tah is not having an easy time in their first year in the Pac-12. They have gotten off to an 0-3 start in Pac-12 play. They were pounded by Washington (31-14) and Arizona State (35-14) in consecutive games. They are getting the questions about the transition and whether they are really up to the weekly grind at the BCS level. As you would expect, the Utes dismiss such notions.
“We were up 14-13,” Utah coach Kyle Whittingham said of Saturday’s 35-14 loss to Arizona State in which the Utes committed five turnovers for the second game in a row. “We were going toe to toe and doing some good things. Do we need to keep recruiting and developing the roster? Yes. Everybody does and that has happened and will happen and get upper-echelon players. But it is apparent we can play with the guys in this league. We just have to play smarter and possess the football.”
Nevertheless, the Utes (2-3, 0-3) acknowledge that being out of a conference race before the first frost hits their practice field does feel odd to them.
However, this season’s slide is part of a larger trend. Since starting the 2010 season with an eight-game winning streak, Utah has gone 4-6 in its past 10 outings.
See? It isn’t that the Utes are in over their heads. It’s that they were already trending lower before joining the Pac-12.
For the year, yeah, it has to be a big adjustment for Utah. As the article notes the margin for error — or sloppy play — is a lot smaller. Utah could get away with it in games against a New Mexico or Wyoming. It’s a lot different when the overall talent and competition is better. The frequency of good competition is higher. There’s less circling dates for certain games to make a statement, when all the games are better.
Utah is heading out east early. In fact, they are leaving for the ‘Burgh today. Why? It’s all part of the plan to adjust themselves to playing at the equivalent of 10 am this Saturday.
The Utes have been practicing in the mornings this week and are leaving for Pittsburgh on Thursday, a day earlier than usual.
“It is a concern, but we play the games when they tell us to,” Whittingham said.
Players say their coach has nothing to be worried about, and they’ll be ready to go.
“It’s not that big of a deal,” linebacker Brian Blechen said. “It’s earlier, but you go through the same routine on game day wherever you’re at and no matter what time it is.”
Utah is 6-12 in eastern games. As for missing class time with early morning practices and leaving early. Not actually an issue since Utah is on fall break.
Another concern for Utah — and boy this may seem familiar – turnover margins. Utah had 10 turnovers in their last two games.
The Utes coaxed Brigham Young into seven turnovers and blew out the Cougars at home, 54-10. Then, the Utes committed five turnovers in each of their next two games, and lost both big.
Coincidence? Not at all, the players and coaches say.
“It’s the most important stat of the game, other than the final score,” Whittingham said.
…
“It’s a big deal for us every week,” defensive lineman Dave Kruger said. “We focus on trying to get our goal every week, usually it’s two or three a game.”
Utah’s defense practices batting down balls, recovering loose balls and trying to strip the ball.
The offense, meanwhile, practices hanging onto the ball while players are getting hit or are in a scrum.
It isn’t just the offense. In Utah’s first 3 games the defense forced 12 turnovers. In their last 2 games — only 1 turnover. Despite the heavy emphasis on turnover margins, and that article stressing that it has been a factor, there is still an attempt by Utah to downplay actual concerns.
“Sometimes you talk too much about it, (and) it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy where everyone’s on pins and needles. You can’t let it get to that point,” Whittingham said. “You’ve just got to be fundamentally sound on how you carry the football, and that’s something we work on each and every week.”
Do as the signs admonish, in other words.
“We’ve just got to do the little things,” new Utah starting quarterback Jon Hays said, “tucking the ball away, two hands on contact, keeping it high and tight.”
And, yes, throw it to the guys sporting your colors.
After his first Utah start, Hays admitted all three interceptions against ASU “gnaw at me,” especially because two could’ve been touchdowns and the other a first-down play.
“I’ve just got to be smarter with the decisions I make in the pass game,” Hays said.
Hays is a JUCO transfer pressed into starting duties now that Jordan Wynn is done for the season with a shoulder injury that requires surgery. Time for the requisite, “we all believe and trust the back-up” story.
In the meantime, [QB Coach Brian] Johnson said the business of finding ways to fight on and keep getting better will continue with former backup Jon Hays taking the snaps.
“It doesn’t change the way we go about our day-to-day operation,” Johnson said. “We still practice the exact same and we still have the same structure in everything that we do. It’s just plugging a new guy in there.”
Hays, who filled in for Wynn in the second half of the Washington game and started last week against Arizona State, is eager to take the top spot for the rest of the season.
“I’m excited,” Hays said. “I’ve been waiting for this opportunity my whole life, so I just want to take advantage of it.”
On the plus side for Utah, apparently Hays is more durable than Wynn or the Utah QB coach (and former QB).
Utah offensive lineman Tony Bergstrom entertained media members Tuesday with his thoughts on Utah quarterback Jon Hays, a guy he believes is durable enough to last the rest of the season.
“It’s not like Jordan [Wynn] or the Brian Johnson situation where you just want to sit in the pocket and rub their joints with Milk of Magnesia and hang out for a while,” he said.
It’s going to be a while until I shake that visual.
In addition to the similarities in the issue of turnovers — and the struggle to generate them, the defenses share some similarities in that they are very good against the run, but struggle against the pass.
Pitt’s Ray Graham is second in the nation with 149.8 yards rushing per game. Utah’s John White is third in the Pac-12 and 27th nationally with a 100-yard average.
The Utes’ “Wolfman,” though, isn’t looking at it as an individual matchup in any way, shape or form.
“Nope. I don’t even know who he is, honestly. I really never pay attention to other players and stuff,” White said. “I just worry about my team, you know, and we’re going to go out there and compete and try to win.”
Pitt’s defense is giving up 120.2 yards on the ground, while Utah’s is allowing only 99.4 yards per outing.
Pitt is 42nd nationally against the run. Utah is 19th. (As an aside, Rutgers is ranked 20th and Ray Graham did quite well.) Passing defenses are very close (and bad). Utah is 100th and Pitt is 102d. Pitt, though, has seen significantly more passing attempts and has allowed a slightly lower completion percentage.
Other injuries of note for Utah include their punt returner being out along with a back-up running back. The leading WR DeVonte Christopher is questionable for the game with an ankle injury. Starting Free Safety Keith McGill is also questionable with a shoulder injury.
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