Let’s talk football

This topic has 18 replies, 9 voices, and was last updated 4 months, 2 weeks ago by Rick Walker.

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- 07/08/2024 at 9:03 AM #218219
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  ProudUte
  Participant
  
  In just over three weeks – summer football camp starts. Yet, this board has been a bit quiet the last few weeks. I am excited to see this team play on August 29th.
  
  This could be a pivotal season for the Utes. Many are predicting that we will be the Big 12 champions. However, it seems that most of our new conference mates have placed a target on our backs. No one wants the new guy to win it all.
  
  I hope we can play in the conference championship game. In a perfect world – KState and Utah will be undefeated and play for the Big 12 championship. In that case both teams would be in the CFP.
  
  Getting to a conference championship game will not be easy IMO. We will need to stay relatively healthy and deliver in the big games. I think there are a number of good teams that will be competing for the right to play in the championship game; i.e., Utah, Kstate. Kansas, Ok State, Arizona and maybe UCF. There could also be some surprises like TCU or Iowa State.
- 07/08/2024 at 10:02 AM #218220
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  UteBacker
  Moderator
  
  I’m thinking a 5-way tie for first at 7-2 (Utes, Kansas St, Ok St, Iowa St & TCU). Parity will rule this conference…buckle up!
  - 07/08/2024 at 10:06 AM #218221
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    Central Coast Ute
    Participant
    
    I agree with Utebacker. This will be another parity conference like the P12 was under Larry Scott. However, Yormark seems to at least not be trying to make it that way. I have to admit the Utes schedule is favorable. It’s smart to give your legitimate contenders a more favorable schedule.
  - 07/08/2024 at 10:08 AM #218222
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    D T
    Participant
    
    I’d place U of A ahead of ISU/TCU.
    - 07/08/2024 at 10:10 AM #218223
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      Central Coast Ute
      Participant
      
      Jed Fisch was the reason that team was good. They’re going to take a big step back this year. Mark it down.
      - 07/08/2024 at 10:51 AM #218228
        
        D T
        Participant
        
        Brennan’s an above avg coach….U of A’s a dangerous opponent for most teams this year [excepting U/KSU, IMO].
    - 07/08/2024 at 10:14 AM #218224
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      MDUte
      Participant
      
      I agree with everyone’s comments about parity towards the middle and top of the conference. However, fair or not, my expectation for this year’s Utah team is 12-1. The most likely loss is in Stillwater, but even if we come away with a win over Okie St I still see one slip-up given how hard it is to go undefeated no matter who you are. Golden opportunity this year and its CFP or bust…Go Utes!!
    - 07/08/2024 at 10:20 AM #218225
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      UteBacker
      Moderator
      
      Arizona and Colorado are hard for me to predict. They could go either way this year.
      - 07/08/2024 at 10:37 AM #218226
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        MDUte
        Participant
        
        What are everyone’s production predictions?
        Here’s mine: Offense avgs 40 pts/game, 275 passing, 210 rushing, total O = 485 yards/game
        Defense allows an avg 23 pts/game, 125 rushing, 225 passing, total yards allowed by D = 350 yards/game
        
        07/08/2024 at 10:52 AM #218229
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        D T
        Participant
        
        D allows 27 pts/game?? What??
        
        07/08/2024 at 10:56 AM #218230
        
        MDUte
        Participant
        
        Haha, I know I know…great callout DT! I just see this year’s team being more offensively dominant than defensively. And if that happens, I could see the defense giving up a few more points since teams will likely be playing catchup against us.
        
        07/08/2024 at 11:08 AM #218231
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        Central Coast Ute
        Participant
        
        A lot of people are worried about the defensive backfield, but I think they’ll be ok. With Fano, O’Toole, and Filinger coming back, the DE’s will be stellar. We already lost Damuni, but Barton and Reid are going to excel. Can’t afford the injury bug like last year, but honestly, when has that ever happened before? Of course, we’ll see some, but it won’t be that bad. In my opinion, the D will dominate, and the O will be top notch. I don’t think they go undefeated, but this should be a CFP or bust year.
        
        07/08/2024 at 11:41 AM #218244
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        ukiyoronin
        Participant
        
        Best way to take pressure off the DBs? Have a great DL. Really hard to make big plays in the air if you’re constantly worried about Tafuna in your face. According to some, this DL unit is top 3 in the country.
        
        07/08/2024 at 12:08 PM #218253
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        Central Coast Ute
        Participant
        
        Good call. I should have added the DL into my response. DL is never a question at Utah.
        
        07/08/2024 at 2:01 PM #218273
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        Yergensen
        Participant
        
        DL is a question mark occasionally and is again this year.
        
        In 2022 the front 4 got little pressure and Scalley had to blitz, a lot.
        
        Who is going to get pressure off the edge this year? Fillinger hasn’t proven to be an alpha in 3 yrs, O’Toole has very little game experience/production and Fano is coming off his 2nd ACL.
        
        We could well have someone step up like Elliss did last year, but that’s unknown at the present time.
        
        07/08/2024 at 4:31 PM #218296
        
        Rick Walker
        Participant
        
        I think the EDGE is pretty uncertain. There’s definitely potential but no proven stars. I think our tackles will be fine with Tafuna, Pepa, Vimahi, Tanuvasa, and fotu.
        
        07/08/2024 at 1:10 PM #218259
        
        D T
        Participant
        
        You’re probably accurate on the O, but I can’t remember the last time our D surrendered 27/game.
        
        07/08/2024 at 1:48 PM #218271
        
        MDUte
        Participant
        
        You’re right, we haven’t ever allowed more than 23.9 pts/game in the past 10 years. I updated my initial projection to 23 pts/game.
        
        It still seems to me that this will be a year where Whitt elects to give the ball to our offense first. And that our offense is going to march the ball down the field on teams, at will, leading to easy scores, quicker scoring drives, and will put teams back on their heels. I’m not concerned about getting into shootouts or anything, just that teams are going to be under pressure playing from behind against Utah and needing to take more chances. I could see this leading to some “garbage time” scoring etc. that skews the numbers a little.
- 07/08/2024 at 11:10 AM #218233
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  Tony (admin)
  Keymaster
  
  Actually considering that we’re in the offseason for all major Ute sports, I think the activity level has been decent. I encourage members to CREATE NEW TOPICS just like you did! That’s how the conversations start!
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