Are you ready to drink the Kool-Aid?

[ProudUte]

OnlyU has posted some updates that have to make any Utah fan excited including me. He makes it sound like we are solid at RB, Oline, and safety. We knew we had an experienced QB, studs at LB, deep Dline, etc. So, it would be easy to drink the Kool-Aid.

I trust OnlyU as much as anyone. But, everything always seems to sound great during camp when we line up against our teammates. Even local media reports from Provo make the Cougars sound like conference contenders.

So, YES, I am excited about 2024, but won’t drink the Kool-Aid quite yet. I want to see these guys play 3-4 games before I guzzle the Kool-Aid. How about you? Have you sipped the Kool-Aid yet?

Here’s hoping for an amazing season and a trip to the CFP!!

Gp Utes!!!

[Tony (admin)]

At fan fest yesterday I met some O line players and some RB’s. They all say both of those areas are going to be good. Of course they say that, but there you go.

[AlohaUte]

I’m buying into it. I think the Utes go 12-1 and win the Big-12.

Also, I’ve seen literally no one of consequence, not even local journalists, suggest BYU could contend for the conference title. I know we like to think the world is against us and for our rival, but let’s not project things that aren’t there.

[Central Coast Ute]

The only local media I’ve seen have been byu media. Even then, it’s with the caveat that everything needs to go right, and they don’t really think byu has a shot.

[ProudUte]

No, it was hyperbole when I said that the media said they could win the conference. However, a month or two ago they were saying that the max they would win this season is 4. This week, I heard some local radio guys say that they may win 8 games based on what they have heard and seen from camp. As I posted, everyone seems to be optimistic during camp. We hear all kinds of stories about how good guys look in practice. I have learned to take some of this with a grain of salt.

I was not trying to imply that the local media treats BYU better than Utah. Not at all. I think that the local radio guys want both teams to be successful because it increases the number of listeners. It’s all about making money.

[Central Coast Ute]

It’s been hard not to drink it with all the Utes have coming back, especially Cam. Couple that with some really good recievers, and it’s hard not to get ecstatic. But like you, I reel myself back in because the games still need to be played, and I’ve been disappointed before.

[Dallas]

We are not solid at RB. Same old Bernard and Glover. Average at best. No big bruiser. Last word on that group is nothing has changed during camp. And they had to pull a LB to play RB because RB is the weak link of this offense.

[ProudUte]

OnlyU has posted some positive things about our RB room. He often mentions Mitchell as being a key player on our team this season.

By the way, I like Bernard a lot. I just don’t see him as a 25-carry per game kind of guy. People are saying Glover is lighter and looking much better. But, this is what I said in my initial post that I wonder if I can trust the media in fall camp.

[Dallas]

Despite the general optimism, it would be unusual to see a significant improvement from either Bernard or Glover. Both have had their opportunities to shine and have been just mediocre to adequate. I’d be hopeful of Mitchell or someone else got a lot of buzz and took the RB1 spot. Otherwise, we know they aren’t better than our mediocre RB1 and 2.

[OmahaOmaha]

Although an unpopular opinion, I think your comment has merit. Here’s where I place my hope in an improved running game this season.

1. A healthy Cam should alleviate some of the pressure from the QB play we got last year. It wasn’t that hard to gameplan for Utah. Stop the run. The QB play ain’t that elite. This year is quite the opposite. I would suspect the gameplan would be to stop the pass, and hope to contain the running game. It should open up some opportunities even for an average back.

2. After speaking to a couple of current players, Mike Mitchell has impressed as the real deal. I’m not saying he’s Ty Jordan or anything (who I’m convinced would’ve been not only the greatest RB to ever lace them up at Utah, but possibly the greatest player to play here) but it’s possible he could be the sleeping giant we’re looking for at that position. Fingers crossed.

Somehow, some way I wish we could’ve landed Damien Martinez from OSU. That would’ve put us on a short list of preseason hype beyond just a conference championship. 

[Dallas]

I really thought we were going to get Martinez specifically because he would have made our offense complete and given him so many opportunities to shine.

[22Ute22]

What genuinely made you think that a top 2 RB in the portal would choose Utah?

[Dallas]

Because if we had him at RB, he’d be playing on a near “perfectly complete” team that has a shot to take a deep playoff run this season.
It’s the same reason I think 5* QBs should come to Utah. All we need is a great offense to match our defense most years.
Not likely to happen but it would make sooo much sense if it happened.

[Ute Dub]

Bernard has never averaged under 5 YPC in any season. Now, he doesn’t carry the ball a ton and he needs to be more durable, but mediocre is not the correct word.

[AlohaUte]

I think we see Bernard as we have catching passes, I think Glover plays less and less of a role s the season goes on and we see more of Mitchell and maybe Randle.

[Charlie]

Bernard is a very capable back. His last year, 2022, he had a pitch count but was effective when in. I think he is somewhere between the 2022 workload and a bit more. He is as good as any at picking up a blitz. So I expect to see others involved a bunch. Glover has not excited us to date, I need to see if the reports of improvement translate to games. Often the RB that finishes the year so strong does not start the year as RB1. There are significant odds that one of the new guys can end the year making life hard on other defenses.

What has made our running game go well the last 5 years has been the passing game when we make opponents defend both. Just much concern related to defending the variety of pass options will make the running game more effective.

[22Ute22]

Even if true, RB is the least important position in the sport. With Cam and our WR/TE room, teams are going to have to respect the pass, which will open it up for the run anyway.

Still, it’s infinitely better to be in our position than Oklahoma State. I’d take Cam Rising and an unproven RB room over Ollie Gordon and Bowman.

[Dallas]

Agree. Our average RBs will likely be serviceable. They just won’t win us any games where we need two yards on 4th down late in the game. It’s one thing when the D is expecting a pass: it’s very different when they expect a run.

[D T]

KW’s confident we’ll get the production needed from our RB room….That’s good enough for me & should be good enough for you.

[cj13]

I locked in a bet +250 Utah makes the playoff. Lines have moved down to around +200 in just the last couple weeks.

[ArcheryUte]

“No doubt about it, I am ready to be hurt again.”

[MDUte]

Great topic Proud, thanks! Admittedly I am finding myself GUZZLING the kool-aid with eyes wide open.
Just when I think there couldn’t be a better Utah team entering a season than what we’ve had before, this team comes together with players we thought would’ve moved on by now (Cam, Kuithe, Bernard etc).

This is sounding like the most talented, most loaded, and deepest team at each position group in program history. This team is also being led by our future HoF coach who’s at the top of his game, along with the most experienced coaching staff we’ve ever had. Whitt isn’t coaching for paychecks at this point, and he isn’t coaching to progress his career, and he isn’t coaching to save his job…Whitt is coaching for the sole reason to win championships, period. He’s chasing greatness and excellence and that’s the most powerful motivator and driver toward achieving the best possible results. Football games are won and lost in the trenches. This is arguably the best and deepest DL in program history. This is also arguably the most talented OL in program history. The OL is young and lacks the experience of the very best OLs Utah has fielded in the past…but the talent of this young OL is off the charts. The DL and OL are what has me most excited about this year because when Utah wins in the trenches, we’re nearly unbeatable. And this team should be able to line up against any team in the country and go toe to toe. And then moving beyond our OL/DL and seeing the playmakers we have this year on both sides of the ball, it’s just crazy how talented and deep we are. We used to always complain about lacking talent at WR and not having enough weapons on offense to put fear into opposing defenses. Not this year! We’ve got 6 to 7 highly talented WRs, 6 highly talented TEs, and 4 solid RBs to surround both our star 7th year veteran QB who’s won 2 P5 championships already as well as our future star backup QB. The offense is going to be explosive, exciting, and is going to score a lot of points this year. And the defense is going to be up to Utah’s traditional standard of being great and maybe even elite. We have playmakers all across the defense at LB, CB, and Safety playing behind our elite defensive line. We’re going to be able to put pressure on QBs with our 4 man front, without needing to send extra pressure with blitz packages. This will make our defense all the more nasty when Scalley does decide to opportunistically dial up extra pressure. This year’s defense is going to be very good and tough to beat. As you can tell, I’m all in on this year. It’s CFP or bust IMO and I am buying the kool-aid so much so that I’ve already got my travel set to be in Dallas on the 7th to watch our Utes win the B12 title and punch our ticket to the CFP. And wherever we end up playing in the Quarterfinals, I’ll be there as well. This is Whitt’s year, this is Cam’s year, this is our Seniors’ year, and this is OUR YEAR…Go Utes!!!

[ProudUte]

Your points about Whitt are spot on. He wants this to be the team …

MD, I love your optimism.

[Onlyu]

OK let’s say we are just mediocre at RB as some suggest. You can commit to stopping the run but because of the TE group – Kuithe, King, etc, plus Pittman, Bernard AND Cam knowing what to do against almost any look, the short passing game would replace that.

BUT if you do commit to stopping the run you still have Singer, Alford and Parks to get deep, Kuithe and King in intermediate routes underneath them and a back out in Bernard as a safety valve. You also have an O-line that imo will be elite in pass pro. Just really difficult to defend because are you going to play zone against Cam? Or are you gonna single Singer and Parks outside or, Kuithe, King, or Bernard with a backer? We win those matchups more than we lose them and probably by a significant margin with a QB that can get them the ball.

If there is a weakness it’s that our O-line is probably just above average in the run game but they should get better as the season wears on. That said, we are very dangerous in the passing game so they will HAVE to have a plan for that. If you can’t get to Cam you’ll have to give help to your pass defense which then makes the run game much more effective.

Cam almost always gets the team into the right play…as long as he stays healthy you’re not gonna stop this offense much…turnovers and injuries are your best hope if you’re on the other side.

One last thing…Kuithe and Bentley are GREAT blockers which I think will be really important in pushing the run game over the top.

Stay healthy.

[Central Coast Ute]

Ok, after reading MD’s and OnlyU’s posts, I’m downing the red Kool-Aid. Why do I have to wait for two more weeks?

[MDUte]

Haha! Wish I could enjoy a nice frosty pint of the Red Kool-Aid with ya brotha!

This season is going to be so AWESOME! 10 MORE DAYS..GO UTES!!

[ProudUte]

Thanks, OnlyU. I love your posts, and you have typically been spot-on. I agree with your assessment and am excited for the 2024 season. I am quite sure that we will be good. How good? I don’t yet know. I hope we are amazing and stay undefeated.

[Dallas]

I expect our passing game will allow our run game to be much more effective GENERALLY. However, I’m concerned about those specific “4th and goal from the 2 yard line” type situations where defenses know they don’t HAVE to load the box to stop our RB1 or 2. Hopefully that’s where our big LB turned RB will come in???

[Redblood]

Especially after Ludwig said no more Cam running. He is almost unstoppable in those circumstances, I worry that we lose a game or two trying to get third and or 4th and shorts with the RB before we realize it had to be Cam. It is part of what has made him special in the past, his ability to extend drives with his feet to include short yardage situations. Can’t take away one of the things that makes him great by extending drives. But we are going to to try and preserve his health.

[22Ute22]

I don’t think he said no more Cam Running, right? Just that they won’t need to run him very often due to the WR/TE being great in the passing game. I’d imagine Cam would probably get 2-3 designed runs per game to keep the defense honest, rather than the 5-10 he got before.

[22Ute22]

That’s a very niche scenario…

Running backs are used way more than just on a 4th and goal. Plus, we also have other ball carriers for that if push came to shove. Kuithe or Carson Ryan could probably be used as an H-back in such a scenario. What big 12 D-line is stopping Kuithe at RB with Carsen Ryan and Dallen Bentley in at TE for blocking? Then you add in potentially King to create huge mismatches, forcing the defense to be weary of a potential pass.

I think you’re REALLY over exaggerating here dude, especially since we haven’t even seen Mitchell or Andrews play.

[Dallas]

Pretty sure that scenario happens every season.
Regarding not having seen Mitchell or Andrews play: we have seen Bernard and Glover play, so if Mitchell and Andrews are still below them on the depth chart then I think that should tell us a lot about their relative abilities.

[D T]

Mitchell has been put into Tier 1 by KW, along with Bernard/Glover….Tier 2 consists of Stanley/Andrews/Vincent.

IF MM proves he can pass pro, he’ll play serious snaps….At 218 Lbs, he can handle the extra workload IF called upon.

[MDUte]

I think this is when we should bring our 14 personnel package and run the Kuithe jet sweep play. That’s been pretty much unstoppable in the red zone in the past.

[D T]

Not to mention a Lohner or Alford jump-ball!!

[Jim Vanderhoof]

I’m sipping the koolaide and ready to start guzzling the koolaide. I need a Big 12 road game to gauge how we play on the road in front of a hostile crowd. I don’t think anyone can beat us at home.

[MDUte]

Good point. That’s one of things I love about matching up Utah vs Okie St in week 1 of conference games so that we’ll know right away.

Because if (or more accurately I should say WHEN) Utah comes away from Stillwater with a Big W, I’m going to rachet up the hype/excitement tenfold for this year. Not sure if that’s even possible, I’m already so excited haha!

[D T]

IMO, U of A could be nearly as tough an out as OKST with them coming off a bye.

[Uteanooga]

Yes. It is red and it tastes good.

I am drinking the Kool-Aid and I don’t care what is in it.

[High Uintas]

I’m drinking the Koolaid because it’s more fun than holding back – simple as that. Sports fans are supposed to be gullible dupes. We get emotionally attached to our team, not logically attached. I hear people say they won’t go all in because they’re afraid of being laughed at if the Utes disappoint. Why live in fear, don’t worry be happy.

[Virginia Ute]

You son of a bitch, I’m in.

Fiesta Bowl tickets went on sale from the box office, bought a pair juuuuuust in case.

[Virginia Ute]

.

[Virginia Ute]

You son of a bitch, I’m in.

Fiesta Bowl tickets went on sale from the box office, bought a pair juuuuuust in case.

[The Miami Ute]

I’d like to drink the Kool-Aid but I’m a firm believer in the old adage “pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” I do believe that this particular team’s floor is around nine wins. However, only time will tell if they can put at it all together against teams that will be extremely motivated to beat the Utes.

Like it or not, there are a number of teams in the Big XII that could beat Utah given the right amount of favorable circumstances. We can talk about Oklahoma State but let’s not forget that TCU, UCF, etc…will also have a say. And then, on the other side of the bracket, you have teams like Tech, KState and Kansas.

What really makes me question whether Utah has enough to roll through the conference is that, even in the two years where they went to the Rose Bowl, had Kuithe and Rising healthy and a near-elite, proven running game, they had multiple losses. And some of those came against teams that weren’t particularly good (like against Florida in the 2022 opener).

[D T]

Meh….Brewer started 2 of the 4 losses in ‘21 & Kuithe hardly played in ‘22.

We had one bad loss in ‘21 with Rising starting & one in ‘22, both on the road.

Yes, there are absolutely teams we could lose to this year, but IF key injuries remain minimal, there’s not a team we won’t be favored to beat….OKST/UCF provide our stiffest challenges, but the next three toughest games are all at home where we’re virtually unbeatable.

I don’t make guarantees, but as close to one as possible, I believe we at least reach Arlington, where we’ll most likely be favored to advance to the CFP.

Btw, I have the utmost respect for Leipold, but till KU presents some resistance defensively, they won’t be a serious threat to reach the CCG….Not to mention, their bu QB is no longer there to mitigate the absence of the oft-injured Daniels.

[The Miami Ute]

You think Oklahoma State and UCF are better than that Florida team that Utah lost to in 2022? I do. And Kuithe was healthy that day, had a great game and Utah still lost. All I’m saying is that I’m getting a sense of euphoria from this fan base that’s primed for a letdown. The opponents have their weapons and want to win as well. Other than maybe USU and SUU, I’m taking every single game in this schedule very seriously.

[ProudUte]

I agree to a point. But, the Florida game in 2022 was a bad game for Cam Rising. He was simply off-target (low) on many passes. It is one of his worst games as a Ute IMO and we still almost figured out a way to win.

I am optimistic (not convinced yet) that we will have a great season. We have 6 good tight ends and the best WR group in Whitt’s tenure. We have a deep and talented front 6 on D. However, there are still some questions to be answered. 1. How well will this group of offensive linemen do? 2. How will our new safeties perform? (They may be great, but we certainly lack experience there.) 3. Many hate this question, but is Cam Rising the same player he was in 2022? (I have always contended that a big part of Cam’s game is his ability to run when needed.)

I am very optimistic. But, I am waiting to see the answers to the three questions above.

[The Miami Ute]

Well, to give you my opinion, I went to that game in Gainesville and, other than the INT in the end zone at the end of the game, thought that Rising did pretty damn well considering the environment and circumstances. The stats say the same thing (22/32, 216 yards, 1 TD and 1 INT plus he rushed for 97 yards). Now the real question is when was the last time you saw Utah lose after rushing for 230 yards and 2 TDs?

[Charlie]

George Patton reminds us the other side has a plan also. I don’t simply expect us to roll thru the season without issues but I think we start the season with an above average number of things going for us. We need to do as well as everyone else, finish in the top two and win the CCG to go to the playoffs for the first time. That makes the playoffs more achievable than ever before. The two byes allow everyone to reset twice. Some feel good that we should not have to upset someone to make it happen. OSU and UCF are better than Florida but they are not Oregon and USC or Washington. We can go 1-1, maybe 0-2 against them and still make the CCG. If only one other team is 8=1, I like our chances. It will be fun to watch each of the conference leaders play their most challenging games.

[D T]

Other factors for that UF loss, such as a young defense that didn’t do much tackling during Fall Camp.

What you’re not accounting for is our team is vastly more talented this year than it was two years ago….The games still need to be played, but we’re much more formidable overall at this point than we were at the same point in ‘22….This isn’t an apples-to-apples comparison.

Btw, Orlando isn’t nearly as intimidating as Gainesville is.

[The Miami Ute]

You have your facts wrong. Whitt himself said after that game that the defense was beat up from Fall Camp. That’s the reason why they laid off on tackling before playing Florida again last year.

[D T]

Wrong….Our tackling in Gainesville was literally non-existent….THE primary reason we lost that game.

[The Miami Ute]

No. I’m not wrong. I’ve literally heard Whitt say that they went too hard at each other during the 2022 Fall Camp and that led to a bunch of guys on defense being nicked up for the opener against Florida. I’ve also literally heard him say that they dialed back the tackling in the 2023 Fall Camp so the same thing wouldn’t happen again.

[D T]

I’ve literally heard the opposite AND it clearly showed in Gainesville with our atrocious tackling.

You’ve got the years mixed up.

[Utah]

Do I think OSU and UCF are better than Florida? UCF – nope. Not even close. Florida is a much more talented team than UCF.

OSU – yes…and no. Look, Florida had more talent than Utah. Florida recruits better than Utah.

Cam Rising is 19-1 vs teams that recruit worse or about the same as Utah. And the one loss was Rising’s first ever road game as a starter.

His only losses are vs teams that have more talent than Utah. UCLA, Oregon, Florida, Ohio St (although we were tied when he went out), Penn St. Oklahoma St does not have more talent than Utah. No team in the Big 12 does.

And Whittingham and Rising don’t lose to less talented teams.

[MDUte]

No way OSU and UCF are better than the Florida team we lost to in 2022. They might not have finished with a winning record but they have a much more talented roster of dudes than OSU and UCF.

Florida’s problem is Napier hasn’t been able to get all of that talent on the same page. They play better teams being in the SEC and have simply gotten out-coached. But the talent Florida has is undeniable, consistently recruiting at a level around the Top 10 each year. Whenever you have that level of talent all across the field, you’re dangerous enough to play with and beat anyone.

[The Miami Ute]

To borrow a phrase, you are what your record says you are. A team that wins 10 games in a power conference is always better that a team in another power conference that finishes with a losing record. Talent is just one part of the equation.

[D T]

Alright….Let’s just throw any optimism for the year out the window….We’ll be fortunate to become bowl-eligible….Miami has convinced us all….We’re far too terrible to hope for anything beyond that.

[The Miami Ute]

Brother, did you not read the part where I said that the floor for this team was a nine-win season? I’d hardly count that as a failure. Nine wins is what Utah had both times they won the PAC.

[MDUte]

Good point Miami. But I guess the better way to put it is in the form of a question. Who do you think Utah is more likely to beat on the road…Florida at the Swamp or UCF at the Bounce House?

Gotta go with Utah beating UCF in that one Chief.

[The Miami Ute]

Really? That didn’t seem to stop a mediocre Kentucky team from beating the Gators at the Swamp the following week. And that was a game that wasn’t particularly close. Now, are you saying that a Kentucky team that went 7-6 in the SEC was better than the 2022 PAC title winning Utes?

[Author]

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