Utes 2011 Football Discussion
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Didn't realize it was 2 years and if that is the case then yes they shape up a lot better. Oregon won't be worse and is still the best team (Even with losing James they have the true Freshman that is a monster burner).
USC at home will definately be a good game. USC losing Barkley will hurt.
If you look at Utah, they will be losing quite a few people off that defense. I think their offense will be better but you are losing your best corner (Black), 2 or 3 starting LB's, your best DE (Shelby), and possibly your most dominant defensive player (Star) if he goes to the NFL (Which I bet he does).
They of course will replace a lot of those but a dominant player like Star only comes around once every 10 years. Star to the Utes is Nta or Hampton to the Ravens/Steelers. They force a doubleteam every play or they will cause chaos. They free up the LB's to make plays or tackles.
9 Wins would be a great year but I still think the over/under should be maybe 8 or 8.5 for them next year. Too many losses.
SaltyDawg
Well-Known Member
Well you are speculating that Star will be leaving. As of this moment, he is slated to be on the roster next year. Sure, he may leave, and then we'll have to consider that. But as of right now, we don't know that he will be gone.
That's I was hesitant to make a prediction, because we don't know who will be there. I agree that Star is important, but I don't know that he is the heart and soul of the defense or anything like that. Check this tweet from David Locke today:
https://twitter.com/#!/Lockedonsports/status/139068129048399872
"I asked every #pac12 coach who was the defensive player that had the biggest impact against them -- 4 Utah players got mentioned. Airs Wed"
4 different Utah players were mentioned by Pac 12 coaches as the player who made the single biggest impact on defense against them. No doubt Star was one of them, but he certainly wasn't the only one. And there is no guarantee that Star is leaving anyway.
This is why it's way too early to have this discussion. Nobody knows who will be here. Suppose the Denver Broncos (or some other team) offer Whitt a job he can't refuse. That changes everything. And we don't know who may declare for the NFL draft. Star is definitely not the only NFL caliber player on that defense.
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Definately too early and I agree. I just look at Star being the main point in that defense. My bet is that Black, Martinez, and Shelby were the other votes.
All are important pieces but if you look at just them 4, 3 are gone for sure, and the 4th (If I was a betting man still) will be gone. Could be wrong and hope I am (As I root for Utah on the side - GO BLUE).
The Yewts would have to win 2. Cougars will always have 1984, just ask Scat.
SaltyDawg
Well-Known Member
I don't see Black or Martinez as being too big of losses. Yes both are good players, but the Utes have plenty of good depth at linebacker and corner.
7StraightIsGreat
Well-Known Member
It's easy (and somewhat lazy) to glance at a depth chart and declare that Utah is going to take a step backwards on defense next year. The truth is, Utah could be even better and deeper next year on Defense. Utah returns 3/4's of their starting secondary and all of their number 2's as well. At LB, while Walker and Martinez will be gone, Blechen will most likely be back at LB, and Trevor Reily and Boo Anderson return (both have started games at LB this year). IMO VJ Veheko is the wildcard of that group and will win a starting spot at LB. He's played major minutes this year and has the potential to be one of the best LBs Utah has had during Whitt's tenure. On the D-line, I noticed both Kruger bros took the field as starters against Washington State. Both return and unless Star gets a 1st round guarantee, I'm guessing he'll come back as well. Utah employs such a massive D-line rotation that there is a number of players coming back with considerable experience. Losing Shelby hurts, but it's not as if he is the beginning and end of that D-line.
There is literally no spot on Utah's defense in which the Utes will go into 2012 depending on some relative unknown or new guy to step up and give them major minutes. A far cry from this past offseason when they were forced to start 2 Safeties that weren't even in the program the prior year, 2 new starting CB's and Brian Blechen playing his first ever minutes at LB. If anything, Utah's Defense should hit the ground running in 2012 and have the potential to be very, very nasty.
I won't completely disagree with you here 12 but I do feel that the key to any defense is stopping the run. That is why the Utes have been so successful on defense this year. If you can't stop the run at any level then good luck. With the potential loss of Star and losing 3 other key components in your front 7 (So 4 total) this is where my worry for this defense is. I agree with you that the secondary (I think Blechen is better at Safety anyways vs. LB - allows them to bring him up for 8 in the box but still cover ala Polamalu on a smaller level) but losing Star is key. If he sticks around this defense will again be towards the top in the Pac 12. If you lose him I worry that they slip to the middle of the pack. With that being said the offense should be better to help balance that out a bit. Losing probably your 2 best linemen on an already shaky line is worrysome as well. You return all your skill positions and will have proabably the top WR tandem in the conference as well.... its just can you get them the ball or do you stick with White toting the rock 40 times a game.
A lot will change before now and next year but it will be interesting and the schedule definately sets up for them to have a run to the conference championship as well.
SaltyDawg
Well-Known Member
The Utes rotate about 10 or 11 guys at d line. Star is only 1 of them. Losing Star will not hurt as much as you think. And we still don't even know that the Utes will be losing Star.
fatchipper
Well-Known Member
They could, or they could schedule another division II school and add another home game. I know Hill was saying earlier that he wanted 7 home games from now on. I doubt they could get OK or Va Tech to come to SLC.
7StraightIsGreat
Well-Known Member
All very solid points and I think it's huge for Utah if Star does return, however if he doesn't I'm going to lean on Whitt's past track record as hope that Utah will still be ok. Just like you said, stopping the run is the key to any good defense. Nobody believes that more than Whitt. During his tenure, Utah has managed to be a run stopping unit and has had pretty constant success using a variety of different guys at the DT position. I actually like Utah's chances of keeping Star for 1 more year. I don't think he is a lock to be a 1st or 2nd round pick and I bet he takes a long look at Silver Silega's experience this past year when he bolted early for the NFL. As of right now, the kid doesn't have an NFL team and had he came back for one more year he probably would have improved his draft stock by leaps and bounds.
I'm also starting to like Blechen more @ Safety but if McGill and Rowe are both healthy next fall, I have a hard time seeing one of them on the bench.
Imagine if Sealver Siliga stuck around for his last year.
Right now, there's not a player on the defense who makes me cringe. I think top to bottom, this defense is the best they have ever had. Rowe is rapidly becoming a favorite of mine.
The big question, other than QB, for next season will be the tackles. For all of his mental fusterclucks, Cullen has started to play much better and Bergstrom is a rock. Cullen just needs to stop trying to be a badass after the whistle.
Right now, there's not a player on the defense who makes me cringe. I think top to bottom, this defense is the best they have ever had. Rowe is rapidly becoming a favorite of mine.
The big question, other than QB, for next season will be the tackles. For all of his mental fusterclucks, Cullen has started to play much better and Bergstrom is a rock. Cullen just needs to stop trying to be a badass after the whistle.
//r00t 4 Jazz
Well-Known Member
Depending on how McGill comes back I would think Rowe and McGill would be the starting safeties and then with the LB's depth and how it shakes out I could see them using Blechen as a LB/S hybrid. I know Whitt likes the 4-3 but we've seen this year the 3-4 packages so I could see something similar to TCU did a couple years and use a SS as a LB so more of a 4-2-3 defense not to pigeon whole it or name it as he would be closer to lining up at a LB position but it would also create more flexibility and movement which should help create confusion for opposing offenses (similar to Reilly giving them flexibility at LB/DE).
Gyp Rosetti
Banned
Not sure if anyone saw but there was an ESPN Insder article today on rising NCAA football programs and Utah was one of three they mentioned.
Archie Moses
Well-Known Member
The Utes are getting dominated by Colorado.
7StraightIsGreat
Well-Known Member
Easily the worst half of football they've played all season. How could they possibly come out this flat? This is shaping up to be a HORRIBLE loss for Utah. I hope they wake up in the 2nd half.