Football question of the day

[ProudUte]

How successful will we be at rushing and sacking opposing QBs this season?

On the one hand, we lost our best pass rusher, Ellis, to the NFL. We have also lost our best tackler, Damuni to an injury. These losses will hurt.

On the other hand, O’Toole should be 100%, and Fano sounds like he should be good to go. Add to them Fillinger and a couple of other guys. We should have excellent experience at D-end and our tackles are also experienced and talented. We have two amazing LBs in Barton and Reid.

I think we should have a very good season when it comes to QB sacks. Will it be our best in the Whitt era? Probably not, because we have had some great seasons. My guess is that we will average about 3 sacks per game as a team. We had 33 sacks (almost 3 a game) last season. Only once in the last decade did we average 4 sacks per game.

What do you guys think?

[Tony (admin)]

The loss of Ellis was big. But as you mentioned, we have a lot of talent. HCIW (head coach in waiting) will have them ready and they’ll disrupt opposing offenses.

[pedro]

I agree with your assessment. To me, the best combination is a DE who has a motor (O’Toole, Fillinger) w/ LB’s that can make good reads. BUT the LB’s are the key to to it all. Barton and Reid are good, but what worries me is who is behind them, as we know the LB room needs to be deep. How good are their back ups and making the right reads and reacting, that will be the key.

[UTEopia]

In most years, Utah football uses the run to set up the pass but I think it will be the other way this year. I believe we have the best WR group since the Sugar Bowl season, but both the run and the pass will require a better showing from the OL. If the OL does their job, both should be fine.

As for getting to opposing QB’s, I think the best options are Fano and O’Toole. Fillinger just seems a step slow and a little stiff. We will need a couple of young guys to step up and provide depth. There are a number of young guys on the roster.

[Rick]

I think quarterbacks are in trouble this season. I like our defensive ends but I love our tackles. They are as critical to the pass rush as the ends and I think most teams will have trouble creating a pocket for longer than Two Mississippi. I think the defensive line is the strongest position group – ahead of the wide receiver/tighten corps.

[Rick]

A big question for me is replacing the pressure that our safeties provided last season. If we can keep our productivity up there, I am confident that our DEs, DLs, and LBs will be as good or better than last season. Also, how much man coverage will our corners be able to provide. Pass rush is not just a product of a good DE or two.

[ukiyoronin]

It’s hard for me to say. I don’t have a great bead on how good big12 defenses are against pass rush. If their Olines are about as good as USCs last year, and their QBs half as slippery, this D-line could have a crazy year.

[Author]

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