Can we be honest...

[Mormon Red Death]

Both Utah and BYU have the fixings this year for 7-5 or 8-4 seasons.

Whoever Utah has at QB will be inexperienced.

BYU's O Line is inexperiened and their defense could be worse than last year.

[jay santos]

Both Utah and BYU have the fixings this year for 7-5 or 8-4 seasons.

Whoever Utah has at QB will be inexperienced.

BYU's O Line is inexperiened and their defense could be worse than last year.

I don't know about the U, but BYU could be 7-5 with not a huge step down from last year, just based on the schedule. I don't think there's a large chance there will be a significant drop from last year's team. We have enough back in key positions.

[JohnnyLingo]

BYU's O Line is inexperiened and their defense could be worse than last year.

Oh, please no. Worse than the defense that gave up 32 to TCU, 35 to UNLV, 42 to Colorado State, 48 to Utah and 31 to Arizona?

I am not prepared for that.

[Goatnapper'96]

Both Utah and BYU have the fixings this year for 7-5 or 8-4 seasons.

Whoever Utah has at QB will be inexperienced.

BYU's O Line is inexperiened and their defense could be worse than last year.

I will be surprised if either team loses 5 games. 8-4 could happen to either but not both. One of them wins at least 9.

Utah's bigger loss, given the style of play they are likely to embark upon, is likely to be Sakoda. But what if the next kicker is still adequate?

I haven't looked at Utah's schedule but from my memory the only game that really looks daunting is at Oregon. I think the BYU and TCU game might be toss up with the advantage to Utah's opponents for being @ home and perhaps some emotion from the Ute wins from last year. For Utah to lose more than 3 it will have to include losses to teams the Utes shouldn't lose to and I think that Whit is at a point in his coaching career that that is not likely to happen more than once a year. If the Utes lose one to someone they shouldn't they are likely to beat someone they should have lost to. I see Utah winning 8 or 9 games. I think BYU will win one game more.

[smokymountainrain]

BYU's defense could be worse than last year.

However true it might be, that's just mean.

[Mormon Red Death]

I will be surprised if either team loses 5 games. 8-4 could happen to either but not both. One of them wins at least 9.

Utah's bigger loss, given the style of play they are likely to embark upon, is likely to be Sakoda. But what if the next kicker is still adequate?

I haven't looked at Utah's schedule but from my memory the only game that really looks daunting is at Oregon. I think the BYU and TCU game might be toss up with the advantage to Utah's opponents for being @ home and perhaps some emotion from the Ute wins from last year. For Utah to lose more than 3 it will have to include losses to teams the Utes shouldn't lose to and I think that Whit is at a point in his coaching career that that is not likely to happen more than once a year. If the Utes lose one to someone they shouldn't they are likely to beat someone they should have lost to. I see Utah winning 8 or 9 games. I think BYU will win one game more.

OOC games for the utes

USU at home
@ Oregon
@ San Jose St
Lville at home

[Goatnapper'96]

However true it might be, that's just mean.

I don't see how it is true. I believe that most who watched last year would agree that once Rich had the experience he would be a large upgrade over either Tafuna or Fowler. Those that have seen Scott Johnson would agree that he is appears to be more a playmaker than Fowler. IMO, BYU is better at safety. The ILBs are not going to be worse and usually players make at least incremental improvement by getting older/stronger and more experience. Losing David Nixon is huge but I can't see many scenarios where the incremental improvement of returning 6 starters along with the upgrades at safety would be less than the loss of Nixon.

Last year was a huge surprise because BYU's weakness was at positions BYU does not usually suck so bad. I think BYU moves back towards it's usual performance there and fields an average defense that ranks in the middle third of NCAA teams.

[Goatnapper'96]

OOC games for the utes

USU at home
@ Oregon
@ San Jose St
Lville at home

I see it likely the Utes win 3 of those. The only conference games that Utah has any reason losing are the TCU and BYU game. I think Utah is looking at a solid 9 win season.

I think that BYU has a sure loss to OU. The other 3 games BYU has any reason losing are all at home so I think they will win at least one and likely two. I think both are either still ranked or real close to it when they play each other and the loser is likely to finish the year unranked.

I really think that both HCs have their programs at a more mature level than the last time Utah rebuilded in 2005. We will see if I am right. I usually am as most people educated in college football agree with me.

[BoylenOver]

I see it likely the Utes win 3 of those. The only conference games that Utah has any reason losing are the TCU and BYU game. I think Utah is looking at a solid 9 win season.

I think that BYU has a sure loss to OU. The other 3 games BYU has any reason losing are all at home so I think they will win at least one and likely two. I think both are either still ranked or real close to it when they play each other and the loser is likely to finish the year unranked.

I really think that both HCs have their programs at a more mature level than the last time Utah rebuilded in 2005. We will see if I am right. I usually am as most people educated in college football agree with me.

Brilliant. I agree with the serious points, and the last line is golden.

[smokymountainrain]

I don't see how it is true. I believe that most who watched last year would agree that once Rich had the experience he would be a large upgrade over either Tafuna or Fowler. Those that have seen Scott Johnson would agree that he is appears to be more a playmaker than Fowler. IMO, BYU is better at safety. The ILBs are not going to be worse and usually players make at least incremental improvement by getting older/stronger and more experience. Losing David Nixon is huge but I can't see many scenarios where the incremental improvement of returning 6 starters along with the upgrades at safety would be less than the loss of Nixon.

Last year was a huge surprise because BYU's weakness was at positions BYU does not usually suck so bad. I think BYU moves back towards it's usual performance there and fields an average defense that ranks in the middle third of NCAA teams.

Agreed. With the huge improvement at safety alone, the entire defense should be improved. I'm excited to see Scott Johnson at his true position.

[Goatnapper'96]

Agreed. With the huge improvement at safety alone, the entire defense should be improved. I'm excited to see Scott Johnson at his true position.

I tend to believe that last year BYU coaches were so concerned about the issues at NT (slightly concerned), ILB (deeply concerned) and safety (another deeply concerned) that the scheme shaded the DEs and OLBs to cover the huge issues up the gut. I think this year there will still be concerns about the ILBs but with the safeties I think the coaches will not scheme to cover the weaknesses up the gut. The average at best play from the MLBs will prevent BYU's defense from being good, but I think the defense will be much better than last year.

One area that could be huge Charlie-Foxtrot is if Jordan Pendleton never learns his position and is constantly not where he should be. But I don't think the coaches have much choice but to throw him into the fire and hope he responds. I believe the physical ability the kid has will allow him to compensate to some extent. He is probably the best athlete on BYU's team.

[Jarid in Cedar]

I will be surprised if either team loses 5 games. 8-4 could happen to either but not both. One of them wins at least 9.

Utah's bigger loss, given the style of play they are likely to embark upon, is likely to be Sakoda. But what if the next kicker is still adequate?

I haven't looked at Utah's schedule but from my memory the only game that really looks daunting is at Oregon. I think the BYU and TCU game might be toss up with the advantage to Utah's opponents for being @ home and perhaps some emotion from the Ute wins from last year. For Utah to lose more than 3 it will have to include losses to teams the Utes shouldn't lose to and I think that Whit is at a point in his coaching career that that is not likely to happen more than once a year. If the Utes lose one to someone they shouldn't they are likely to beat someone they should have lost to. I see Utah winning 8 or 9 games. I think BYU will win one game more.

Vroman shined in the scrimmage yesterday going 7 for 7 on FG's. The kickers have improved dramtically since spring. Whether they stand up to a 42 yd kick to win or tie a game. That remains to be seen.