BT

[HCHooligan]

Bartle says Brian Thompson is in the portal

247

[Jake]

Well dang, can’t say I blame him, he has real NFL talent but he likely won’t get there playing for us. Wish the kid the best, hopefully we’re still trying to keep him.

[MDUte]

Bummed to hear it’s BT since he was clearly our best WR. I love our smash mouth football identity but agree that we have to consistently get better in the “throw game”. Because IMO, this is a big reason why our 2019 team was challenging for a conference championship and something bigger. To me, an elite running game equals competing for the South, whereas an elite balanced attack that’s heavier on the run puts us in contention for the “special” season.

[Tony (admin)]

Hell.

[Waybackutefan]

Oh well not too worried, with Kuithe coming back and Covey back for his 9 season, its next man up. 

[Onlyu]

This is a big bummer but with Money, O’Toole, Vele and Cope in as underclassman and Nacua, Covey, Enis and Dixon (99% sure he’ll announce soon) we’ll be ok. Kincaid will be used a lot more this year and you already know what Kuithe and Fotheringham bring to the table. Plenty of pass catchers, route runners, size and even guys that can get deep. We’ll survive. Had high hopes for BT…struggled to stay healthy but is a good Pac12 talent when he was.

I think we have a chance to be better at QB and will definitely be better on the O-line and because of that we’ll have a couple guys rise up and see plenty of balls.

[Ghost of the HEB]

We’ll survive, but BT was our best outside receiver. Will be tough to replace with underclassmen, tight ends, and JD who hasn’t played in a while.

[Charlie]

Sad to be sure.  If I remember right, BT was recruited by Troy Taylor and they were close for whatever reason.  I wonder if there was something to that relationship, maybe some assurances, whatever, that was not the same with Andy.  I always worry when a coordinator leaves what the impact may be on not so much all his players, but the close 1 or 2 players.  I like BT very much but he should also understand that his injuries have figured in and playing with a backup QB does as well.  I am an optimist but I don’t feel next year has to simply be a repeat of last year.  Next year could very well be friendly to WRs.  I wish him well, wish he would have stayed.

[Anfernee]

Such a talented group of quarterbacks we have coming in. I get being frustrated but it would make sense to stick around with this class/transfers coming aboard. 

[Onlyu]

Parks is FAST…just struggled with picking up scheme/assignments last year. Should be better in year two. Dixon will catch up in no time and by the Fall act as though he never left. O’Toole is built like Enis but faster and more explosive. Has downfield potential for sure. Those three guys can stretch the field. We’ll see about Cope when he gets here.

[MDUte]

Thanks OnlyU…always appreciate your insight! And if that’s the case then I think it really comes down to QB and Oline play. Sounds like our WRs are solid enough to run great routes and get open. But more importantly is we need a QB that can consistently hit the open target and has the protection to do so. And it sounds like with our returning Oline and our deeply talented QB room, we should be able to take a big step forward in the passing game. That’s my hope at least…go Utes!

[Charlie]

Thanks, I kind of forgot about O’Toole because he came in as a TE.  Awsome he is doing well at WR.  He is a big guy but must have speed to do so well in the 100M on his HS track team.  He may supprise some.

BT leaving leaves a hole but that hole is also closed by JD returning, young guys like O’Toole and Parks getting to the second year, Cope coming in and more weapons at QB.  The net of all of that looks to be improvement.

[Utesbyfive]

Damn right man. Good luck to BT. I think Utah will be just fine.

[Jake]

I wouldn’t be so nonchalant about it, there’s a drop off from him to the other outside receivers.

[Utesbyfive]

I think Makai Cope is going to impress. Watching his video, he appears to be a specimen. I don’t think this is anything close to a serious problem.

[Jake]

Statistically speaking you’re correct, but we just wasted his potential, Parks and cope will likely still need more time to grow, but Thompson was NFL talent in our hand already developed, should’ve given him 5 touches minimum a game.

[Anfernee]

“Jaylen Dixon, come on down!” 

[Jake]

Yeah we better bring him back now.

[Yergensen]

Only 18 receptions for BT in 2019.  Last 1,000 yd receiver was Dres.  This has to be part of why BT is in the portal.

This WR production/involvement is not nearly enough for us to recruit and keep good WR talent.  Scheme, WR rotation (has been too many players rotating) and QB play all need to change/get better to improve this situation.

We will lose a talented playmaker in BT. Not good.

[Distantute]

Huge loss. Drop off in talent from him to everyone else is equivalent of huntley to bentley. We dont get a lot of nfl wrs and we lost one. This offense needs to start using its wrs a whole lot more.

[concerned]

Timing is curious. I wonder if a relative or potential agent (or both) whispered in his ear that he has to go to school that throws the ball more to showcase his talents for the NFL.

[Trailgoat]

Bummer, no surprise considering the state of Utah’s passing game. Would not be surprised if Ennis is next. Time for the young guys to step up. Vele, O’toole, Parks. 

[Hellhound152]

What exactly is the “state of Utah’s passing game.”  In 19′ the state was a 1st team all PAC12 Quarterback.  I can assure you that the “state of Utah’s passing game.” will never be 60 attempts a game.  FWIW I wish it would have been Enis this time…

[Yergensen]

State of Utah’s passing game: last 1,000 yard receiver was Dres 7-8 years ago.  Only a couple of receivers since then with +50 receptions in a year (Covey, Carrington).  BT had 18 receptions in 2019 with an +20 yd avg.  JD’s numbers were comparable.  

Your philosophy is run first, fine.  You want a balance of pass/run, fine.  But when you throw it, get your damn playmakers on the field and in a rhythm (rotation) and get them the damn ball.  BT and JD were 20+ yards per catch and we don’t get them the ball more than 2 times a game?  Makes no sense.  I’m p**sed as hell about this one.

[Hellhound152]

I am not exactly thrilled about it myself but who specifically in the shortened season who would you have taken reps away from?  Which boosters son was getting plays that should have been going elsewhere and it was obvious?

1,000 yard receiver is an overrated measure.  I have much preferred B. Johnson and T. Huntley throwing to open recievers rather than T. Cain forcing the ball to David Reed every play.

[Yergensen]

2020 isn’t a good comp.  So, go back to prior years.  I think Simpkins and Mariner were both taking reps away from better players.  Then you get into players that were/are productive, but aren’t playmakers.  All of these guys have taken reps from 2 guys that get us +20 yards per touch.  Alabama and Sark rarely took Devonta Smith off the field and got him the ball +10 times a game. We got BT and JD the ball 1 to 2 times a game.  This is the problem I have with our offensive philosophy and scheme.  Get your playmakers the ball.

[Hellhound152]

Well if we are trying to get play makers the ball than Enis needs to be riding the pine.  He has been using up reps for 3 seasons now, those other guys you mentioned were at least consitently productive.

FWIW – Dixon had the most touches from scrimmage in 2019 in the entire recieving corps including tight ends.  I get the idea of scheming for receivers but it is not like Thompson or any of the others on the rosters has ever shown that Carrington, I am clearly the number 1 guy attitude even if they had the ability.  Thompson could get a release and that is what made him special but he also never physically dominated a db that I recall.    

[Yergensen]

That’s the idea.  JD had a big 2018 and then…2nd on depth chart to Simpkins in 2019 and 2nd on depth chart to Enis in 2020.  He was PFF highest rated returning Pac12 receiver in 2020 despite limited play in 2019 and he’s a backup stuck in our WR timeshare.  There’s something I’m missing here.

[Hellhound152]

Maybe it had something to do with the fact he is a body catcher playing slot.  I am not a practice but Nacua always seems like the best possession reciever on the roster and his time on the field often leaves me wanting as a fan.  I really don’t think I will be swayed from the idea that unit production trumps individual production but I totally understand your frustration.  I think we all do.

[2008 National Champ]

Enis isn’t anywhere near the problem you think he is. In 2019 with Huntley having an incredible season, Utah only threw the ball 23 times a game (17 completions). How the hell is Enis, or any receiver supposed to show what they can do with 1 or 2 targets a game?

Enis has proven he can be a great possession receiver and catch anything other than the two hoppers from Bentley. But it doesn’t matter if the QB won’t throw him the ball. Both he and Dixon have been criminally underused.

2019 Pass / Run splits: 23 / 42

[Hellhound152]

When you have the best to ever do it at Utah you have to get him touches.  When you are playing with a lead as much as Utah did in 2019 it will scew the numbers even further.  Utah played entire 4th quarters in 2019 without 4 pass attempts.

[2008 National Champ]

You are making my point for me: if Utah is going to limit the number of passes they throw how can you as a fan determine that any receiver is not doing their job?

[Hellhound152]

That is because I was not totally disagreeing with your point.  I was pointing out the reasons why the numbers skewed so bad in 2019.  In a season with that many blowouts it bumps the rushing numbers way up.  If you would have been on board with taking carries from Zack to throw screens to Solomon Enis to make sure he got touches then you are welcome to that position.  

I am just trying to figure out where these 15 extra pass plays targeted at specifically pick your favorite perceived under utilized receiver are coming from that everyone is so hell bent on acheiving while still playing a ball control style that keeps the defense fresh and allows the best player on our offensive roster to still get enough touches.  If your answer is scrap the whole philosophy to cater to the wide recievers again you are welcome to that position. 

[UteBacker]

That’s too bad.  BT was really really good when his body permitted it…

[MDUte]

So is the BT news why we went out and offered Bryson Reeves? Not sure this is a good move if it’s a knee jerk reaction. Wouldn’t we be better off keeping the scholarship available for higher talented guys to come available in the portal?
Bryson Reeves

[RustyShackleford]

As I understand it’s a blue shirt offer? So his scholarship won’t count this year but the 22 class

[MDUte]

I read that other PAC schools were willing to offer him as a PWO but not tie up a scholarship out of the gate. Even if it’s for the class of ‘22 , I’d think that scholy could be better used on someone with less risk. And if a kid like Reeves proves everyone wrong as a PWO, then offer him the scholy…no?

[Onlyu]

He’ll count toward the 22 class and pick up a scholarship in the Fall. Expect him to commit within the next day or two.

[McBride of Frankenstein]

FWIW.  I love Thompson and wish him the very best.  I hope he gets drafted.

[Tednab]

He was a key component to the offense, when he was healthy.. kept teams from stacking the box . Kind of disappointing, would have love to see him finish off he career at Utah .

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