One week from football
by JazzyUte on Aug 24, 2011 11:57 PM MDT
in Football
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PrintIt's pretty remarkable how time flies. It feels like only yesterday Norm Chow was joining the staff and Utah football quickly waltzed into the offseason on a high note after an embarrassingly bad performance in the Las Vegas Bowl (or whatever the hell they call that thing now-a-days).
Now we're a week away from seeing if Chow can live up to all the hype and whether or not Jordan Wynn is ready to lead this team. He says he is, the coaches believe he is (even Chow's saying he reminds him of Ty Detmer - I bet that gets under Cougar fans' skin), so I'm assuming he will.
But we'll find out soon enough, even if the opponent is Montana State, a program not even at the FBS level.
Of course, there were teams Utah faced last year that, though not entirely, were somewhat on the level of these Bobcats (I'm thinking Wyoming) and in that game, Wynn looked, quite frankly, bad.
So we should at least get some idea of how good this offense is, especially since Montana State is no slouch. They're an established and successful program in their own right, making the playoffs last year.
What should we expect a week from today? Well nothing short of a sizable win. I'm not trying to disrespect the Bobcats, who took Washington State to the wire at the start of last season in Pullman, but I think we'd all be disappointed if this game wasn't decided entering the fourth quarter.
What are your expectations for Thursday?
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That was fast...
Maybe a Block U record for quickest reply to one of my posts (though, lacking any true substance, man!).
You know you've arrived as a blog now.
You have enough readers that it’s an achievement to be the first poster.
Bannable Offense
I think there should be a user ban for doing “First” posts
by UnHoly Ram on Aug 25, 2011 10:03 AM MDT up reply actions 1 recs
The Utes need a convincing win!
I think there are a lot of questions coming out of fall camp. The Utes need to put together a solid game. It does not need to be perfect (it is afterall the first game of the season), but they only have one game to get ready for a true test in USC. No disrespect to Montana State, but in all reality they should not be able to compete with us. The game must be decided by the beginning of the 4th, if not we could be in some trouble.
Game day can’t come soon enough!
by UtesFootball on Aug 25, 2011 12:25 AM MDT via mobile reply actions
I'll even say the game should pretty much be in hand at the half...
Though Utah was only up 17-7 against NAU a few years ago (won 45-7, so…). But it’d be nice if, heading into the break, they led by at least three scores.
72 Dolphins, 2004 & 2008 Utes
2 of these teams are not like the other. And the answer is not that one of them is in the NFL.
Both the 1972 Dolphins (yes I am a Miami fan) and 2008 Utes won a lot of close games on their way to undefeated season, while the 2004 Utes blew lots of teams out.
I don’t necessarily think that if we win a close game against Montana State that our team won’t have a good year, but I hope we do have a convincing win for the sake of probability.
I would be satisfied if we 1) win (convincingly would be nice), 2) pile up 200+ yards rushing (not sure about our running game), 3) no injuries, especially our QB, 4) our kicker(s) make every FG attempt plus a couple of 50 yard shots, 5) no special screw ups (our special teams had a bad 2010 season, too many punts blocked).
by Utah-UCLA alum on Aug 25, 2011 12:45 AM MDT reply actions
I’m hoping the Utes come out strong and put the game away by midway through the third quarter. It would be beneficial to give some of the young and 2nd string guys (Hays, VJ Fehoko, Hale, Fakahafua, K. Scott, Asiata OL, Palamo, etc) some live reps. I have a feeling that Langi may use his redshirt year.
I don’t see Montana State running the ball effectively against our front seven. We’ll see what the secondary is made of. If they score it will be through the air or on special teams. The reports of the DB’s have been good, but this is will be a real test before getting thrown into the Colosseum.
Is a 28 point win too much to ask for?
by UteinBrooklyn on Aug 25, 2011 6:31 AM MDT reply actions 1 recs
I see this game
as a litmus test for the defense and a test for Norm Chow.
I want to see pressure on the QB and lock-down secondary defense against the slower and smaller (relatively, they are bigger and faster than me!) receivers of Montana State. I would like the defense to hold the opposing to team to 17 points or less.
I also want to see Chow out-coach the opposing D Coordinator, even with a limited playbook. We all know that our offensive game lately has been coached in uninspired and predictable fashion. I want to see long pass plays at unusual spots, less ‘tricky’ and more downhill in the running game, and a genuine out-gaming of the other team.
I think we’ll win this game, and I’m less concerned by the margin of victory than I might be otherwise; I’m much more interested in how the offense is running than in how many points they score. I do want to see pure athletic dominance from the defense.
by Joseph Silverzweig on Aug 25, 2011 7:59 AM MDT reply actions
5 things I want to see at the game next week
I want to see Montana State throw the ball as much as possible. I read that Montana State has a great QB and I would love to see him make our secondary work hard. As they are mostly new, I would love to see them get a lot thrown at them. Prepare them for the great QBs we will be seeing later in the year.
I would love to see us establish a strong run game and have a lot of 3rd and short situations. It seems like every third down after the Iowa State last year was 3rd and long.
I would love to see Dunn break a kick off return out to mid field at least.
I would love to start calling somebody else “King Louie 2.0.” We didn’t need a great kicker in 04 because the scores weren’t close, in 08 though we couldn’t have done it without our king.
I want to see Jordan Wynn, that’s all, I know he will be good, I just want to see him.
Still nervous about punt protection
Last year I was always on edge every time we had to get a punt away. The protection seemed iffy. Combine that with unsettled kickers, and we might have a recipe for more blocked kicks (the bad kind, not the BYU kind) and bad field position. The big teams in the Pac12 will eat us alive unless we have finally gotten this aspect of the game under control.
Can’t wait to see Jordan play again.
I predict a few breakout plays as our new guys try to prove themselves. Some big runs. At least one stunning long pass capped by a good run for a TD. I keep waiting for Dunn to explode for insane yardage . . . maybe this is the game.
Any Way..
to watch this game if you are outta state??
There have been rumors of an internet stream. We'll see what happens.
Everyone hates a pink-shirt-wearing communist.
by displacedute on Aug 25, 2011 10:46 AM MDT up reply actions
How worried about legality are you?
There’s sites like vipstand.me
I used Justin.tv a couple times last year..
quality was poor and it was almost better to just listen to the game on Kall
by UTalkintome? on Aug 25, 2011 11:36 AM MDT up reply actions
that site has been taken over
as have most illegal streaming sites.
Want to see someone really get their brain twisted up? Try explaining the Monty Hall problem to them....
by BigBenSportsGuy on Aug 25, 2011 11:56 AM MDT up reply actions
If I can find someone illegally streaming it, I will watch.
They’re breaking the law, not me.
My dad also has a slingbox, I may do that. But I’m hoping I don’t have to resort to that.
Everyone hates a pink-shirt-wearing communist.
by displacedute on Aug 25, 2011 12:32 PM MDT up reply actions
I think KALL
Does a really good job. I just listen to them.
by Joseph Silverzweig on Aug 25, 2011 1:05 PM MDT up reply actions
Well I've had success the past couple years.
Both college and pro with vipstand.me
Wow Norm started a Firestorm
The Wynn Comments have BYU fans up in arms. Jan on 1280 is having a meltdown.
by UnHoly Ram on Aug 25, 2011 10:29 AM MDT reply actions 1 recs
Eyes rolling.
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, In hopes that St Larry soon would be there. -Maji Man
by daedalus17 on Aug 25, 2011 10:46 AM MDT via mobile up reply actions
lol
Jan is a moron. He always throws a tantrum when something goes right for Utah. The guy grew up a die hard ute fan, and when McBride was let go, Jan got bitter. Jan is a putz. A straight up putz.
Want to see someone really get their brain twisted up? Try explaining the Monty Hall problem to them....
by BigBenSportsGuy on Aug 25, 2011 10:50 AM MDT up reply actions
I agree, but it's not just Jan
You should check out the Red and Blue facebook page, as well as some of these callers. Many they are taking this straight to the soul personal.
I can only imagine.....
i just turned it on the online stream. Jan will be uptight all day today, love it! And its all over a non-issue! He didn’t even say that he is as good as Detmer, just that he has a similar football IQ
Want to see someone really get their brain twisted up? Try explaining the Monty Hall problem to them....
by BigBenSportsGuy on Aug 25, 2011 10:59 AM MDT up reply actions
It must be that Jan hates to hype a quarterback before they prove it on the field.
The irony is so thick it isn’t even funny. Honestly, it just makes him look foolish with his double standard.
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, In hopes that St Larry soon would be there. -Maji Man
This isn't new
Chow said Wynn reminded him of Detmer at least 3 months ago, if not earlier.
Dolphins and sharks are natural enemies. Dolphins are like, "Quit eating us," and sharks are like, "Stop smiling all the time, you morons."
Sort-of-daily sort-of-funny sort-of-thoughts at danoftheday.com
I expect...
defense to dominate, chance to see what the secondary has, and I hope the offense runs smoothly. And please, please, no more lining up, then the entire offense standing up and looking to sidelines for the play. That bugs the hell out of me.
I don't think Thursday is going to be a blowout
…guarantee you it’s going to be boring ol’ McBride football. Predictable, plain vanilla, and run-run-run. Don’t you all realize we’re playing USC the following week? If you think we’re going to open the playbook at all against MS you’re just dead wrong. The 1’s will start and play their guts out, but given the fact that we’re not opening the playbook I think it’s unlikely we beat the spread (28?) and I’m expecting us to only win by a few touchdowns.
After MS, the coaches will treat the remainder of the season much differently. I’m actually real excited to see what Chow has in store for USC. I think we’ll see a heck of a lot more sets against USC (and other Pac-12 foes) than we’ll see next week against MS.
You need to open the playbook somewhat...
Because there has to be some familiarity with the offense heading into a huge game. You can’t just run, run, pass, punt your way through the first game and then hope to turn it on a week later against the Trojans.
If this was year two or three of the Chow Offense, I’d agree, because players would have actual game familiarity with it, but there is a huge difference between play development during a practice and actual game-time. How will the team react to this or that play?
Not saying they’ll blow open the playbook, but they need some offensive foundation set before the SC game.
So I think we’ll see some fun combos, while not completely showing our cards.
agreed.
i think we will still see some interesting stuff. I am excited. Just a week to go.
Want to see someone really get their brain twisted up? Try explaining the Monty Hall problem to them....
by BigBenSportsGuy on Aug 25, 2011 12:57 PM MDT up reply actions
...ok, maybe a wrinkle or two but nothing too interesting.
i imagine the play calling is going to be similar to the red/white game. time will tell.
I don't like
keeping the playbook so closed… I’m not sure there’s much advantage to be gained strategically from seeing different looks in such a small sample size. I think USC is likely to show us the same defense regardless of what they see, barring a woefully inaccurate QB or terrible running game which they can exploit in terms of coaching their LBs and Safeties.
by Joseph Silverzweig on Aug 25, 2011 1:08 PM MDT up reply actions
prediction. utah 35, montana state 14.
Public Enemy #1 and enjoying every minute of it.
by wolfmanshowlforever on Aug 26, 2011 6:40 PM MDT reply actions
This is probably right.
In a normal matchup with a mid tier FCS opponent, the win expectancy is 81%. Montana St is expected to compete for the Big Sky title – they aren’t bad. Maybe the expectancy drops to 75%. Stacked odds still, but not enough just to sleep walk through the game. Utah has lost to an FCS foe before.
Damn, my eyeball tastes good.
@chrislandon
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