Monday, October 29. 2012Red, Blue And Pigskin
For the first time all season, both Utah and BYU won on the same Saturday, it was only the second time all season, they had both manage to win during the same week (The previous being the opening Thursday), and the first time all season they both beat a division 1-A opponent during the same week.
After combining for an 0-4 record the previous two weeks, Utah and BYU both decided to open up a couple of cans on their opponents as they both notched wins and accumulated a combined score of 90-44. Which of course makes everyone wonder how these two teams managed 90 points? For one of the teams, the win was a possible season saver, and could mark a turnaround. For the other, it's a season clincher, as their season has now been determined. Since BYU had the early game on Saturday we'll start with them. Rebound By Beatdown
We already know how the winner of last year's Sun Bowl has performed so far this year, as the Utes have struggled. This weekend the Cougars traveled to Atlanta to face last year's Sun Bowl loser, Georgia Tech, who has also struggled mightily this season. The Cougars were looking for their defense to rebound after two bad weeks, and specifically after being gashed on the ground last week. The Cougars did more than rebound defensively. They completely dominated the Yellow Jackets. Want some context for how well the Cougars rebounded think about this for a minute. The Yellow Jackets were second in the nation in rushing, averaging 338 yards per game coming into this game. After the game, their average yards per game dropped by 27 yards. The Cougars held the Yellow Jackets entire offensive output (157 yards) to less than half of their average rushing yards per game. The Jamaal Williams Show Offensively it was the Jamaal Williams show. Williams, the 17 year old true freshman running back, who is seeing more time thanks to Alisa's broken arm, is making the case that when Alisa comes back he should be the 2nd back. Jamaal Williams scored 4 touchdowns, three rushing, and one via a line of scrimmage shovel pass. Williams has been breaking onto the scene the last few weeks, and has been the saving grace for this offense. Williams is an extremely dangerous, cut back runner. He's been extremely adept in the screen/shovel game, managing to get himself lost among the big boys, and then breaking the pass for a huge gain. I fully buy into the philosphy that you shouldn't lose your job to injury. However, all that being said, when Michael Alisa comes back, I'm not quite sure he should become the primary back. This is partially due to the fact, that Alisa's style doesn't fit with Doman's offensive philosophy and play calling style, Williams does. As the thunder, to Williams' lighting though, Alisa could make a great complimentary in a two running back backfield. Especially with Taysom Hill as your likely starter in 2013, meaning even more option based football. Regular Season Over With the game against Georgia Tech now in the books, we can now begin analyzing the completion of BYU's regular season. They will finish the regular season with an at times respectable, and at times deceiving 8-4 record, and will face the Mountain West's 2nd choice in the Poinsettia bowl. Now I know that there are still some technicalities ahead, such as the final three games being played, but that's all it is, a technicality. Not even the bad (a.k.a. normal) Riley Nelson could cause the Cougars to lose any of the next three games. And before people start mentioning that on any given Saturday any team can win, just look at Appalachian State going to the Big House a few years ago, I would like to remind you that Appalachian State would have beaten all of BYU's last three opponents, and only one of those games (San Jose State) would be close. So rather than waste time talking about games that nobody really cares about, because they'll be over quickly, the rest of the regular season will be reviewing the season for BYU, and previewing their possible Bowl opponents. With BYU's bye this upcoming week, I'd like to propose the following question? BYU fans, how do you feel about being 8-4, and the Poinsettia Bowl? I know there was a lot of talk about matching last season's 10 win feat. Is this a disappointment? How bothered are you by not beating Utah, and by not winning any of the big games on your schedule this year? For the second straight year it's looking like Utah State is going to be your best victory of the season, although I would argue the most impressive victory was this past weekend because of the way they shut down Georgia Tech. How bothered are you about wasting such a historically good defense this year, with such an anemic offense, mainly because your head coach had a weird fascination with a full back in the quarter back position? Is it okay to be perpetually one or two plays away? Poinsettia Roundup Here is a rundown of the most likely opponents for BYU in the Poinsettia Bowl. The Poinsettia Bowl opponent will be the 2nd choice of teams from the Mountain West Conference, unless it's champion is chosen to play a BCS game. A possibility this year, thanks to the Big Ten's utter failure at the game of football, and the rule that any non-AQ champion ranked in the top 16, and ranked higher than an AQ champion will be granted a BCS bowl. Currently Boise is ranked 19th, and the only B1G team ranked in the BCS standings is Nebraska at 20. Boise State - Currently 7-1, and 4-0 in conference. Not nearly the team they've been in past years, and have struggled at times this season. They may be undefeated in conference play so far, but the game against San Diego State this week, and Nevada to close out the season are the most likely losses on their schedule. Currently the favorite to win the conference championship. San Diego State - Currently 6-3, and 4-1 in conference. Aztecs have been a bit up and down this season, with an early year loss to San Jose State, but their overtime victory over Nevada put them in the driver's seat for the Poinsettia Bowl, and possibly the conference championship. They play Boise this week. If the 2nd choice comes down to SDSU and a bunch of other teams, the home field advantage will play in the Aztec favor. Nevada - Currently 6-3, and 3-2 in conference. The Wolf Pack looked like they were headed to a season ending showdown with Boise for the conference crown before getting derailed with back to back losses the past two weeks. They have a bye coming up this week before facing off against Fresno and Boise, with New Mexico sandwiched in between. Air Force - Currently 5-3, and 4-1 in conference. The always dangerous triple option of the Falcons just took down the Wolf Pack. They have an always emotional intra-military academy game this weekend against Army, and still have games against SDSU and Fresno on the schedule. Fresno State - Currently 6-3, and 4-1 in conference. Probably the biggest surprise in the MWC this season after a dismal 2011, but the Bulldogs are the surprise fly in the conference ointment. They've already lost to Boise this season, but have a victory against San Diego State. Would probably also benefit from a little home state love if in the mix when the Poinsettia Bowl makes their invite. Right now I'd say SDSU followed by Fresno and Nevada are your likely choices for an opponent. Boise would probably have to lose twice to not be Vegas' selection with the top pick. Besides, as dreadfully terrible as that first game between BYU and Boise was, I'm not sure we'd want a rematch of it. Boise State is also probably the only one of these opponents that could beat BYU. That's Better For the last three games, the Utes have struggled from the same issue. Progress made from previous weeks, able to hand around, but in the end the opponent was just too good, and the Utes would make enough mental mistakes to prevent them from pulling an upset. Utah's early season struggles weren't helped by the fact that they played an extremely front loaded schedule, and the Utes went into the Cal game behind the eight ball, with their season at a breaking point. How the Utes responded here, would say a lot about whether this team could turn it around. Utah wasn't the only team this weekend watching their season circle the drain, and looking at a decision of whether to fight, or give up. The Cal bears were also struggling, and many are thinking that Jeff Tedford's seat is extremely warm. Which team would fight, and possibly save their season, and which team would just give up quickly became clear. The Utes, for the first time all season, put together a good game in all three phases. We'll get to special teams later, a group that really earned the special designation this week. Offensively, the Utes may not have put up massive stats accumulating only 344 yards. But where there was a difference was in the tactics. The running game got chugging along, racking up 188 yards. The Wolfman cracked the 100 yard barrier and plugged in two TD's, while Kelvin York was averaging almost 5 yards per carry before leaving with a high ankle sprain. Brian Johnson even corrected past mistakes. He relied less on the screens, and QB Draws, and instead called plenty of run plays, including down inside the opponents 5 yard line. The running game even opened up room for QB Travis Wilson to scramble. Passing wise, Wilson was efficient. You can tell that Wilson is starting to feel more comfortable. He's actually getting to the point, where you can see him start to read defenses. You can also tell that the game is still moving a little too fast, as he's far too willing to dump it off short, when something a bit deeper is open, but this is his third game. All that said, Wilson definitely had the highlight of the night. QB's Aren't Supposed To Block Like That Wilson set the tone for the offense, and the entire game on their first offensive play of the game. With a reverse called Reggie Dunn took the flip from John White. Cal Linebacker Nathan Broussard was not fooled on the play, and look to have it snuffed out. What he didn't have snuffed out was Travis Wilson. Now normally QB blocks are more of a fly buzzing around you nuisance that typically ends up being more of the QB laying down in front of the defender, causing them to reroute enough to allow the runner by. Rarely do you see a QB decleat a linebacker. Pretty sure Broussard isn't going to hear the end of it at film review. I kind of wondered if Broussard wasn't looking for a chance to return the favor during the game, but he never got a chance. To quote the 9 year old sitting next to me when the play happened: "Let's see Tom Brady do that!". Very Special Teams So how does a team averaging just over 20 points a game, and only 17.8 points a game against Division 1 teams, break out for 49 points? Well it helps if you get scoring from places outside of your Offense. While the offense put up 28 points in their own right, and the defense added 7, the night was book ended by scores from Special Teams. After allowing Cal to score an opening drive field goal, Reggie Dunn took the kickoff about 3 or 4 yards deep in his end zone and off he went. 100+ yards later the Utes had their first lead in three weeks 7-3. A lead they would never relinquish. Late in the third quarter Cal scored their first TD of the game (They'd eventually score two more against Utah's second stringers in garbage time.) Once again they kicked off to Reggie Dunn. This time it was about 6 yards deep. Once again Reggie Dunn fielded the kickoff and ran it out. Once again Reggie Dunn didn't stop till he crossed the goal line. Reggie Dunn became the first Ute to score two kickoff returns in the same game, and the 16th player in all of college football to ever do it. It also gave him his 2nd and 3rd career 100 yard kickoff, a Ute record, which ties Brandon Boykins of Georgia from 2008-2011 as most in a career in NCAA history. Where Reggie stands alone though is he is the only player in NCAA history to have two 100 yard kickoff TD's in the same game. A truly remarkable feat. It's hard to return one kick in a game, let alone two. And in this day and age, with the starting kickoff moved up five yards, many worried these kind of plays wouldn't be seen any more. Add in Reggie's other return for about 22 yards, and Dunn also set the record for average kickoff return in a game (74 yards). Of lesser note, Utes specialty punter Tom Hackett had two punts downed inside the 5 yard line. One towards the end of the first quarter, where Cal was so worried about the noise in the North End Zone, they preferred to let the time run out, instead of running a play. Place kicking, Petersen hit all 7 of his extra point attempts, and didn't miss a field goal. The latter due to the fact that Whittingham has said he's not going to attempt field goals anymore, but hey gotta start somewhere, right Petersen. Though the night on special teams, belong to Dunn and his extremely special achievement. View From The Red Zone Travis Wilson is a freaking giant. Got there early enough to welcome the team to the stadium during the Ute Walk, and was just shocked by how big Wilson looked in person. The Utes say he's 6'6", and he easily that, if not more. The Utes should never fail on short yardage, 1 yard or less situations, because he simply needs to lay down and he gains three yards. I'll be honest, one of my concerns going into this game, would be flagging fan support due to the team under-performing this season. And as the game got closer to kickoff, it looked like my concerns would be valid as it appeared there would be a lot of empty seats. Instead, the crowd was just running late, and eventually would turn out to be a sellout, the Utes 16th straight, and turned out to be a pretty loud, and electric atmosphere. The Utes, and the fans, definitely have grasped onto this yearly money grab that is the Blackout game, and have turned it into an electric atmosphere each season. This was a good time to have such a great crowd, as it was a big recruiting weekend. Many top recruits were in town for the game, headlined by JoJo Mathis, a Rivals top 250 recruit who due to family connections took an unofficial visit here this summer, and enjoyed it so much Utah made it into his top five, and he took an official visit this past weekend. Of the other recruits, the Utes solidified their status with one of their higher recruits, as well as happened to steal who was the tied as the top ranked 2013 recruit, so far, for BYU, causing Davion Orphey to flip from BYU to Utah. Skid Stopped, Bring On Momentum Finally the Utes got their first conference victory of 2012, and while winning the south is a pipe dream, although still mathematically possible, the Utes must now try to build momentum to save a possible bowl bid. They have a hard road to accomplish said goal, but they have a great chance to build momentum this weekend facing the Washington State Cougars. WSU has found difficulties adjusting to Mike Leach's system, as they are the only team in the Pac-12 not to win a conference game. Washington State is a bad team. They are equally as bad as last year's Colorado team. However as all Ute fans will remember, a bad Colorado team pulled the upset in Rice-Eccles last season. This game will mark the Pirate Mike Leach's second trip to the state of Utah this season. With the Utes showing dramatic improvement over the last month, and finally getting on the right side of the scoreboard, this represents a good time for the Utes to take care of their business, continue improving, and start building momentum for the next two weeks at Washington, and home for Arizona. Those two weeks will make or break what's left of this season, but before the Utes can start thinking about that, they need to take care of a struggling Cougar team this week. Trackbacks
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