From emails and comments I've seen, I think fans are getting a little impatient with the Utes' offense and want to see more. Have to say I agree.
Couple things I'm looking for today, better passing down field from Terrance Cain. If he can't do it the Utes should give Jordan Wynn a try. Coach Kyle Whittingham said this week they don't want to redshirt Wynn and want to give him experience. Conference play starts in two weeks with two road games, do they really want his first game time to be at CSU or UNLV? Seems it would be better for him to log his first minutes in the friendly confines of Rice-Eccles Stadium.
Also want to see more variety in the passing game. For all the talk about how great Aiona Key and DeVonte Christopher looked in spring/fall they've been nonexistent as receivers (although Key has drawn praise from Whittingham for his blocking). Key has just two catches for 15 yards, Christopher has none.
In case you were wondering, David Reed has 20 catches for 282 yards, Jereme Brooks has 12 catches for 149 yards, John Peel has 10 for 137 yards, Matt Asiata has seven for 71 yards and Shaky Smithson has six for 42 yards.
A lot of talk about the run game and its ineffectiveness against Oregon. My thought on that is it isn't something to worry about right now. Judging by his two carries for negative yardage against Oregon, Eddie Wide isn't the power back the Utes claimed him to be, that is why the Utes had to use Asiata against Oregon when they were hoping they could sit him out.
Asiata looked tentative against the Ducks because of his shoulder. He said this week he feels better (better, not great mind you) so I bet he'll run better.
However, with him still not 100 percent and backup Sausan Shakerin out (shoulder) this is as good a game as any to focus on the passing game, isn't it?
Defensively, the Utes need improvement in all areas. They've got to do a better job against the run and will be challenged by Louisville back Vic Anderson (101.5 average).
The Utes also need to get to quarterback Justin Burke (242.5 total offense) better than they have other QBs.
The corners weren't really tested against Oregon, but the Louisville Courier-Journal story hints they could be busy today. We'll see if they can improve from their bad performance against San Jose State.
Story in today's paper about how the BCS has skewed the focus on these non-conference games.
2 Comments:
The talk of changing QBs is premature. Cain is a double threat passing and running. Passing down-field depends on a lot of factors: the OL, the receivers getting open, etc. It would have been nice if Ms. Wodraska would have studied UL and let us know what type of players they have, their strengths and weaknesses. Last year Ute QB BJ early had too many picks and sacks, but was terrific at the end of the season. He rarely threw long. Its also too early to classify Wide (power, scat back, etc.). He looked strong at the end of the SJS game. RBs have to learn to read and time hitting the gaps. This coverage by the Tribune is disappointing. They should consider changing to a writer who knows more about football.
I think Wide is good, but Asiata is incredible. Losing him for the year will really hurt. Coaches over-worked him like I was afraid of and now he has a torn acl and his career is over.
This will cost us some games.
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