USC report card
by JazzyUte on Sep 13, 2011 12:41 AM MDT
in Football
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I wasn't quite sure what to expect Saturday out of Utah because I still had doubts this team could hold its own against a superior opponent in their house. These doubts, obviously, were rooted in last year's play against TCU, Notre Dame and Boise State in the Las Vegas Bowl. As much as I wanted to dismiss those doubts outright, I couldn't because we really didn't know how this team would come out Saturday.
Sure, the Trojans might not be a great team and they very well could stumble a few times this season, but let's be honest, they're no worse than Notre Dame last year and the Irish, for most that game, wrecked the Utes. So even a marginally good BCS team gave the program a stinging loss last year.
Would that happen again this season?
At first, it appeared we were reliving the Notre Dame game. The offense couldn't find any rhythm and the game was quickly developing into a rout - as SC opened up a 10-0 lead.
I'm sure I am not the only one who had flashbacks to the three losses of 2010 and I even stated in the game thread that it appeared Kyle Whittingham had lost his Big Game Magic.
Fortunately, games aren't decided in the first quarter and, as Utah calmed down, they slowly got back into the game and because of it, the Utes, even in a loss, managed to turn some heads.
Was it pretty? At times. Did they play great? Not particularly. But I think, a month ago, if I had pegged the Utes as a three-point loser to the Trojans, with the game ending on a blocked field goal, I'm sure, as hard as it would be to accept such defeat, you would at least feel good about the end result - at least in the context of the overall season.
We did, after all, concede long ago this was going to be the most difficult game of the season because the Trojans, regardless of how inept their coaching can be at times, still have talent that rivals the best of the best in college football.
So Saturday, the Utes went down to SoCal, played a gritty game, came within a field goal of tying and left the Coliseum, hopefully, holding their heads high - because they never quit and regained the spirit that was lacking from this team last year in big-time games.
Yeah, I wanted a win. Yeah, the loss was painful. Yeah, if Utah had won, we'd be talking about potentially making it through a bulk of the season perfect. But it is what it is and the team now needs to regroup, fix their mistakes and beat BYU.
The grades after the jump...
Offense: B-minus - The offense was very one-dimensional for most of the game and considering that fact, it's actually pretty surprising they were so effective at times. The run game was, for a lack of a better word, marginal and had there been any consistent ground attack in this game, I think the outcome favors Utah - maybe by a touchdown or more.
With that said, I saw promise that things are turning around. Jordan Wynn did a complete 180 from the Notre Dame game last year and even though his shoulder continues to be an issue (I think it has to do with adjustment and not lingering injury issues), he played with a lot of heart and passion. Yeah, we can live on what ifs and I've seen some Ute fans toss around a few examples of where he should have thrown an interception - but he didn't and that's all that counts. In the end, driving Utah down field, he made the plays, specifically on fourth and ten that was perfectly executed and kept the game going.
The Utes did not lose because of Wynn. They lost because the running game lacked total consistency and the offensive line was shaky at best - forcing Wynn to scramble more than any of us would have liked.
In the end, though, they still played well enough to position the team for the win and, outside victory, that's all you can really ask for from a team.
I'd also like to point out how the offense really hurt when John White went out. I know this might contradict my first point, that there wasn't much run game, but White was still a bruiser, which is ironic considering his body type, and he could have made a huge difference earlier in the fourth when the Utes' drives stalled out and they were forced to punt. Unfortunately, White missed most every fourth quarter drive sans the final one, which, not coincidentally, was the best.
Props to Wynn, the receivers who are just nasty and even White for coming to play Saturday. It's tough going on the road and playing in front of 80,000 screaming fans against a program with NFL-talent at almost every position. I think people downplay how unassimilated this team is to one of the largest Pac-12 stadiums. This was their first time there and that is one of the biggest disadvantages the Utes have this season. Every other program outside Colorado has played at least one game in the Coliseum. They know the atmosphere, the playing surface and routines of that stadium.
For a first trip there in two lifetimes, the offense certainly held their own.
Of course, this can't be a B or higher because there were missed opportunities, only two scores and inconsistencies for much of the game.
Defense: B-plus - I gave the defense a B-plus solely because of the turnovers. You take those away and this game is an ugly, ugly loss where the Trojan offense just shreds Utah's defense. Of course, you can't take anything away from the defense because they did make the plays. They didn't luck into those turnovers, so even creating turnovers was a huge accomplishment for the unit.
What's more is that, in the fourth quarter when the team needed a stop the most, they stepped up every single time. They forced the Trojans to punt on every drive in that final quarter and it allowed the offense plenty of opportunities to score - to actually take the lead.
That was impressive because if you watched this game, there was one common theme: the Trojans would gain 4 or 5 yards on a run play and then picked apart the Utah secondary with short passes that would gain more yardage than they should have due to poor tackling.
However, in the fourth quarter, that never really happened.
After Whittingham was forced to punt with a little less than three minutes left (I think), I was skeptical of the decision. I was not convinced the defense could force a three and out and, with the help of a USC penalty, that is exactly what they did. The defense did everything in its power to win this game in that fourth quarter.
Special Teams: C - No excuse for a blocked field goal. That was ugly and cost the Utes the game. It negates everything positive done by the special teams. We knew the kicking game could be an issue, but I don't think we expected it to arise because the offensive line can't contain pressure.
I don't know if the kick would've sailed through, but it would've been nice if it at least had a chance. Alas...
Coaches:
- Norm Chow: B - No complaints about the play calling. I thought Chow called a very good game that would have won the game against most teams the Utes play this season.
- Kalani Sitake: B-plus - Like I said, the defense played great. They were coached well Saturday, made huge plays and held their own most of the night. With that said, the defensive line doesn't look as dominant as we had hoped. Though, to be fair, I doubt they'll face an offense this season (outside the Pac-12 title game, which is no guarantee) that rivals SC's. So...
- Kyle Whittingham: B - Last year, Whittingham was 0-3 in the biggest games of the season. This season, he's 0-1 but the effort is so far better and more inspired than anything we saw last season. I talked about a moral loss against Montana State, well, by the same token, this felt like a moral win. Sure, it doesn't count as a win and I'm not going to pretend we won - but I felt so much better about this program, our standing in the Pac-12 and the heart of our team than I did after week one's ho-hum victory over Montana State. Now please bring that same type of intensity down to Provo for the Holy War.
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B-
Every game the Utes will play this year will be winnable (including USC). I believe the next game will be a key moment for Coach Whitt’s career. After the debacles that were TCU, Notre Dame, and Boise, Coach Whitt needs to prove he can change the mentality of the team after a tough loss and be up for the next game.
Absolutely...
This is a big test for the team. Are they going to be too down on themselves or come out fired up?
Hopefully it’s BYU who’s hanging their heads low!
I'm feeling good about this teams mental makeup
Jazzy mentioned it, but just remember how this team wilted the moment they face any adversity. TCU, Notre Dame and Boise State were great examples of this team wilting in the face of adversity.
This year, there was something different about the team. A different mental makeup. They didn’t let mistakes get to them, and that’s what kept them in this game.
you know i think chow had something to do with it
I think the fact that chow who everyone knows is there to pick them up helps them out mentally.
Where as last year the co-cordinators they didn’t have the presence that chow has. If I knew he was there and cooking up a scheme to win I would play my heart out just for him
Are you sure he was safe? It looked like an out to the entire statium. Well bad call Blue.
by Alavel on Sep 13, 2011 9:39 PM MDT via mobile up reply actions
B
I think we should be able to come away from LES with a win. I honestly think we have a much more talented team than BYU (I try to be as objective a fan as possible, but I do think we have more talent). I do realize that the more talented team doesn’t always come out on top, though.
After playing in the coliseum, LES will seem like a breeze. If we can put up some decent points we should win. Heaven forbid we have to hear the Cougar fans remind of us a loss by the hands of BYU for the rest of the season.
I’m thinking White will have a breakout performance and run all over the field. After the first couple games and watching interviews of White, I am a huge fan of him. I think he is extremely grateful to be playing for the Utes. If you haven’t watched the post-MSU interview of him on YouTube, you should.
I attended the game at the Coliseum, and I believe USC is still a very good team. Next to TCU last year (national champs in my mind), USC was the best team I’ve ever seen live. USC still has the ability to recruit top notch talent. BYU is nowhere near as fast and strong as the Trojans.
I think our weakness is obviously our O-line, and I’m beginning to think our D-line needs some work too. It’s true what they say, the game is won/lost in the trenches. Our lines should match up well with BYU though.
I’m predicting an 8-4 season. Although I would be thrilled if we did better than that. There are some games we should win that we might lose.
I’m excited for the Pac 12 home opener against Washington, Go Utes!
If this team can make as big of progress from week one to week two every week...
We’ll be a very, very good team come November.
You’re right, there are games Utah should win they might lose this season. I’m thinking Pitt, maybe even a home game against UCLA (though that looks less and less likely) or Oregon State (Riley will have his team playing well come October – just like always).
It's just like MSU.
This game was all about the (lack of) offense. The difference is that this time it cost the game.
How can you give anything more than a tepid C to an offense that only scored 14 points?
If this was USC ‘08, where they had an average of about 6 points allowed, okay, sure. But those days are gone for now, and only scoring 14 on them is not good, especially with all the turnovers the defense got. Not trying to pile on – I’m a secondary Ute fan.
(I know lack of offense, D’s and F’s all around for my team last week :P )
Because the offense is ever evolving...
And, all things considered, they weren’t awful. I guess last year I remember scoring 7, 3 and 3 in all three losses last year and witnessed NO offensive movement. This year, though, specifically this game, Utah did see offensive movement. It wasn’t great, obviously, but it’s a start.
A B-minus is perfectly reasonable. Anyone who watched this game would see progress from Montana State.
They had over 300 yards of total offense. Only one turnover (no interceptions), nearly as many first downs as SC, about the same amount of third down efficiency as the Trojans. The only difference was in the run game and there I’ll agree.
But overall, Utah’s offense was nearly equal to the Trojans – though, obviously, not on the scoreboard.
Actually even on the scoreboard.
Utah’s offense was nearly equal to the Trojans. Both offenses put up 14 points. Even though it was the offensive line who failed on the kick, that doesn’t discount the offense.
Things Learned
Two things worried me this year:
1. Protection for the Kicking Game. This was scary last year. It is still not resolved. The positive is that after a blocked field goal, I’m pretty sure the team will take some major steps to fix things.
2. Wynn’s Durability. When Wynn took his first hit of the season, I was worried he would be out for the year. Turns out he is a scrapper. Anybody can get hurt. At least Wynn does not appear to be made out of glass.
Worth watching:
3. Dunn’s Runs. Finally, Dunn busts out for a big gain. Expect to see more of his speed this season as he figures out how to better elude tacklers.
Missed FG opportunity in first half
Why oh why didn’t Coach Whitt take the opportunity to kick on 4 and 6 inches at the 20?
I know we were down 10-0 at that point – but MAN – it would have been nice to have those points later.
And why is no one talking about this?
Missed FG opportunity in first half
Just went and looked it up – it was 4th and 1 at the 25, just after the start of the 2nd quarter.
Instead of what I expected to be a near-automatic FG, we PASSED INCOMPLETE on 4th and inches and turned the ball over on downs.
I remember this play
I remember at the time thinking it would come back and haunt us. And no shock, it did.
I can understand this call though.
The way the game was playing out at that point, it didn’t seem like a field goal was going to keep Utah in it. The momentum was definitely in SC’s favor, and they seemed to be moving the ball well enough that it was only a matter of time before they put a couple more TDs on the board. Luckily, Utah’s D came up with some big plays to negate all those yards the Trojans were eating up. Hindsight is 20/20, as they say, but at that point in the game I have a hard time faulting Whittingham for going aggressive.
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
Hindsight is always 20/20, right?
As CrimsonUte said, we were down 10-0, momentum was all on SC’s side and you got the feeling that Utah needed more than just 3 there. Obviously, it would’ve been the difference but no one could have known that at the time.
B-
And I think I’m being a little generous.
Defense
USC run plays typically gained too many yards, and as Jazzy said, poor tackling made the Trojan’s passing plays go longer than they should have too. Forced turnovers were the one redeeming quality of the D. And I agree with the thoughts on the D-line – they don’t seem as good as advertised. Maybe they looked good in the spring and fall because they were going up against what seems to be a mediocre O-line.
Secondary coverage was mostly good, although they seemed soft in the middle at times and tackling was sub-par.
Offense
For the most part, Utah was owned in the trenches. No push on run plays, so-so pass protection.
Blitz pickup was fairly poor – when the D is blitzing as often as they were, you hope to see some solid blocking from TEs/RBs and/or some plays to keep the D honest. SC didn’t seem to be disguising the blitz much at all, and I kept expecting the play to be adjusted at the line of scrimmage to a short out or screen. The reverse to Dunn seemed like the only play to counter the defense’s aggression.
Wynn played so-so; he had some poor throws and looked lost sometimes when he was scrambling.
John White and the receivers played out of their minds. Langi looked a bit like a freshman – a little lost on some of the non-rushing duties of an RB.
Ultimately, Utah couldn’t capitalize on multiple opportunities to drive for a score, especially in the fourth quarter.
Special Teams
Never heard why Marsh was punting instead of Sellwood, but he averaged just over 40 yards a punt and pinned something like 4 punts inside the 20. Utah generally had a field position advantage as a result.
Kick and punt returns were acceptable to good. Kickoff coverage was solid.
The blocked kick was just awful.
Coaching
My only major complaint here is the rushed field goal at the end of the game. USC seemed ready for it, but the Utes were not. Game over.
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
Man I think we've been spoiled
I’m not saying Wynn played lights out, but does nobody remember what it’s really like to have a bad QB? It hasn’t been that long. 2008 Brian Johnson, and the last two years of gunslinger Wynn has spoiled this fan base.
Wynn wasn’t great, but he did play well. He played smart, efficient football. If we expect him to go out and be the kind of QB who single handedly wins games we’re all going to be mistaken this year.
We're not the only ones who thought Wynn looked iffy
Our friends at the Pac-12 blog, Pacific Takes had this to say:
…Jordan Wynn somehow flicked a football like a backhand frisbee throw that wobbled on a rope for a 50% completion rate. DeVonte Christopher deserves serious hazard pay for hauling in some of Wynn’s most adventurous throws, which deadlined right to him at the slowest trajectory possible.
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 can't give the offense more than a C-
Wynn had a decent night as far as numbers go, but he looked terrible doing it. I can remember 4 or 5 plays off the top of my head that were completed, but poorly thrown. Each of them would have resulted in far more if they had been thrown accurately and with anything at all on them. I have no doubt that if he had the arm he did at the beginning of last season we would have scored at least one more touchdown. Still, he did make good decisions for the most part so that is to his credit. And he is definitely not the biggest problem with the offense right now. That goes to the offensive line.
Offensive line play was…well…offensive. Blitzes were not picked up, but far more egregious is that they didn’t need to blitz to put almost constant pressure on Wynn. The run blocking was also terrible and made us very one dimensional. It’s really amazing that the game ended as close as it did and there is really one reason for that. Take-aways by our Defense.
I argued till I was blue in the face last year that it was a bad idea to switch offenses for our first year in the Pac-12 and after 2 games the only word I can think of to describe this offense is anemic. I know a lot of you are encouraged by this loss but I’m not. It looks to me like it could be a very long season.
This is not a beauty contest...
I don’t care if he looks terrible doing it, if Wynn gets the job done, he gets the job done and he nearly got the job done.
Like I said up thread, Utah’s offense was even with the Trojans in almost every regard except on the ground. I doubt many people are giving USC a C-, or hinting that it should even be a D performance there.
Your last point, NC, would hold more weight if Utah’s offense last year had actually held up in bigger games. It didn’t. We scored 7, 3 and 3 in our three losses last year and let’s be honest, the 7 against TCU came well after the game had been decided.
If you think this year’s going to a very long season, I’d hate to see what this team would look like with the same offense as last season. I’m guessing no fewer than 9 losses.
Our offense looked that bad in those games in great degree because of three things..
1. Wynn was hurt
2. Wynn was not the right kind of QB for the system.
3. TCU was ridiculously good on D and once we played them we couldn’t stop seeing purple.
In previous years we did play good in big games. So by you’re logic we need to switch offensive schemes every time we either A have a bad year with it or B recruit a QB that can’t play it? That’s ass backwards if you ask me.
It isn’t a beauty contest but looking that bad shouldn’t inspire confidence in anyone. As for USC, if they were honest with themselves they would be giving themselves a C- or lower after giving away 3 balls on potential scoring drives. Don’t be such a homer Jazzy, just because Whit decides to do something doesn’t mean he is right. He’s a good coach but everyone makes mistakes. And changing O’s was IMHO a mistake.
I think you're just being negative for the sake of being negative...
Our offense was also very bad in big games in 2009, but you ignored that part too (and I’m talking even before Wynn was added – the only big game, really, outside the bowl game, where the offense looked good was the TCU game). I guess you don’t remember sitting through an offensive abortion against Oregon, a game where Cain threw two interceptions, the overall offense had less total yards, less total yards through the air and less completion rate from Cain compared and less yards averaged on the throw compared to Wynn last Saturday – arguably against a far superior defense than the Ducks in 2009.
So yeah, I am not going to say the offense was a C-minus, bordering on D (which you implied) when you consider it performed at the level of SC, bested a great deal of the performances seen in 2010 and 2009 (’09 SJSU game, Oregon game, CSU game, Wyoming game, BYU game, ’10 TCU, ND, BYU and bowl game – with a majority of those teams not even remotely at the level as SC this year).
That’s why I say your point would be stronger if, the last two seasons, Utah’s offense wasn’t abysmal at vast stretches throughout the season. The last time the Utes produced a successful offense in big games was 2008.
SC is not the metric for a good offensive performance.
They have talent but they’re not the world beaters they once were and remember they only scored 19 on Minnesota. The same Minnesota that gave up 28 to perennial powerhouse New Mexico State and lost! As for the grade, what basis do you have for giving them a B or even a B-? What part of that performance says ‘better than average’ in your book? Maybe it was all the stalled drives, the none existent running game, lack luster passing, or whopping 14 points? Wow, consider me underwhelmed.
Just like most prognosticators out there, you’re grades have no movement on them whatsoever. Instead of judging the performance you judge how you feel the unit is overall. You basically give out B’s like candy at a parade. I’m harsh on them when they deserve it, which this time they do, but when they don’t I give them a higher grade. Based on what I saw they didn’t deserve an ‘above average’ grade. Our offense this year is currently 98th in the country in points per game. That’s definitely below average in my book, therefore, below average grades.
So what you’re really saying about the offense is that the last time the offense was good in big games was the last time that the team was a good solid team? I’m stunned. You can’t blame the poor performance of the team on the system, the same system that BOTH national title contenders last year used.
I don’t have a problem with Chow’s system per se, it’s that we simply didn’t and don’t have the personnel to pull it off. The mantra in coaching is ‘play to your strengths.’ We are not doing that, we’re playing to Jordan Wynn’s strengths. If we’re going to do that than he bloody well better be able to win the game for you, and obviously he can’t.
In order to be successful with a down hill, west coast style pro offense you have to be the bigger, more physical team, or at least match the other team in that area. Which if you looked at our guys compared to those at SC we clearly were not, nor are we likely to be in the rest of our Pac-12 contests. I can’t see anything in our offensive performances the last 2 weeks that says we’re going to have a good offense. I can’t even see anything that says we’re going to have a decent offense.
Yeah, they kind of are...
Because they’ve got offensive weapons unlike anything Utah will see this season.
I think even you can admit that.
Look, you’re debating a false argument. You’re suggesting I’m saying Utah’s offense was great Saturday, I am not. You, however, have flat out said the offense was bad (a C- in any form, especially when you’re suggesting it should be in the D range, is close to failure).
What I saw Saturday was nowhere near failure. That is why I can’t give it a C- or a D-plus or a D or a D-minus, which you seem so close to doing.
What I’m saying is that I don’t think you remember many Utah games since Urban Meyer left. That’s the surprising thing. I think you’re still trying to compare this offense to that of Meyer’s and that’s like trying to fit a square peg in a round hole.
I know we all would love for Urban Meyer-like numbers and I can honestly say I’ve been secretly wishing for such a dominant offense since he left – even when the team rolled to 13-0 in ‘08. But that hasn’t happened.
Which is exactly my point. Even in ’08, the year where the offense had far better games than it did bad, there were still questionable offensive performances against Michigan, TCU and New Mexico.
I’d throw in Oregon State because, for much of three quarters, that offense looked abysmal.
You’re underwhelmed by 14 points. I get that. Like I said, you’re still living in the 2004-mindset, even though this team hasn’t been an offensive powerhouse at all under Whittingham. In fact, last year’s team was the closest to Meyer’s offense in terms of overall PPG production and what exactly did that net the Utes?
This is exactly what I’m saying and what you’re missing.
What I find most remarkable, however, is that you continually act as if we would be better off running the same offense as last year – one that was absolutely exposed in our three losses and, to a lesser extent the BYU game.
Yet you’ll go back to that offense, an offense that, for two years, struggled in some mighty big games, but won’t give this offense time to develop and prove itself. You’re quick to throw it under the bus TWO FREAKING WEEKS into the season. Are you serious or just screwing with me?!?
We had TWO YEARS for the last OCs to prove that the offense was progressing under their watch. Here’s the problem, it wasn’t.
The 14 points Utah scored in their loss last Saturday, BESTS the overall points they put up in all three of their losses.
But that’s what we should have stuck with? Call me very, very skeptical.
Moreover, it’s not just PPG. It’s offensive flow, offensive play calling, offensive performance, offensive success and I can tell you right now, what happened Saturday was so unlike anything we saw toward the end of ‘10 that I can’t even begin to put the differences into words.
Finally, I don’t think you read my grades. B- is not an above-average grade. It’s pretty average. Hell, in most graduate schools, B- would be considered failing.
And at best, it would be considered average.
Regardless, I saw enough out of the offense to find something to like. That’s something I couldn’t say in the losses last year.
I think our rating metric is severely off.
First of all, using graduate schools as an example of grading techniques is crazy. Graduate schools are fanatical in their attempts to frighten students into serious study. Practically every bell curve out there, not including graduate school, places the vast majority of grades into the C or ‘average’ area. So when I grade the Utes offense as a C- I mean, below average, not necessarily abysmal. So I think we may be closer in our ideas of where it stands than the letters we are throwing out may indicate.
That being said, I’ll freely admit that the previous offense had it’s issues. But overall it was and is an effective offense when the play calling doesn’t suck, which it clearly did the last 2 years. That’s not a problem with the offense per se, it’s a problem with the coaching. And yes we WOULD be better off running it. Why? Because we have the personnel to run it, where we do not have the personnel to run the pro set effectively. It’s really that simple.
You can improve execution and play calling (the main problems from the last couple of years) but you can’t coach up size and speed. Go back and look at the tape of the USC game and how our guys match up with their guys physically. It’s painfully obvious that ours are smaller and less athletic. Yet superior athleticism is precisely what is needed for a pro set to be effective. Especially a down hill run oriented pro set, which is what Whittingham wants.
I don’t think our offense is abysmal, it’s below average. I don’t know any reason, other than excessive cool aid drinking, that you would believe otherwise. I have no problem with the pro set, what I have, and continue to argue, is that it was not good timing to make the change. We don’t have the horses to pull it off this year where we might in 2-3 years recruiting in the Pac 12, and it is going to hurt us long term if/when we have a poor showing this year.
I was using that as an example...
I’ve never considered B- above average at any level, whether elementary school, junior high or high school. I don’t even think anyone has ever considered B- above average. In my opinion, it’s the definition of average, albeit better, obviously, than C-plus – but still, B-minus is barely considered a good grade.
I used the graduate school point as an example of how most people do not consider what I gave the offense an above average grade, as you said I did. If I had said B-plus or even B, I think your point would be valid. But not B-minus.
Essentially, you’re debating something that can’t be proven. We don’t know if Utah would be better off running the same offense they were running last year, but with better play calling. Even Andy Ludwig, who is a journeyman of sorts as OC, ran that type of offense and didn’t see concrete results throughout his four seasons as Utah’s OC.
Ultimately, you’re already giving up on the offense two games into the season. That’s why I’m so quick to snap back at you. It’s pretty ridiculous to suggest Utah’s offense is below average just two weeks into the season and then suggest a big part of it is the scheme and not necessarily the opposition. Surely if Utah had opened up against San Jose State and New Mexico, the offense might’ve looked a bit prettier than it has this season.
But that isn’t the case. I’ll give you the Montana State game, of course, but SC is not a good opponent to gauge whether this offense is being fully effective or not because they’re unlike most any team Utah will play the remainder of the season and certainly higher than ten teams Utah played last year.
That is the fault in your argument, You’re using two games, one against a team with NFL talent at a ton of positions as proof the offense is below average and won’t cut it this year (your words: we’re in for a very long season).
Yet you’re so set on continuing an offense that, for four of the last five seasons, was less than spectacular in so, so many games. Sure, play calling was a big part of that, but not entirely the issue.
Utah went through three play callers from 2005-2010 (Ludwig, Schramm and then Roderick) and though at times Utah’s offense looked impressive (generally against bad competition), on a whole, it wasn’t the identity of this team and, in some instances, played down right awful (’05 CSU, UNC games; ’06 UCLA, BSU, Wyoming games; ’07 OSU, AFA, UNLV, BYU games; ’08 OSU, New Mexico, TCU games; ’09 SJSU, Oregon, BYU games; ’10 TCU, ND, BYU BSU games).
So even if play calling was such a big issue, it’s not something so easily cleaned up if you don’t hire the right OC and even then, sometimes the fit isn’t a good one.
I guess bring in Chow and force him to adapt to an offense he doesn’t run, like he did at UCLA (a failure) or go out and hire another OC that runs the same system, but maybe isn’t near the play caller, teacher and coach of Chow.
Then where are we? Maybe a 35-0 loss to SC. As is, though, Chow, in two games, has me more confident in this offense than the last two play callers (maybe even going back to Ludwig, who I was critical of). I’m sorry if you find that drinking the Kool-Aid – but like I said, I saw enough out of the offense to find something to like. That’s something I couldn’t say in the losses last year.
The fault in your argument is that you're taking one game against SC as a measuring stick.
We don’t even know what kind of team SC has. Sure they’re big and ‘talented’ but that often matters little. You can’t just take the one game against them and say ‘we did ok against them so we should be great against everyone else.’ That is as flawed an argument as any ever used in sports. The funny thing you keep saying is that I’m taking 2 games and saying the offense doesn’t work (which I’m not, I’m saying the timing of the change is bad since it usually takes offenses until their second year to gel, and that it doesn’t fit our personnel) while at the same time you’re taking not 2 games, but ONE game, a game in which we scored only twice, and saying it’s proof that it does work.
Look, I like Chow as much as the next guy, and I think he can be good for Utah, but again I think it’s bad timing and probably wasn’t the right move at this time. The whole point of the spread is to allow a smaller, often less athletic team to take advantage of a defense by making them cover the whole field. The point of a down hill pro set offense is to line it up and overpower the defense. Now which one of those sounds like a better fit for our personnel?
As for the grade scale thing, you thinking that B- is the “definition of average” just shows your youth. Grades in this country have been artificially raised over the last 15-20 years in order to fit politicians agendas. If you don’t believe me, ask any teachers who have been around for a while. My wife was required by the district she worked for to artificially raise the grades of her students to a 70% or face punishment up to and including termination. Even complete rejects that never showed up and never completed a single assignment get it raised to that. This is not your fault, I’m just pointing out that you in this case have a shortened and therefore warped perspective.
i was telling a friend
that we as ute fans are so used to our offense being fairly proficient. it has been hard to see the team only put up 41 points in these first two games. But, the competition is increasing and with all of the other factors, I am optimistic about the offense.
Want to see someone really get their brain twisted up? Try explaining the Monty Hall problem to them....
by BigBenSportsGuy on Sep 13, 2011 10:05 AM MDT reply actions 1 recs
Good Game
I wanted to stop by. I hope this was the first of many good games. I don’t think we played up to our potental, but I’m not in the SC should have dominated the Utes camp, I expected a close game. Your guys have been a good football team for many years and NC is still a great OC. Our defense in much improved, thank god because they kept us in that game. Your squad defended MB well and did a good job keeping RW from breaking out. I want to leave you with this, and it is important. BEAT THE bRUINS!
_________________________________________________________________________
"You can't sanction heart, and you can't sanction the will to win" - USC QB, Matt Barkley
by WE ARE SC on Sep 13, 2011 3:04 PM MDT reply actions 1 recs
Thanks for the kind words...
Our defense kept us in the game too!
It was a fun game. It’s exciting not having a bunch of bodybag conference games like it’s been the past few years. Even though I expect an uptick in overall losses (Utah has averaged about 10 wins a season since 2003), the way the games play out, the national significance of every contest, is much more compelling than whether or not the Utes will beat UNLV by 20 or 40 points.
"Beat the bRUINS![sic]!"
We’ll do our best to oblige you that one – and every other Southern Division team we face.
I give us a C+ because of the inconsistency I saw all game. While there was improvement in the passing game, the run game took a serious step back. I believe that much of that is due to the size of the SC team. Some of the boys were friggin’ giants compared to our guys.
While the secondary played better than expected, and the take aways were exceptionally nice, we hardly put any pressure on MB all game. I mean, one sack? ONE? and hardly any hurry ups.
"It's a damn poor mind that can only think of one way to spell a word" - Andrew Jackson
we should beat pittsburgh. they struggled to beat maine.
Public Enemy #1 and enjoying every minute of it. Tapology.
by wolfmanshowlforever on Sep 13, 2011 3:07 PM MDT reply actions
No they did not.
Garbage time scores made it seem closer than it was. 14 Points and 150 yards for Maine were scored after Pitt had put scrubs in.
They didn't struggle, but they haven't looked all that good in the first two weeks...
They’re definitely beatable.
Agree that they are definitely beatable.
Just pointing out that much like a TD on the last play of the game can deceptively turn what actually was a 3 point game into a 9 point game, that garbage time made it look like Pitt struggled.
My personal though is the team itself isn’t what Utah needs to worry about, but that the wear down of the season and the cross country flight will bother Utah more than Pitt will.
AQ BCS teams are supposed to have depth. maine is not even a good fcs opponent.
Maine i believe lost by only 7 or 8 points of the top of my head.
Public Enemy #1 and enjoying every minute of it. Tapology.
by wolfmanshowlforever on Sep 14, 2011 8:07 PM MDT up reply actions
Pitt hasn't had depth for a few years
What should be, isn’t always the case. Not all AQ teams have depth Look at Ole Miss, who had no depth. Pitt is in that same boat where they have solid #1’s but their depth doesn’t go all that deep.
Not every AQ school is able to pull a Florida, Alabama, Texas, USC, etc.
pitts second team should be better than maine's first team. thats all.
Public Enemy #1 and enjoying every minute of it. Tapology.
by wolfmanshowlforever on Sep 17, 2011 1:28 PM MDT up reply actions
What's up with the picture??
I am confused as hell by the picture captioning this article. Is that referee a midget or are USC players really that giant? If it’s the latter, then I’d say we’re lucky to come out of the colosseum alive, let alone with just a loss.
haha, I cropped it...
Click on it for the whole picture. It’s during the game-tying field goal that was blocked. #10 is jumping up in the air, which is why he looks so tall.
But there were some friggin' monsters out there!
"It's a damn poor mind that can only think of one way to spell a word" - Andrew Jackson
They can't be bigger
Than Kruger. I’d like to meet that guy face to face.
by Joseph Silverzweig on Sep 13, 2011 9:16 PM MDT up reply actions
Glad Utah is in the Pac
Being a Pac fan for awhile now I was anxious to watch the Utah-USC game. The quality of play shown by Utah was surprising for someone who has not followed the team very closely. I believe that type of “Team” strength that Utah exhibited will bode well in conference play. I think the coaching is top notch, and as a result should bring in higher quality recruits. I am not saying Utah does not have talent. It is just my belief that Kiffen was outcoached and mainly won due to the talent he had (USC played quite a few freshmen that game). My hope is that Utah will look/take each conference game one at a time, and not look down the road. Pac conference play is a grind, since it is my belief that the Pac is the most balanced conference from top to bottom. So even if Utah believes it can win the rest of the PAC games out due to the the “close” loss to USC, I hope there is no underestimation of Arizona, ASU, and UCLA. Just ask USC, when even with some of there best teams always found a way to lose to someone they had no business losing to (OSU). To make a long story short, welcome to the PAC and good luck. The addition of Utah only strengthened the conference I love.
Pac
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