The Utah 2011 Football Thread

[LA Ute]

How can one determine bias without knowledge on the subject?

i said encyclopedic knowledge. Gotta pay attention when we're parsing words around here!

[Coach McGuirk]

i said encyclopedic knowledge. Gotta pay attention when we're parsing words around here!

.

[Portland Ute]

i said encyclopedic knowledge. Gotta pay attention when we're parsing words around here!

.

How do you get him to respond so amicably to you, LA!?

[Jarid in Cedar]

Time to get this thread back on track.

<sniff...sniff...sniff> That smell....that's the smell of gameday, and it is only 2 1/2 weeks away.

So after a 10 days of camp, I am fully loaded up on red kool-aid. Entering the season, I have 2 major concerns: a capable back up at QB(whether Wynn gets hurt or is ineffective), and depth at Oline, where it seems playing guard right now is the correct recipe to end up in the pit.

The secondary was my primary concern following the season, but the more I have heard about McGill and Rowe/Walker at safties, I have been put to ease. The primary problem in the secondary last year was that we were playing a strong safety at Free Safety and a linebacker at strong safety. This combination made our run defense stout, but was a disaster in pass coverage. The corners did not have any help over the top all season. It was so bad that we were relegated to playing zone much of the second half of the year(from about CSU on). Playing zone moved away from the very strength that we recruit in our corners, the ability to play press-man.
This year it looks like we are going with 2 free safties, so pass coverage should be better. We are young and are going to take some lumps here, but the depth of the athleticism and talent in the secondary is extraordinary. Black, Lacy, and Topps look to be the primary 3 CB's, but Wykie Freeman and Joseph Smith are going to see some time as well.

Linebacker is loaded with experience. Chaz Walker is a favorite whipping boy for Ute fans as being overmatched. I see him as a more athletic version of Mike Wright. Having a LB that correctly sets up the defense and gets people in right place is priceless. With Blechen moving to OLB, the athleticism gets much better across the back. Trevor Reilly is pushing him and will see significant time. Martinez will start with Walker and Blechen, but will likely become second string as some of the more talented youngsters start to see some gametime(Hales and Fehoko IMO).

I hope we see some improvement in the pass rush. Our Dline is the most heralded unit on the team, but I want to see us have the ability to get pressure with a 4 man front. Shelby seems to have the same explosiveness that he did prior to his ACL injury in 2009. Tevita Finau made an impact towards the end of last season, despite joining the team in the 3rd week of the season. With those 2, Joe Kruger, and David Rolf, DE looks to be improved over last year.

[Jarid in Cedar]

On offense, I think we have a strong core of lineman returning. The tackle spots are solid with 2 returning starters, and Stevens is at his more natural position, giving us 3 returning starters. Brenner was our top sub last year and should fill in nicely at LG. His elbow injury is a setback, but should be ready when the real games get started. LG is an issue, and is more complicated because the injuries have causes us to shuffle too many players to be able to get a good sense of who will fill that spot.

I am excited to see White as a RB. He runs hard and rarely loses yards. I am also relieved to see Vakapuna(sp?) back as well. I bet we see them together in the backfield on several sets.

WR is the deepest position on the offense, whcih isn't a surprise given that we have recruited with the purpose of putting 4 on the field at a time. With the change in offense, much of that talent is now compressed into 2 positions. Dexter Ransom is a guy that I expect to have a surprise season this year.

[LA Ute]

Time to get this thread back on track.

<sniff...sniff...sniff> That smell....that's the smell of gameday, and it is only 2 1/2 weeks away.

So after a 10 days of camp, I am fully loaded up on red kool-aid. Entering the season, I have 2 major concerns: a capable back up at QB(whether Wynn gets hurt or is ineffective), and depth at Oline, where it seems playing guard right now is the correct recipe to end up in the pit.

The secondary was my primary concern following the season, but the more I have heard about McGill and Rowe/Walker at safties, I have been put to ease. The primary problem in the secondary last year was that we were playing a strong safety at Free Safety and a linebacker at strong safety. This combination made our run defense stout, but was a disaster in pass coverage. The corners did not have any help over the top all season. It was so bad that we were relegated to playing zone much of the second half of the year(from about CSU on). Playing zone moved away from the very strength that we recruit in our corners, the ability to play press-man.
This year it looks like we are going with 2 free safties, so pass coverage should be better. We are young and are going to take some lumps here, but the depth of the athleticism and talent in the secondary is extraordinary. Black, Lacy, and Topps look to be the primary 3 CB's, but Wykie Freeman and Joseph Smith are going to see some time as well.

Linebacker is loaded with experience. Chaz Walker is a favorite whipping boy for Ute fans as being overmatched. I see him as a more athletic version of Mike Wright. Having a LB that correctly sets up the defense and gets people in right place is priceless. With Blechen moving to OLB, the athleticism gets much better across the back. Trevor Reilly is pushing him and will see significant time. Martinez will start with Walker and Blechen, but will likely become second string as some of the more talented youngsters start to see some gametime(Hales and Fehoko IMO).

I hope we see some improvement in the pass rush. Our Dline is the most heralded unit on the team, but I want to see us have the ability to get pressure with a 4 man front. Shelby seems to have the same explosiveness that he did prior to his ACL injury in 2009. Tevita Finau made an impact towards the end of last season, despite joining the team in the 3rd week of the season. With those 2, Joe Kruger, and David Rolf, DE looks to be improved over last year.

I would indeed be ungrateful today if I did not stand on my feet and thank Jarid for this wonderful post, which has been a blessing to me.

[OrangeUte]

I would indeed be ungrateful today if I did not stand on my feet and thank Jarid for this wonderful post, which has been a blessing to me.

Ditto. I'll ask my question again that was lost in the flat top v. cougjunkie debacle.

Any word on Jake Murphy and how his progress is coming along? Early in the year he was pegged as starter at fullback. I've heard nothing out of camp about him and wonder if Vakapuna has edged him out for the FB spot on plays that utilize a fullback.

Utah seems stacked pretty well this hear on offense. The concern Whit has expressed is the gap between the starters and the back ups. The more I read, though, that separation seems more applicable to the RBs than to any other set on the field, either offensively or defensively. Perhaps with 3 weeks left until the opening game, that gap will substantial close as Langi and Thretton learn to blast into defenders when they carry the ball and block. I am hopefull that the backfield will solidify throughout camp and the first few games to where that is a position of strength.

As for Hays, it sounds like he had a few good practices after the scrimmage. Perhaps he will be a quality backup. Here's to hoping he has Rodgers and Ratliffe-itis from his time at Butte College.

[LA Ute]

How do you get him to respond so amicably to you, LA!?

Coach and I have smoked a virtual peace pipe together.

[Flattop]

Flattop doesn't know BYU's team like CJ know's Utah's.

Who?

It's more a matter of zeal for the battle than hatred.

I'm sure he has me on both.

My guess is flat top doesn't know as much about the utes team as CJ does, let alone, Gunther, Jan or Hot Lunch.

But I've got them all beat with my knowledge of the Pacific War.

Well, since Flattop was just sounding off about media bias, I'm not sure encyclopedic knowledge of the Ute players is essential.

At least I know most of their names and what position they play -- sort of.

[Jarid in Cedar]

Ditto. I'll ask my question again that was lost in the flat top v. cougjunkie debacle.

Any word on Jake Murphy and how his progress is coming along? Early in the year he was pegged as starter at fullback. I've heard nothing out of camp about him and wonder if Vakapuna has edged him out for the FB spot on plays that utilize a fullback.

Utah seems stacked pretty well this hear on offense. The concern Whit has expressed is the gap between the starters and the back ups. The more I read, though, that separation seems more applicable to the RBs than to any other set on the field, either offensively or defensively. Perhaps with 3 weeks left until the opening game, that gap will substantial close as Langi and Thretton learn to blast into defenders when they carry the ball and block. I am hopefull that the backfield will solidify throughout camp and the first few games to where that is a position of strength.

As for Hays, it sounds like he had a few good practices after the scrimmage. Perhaps he will be a quality backup. Here's to hoping he has Rodgers and Ratliffe-itis from his time at Butte College.

Not a ton of reporting on the FB's or TE's. It seems that Jake is still in the mix for signifcant PT, but no one made any comments about the scrimmage/practice regarding these 2 positions.

[cougjunkie]

Not a ton of reporting on the FB's or TE's. It seems that Jake is still in the mix for signifcant PT, but no one made any comments about the scrimmage/practice regarding these 2 positions.

According to Utahs latest depth chart John White is the 1st team RB, followed by Vakapuna and Lucky Radley is third. Langi and Palamo are nowhere to be found.

Then again that same depth chart (released by the school) has Luke Matthews as the starting fullback. A position that he has yet to play during spring or fall camp.

[Flattop]

Gunther just said that he hasn't seen Wynn throw much, but when he has Wynn has looked good.

O.C. and Jan have just put to rest last week's speculation that Wynn might not be healthy.

[DrumNFeather]

According to Utahs latest depth chart John White is the 1st team RB, followed by Vakapuna and Lucky Radley is third. Langi and Palamo are nowhere to be found.

Then again that same depth chart (released by the school) has Luke Matthews as the starting fullback. A position that he has yet to play during spring or fall camp.

I thought I read somewhere that Langi might redshirt, though I think it would be premature to come out and say that right now. If I am not mistaken Radley has been moved to defensive back, but again, could be wrong.

[Jarid in Cedar]

I thought I read somewhere that Langi might redshirt, though I think it would be premature to come out and say that right now. If I am not mistaken Radley has been moved to defensive back, but again, could be wrong.

Radley moved back to RB about 1 week into spring camp.

[Flattop]

More from 1280.

John White IV is the clear starter at RB. He scored two TDs in today's practice.

The O-line is making progress. There are still some issues and D-line will continue to win some battles in practice.

Offense is becoming more effective against defense.

Rowe can play both FS and SS and may see PT at both.

Wynn said he does not want a "go to" receiver, he wants to find the open man. Some nice catches by WRs today.

O.C could not praise Fakafaua enough.