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.
As both are win-less at 0-3 each. Both coaches were interviewed this week, and Utah held a team meeting after the ASU thumping. So they’re going to come into the Burg fired up and looking to reverse course on their season before it gets any worse, as the Utes are 2-3 overall.
Our defense has to put a lot of pressure on their 2nd string QB Hays, as this is only his 2nd start EVER! Of course Gary Nova beat us last week and that WAS HIS FIRST START EVER. And the true freshmen threw for more yards and TD’s and no picks than our 4rth year junior QB.
So will Sunseri be outplayed yet again by an opposing QB with far less experience?
Some excerpts:
Graham and the Pitt coaching staff define explosive plays as runs of 12 yards or more and pass plays of 15 yards or more; by those definitions, Pitt has generated 51 explosive plays through six games this season, or 8.5 per game.
And while conventional wisdom – and historical evidence – would indicate that the passing game produces more explosive plays than the run game, that’s not the case for Pitt this season. Of the 51 plays that meet Graham’s definition of explosive, 22 have been passes
“That’s been a struggle for us,” Todd Graham said. “Naturally what happens is, you struggle with protection, you struggle with holding the ball and not getting the ball out, and then you stop calling them. And we’ve stopped calling them.” (over 15 yard pass plays that is)
TG should have stopped calling them BEFORE the Dying Quail pick to Shanahan.
Then this:
Of Pitt’s 19 touchdowns this season, just two have been scored from outside the 20-yard line: Devin Street’s 66-yard catch-and-run at Iowa, and Cameron Saddler’s 30-yard reception from fellow receiver Ronald Jones on a trick play at Iowa.
That’s pathetic, ONLY TWO (2) TD’s scored OUTSIDE THE 20 YD LINE.
Here’s the Entire article:
I don’t care, anyone, walk-ons, 3rd stringers, scout team Qb, converted WR’s, converted H-backs,
place kick holders, ANYONE !!!
But he still wont change QB i just dont get it do you?
It’s not how good you are, it’s who you know.
(or in this case, who you’re related to)
If TG is going to experiment at QB he should throw him and Gonzalez into the mix. Give everybody two straight series. Best man wins. It will add to the entertainment value of the game. And talk about keeping the opponent off balance…
You know if just to keep the opposing team guessing of who is going to play QB, why why why…does TG immediately after the game say: ‘Sunseri is our starting QB for next week’.
That way, the other team has to game plan for a QB who runs better and might (might) complete a pass longer than 15 yards. As you say…
keeping the opponent off balance.
So frustrating, because it makes no common sense.
And a coach who’s WHOLE PHILOSOPHY is built along
Explosive Plays(see Chris Peak article linked above)
No other reason makes sense as to why this QB keeps his job, other than the Sal/coaching fraternity/legacy angle TT.
Plus, if Sal was any kind of coach, which he must be if he works for Saban, he’d want his kid to earn his stripes more than you or I do.
More than likely, TG saw Tino as his best option early on and gave him too much attention and the other guys too little. Now he’s in a bind because he has nobody to step in that he trusts. That make logical sense.
I’ve made a copy of this for future posting. LOL
All the more reason for TG to distance himself from Sal.
Speaking of Urban, there was an article in today’s local paper – bigger Gator following here than USF – that says Urban is “living the dream” by working about 3 days a week for ESPN and spending the other 4 with his family. He doesn’t sound very anxious to return to coaching. Sorry, State Penn.
Of course, by the time JoePa is carried off the field, he may change his mind.
Dave Dellett, Kapolei, Hawaii
ZEISE: I don’t see that as being an issue. Sunseri actually wasn’t very popular last year because a lot of the veteran guys thought he was too cocky for their tastes, especially as a first-year starter.
I think I blogged words to this effect last year.
As you could clearly tell, the team wanted Bostick in there and he was clearly liked.
Tino not so much. But I took some heat from some bloggers on this site for blogging that and it turns out, I was correct on my perceptions.
Just sayin.
Does that mean you agree with my theory on why Tino was handed the QB on a Silver Platter?
Does that mean you agree with my theory on why Tino was handed the starting QB position on a Silver Platter?
Comment by EMel 10.13.11 @ 5:51 pm
But you will admit the coach seams blind or something becse tino is so bad the outhers have to be bette you know that myers can at least pass the ball and has a great arm and anderson can run better than tino so we are dumbfounded that he wont make a change.
Any way we can convince him to come back next year?
Pretty Please
p.s. I don’t really care if he can’t run the triple option, cause neither can Sunseri
Looks like Navy isn’t going to happen for the BE.
They want the exit fees raised BEFORE, they join.
And naturally, Uconn, RU, Louisville, Cincy & The Hoopies are ALL looking to exit, stage right.
And don’t want the exit fees raised at all.
If WVU goes anywhere, their AQ status is history.
Might be anyway.
Does that mean I’ll be tuning out by the 3rd
quarter and go out and play tennis?
Or should I play tennis first(like last week) and then if we’re getting blown out, I can just forget the whole thing?
After all the Utes lost their starting QB for the season. Of course we did just get smoked by a team with a dreadful offense, starting a true freshman for the first time. So….
They have two tv deals comeing up one in a year the outher a year later and any school that wants to come to big east must wait a year before they can leave were they are now.
So why give a tv deal to them when they dont know who will be there.They know we wont so they cant say pitt will be hear for two years that wont cut it. so they dont have time for this shit no leadership.
But i would miss you ripping tino a new one.
I ll be ranting on here during the game through a scotch induced fury. Can’t wait!
BECUSE IT IS ON THERE ALSO.
Just goes to show how ridiculous the BE is. And I’m so glad we’re getting the f*ck out.
I’m actually tiring of watching tinny’s futility, which is why I didn’t mind missing the 1rst half of the RU game. Rather play tennis or golf on a beautiful day than get really pissed watching crap.
Now I find it ironic that I myself am worried that we don’t “do 5 number 2s on the field again” this week.
Come on guys give me some love, even I’m laughing at that one!!
Back when the big 12 was talking to PITT say 6 or 7 weeks ago. Reed had a post one morning and i
dont have the exact words but it was if PITT had a chance to go to the ACC what would you say.
That post was at least 3 weeks before we found out we were going to the ACC do any of you remmber that post and do you think REEDhad inside info and that was how he shared it with us.
Iam to lazy to go back and look it up but i do remmber it
Nice conspiracy theory, but I think I have a much easier explanation for Tino starting at QB – he’s the best option we have.
Yep, that’s the real reason – simple as that.
Two completely different offensive staffs – with polar opposite philosophies – have examined the QB “talent” on this team and come to the same conclusion – Tino is the best we have, period.
It is foolish to think that DW or TG would put someone at the most important offensive position – a position that most directly influences wins and losses – that would not give them the best chance to win.
I know, coaches make mistakes on players all the time – you can probably name a example or two of a backup who gets a chance and out plays the started. I say, no one is perfect. But, I cannot believe that if Myers, Gonzales, Anderson, or someone else where even close to Tino that they would not get a chance.
Trey has had some time, but has he done anything to make you believe he give Pitt a better shot at scoring than Tino? I certainly haven’t.
Pitt is simply devoid of any talent at the QB position right now, and can only hope that Voytick can came in and solve that problem quickly.
Until then, TG is going to have to keep pushing Tino to take the most of what little talent he has.
I understand the analysis on Tino being the best option. I saw Trey (I’m not totally with you on him) disappoint in limited action against ND & Rutgers. But as I PITT FAN, I too read the exciting reviews/previews on Myers and I want to see him on the field. Especially given the absymal performance we have gotten this season from our chosen, best option, QB. It’s not all Tino’s fault—as many repeat—but he IS a problem and not much of a D-1 QB.
So what is to lose by playing Myers and Trey? continue to lead the nation in sacks? a few more frustrating losses? At least fans like ourselves will get to see Myers on the field, other than punting. And I want to see more of Trey running this offense. But I doubt we do, because Tino “is the best option”.
So drink up and enjoy the remainder of the season. I will be rooting for Tino to avoid the sacks, stick to the short passing game, and lead us to a Homecoming win! …but unless a change is made at QB, and the o-line improves, BB season can’t come soon enough.
