Hey Cyclone fans. Another Ute fan here, replying to the request to talk about why Utah is good this year as opposed to teams of the past. I posted this in another thread but thought I'd break it out to a new one so other fans could add their own views easier.
Your performance last week is good for us and we're excited to play a good opponent. I agree with other posters that you are probably the best team we've played so far. Pitt's been embarrassing. I think all of us Ute fans are looking forward to this game.
Most of the starters on the team that beat Alabama are gone--a little less than half of them were drafted (6 last year, 4 in 2009) and others made it in camp. Our QB for the Sugar Bowl is now our QB coach. Most of those left are on our O-line. Lots of our remaining team was there to see what it takes to get there. That's the past. They know it's what we do now that matters.
I think Ute fans realize that we are untested and got into the ranks by beating a ranked team in week one, and then did what we needed to do against really lightweight competition. Schools ahead of us lost--that's why we're top ten. The short of it is that Utah's schedule is backloaded. The key is keeping around the top ten until TCU at home, and Air Force and Notre Dame on the road. If you were to ask Kyle Whittingham about it, however, he would tell you that the only thing Utah cares about is Iowa State and with that, here is what makes Utah good this year:
+ Coaching. Whittingham is a blue collar coach that game plans really well. He also requires team orientation and toughness so we rarely see selfish play. Whitt also spots talent in places others don't and requires people to move where we need them. Four or more of our starters were recruited as quarterbacks. They now play receiver, LB, even on the line.
+ Lines. It is not very often that Utah loses the push on either side of the ball. Maybe at Oregon last year, definitely at TCU. TCU last year was the best team we've played in a long time. That game in November will be tough.
+ QB. The backup QB has the school record for pass efficiency and is a solid runner. The 3rd string is 6'5" with sub-4.4 speed--a true dual threat. Wynn is the starter because of intangibles. He got thrown to the wolves as a true freshman and showed he doesn't lose composure. He dings a little but his thumb is back and should be ready to throw. Ute fans are pretty excited about him.
+ Defense. The scheme is no secret. Good corners allow us to stack the box and we blitz. A lot. Lots of press coverage. Three of Utah's Sugar Bowl DBs were drafted. Current CBs have quality time and one will probably play Sunday. They're fast. Safeties include a true frosh who won us the Pitt game and proving to hit like a truck. LBs look good primarily because our line is deep. Utah rotates 10-odd people through the d-line so it stays fresh. Defense is Top 20 in seven categories right now but obviously that is fed by the poor competition to date. There were worries because all LBs were new but now they are team leaders in tackling (one led the country). Again, credit the line for that.
+ Running backs and TEs. Though we're a spread team, we are showing more power formations and putting TEs to good use. We are deep at both RB and TE this year. The RBs have two runners who have had 1000+ seasons in the past. One is 230 lbs., and his 250 lb. brother now plays fullback. Runs feed the passing, and vice versa. Though our current starting QB is not much of an option threat, we get the ball into others' hands pretty well. Whitt's RBs and WRs block. That's part of the program. You'll notice good pass blocking and downfield blocking. People sit if they don't do it.
+ Intangibles. Coaches have repeatedly said that this year's team is tighter than any team in recent memory, including those who played in the BCS games. That makes me excited about this year about as much as anything. Also, STs struggled on punt blocking earlier in the year but punt returns have been on fire the last few games. I think it's adding an attitude to all facets that has been pretty good. We had one penalty in garbage time in the last game, and that was it. That's unheard of for Utah football.
Other Utah fans may disagree, but those are what I think makes this year's team good.
Looking forward to this game and looking forward to learning more about Cyclone football. On a personal note, my bro is a Hawkeye and as a result, I am rooting for you to destroy them. Go Cyclones. (After Saturday.)
Your performance last week is good for us and we're excited to play a good opponent. I agree with other posters that you are probably the best team we've played so far. Pitt's been embarrassing. I think all of us Ute fans are looking forward to this game.
Most of the starters on the team that beat Alabama are gone--a little less than half of them were drafted (6 last year, 4 in 2009) and others made it in camp. Our QB for the Sugar Bowl is now our QB coach. Most of those left are on our O-line. Lots of our remaining team was there to see what it takes to get there. That's the past. They know it's what we do now that matters.
I think Ute fans realize that we are untested and got into the ranks by beating a ranked team in week one, and then did what we needed to do against really lightweight competition. Schools ahead of us lost--that's why we're top ten. The short of it is that Utah's schedule is backloaded. The key is keeping around the top ten until TCU at home, and Air Force and Notre Dame on the road. If you were to ask Kyle Whittingham about it, however, he would tell you that the only thing Utah cares about is Iowa State and with that, here is what makes Utah good this year:
+ Coaching. Whittingham is a blue collar coach that game plans really well. He also requires team orientation and toughness so we rarely see selfish play. Whitt also spots talent in places others don't and requires people to move where we need them. Four or more of our starters were recruited as quarterbacks. They now play receiver, LB, even on the line.
+ Lines. It is not very often that Utah loses the push on either side of the ball. Maybe at Oregon last year, definitely at TCU. TCU last year was the best team we've played in a long time. That game in November will be tough.
+ QB. The backup QB has the school record for pass efficiency and is a solid runner. The 3rd string is 6'5" with sub-4.4 speed--a true dual threat. Wynn is the starter because of intangibles. He got thrown to the wolves as a true freshman and showed he doesn't lose composure. He dings a little but his thumb is back and should be ready to throw. Ute fans are pretty excited about him.
+ Defense. The scheme is no secret. Good corners allow us to stack the box and we blitz. A lot. Lots of press coverage. Three of Utah's Sugar Bowl DBs were drafted. Current CBs have quality time and one will probably play Sunday. They're fast. Safeties include a true frosh who won us the Pitt game and proving to hit like a truck. LBs look good primarily because our line is deep. Utah rotates 10-odd people through the d-line so it stays fresh. Defense is Top 20 in seven categories right now but obviously that is fed by the poor competition to date. There were worries because all LBs were new but now they are team leaders in tackling (one led the country). Again, credit the line for that.
+ Running backs and TEs. Though we're a spread team, we are showing more power formations and putting TEs to good use. We are deep at both RB and TE this year. The RBs have two runners who have had 1000+ seasons in the past. One is 230 lbs., and his 250 lb. brother now plays fullback. Runs feed the passing, and vice versa. Though our current starting QB is not much of an option threat, we get the ball into others' hands pretty well. Whitt's RBs and WRs block. That's part of the program. You'll notice good pass blocking and downfield blocking. People sit if they don't do it.
+ Intangibles. Coaches have repeatedly said that this year's team is tighter than any team in recent memory, including those who played in the BCS games. That makes me excited about this year about as much as anything. Also, STs struggled on punt blocking earlier in the year but punt returns have been on fire the last few games. I think it's adding an attitude to all facets that has been pretty good. We had one penalty in garbage time in the last game, and that was it. That's unheard of for Utah football.
Other Utah fans may disagree, but those are what I think makes this year's team good.
Looking forward to this game and looking forward to learning more about Cyclone football. On a personal note, my bro is a Hawkeye and as a result, I am rooting for you to destroy them. Go Cyclones. (After Saturday.)
