I wasn't really concerned about Oregon St., but I was nervous about both the Arizona and UCLA games. Both teams had shown some spark prior to playing Utah. But Hays has improved each week (if only incrementally) and the defense has really stepped up.

I feel better about this game than I would had Utah lost at Arizona. They are confident in themselves. They can beat WSU.

Not to go all Salty, but the Utes are still (mathematically) in the running to win the south division. I don't believe this will actually pan out, but the fact that they aren't already dead in the water after an 0-4 start is encouraging. I don't think we will spend years languishing in the cellar of the PAC12, as predicted by some.
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Yes you will. The last three wins were lucky.
 
I don't think anyone should be surprised by the recent success. Well, except for the haters that will have to pay me, lol.

We shouldn't get all excited about it either. We are just seeing the Utes schedule even out.

We saw them play the toughest teams early on. This showed all the weaknesses early on.

In addition to that, there were several major injuries during that stretch. This not only degraded the talent (significantly in some cases), but it also made it tougher for the team to get in sync. The playbook had to be tweaked, and guys needed practice time with each other.

So now that the team has practiced together and tweaked the playbook, they're starting to look like a team that has some chemistry, with plays that make the best use of what they have.

And since all of that coincides with the schedule getting easier, we're seeing what appears to be a much better team.

Haters laughed when I called the Utes defense top notch. Now it's called the best defense in the PAC 12 by all of the opposing teams' announcers. Haters bet against it when I predicted this would happen, now they're a couple weeks from eating crow (and paying up, lol).

The point is, lets not act like BYU fans here. They're ready to fire the coach and kill the QB. The schedule eases up and now they think BYU is the greatest. Some even claimed BYU would beat Utah if they played again, lol.

Utah is right where everyone thought they would be- best overall record in the PAC 12 South (excluding USC). Remember, Jon Hays became the starting QB shortly before halftime of the Washington game. Utah was winning at the time and I doubt there are too many Ute fans who expected the complete meltdown in the second half.

The next game (Hays first start) was against Arizona State. Utah had the lead with about 3 minutes left in the 3rd quarter. Then the meltdown began. If the Utes had won this game, they'd have the division pretty much locked up right now.

The Cal game was a complete choke job. The players and coaches all choked. No way should a team be able to put 10 in the box all game and not get burned. Especially with the receivers Utah has.

All in all, Utah is not doing anything surprising. They're beating bad teams, after finally getting time to practice and develop some chemistry.

The real surprise will come next year. Utah should have a great shot at the Rose Bowl. That would fit the 4 year cycle of Utah BCS games too, lol.
 
SaltyDawg said:
The real surprise will come next year. Utah should have a great shot at the Rose Bowl. That would fit the 4 year cycle of Utah BCS games too, lol.
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Honestly next year is looking great, we'll be really strong at the RB & WR positions and it won't feel like all is riding on Wynn's health. Hays has shown improvement week by week - how many TO's has Hays had in the last 3 weeks - i count 0. With this team we just need steady play at the QB and it now seems Hays can provide that. And the defense will be as good if not better as some of our younger talent get's more experience.
 
SaltyDawg said:
Utah is right where everyone thought they would be- best overall record in the PAC 12 South (excluding USC).
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I'm not trying to be argumentative here, but I think it is germane to point out that Utah is tied with ASU in overall record (which doesn't actually matter in regard to the PAC12 championship game), and trails both ASU and UCLA in the conference standings.

UCLA plays Colorado at home, then at USC to finish out. Theoretically, they should go 1-1. We'll see. If that happens, and Utah wins out, they finish tied in the conference, with Utah holding the head-to-head tie breaker.

ASU plays Arizona and Cal, both at home. Cal might give them a fight (depending on which Cal team shows up - they are a shot in the dark any given game.) I don't see Arizona beating them. But, weirder things have happened. If ASU finishes 1-1, they own the tie breaker over Utah.

Obviously, even if the Utes win out, they need some help to get to the PAC12 championship. It's a long shot, IMO. I will root for it, of course, but I am certainly not counting any chickens at this point.
 
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ASU will win it, but their reward is playing a hungry Oregon team trying to get back to the national championship. Have fun with that.
 
Bronco70 said:
I'm not trying to be argumentative here, but I think it is germane to point out that Utah is tied with ASU in overall record (which doesn't actually matter in regard to the PAC12 championship game), and trails both ASU and UCLA in the conference standings.

UCLA plays Colorado at home, then at USC to finish out. Theoretically, they should go 1-1. We'll see. If that happens, and Utah wins out, they finish tied in the conference, with Utah holding the head-to-head tie breaker.

ASU plays Arizona and Cal, both at home. Cal might give them a fight (depending on which Cal team shows up - they are a shot in the dark any given game.) I don't see Arizona beating them. But, weirder things have happened. If ASU finishes 1-1, they own the tie breaker over Utah.

Obviously, even if the Utes win out, they need some help to get to the PAC12 championship. It's a long shot, IMO. I will root for it, of course, but I am certainly not counting any chickens at this point.
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I think you misunderstood my post. I wasn't saying Utah will play in the PAC 12 Championship game. I was only saying Utah right now has the best overall record in the PAC 12 South (except for USC) and will almost certainly finish the season that way.

I know they probably won't pass ASU for the right to get smashed by Oregon in the Championship game. I hope they do, but like you I know it probably won't happen.

Now if ASU loses this weekend, hope is alive and well. But all signs point to ASU winning this weekend and ending all hope for the Utes in that championship game.

Either way, it's pretty awesome the Utes are still in the running for the championship game (and a Rose Bowl game) with only 2 weeks left in the season. Especially considering the injuries this season.
 
SaltyDawg said:
I think you misunderstood my post. I wasn't saying Utah will play in the PAC 12 Championship game.
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Yeah, I know that's not what you were getting at. I'm just being cautious with my optimism.


Either way, it's pretty awesome the Utes are still in the running for the championship game (and a Rose Bowl game) with only 2 weeks left in the season. Especially considering the injuries this season.
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I agree with this. Not what I expected a scant 3 weeks ago. And I am excited for next season. The running game has surpassed anyone's expectations, as has the defense as a whole, IMO.
 
For the Utes to have done this well - even if they lose out - despite the injury issues/the worst QBs in D-I speaks volumes about the program. If you're not pumped about what Utah's been able to do considering everything facing them, you either are a homer and had absurd hopes or you're a hater. Utah has done well this season.

Finding someone better than Hays and more durable (and better) than Wynn shouldn't be difficult. But then again, Utah didn't do a great job with their QB sitch for this season to begin with.

At any rate, the Utes will be just fine and I believe it realistic that they will probably sit a little below USC and on par or above everyone else in the division soon enough.
 
You know what I love? I love to see "(except USC)" after all of Salty's lofty predictions and statements. I'm serious, it really warms my heart.

You know, Karl Malone was the greatest PF of all time! (except Tim Duncan)
 
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