Utah (3-3) @ Cal (3-3)

U$C destroyed cal and the qb play from cal was awful. i say we stack the box and let this guy try to beat us. he has a bad throwing motion. our defense can win keep us in the game and as long as the offens does not have more than 1 or 2 turnoves we should win this game. the special teams have to play much better too. anybody know how many points we have allowed by mistakes by ST’s?

In fact, Utah ranks third to last in red zone offense nationally. Only Western Kentucky and North Texas are worse than the Utes.

Cal’s red zone offense was the main criticism of the team before Maynard went colorblind and started throwing to the red and gold guys last week. We’ve had 3TDs and 6 field goals in 12 trips over the last three games.

Cal is averaging almost 300 yards per game. Keenan Allen leads the conference in reception yards and is second to Robert Woods in receptions.

Utah’s pass d is going to have a big test.

I’m still trying to wrap my head around the fact that Utah held Pitt to 120 total yards, but still could have lost the game with a couple of minutes left. Is that possible?

Utes have to score in the red zone. FGs just keep other teams hanging around.

We have the boat down there for some first time “boat gating” and it should be a party! Lemme know if your going us utes can party! Also we have 2 extra tickets to someone in need

It was a push for me on learning more about this year’s Utah team.

On the positive side our FG kicker did a good job and was the difference maker between winning/losing. Also we were able to bounce back from a 14-3 deficit, which sheds some light on the fighting spirit of a team.

On the downside, we had a ANOTHER punt block (FOR A TD!!) on top of the three from last year. I get tired of reading of how our team addressed certain issues like special teams/penalties and they come back to bite us again in the can. Despite vowing to clean up the penalties, we committed more infractions during the Pitt game than we had in prior games. Some of the penalties like the one on Kreuger for the love tap on Sunseri and on Martinez for a late hit out of bounds (on continuation/momentum) I can live with, but Cullen’s unsportsmanlike and false starts are getting REAL OLD.

We were fortunate and fortuitous to win the Pitt game. Our lone offensive TD was gift from heaven. Our passing game if you can call it that isn’t very good and the defense has to carry us. Our O-line doesn’t give Hays enough time so it is not all on him. Just like the last game, my expectations against Cal is that we play a turnover free game (btw I consider a blocked punt as a turnover) and that our defense rises to the occasion again. I am not sure if the Pitt coaches watched Price and Osweiller torch our D with crossing and down the seam routes, but I am hoping the improvement against Pitt was because our D addressed those issues. I pray for a miracle that Jon Hays somehow becomes Utah’s version of Earl Morrall.

about whether or not Utah was “lucky” to win this game against Pitt.

I would say no, simply because the offense did a good job of putting the defense in positions where they could succeed. There wasn’t really a time when Pitt got the ball in great field position a bunch of times in a row. The offense did enouch. They need to get better and more effective, but i wouldnt call this win lucky.

My main point here though is…..the manner in which this game was won is not sustainable. John White can not carry the ball 36 times/game if we want to win. He is going to last all of two games if that pace continues.

I know, it was windy, and yes, Hays wasn’t picked. But we HAVE to get more production from the pass game. We will lose at least three more games unless we can move the ball via the pass. If we are goign to run the ball, we have to have Harvey Langi getting more carries/making the mist of the carries he gets.

With him having limited game reps and being a rookie, we might start running into fumbling issues again. I’m not saying don’t use em, but how about more balance pass and run. Not run run run. Pass run run run run run etc.

Hays is being contained by our own offensive play calling – Presumably to get him comfortable with the current offense without committing turnovers. But look for him to have 1-2 more big plays each game. He had 1-2 this game. I expect to see 3-4 from him against Cal as the offense gets more comfortable letting him run a few more plays.

White will continue to be White and give Hays a running threat, allowing the defense to over commit to the run and give him a couple of fun plays to run.

I think Utah improves quickly on offense (We kind of had a 6-8 week setback because of Wynn going down) – And hopefully Cullen either gets benched or stops getting stupid penalties.

The special teams is still a wild card for me. Who knows what happens there – But it will probably affect the outcome of the game.

In that he didn’t make any seriously stupid mistakes this weekend. Sure a few of those batted passes were a little scary, but diving right at the linebacker to recover his own pass shows heart and I can appreciate that. I don’t like sacks, but sometimes it’s better to take a sack than to try and force something that can lead to a fumble, int, or intentional grounding. He still has a ways to go, but I can see him getting more comfortable and confident in playing and that makes me happy, or at least lessens my concern.

I was happy to see ball security in force. JW4 kept both hands on that thing until he was 10 yards past the line. I also saw Dres tuck over the ball the instant he got touched so that means it’s becoming instinct. Good.

The kickoff team is still inconsistent. It’s as though they either drop the returner inside the 15 or they let them past the 35. I’d be happy if every return was covered at the 20 – 25 yard line. Granted I’d also like Vroman back so he could send it out the back of the endzone every time.

I think our O is going to find it’s way this week. Our D is solid. Special teams has a lot of work this week to get better. I think the game is there for the taking. We just need to take advantage of every play.

3-3, 0-3 with losses to USC and UW and someone at the top of their respective divisions.

Utah’s defense is potentially awesome but nobody’s sure.. Cal’s offense is the same. Utah’s offense is painful to watch and Cal has a pretty leaky defense. Seems like a really hard game to bet on. I think both coaches are selling this as back against the wall.. Utah winning a non-conference game against Pitt was nice and all but it really means squat long term you gotta beat your conference.

Oh and both beat the crap out of a religious school this year in a game that many fans questioned the value of playing :p

Hopefully our team can’t read the over loading elevator sign and get stuck in the lift again.

As a Cal alum and a Ute fan… I’ve been waiting for this game all season.

Why? Finally…. at last…. I can cheer for both teams on the field, and not really care if Utah wins or loses.

If Utah wins, great. If Cal wins, cool. I’m covered.

My prediction, however… 21-20 Utah.