Contending out of the gate...
by JazzyUte on Jun 21, 2010 12:25 PM MDT
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I hate the idea of looking past the 2010 season toward our inaugural one in the Pac-10 - but I can't help it. Everyone knows it's impossible to go back to your old toys a week after Christmas. Over time I expect we'll get back into the 2010 groove...just not right now.
Of course, one of the biggest questions surrounding Utah's move to the Pac-10 next year deals with their chances of contending for a conference championship. It'd be a dream to walk into our new home and prove we're the kings of it. But that is going to be very, very difficult.
So instead of expecting or even hoping of a conference championship in Year One, maybe we should just expect and hope the team can contend for that conference championship. Two or three conference losses wouldn't be all that bad for a first-year team, right?
Personally, I believe our success is tied to 2010. If Utah goes out and produces a very good (maybe great) season this year, we certainly will feel more confident about their chances entering the Pac-10. Especially if Jordan Wynn proves to live up to, or even exceed, his expectations.
What do you expect from Utah in their first year of the Pac-10?
It'll be interesting revisiting this a year from now to see if the consensus has changed.
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Take care of Division - Hope for Conference
We’ll hold our own, and look to make a statement our first year. Plenty of time from now till then to familiarize ourselves even more with play books.
Its Jordan’s Senior Year.
We’ll have this whole year plus to recruit blue-chip freshman from PAC-12
We already have one of the best JUCO recruiting in the nation, expect only the best now
USC is out of recruiting game this year and next, 20 total althlete’s up for grabs. The post-season ban also I think will make these two years – Lane Kiffin at Tennessee type effort from the current kids. Yes the football elite will gobble some of these kids up, but some are going to want to play in the PAC12. Doors open.
Heres to hoping.
Actually, Wynn will be a junior in 2011.
He’s only a sophomore this year. So we’re going to have a lot of consistency.
actually the 30 scholarships and two year bowl ban will be more of a 50 -60 player loss. ask bama how there depth at every position was effected.
some of the blue chippers that would consider usc won’t now that they won’t be seen in any bowl game for two years. we could land a few of these players.
I'm all about covering the spread and moneylines. Craig Thompson just might end up being a savvy guy if he gets the MWC to 12 teams. 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". To protect the sheep you gotta catch the wolf, and it takes a wolf to catch a wolf. "Training Day". Rashad will beat Rua b/c it's a bad matchup for him. 2/1 odds. Josh Koscheck will dethrone Gsp and win the welterweight title. 2.9/1 odds on that too. Peace.
by wolfmanshowlforever on Jun 21, 2010 3:58 PM MDT up reply actions
There is good timing
I think the timing is perfect. First year in the league is a disantvantage learning the ropes though. I voted contend, but not win the title; however, I don’t put the title out of their reach.
I don't expect my conditions for a good season to change.
In no particular order
1) Beat BYU!
2) Win the conference
3) Win a bowl game
Two out of those three make for a good season.
BCS Evolution -- Punctuating the Equilibrium - twitter
hopefully it will be our 11 straight bowl victory which would tie fsu for longest streak ever.
we of course have to win the bowl game in our last year in the mwc.
I'm all about covering the spread and moneylines. Craig Thompson just might end up being a savvy guy if he gets the MWC to 12 teams. 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". To protect the sheep you gotta catch the wolf, and it takes a wolf to catch a wolf. "Training Day". Rashad will beat Rua b/c it's a bad matchup for him. 2/1 odds. Josh Koscheck will dethrone Gsp and win the welterweight title. 2.9/1 odds on that too. Peace.
by wolfmanshowlforever on Jun 21, 2010 4:00 PM MDT up reply actions
Sorry...
but #2 and #3 should be higher than #1.
They’re all important, and beating BYU is great, but not if we have a 2-10 season.
"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates
There is No Perspective with BYU
A 1-11 season is bearable with a win over BYU. It at least leaves you with a good taste in your mouth at the end of the season.
I would rather go 7-5 with a win over BYU than 10-2 with a loss to BYU. That’s just how it goes.
I disagree.
I like beating BYU. I’d take a 7-5 season with a win over BYU instead of an 8-4 season with a loss. But 10 wins is a big deal (we have 5 seasons of 10 or more wins). 9 wins is even a big deal, and I wouldn’t be happy with 7-5 v. 9-3, even if one of the 3 is a loss to BYU. One game? Sure. Any more than that is selling a season for a little irrelevant rivalry smack.
Everyone hates a pink-shirt-wearing communist.
by displacedute on Jun 22, 2010 11:40 AM MDT up reply actions
This is so wrong...
The Utes as a program are beyond this now.
BYU is a rival. It’s a big game. It doesn’t make or break our season.
We’re better than that.
"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates
I guess it WOULD make the season if we did go 1-11 or 2-10...
However, that ain’t happening.
I disagree with jim2, though. I would not trade what we did last year (10-3) for what we did in 2005.
the worst i can see the utes going is 8-5 and that would include injuries galore
and bad luck imo.
I'm all about covering the spread and moneylines. Craig Thompson just might end up being a savvy guy if he gets the MWC to 12 teams. 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". To protect the sheep you gotta catch the wolf, and it takes a wolf to catch a wolf. "Training Day". Rashad will beat Rua b/c he is a far superior wrestler and a bad matchup for him. 2/1 odds. Josh Koscheck will dethrone Gsp and win the welterweight title. Last man to win a round vs Gsp. 2.9/1 odds on that too. Peace.
by wolfmanshowlforever on Jun 22, 2010 4:50 PM MDT up reply actions
that attitude will fail you in the Pac.
because there will be years where your live fire rival game is one of your very few shining lights.
Go Bears Go
by Rocksanddirt on Jun 22, 2010 5:35 PM MDT up reply actions
That's different.
Does a 1-11 season get better if the 1 win is BYU? Sure. Would we trade a 10-2 season with a BYU loss for a 7-5 season with a BYU win is a different question, and it’s one I hope the answer for most Utes is a resounding “NO”.
Everyone hates a pink-shirt-wearing communist.
by displacedute on Jun 22, 2010 5:47 PM MDT up reply actions
Rose bowl scenario 2012
The current rose bowl contract will accept the next Non-AQ BCS buster into the rose bowl if the PAC 12 champ goes to the national title game. I think both BYU and Utah could peak in 2012. Just for fun discussion, imagine the following scenario:
Utah or another PAC 12 team goes to the national title game. BYU gets its first BCS busting season and goes to the Rose bowl.
Theoretically BYU could go to the Rose bowl before Utah. It would be a big story for some of the following reasons:
a) PAC 12 team goes to the NC game. BYU goes to the Rose before Utah as the Utes
watch from the Las Vegas bowl.
b) BYU goes to the Rose bowl because Utah going to the NC game opens the slot.
c) PAC 12 school goes to the NC game. BYU goes to the Rose. The PAC 12 gets a
second BCS bid and sends Utah. (EXTREMELY unlikely in my opinion, but still
possible.)
All pie in the sky, but very real possibilities.
Rose Bowl Scenerio 2010
Big 10 champion goes to the NCG, Utah earns an automatic qualification for the BCS, which would be tied to the Rose Bowl.
Utah beats the PAC 10 champion.
Would that make us the PAC 10 champion a year before we join?
BCS Evolution -- Punctuating the Equilibrium - twitter
I like how your brain matter works
Good point, why didn’t I think of that. I had only considered a PAC 10 team going to the NCG game. In reality it could be both. Here is a direct quote from the rose bowl selection process…
“For the games in January 2011 through 2014, the first year the Rose Bowl loses a team to the NCG and a team from the non-AQ group is an automatic qualifier, that non-AQ team will play in the Rose Bowl.”
http://www.tournamentofroses.com/bcs/bcs-selection-procedure.asp
My ideal 2011 scenerio. The PAC 10 sends a champ to the NCG. Utah goes to the rose as a non-AQ team and beats the B10 champion.
that scenario(utah rose bowl 2010) is more likely to happen than the byu scenario.
i can’t see byu getting past both tcu and boise in same year. i just can’t. plus i was looking up ncaa sanctions for some other team and found out new mexico is on football probation. anybody know why? is it b/c locksley hit that guy or something else?
I'm all about covering the spread and moneylines. Craig Thompson just might end up being a savvy guy if he gets the MWC to 12 teams. 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". To protect the sheep you gotta catch the wolf, and it takes a wolf to catch a wolf. "Training Day". Rashad will beat Rua b/c he is a far superior wrestler and a bad matchup for him. 2/1 odds. Josh Koscheck will dethrone Gsp and win the welterweight title. Last man to win a round vs Gsp. 2.9/1 odds on that too. Peace.
by wolfmanshowlforever on Jun 22, 2010 1:33 PM MDT up reply actions
I expect us to win our division and compete in the conference title game.
As I mentioned before, depending on the OOC schedule, 2011 Utah has national-title level experience and talent:
QB: Wynn, JR (third-year starter)
RB: Shakerin, JR (first-year starter)
OL: Cullen, SR (second-year starter) or Percy T, SO (second-year starter)
OL: Brenner/Stevens, JRs (second or third-year starter)
OL: Sai or Jones, JRs (no matter who it is, a first-year starter)
OL: Brenner/Stevens, JRs (second or third-year starter)
OL: Bergstrom, SR (third-year starter)
WR: Matthews, JR (second-year starter)
WR: Christopher, JR (second-year starter)
WR: Lee, SR or Fitzgerald, JR (first-year starters)
TE: Moeai, JR (third-year starter)
So that’s 8/11 returning starters on O, and then the D:
DL: Shelby, SR (fourth-year starter)
DL: Siliga, SR (third-year starter)
DL: Kruger, JR (third-year starter)
DL: Talimaivao, SR (third-year starter)
LB: Williams, SR (third-year starter)
LB: King, SR (third-year starter)
LB: Fehoko, SO (second or third-year starter) or Martinez, SR (third-year starter)
CB: Burton, SR (third-year starter)
CB: Black, JR (could be a second-year starter because he may start in 2010)
SS: Washington or Spikes, both would be Sophs and first-year starters
FS: Bird, SR or Payne, SO (whoever wins the job this year will start again in 2011).
That’s 9/11 or 10/11 on D, replacing only one CB (and maybe not even that, if Black starts this year) and SS. If 2010 Utah is as good as I think they’re going to be, 2011 Utah should be absolutely special.
Everyone hates a pink-shirt-wearing communist.
i have seen you do this before. it's good info to have.
how about the special teams? kicker, punter, kick returner and punt returner?
I'm all about covering the spread and moneylines. Craig Thompson just might end up being a savvy guy if he gets the MWC to 12 teams. 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". To protect the sheep you gotta catch the wolf, and it takes a wolf to catch a wolf. "Training Day". Rashad will beat Rua b/c it's a bad matchup for him. 2/1 odds. Josh Koscheck will dethrone Gsp and win the welterweight title. 2.9/1 odds on that too. Peace.
by wolfmanshowlforever on Jun 21, 2010 4:03 PM MDT up reply actions
I do post it a lot, so that I can find it later.
As for special teams, I don’t really know because we change returners so often. With that said, I imagine it will look like this:
R: Christopher (JR, 3rd-year) and/or Matthews (JR, 3rd-year)
K: Marsh (Jr, 2nd-year)(if he resolves his issues) otherwise, no idea
P: Sellwood (Sr, 3rd-year)
Everyone hates a pink-shirt-wearing communist.
by displacedute on Jun 21, 2010 4:30 PM MDT up reply actions
2011 sets up nicely
That lineup reminds me of 2004 and 2008. Everything coming together. Let’s hope that happens. Anyone else worried about Wynn’s durability. He’s still scrawny and needs some bulk. Fortunately Cain is a good/great backup. He was only servicable last year, but he looked 200% better this spring game compared with the 09 spring game.
by GodisBrianJohnson on Jun 21, 2010 10:41 PM MDT reply actions
I think 2 of the 5 will be starting as RS freshman or True Sophs in 2011...
Blechen, Hale, Radly, Reese & Scott
If they're good enough to start as freshmen then I agree.
But if they’re not starting in 2010 then I don’t think they’re starting in 2011, except maybe at SS to replace Taplin-Ross.
Hale is an OLB. He’s not starting over Williams. If he’s not starting over King as a freshman then he’s not starting over King as a RS freshman. Maybe he takes the MLB spot from Fehoko, but he doesn’t seem like a MLB to me.
Blechen or Radley might take the safety spot as a RS freshman/ True Soph, but don’t discount Washington or Spikes.
Reese and Scott might both play at WR this year (and Reese might be slated as a safety), but neither will start. WR is a spot where we rotate 8 players, so I expect to see Reese and Scott playing some time this year and certainly playing a lot next year, but I don’t think either of them starts over players like DVC, Brooks, Matthews, etc.
Everyone hates a pink-shirt-wearing communist.
by displacedute on Jun 22, 2010 11:38 AM MDT up reply actions
Don't Get Ahead of Yourselves
I have little doubt that Utah will be able to compete in the PAC 12; however, to say you all are going to walk in and dominate the conference is getting a little a head of yourselves. Every team in the PAC 12 is good, not just USC, except maybe Washington State, and they are only about 10 years removed from a Rose Bowl. This isn’t the MWC, where Utah could have an off game and beat most teams on talent alone. Utah’s talent level will not be significantly higher or lower than most other PAC 12 teams. You have beaten very good BCS teams in the past; however, you now will have to play a very good BCS conference team every week. If you don’t bring your “A” game every week, you loose, period. I’m sure you expect that it will be difficult to win at USC, Oregon, or even Washington. Trust me as someone who has watched the PAC 10 his whole adult life, and I’ve seen my team (UW) win 6 Rose Bowls, an Orange Bowl, and a national championship; places like Oregon State, UCLA, Cal, even WSU are very difficult to win at. The Arizona schools have only won one conference title between the two of them since joining the conference in 1978. So yes, you will compete, and I suspect win a conference title at some point; however, it is very, very hard too do.
Nobody's saying that.
What we’re saying is that our 2011 team looks great, so that’s a good year to start in the conferece.
Everyone hates a pink-shirt-wearing communist.
by displacedute on Jun 22, 2010 11:29 AM MDT up reply actions
I think Utah is going to walk into the PAC 10 and DOMINATE!
BCS Evolution -- Punctuating the Equilibrium - twitter
agreed. plus it will validate the mwc. kinda lol.
I'm all about covering the spread and moneylines. Craig Thompson just might end up being a savvy guy if he gets the MWC to 12 teams. 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". To protect the sheep you gotta catch the wolf, and it takes a wolf to catch a wolf. "Training Day". Rashad will beat Rua b/c he is a far superior wrestler and a bad matchup for him. 2/1 odds. Josh Koscheck will dethrone Gsp and win the welterweight title. 2.9/1 odds on that too. Peace.
by wolfmanshowlforever on Jun 22, 2010 1:08 PM MDT up reply actions
Utah is set up to have a very nice team in 2011. Aside from losing two all-conference running backs, offensive linemen, and kicker, practically the entire team returns. I think Utah is getting stronger going forward, but let’s also not forget that only three seasons ago Utah open the season by losing to Oregon State 24-7, getting beat by Air Force 20-12, and getting pounded by UNLV 27-0 to start the season at 1-3. Being shut out by UNLV for crying out loud.
This is only one season before the Sugar Bowl and part of the Utes recent history that people like to forget. I think Utah will be very competitive and they couldn’t be entering the PAC 10 at a better time with USC’s sanctions, but I think a couple of conference losses are inevitable. UCLA and Arizona State both have very young teams and should have about 20 returning starters in 2011. From all reports, it sounds as if Utah may end up in the same division as both of them and USC. It’s not going to be a cake walk. Will definitely be interesting and exciting though.
One Duck's perspective...
No question in my mind that the Utes contend. Here’s why I think a division title in your inaugural Pac season is unlikely: the level of competition week to week is waaaaaay more intense than the MWC. No disrespect intended, but week to week the Pac is brutal. You can beat USC one week and get waxed by Stanford the next, beat Arizona and get tipped over by the Beavs or Huskies or UCLA. You WILL lose games in this conference every year. Forget about undefeated seasons. If you make it through the season without losing several of your starters to injuries that’s a victory in this league.
I don’t know enough about Utah’s team to comment… but depth is extremely important. I believe last year the Utes took out our best defensive back on a kick return. We bounced back from it because we had depth at that position… no depth and it’s lights out and crossing your fingers for that Sun Bowl invite.
Which is not to say that Utah won’t contend right away, (we all watched you wax ‘Bama a few years ago, and you certainly took my team to limit last season) but there’s very little breathing room. No Lobos, Rams, Cowboys or Rams to steamroll during the regular season.
The only weak link in the Pac (for the moment) is Wazzu. The rest can compete on any given day. It’s reasonable for the Ute fans to expect a season or two of adjustment.
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