Poinsettia Bowl gameday open thread

by JazzyUte on Dec 20, 2007 3:14 PM MST in Poinsettia Bowl

Let's make it 7 bowl games in a row!

Gameday
Utah	Navy

Quick Look

Thursday, December 20th

7:00 MST

Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego, California

TV: ESPN

Radio: Kall 700

Game Preview

What to expect when Utah has the ball: A balanced offense. With Navy constantly having trouble defending the run and the pass, look for Utah to air it out a bit, but also ram the ball down their d-line's throat.

What to expect when Navy has the ball: That damn pesky triple option. Navy won't pass much, so they'll keep it on the ground most of the night. If they succeed at running their offense, the Midshipmen shouldn't have a problem moving the ball down field.

How Utah wins: Contain the triple option, which is easier said than done. On paper, Utah should win, but the Utes have struggled with this type of offense in the past and I'm not so sure that changes tonight. The Utes will also need to be successful on offense, because I expect this to be a fairly high scoring game. With Navy's defense performing as badly as they have over the season, there is no excuse for Utah to struggle on the offensive end.

Lucky is back by popular demand and he wants to end the season on a winning note.

8-1 I be, after a Thursday night victory.

Let's hear what you think. Register for a free account here and leave your comments, predictions and other gameday chatter below in the comments section. GO UTES, BEAT NAVY!

If you're interested in the Navy perspective during the game, check out Pitch Right's live blogging of the game.

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Comments

man

i hate watching Duke play basketball. Yes, it's probably jealousy but screw them. I hope they lose to Pitt.

I really just want ESPN to switch to football.

Go Big Red Nebraska! Corn Nation!

by cornnation @ Block U on Dec 20, 2007 7:22 PM MST reply actions

dude

Pitt and Duke both lost to Navy. Figures...

by Adam @ Block U on Dec 20, 2007 7:37 PM MST reply actions

ha

Dukes loses, although that Pitt player that went down looked like he blew his knee out. Man, he was in pain.

Game on.... no score yet, I find that surprising.

Go Big Red Nebraska! Corn Nation!

by cornnation @ Block U on Dec 20, 2007 7:47 PM MST reply actions

Utah not playing well at all.

Their defense isn't looking too bad, but boy does this offense remind me of what we saw against BYU. If they don't get their butt moving, this game will be over quickly. Oh and yes, freaking ESPN, who cares about Duke and Pitt?

by JazzyUte on Dec 20, 2007 7:49 PM MST reply actions

It doesn't look like either team wants to score.

by JazzyUte on Dec 20, 2007 7:54 PM MST reply actions

TD UTAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

MACK!

by JazzyUte on Dec 20, 2007 8:04 PM MST reply actions

well

there you go.

Utah, probably the first TD of many.

Go Big Red Nebraska! Corn Nation!

by cornnation @ Block U on Dec 20, 2007 8:04 PM MST reply actions

Utes weakening in option defense.

by JazzyUte on Dec 20, 2007 8:12 PM MST reply actions

TD Navy.

Utah's defense having issues with the option.

by JazzyUte on Dec 20, 2007 8:13 PM MST reply actions

yeah

big time right now.

I picked Utah to win this game, so y'all need to figure that out pronto! :)

Go Big Red Nebraska! Corn Nation!

by cornnation @ Block U on Dec 20, 2007 8:15 PM MST up reply actions

either that

or just start scoring a whole lot.

Go Big Red Nebraska! Corn Nation!

by cornnation @ Block U on Dec 20, 2007 8:20 PM MST up reply actions

Utah's offense making the Navy defense look good.

I've never seen such shitty offensive play calling. Utah's offense is a joke right now, which is a difficult feat to accomplish, since Navy's defense might be the worst the Utes have faced this season. Embarrassing.

by JazzyUte on Dec 20, 2007 8:21 PM MST reply actions

Ugly performance by Utah in the first half.

No spark, no emotion. This team is not playing well at all and frankly, they don't deserve to win. Hopefully they play better in the second half, but I won't hold my breath.

by JazzyUte on Dec 20, 2007 8:41 PM MST reply actions

PASS!!

Navy has a terrible pass defense so why not throw! and Ludwig Navy is on to what Corbin Louks does so why not mix in a fake draw and have Louks throw

by Jeremy Mauss on Dec 20, 2007 8:49 PM MST reply actions

I think every team knows what to expect with Louks

by JazzyUte on Dec 20, 2007 8:51 PM MST up reply actions

And Navy scores, 17-7, might be over for the Utes.

Under Whittingham, Utah has never come back from a double digit deficit.

by JazzyUte on Dec 20, 2007 9:11 PM MST reply actions

man

the Utes defense is all over the place, following fakes. They go outside, inside, outside, the defense is confused.

Throw the ball, Utah.

Go Big Red Nebraska! Corn Nation!

by cornnation @ Block U on Dec 20, 2007 9:15 PM MST reply actions

man

the Utes defense is all over the place, following fakes. They go outside, inside, outside, the defense is confused.

Throw the ball, Utah.

Go Big Red Nebraska! Corn Nation!

by cornnation @ Block U on Dec 20, 2007 9:15 PM MST reply actions

Utah has always had issues with the option.

I just thought they had the offensive firepower to overcome them, but maybe I was wrong.

by JazzyUte on Dec 20, 2007 9:17 PM MST up reply actions

3rd and 2 and what does Ludwig call? A pitch!

WTF?

by JazzyUte on Dec 20, 2007 9:26 PM MST reply actions

BROOKS SCORES A TD!!!!!!

by JazzyUte on Dec 20, 2007 9:34 PM MST reply actions

JOHNSON TO RICHARDS, TD UTES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

by JazzyUte on Dec 20, 2007 9:43 PM MST reply actions

Balance?

Utah hasn't been very balanced offensively so far. With Navy's passing D being below average, I'd have hoped that the Utes would attack the secondary a bit more. Maybe the early overthrows of open receivers has scared them off.

As for the playcalling... did you really expect Ludwig to open it up? He hasn't all year (except for maybe the blowout of UCLA). Utah's offense has been predictable since Meyer left. Expecting it to change for today's game was just wishful thinking.

Biased Fan

by UtesFan89 on Dec 20, 2007 9:44 PM MST reply actions

It was more hope than anything else. heh

by JazzyUte on Dec 20, 2007 9:52 PM MST up reply actions

Yeah

I was hoping for it too.
It would've been nice to see some of the Urban Meyer offense.
On the plus side, they did try the hook-n-ladder, though nothing came of it.

Biased Fan

by UtesFan89 on Dec 20, 2007 9:56 PM MST up reply actions

Utah's

offense is moving now. Nearly at will.... making some plays on defense.

Gorgeous long pass for the TD. Perfect.

Go Big Red Nebraska! Corn Nation!

by cornnation @ Block U on Dec 20, 2007 9:44 PM MST reply actions

Nice

As I say that, the Utes run a series with 1 run by Louks and a couple of passes, including a 40 yard TD bomb.

Biased Fan

by UtesFan89 on Dec 20, 2007 9:45 PM MST reply actions

Victory

This game looks to be in the Utes favor

by Jeremy Mauss on Dec 20, 2007 9:52 PM MST reply actions

TD JOHNSON!!!!!!!!!

by JazzyUte on Dec 20, 2007 9:57 PM MST reply actions

yeah

Utes really are rolling. They'd have to collapse to lose this game now.

Go Big Red Nebraska! Corn Nation!

by cornnation @ Block U on Dec 20, 2007 9:57 PM MST reply actions

You haven't seen Andy Ludwig football!

They've collapsed before...so don't be surprised if it happens tonight.

by JazzyUte on Dec 20, 2007 10:06 PM MST up reply actions

Conservative

The Utes are very likely to end up going extremely conservative now... to a fault.

Biased Fan

by UtesFan89 on Dec 20, 2007 10:07 PM MST up reply actions

Damn, Navy scores.

by JazzyUte on Dec 20, 2007 10:10 PM MST reply actions

3 minutes

It took like 3 minutes (maybe closer to 4) for them to drive 81 yards. Ouch.

Biased Fan

by UtesFan89 on Dec 20, 2007 10:11 PM MST reply actions

yegad

i thought he was going to run around and not pick up the first on that pass play to the seven.

Hey, it's a bowl game! they haven't gone conservative...!

Go Big Red Nebraska! Corn Nation!

by cornnation @ Block U on Dec 20, 2007 10:21 PM MST reply actions

oh

for pete's sake. navy is going to get the ball.

Go Big Red Nebraska! Corn Nation!

by cornnation @ Block U on Dec 20, 2007 10:24 PM MST reply actions

whoooeee!

great break for Utah!

Go Big Red Nebraska! Corn Nation!

by cornnation @ Block U on Dec 20, 2007 10:24 PM MST reply actions

DEFENSE

I am upset they did not get in after being on the one, but I agree with the play because a field goal does nothing here, and now Navy has to 99 yards with 3 minutes left and they dont throw that much. The Utes better stop the big play to win this game. If the Utes do win this has been Brian Johnson's best game as a Ute with voer 300 yards of total offense.

by Jeremy Mauss on Dec 20, 2007 10:28 PM MST reply actions

UTES WIN

UTES WIN UTES WIN!! Here we come 2008!!

by Jeremy Mauss on Dec 20, 2007 10:33 PM MST reply actions

Utes score, should win the game!

by JazzyUte on Dec 20, 2007 10:34 PM MST reply actions

Unbelievable, what a choke job!

by JazzyUte on Dec 20, 2007 10:41 PM MST reply actions

yeah

i was going to bed, man.

what the hell is happening here.... Navy qb slipped down or he would have made the marker.

Go Big Red Nebraska! Corn Nation!

by cornnation @ Block U on Dec 20, 2007 10:42 PM MST reply actions

Holy fuck, holy fuck, holy fuck

by JazzyUte on Dec 20, 2007 10:42 PM MST reply actions

and that's it

wow.

man, Navy didn't go down quietly. :)

Go Big Red Nebraska! Corn Nation!

by cornnation @ Block U on Dec 20, 2007 10:42 PM MST reply actions

I need a defibrillator.

by JazzyUte on Dec 20, 2007 10:44 PM MST reply actions

Good Game

For awhile I thought that "U" on the side our boys' helmets stood for "ugly," but eventually they came around. I think Navy was a better prepared football team tonight and, frankly, wanted it more, but the Utes just outmatched them physically and finally woke up in the second half and did what they were supposed to do. All in all, a good game. I'm proud of the Utes and give a Tip Of The Hat to the Midshipmen.

Honors B.A. 1999

by kadoogan on Dec 20, 2007 11:47 PM MST reply actions

Congrats

Congrats on the win. I was impressed with the Utah D- probably the best we've seen all year. To be fair though, I think if we get the touchback call (which the refs admitted to screwing up) then the Navy offense has a much better shot at scoring.

by Adam @ Block U on Dec 21, 2007 8:20 AM MST reply actions