CFN previews the Utes
by JazzyUte on May 20, 2010 11:44 AM MDT
in Football
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PrintWith summer just around the corner, you're going to see a lot more college football previews. Today, it's Scout's College Football News doing to the previewing. Go give it a read to cure your Utah football hunger.
It's a good read. The opening generally focuses on this season proving Utah has staying power. Not just the ability to produce good seasons - but the ability to go out and be great. I agree with that. We're working on consecutive ten-win seasons (the Utes will set a school record if they do it again this season) and are consistently in position to make noise nationally.
With the schedule set like it is, we all know what the potential is for this team (it's been discussed, below, in the NC post). That doesn't mean it will happen or that we should expect it to happen. However, it's a scenario. The fact it's a scenario just proves how far this program has evolved since that cold November back in 2002 when Ron McBride coached his last game at Rice-Eccles Stadium.
In a related bit of news, Phil Steele has Utah 28th in his preseason top-30. I was actually expecting a higher ranking, so I am a bit surprised. He puts us just above Nevada, which is an even greater surprise. But that seems to be the general consensus: that Utah is a top-30 team but maybe not quite top-25 material.
He did project undefeated years in 2004 and 2008. Not so this time around (and last year he had them ranked 40-something). All he says is that it'll be another successful year. Of course, what that means is purely subjective. Ten years ago, 8-wins was a success. Now 8-wins would probably be considered a disappointment.
So, what is a successful year?
I'd say 10-2 or better in the regular season.
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A successful year in my book:
I’m a realist by nature thus I ‘m not quick to get on the BCS III wagon just yet. To me a successfull year would consist of two goals: Win the MWC and defeat BYU. Of course to do the first, Utah will have to topple TCU who very well could run the table again. and despite the rebuliding (or reloading depending who you ask) efforts in Provo, the Holy War isn’t gonna be a gimme; It never is.
If we ended up 11-1 (losing to TCU) or 10-2 (TCU loss and a OOC loss) I would consider it a good year but not a great one.
i'm surprised at phil steele's ranking of us at 28th
just behind nevada? nevada disappoints all the time. ever since the urban meyer years we have basically overachieved. 12-1 or 11-2 and we will continue our bowl winning ways. i actually think we beat byu by at least 14 points. after the beatdown they will get from the huskie’s and especially fsu. fsu is now coached by jimbo fisher. he was defensive coordinator for years there. i don’t think he will have any mercy on jake heaps or any other byu qb that starts. in fact i would expect the opposite. i think byu will come to rice-eccles stadium all beat up from a long season of disapointments. i really can see byu going 7-6. they will lose to either wyoming or air force this year too.
I'm all about covering the spread and moneylines. I was building a house, I don't deserve this, deserves have nothing to do with it. Bang. "Unforgiven" I drink your milkshake. I drink it up! "There Will BE Blood". Hell is just a word, the reality is much much worse." Event Horizon". Now remember, when things look bad and it looks like you're not gonna make it, then you gotta get mean, I mean plumb, mad dog mean. cause if you lose your head and you give up then you neither live or win. That's just the way it is. "The Outlaw Josey Wales". "And that's just what these hustlers look for. They cruise from casino to casino looking for weak dealers the way lions look for weak antelope". Ace Rothstein, The Movie "Casino" 1995.
by wolfmanshowlforever on May 20, 2010 3:44 PM MDT up reply actions
We have several tough games on this year's schedule.
@ AF
@ Notre Dame (recent struggles notwithstanding)
@ IA State (went bowling last year)
@ UNM (UNM, sucky as they are, tend to be a huge thorn in our side)
Those are four tough roadies. We should be favored big in all of them, but they’re not gimmes. Plus a top-15 Pitt team, a top-30 BYU team, and a top-10 (maybe top-5 by November) TCU team at home. If we lose to Pitt and TCU in close games, I’ll consider it a success (especially with our defense rebuilding). If we lose to AF, Pitt, TCU and Notre dame I’ll consider it a disappointment, but winning the bowl game will soothe my wounds.
Everyone hates a pink-shirt-wearing communist.
AFA will be tough, ND will be tough, Iowa State is not a toughie and UNM's history as a thorn in our side ended when Rocky was fired.
Not to say they can’t, but I see no evidence that their being a thorn in our side is a program problem more than a coaching problem. Especially after we dominated them last year.
Iowa State is a 7-6 team that managed to win only one really good game (Nebraska, not sure how they did that). Other than that, I’m not too worried. Surely if Utah loses that, they’re going to lose a lot more.
I’d even say SDSU and Wyoming will be tougher roadies than either UNM or Iowa State.
My concern is our 3-7 record on the road against the BCS.
That said, I’m much more worried about Notre Dame (of course) than IA state.
And last year’s UNM team was horrible. Let’s see what their new coach can do in Year 2. If it was Rocky, then yes, SDSU will be a tough roadie and UNM won’t.
Everyone hates a pink-shirt-wearing communist.
by displacedute on May 20, 2010 5:37 PM MDT up reply actions
Nebraska had eight turnovers
Eight turnovers to Iowa State’s zero. Nebraska gave up three interceptions and lost five fumbles. And still Iowa State only won 9–7. That’s really all you need to know about why Iowa State won.
even on the iowa state blog they think they will lose to us.
about two weeks ago. i’m much more optimistic this year. if 10 wins was a rebuilding year i say we go 12-1 or 11-2.
I'm all about covering the spread and moneylines. I was building a house, I don't deserve this, deserves have nothing to do with it. Bang. "Unforgiven" I drink your milkshake. I drink it up! "There Will BE Blood". Hell is just a word, the reality is much much worse." Event Horizon". Now remember, when things look bad and it looks like you're not gonna make it, then you gotta get mean, I mean plumb, mad dog mean. cause if you lose your head and you give up then you neither live or win. That's just the way it is. "The Outlaw Josey Wales". "And that's just what these hustlers look for. They cruise from casino to casino looking for weak dealers the way lions look for weak antelope". Ace Rothstein, The Movie "Casino" 1995.
by wolfmanshowlforever on May 21, 2010 4:50 PM MDT up reply actions
Good by whose standard, though?
I mean, 7-6 was good in comparison to where ISU has been the last five or so years.
I still don’t think it’s a tough game. It’s a potential trap game, yes, but the Cyclones are a very beatable BCS opponent.
IF Utah loses to ISU, we’ll find that a lot more games will be ‘tougher’ than initially expected.
Right
But I think the belief is they are trending upward, after a bowl year. They were not consistent last year, neitehr were we.
I think we have the better team, but it’s no gimme.
Of course.
Not many gimmies on this schedule, actually. I’d say the only two are UNLV & San Jose State.
plus iowa state lost two starters recently.
I'm all about covering the spread and moneylines. I was building a house, I don't deserve this, deserves have nothing to do with it. Bang. "Unforgiven" I drink your milkshake. I drink it up! "There Will BE Blood". Hell is just a word, the reality is much much worse." Event Horizon". Now remember, when things look bad and it looks like you're not gonna make it, then you gotta get mean, I mean plumb, mad dog mean. cause if you lose your head and you give up then you neither live or win. That's just the way it is. "The Outlaw Josey Wales". "And that's just what these hustlers look for. They cruise from casino to casino looking for weak dealers the way lions look for weak antelope". Ace Rothstein, The Movie "Casino" 1995.
by wolfmanshowlforever on May 25, 2010 6:17 PM MDT up reply actions
Here's what I think is the most interesting thing about Phil Steele's preview:
Not the overall prediction (since his “prediction” is “not undefeated, but successful”, or “vaguely good, but not great”), but the list of best newcomers. I assume this is in order from top to bottom, and I’m not sure I agree:
DL James Aiono 6-4 290 PS#2JC ’09
LB VJ Fehoko 6-0 222 PS#24
OL John Cullen 6-5 270 PS#18JC
WR Kenneth Scott 6-3 192 PS#59
DL Joe Kruger 6-7 245 PS#89
QB Tyler Shreve 6-3 218 PS#58
RB Princeton Collins 5-11 198 PS#89
OL Zach Bolton 6-2 271 PS#136
WR Martavious Lee 6-1 185 PS#121JC
QB Brian Blechen 6-2 203 PS#92
RB Lucky Radley 5-9 187 PS#112
DB Damian Payne 6-0 200 PS#164
WR Dres Anderson 6-1 157 PS#147
LB Jacoby Hale 6-0 192 PS#152
WR Terrell Reese 6-0 198 PS#161
DB Joseph Smith 5-9 179 PS#206
DL Star Lotulelei 6-4 300 PS#221JC
OL Ron Tongaonevai 6-3 320 PS#394JC
DL Sione Tupouata 6-4 260 PS#316
RB Shawn Asiata 6-0 248 PS#469JC
DB Michael Walker 5-9 171 PS#504
TE Westlee Tonga 6-4 225 PS#148 ’07
DB Wykie Freeman 5-11 158 PS#619
DB Mike Honeycutt 5-10 170 PS#1663
For instance, I would put Cullen ahead of VJ, and Payne and Reese higher as well. Not for overall talent, but for need. Cullen fills a vital hole and Payne got here in the spring. I don’t disagree about James, but that list seems a little off for me.
Everyone hates a pink-shirt-wearing communist.
Penalties
Cost us two games last year and made others closer.
We need to get it together in that department.
I agree MeanBob but......
The true Achilles heel that we need to address is red zone play. We were good at moving the ball but when we were inside the 20, we melted down like nothing. This needs to change. Even though I think penalties costed us dearly in the BYU game (and to some extent Oregon), The real reason we lost the Holy war was because we couldn’t finish drives.
1st and 5 (I believe) late in the 4th and down 3...
Utah failed to get five freaking yards in three tries and had to punt. They got the ball back and tied it (or maybe they were down ten and got it back, scored and got within 3, regardless…). Had they produced a drive that even ended in a FG, they probably win that game in regulation.
Last year?
Worst play calling ever in Utah history. 40 years of watching them worst ever play calling.
Red Zone was bad, but play calling overall was deficient.
Yes.
The Holy War. It was late in the fourth quarter. BYU had a penalty and Utah advanced five yards to make it a first and five. They were close to mid-field and then the drive stalled. It was absolutely infuriating because we had a ton of momentum and were moving the ball the last few drives with rather ease.
Then that happened and we were fortunate enough the defense got another stop. They did and we got in field goal range to tie it right before regulation ended.
Had they scored a TD there, they win in regulation. A FG ties it and there was plenty of time to potentially get the ball back again and win it at the end on a FG. :/
you have to admit the play calling in the bowl game vs cal was great.
we were running our spread offense perfectly after we gave up the two td’s and we were running great slant routes. the game was not even as close as the final score indicated. cal needed a 30 yard penalty call (personal foul plus i think defensive guy threw his helmet or something) for them to score last td.
I'm all about covering the spread and moneylines. I was building a house, I don't deserve this, deserves have nothing to do with it. Bang. "Unforgiven" I drink your milkshake. I drink it up! "There Will BE Blood". Hell is just a word, the reality is much much worse." Event Horizon". Now remember, when things look bad and it looks like you're not gonna make it, then you gotta get mean, I mean plumb, mad dog mean. cause if you lose your head and you give up then you neither live or win. That's just the way it is. "The Outlaw Josey Wales". "And that's just what these hustlers look for. They cruise from casino to casino looking for weak dealers the way lions look for weak antelope". Ace Rothstein, The Movie "Casino" 1995.
by wolfmanshowlforever on May 25, 2010 6:20 PM MDT up reply actions
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