No Trust For Whittingham on Offense

[Red Rhino]

Though I greatly trust Whittingham for his defensive abilities, I have no trust for him with his offensive knowledge. Since Kyle came to Utah, Utah has averaged 29.9 points per game. Their average offensive ppg rank is 50th nationally since he has been at Utah. For the most part, his offenses have been incredibly boring to watch. Even in games where we have done well offensively, Whittingham has shut down the offense and played not to lose. I’m sorry, but although I’m incredibly grateful for the good years, I’m ready for a team with some offensive firepower again. I will gladly eat my words if Whittingham reforms next year, but I don’t see it happening.

Utah PPG National Ranking | PPG Average| QB |Coordinator
2024 -109th – 23.3ppg – Wilson- Ludwig/Bajakian
2023 -93rd – 23.2ppg – Barns/N Johnson- Ludwig
2022 -14th – 38.6ppg – Rising- Ludwig
2021 -13th – 36.3ppg – Rising- Ludwig
2020 -49th – 30.2ppg – Bently- Ludwig
2019 -29th – 32.3ppg – Huntly- Ludwig
2018 -73rd – 28.1ppg – Huntly/Shelly- Taylor
2017-52nd – 29.5ppg – Huntly/T williams- Taylor
2016 -50th – 30.3ppg – T Williams- Roderick/Harding
2015 -50th – 35.2ppg – T Wilson- Roderick/Harding
2014 -51st – 31ppg – T Wilson- Christiansen
2013 -82nd – 29.2ppg – T Wilson/Schulz- Johnson/Erickson
2012 -79th – 26.7ppg – T Wilson/Hays- Johnson
2011 -65th – 25ppg – Hays/Wynn- Chow
2010 -22nd – 33.1ppg – Wynn/T Cain- Schramm
2009 -30th – 28.9ppg – T Cain/Wynn- Schramm
2008 -12th – 34.9ppg – Johnson- Ludwig
2007 -64th – 27.4ppg – Johnson/Grady- Ludwig
2006 -39th – 25.2ppg – Ratliff- Ludwig
2005 -36th – 30ppg – Johnson- Ludwig

Whitt is what he his and that’s not going to change. He has reached the ceiling that he himself has set. Imagine what it would be like if we averaged at least a top 30 offense with a Scalley defense. I’m ready for a coach who is open to a higher ceiling.

[MG_Ute]

Just curious – do you really think if we had a better quarterback talent in the down years the #’s wouldn’t have been better? These are cool statistics, but I do think they have something to do with talent. A mediocre OC can look awfully good when he has solid talent. I for one feel the larger issue is QB recruiting and talent evaluation, ie QB1, QB2, etc.

[highlandute7]

Would be interesting to put the OC for each year along with the starting QB.

The years with the higher rankings I would guess are when we had a better QB.

2008 was Johnson
2019 was Huntley
2021 and 2022 were Rising

[MG_Ute]

That’s exactly what I mean. I am frankly amazed how worked up people are about securing an OC and less concerned about why there has been such a grand canyon drop off when Cam has gone down. I certainly don’t expect his equal, but my goodness Kyle, why did we hang on to Isaac for so long?

I am not downplaying the importance of a good OC, but figuring out how to identify, recruit, and evaluate QB talent is so unbelievably important and we have not done too well recently. If you look at the statistics above, our track record of bringing in and developing solid QBs isn’t stellar and needs to improve ASAP.

[Stone]

It is almost as if it has very little to do with the OC or even the Head Coach (in terms of schemes and approach), and almost entirely dependent on the QB. We can certainly blame the lack of a good QB on the coaches (recruiting/development), but based on those numbers above, it seems like the play-calling and schemes are far less important that who has been recruited and developed to play QB.

[Tony (admin)]

Bingo

[UTE98]

I’d love to see a breakdown of rushing rank those same years. 2008, 2019, 2021, 2022. Moss, Thomas, Bernard, Curry during a couple of those later years. Which year was Joe Williams?

2008 – Asiata, Mack, Wide

[2008 National Champ]

Joe Williams backed up Booker in 2015, was the main back the 2nd half of 2016.

Chris Curry got 38 carries over 3 years for Utah. Maybe you meant Pledger? TJ had 700 yards in 2021.

[2008 National Champ]

Yards per game rank (stats courtesy of sports-reference.com):

2024: 130.4 rush (#98), 199.4 pass (#99), 329.8 total (#115) – Ludwig / Bajakian
2023: 182.5 rush (#34), 165.8 pass (#120), 348.4 total (#94) – Ludwig
2022: 217.6 rush (#11), 249.2 pass (#50), 466.9 total (#17) – Ludwig
2021: 217.1 rush (#14), 214.3 pass (#85), 431.4 total (#41) – Ludwig
2019: 201.4 rush (#32), 227.6 pass (#69), 429.0 total (#49) – Ludwig
2018: 182.4 rush (#53), 213.9 pass (#82), 396.4 total (#72) – Taylor
2017: 164.0 rush (#66), 249.4 pass (#49), 413.4 total (#52) – Taylor
2016: 214.0 rush (#32), 216.7 pass (#78), 430.7 total (#52) – Roderick / Harding
2015: 183.2 rush (#45), 179.8 pass (#106), 363.0 total (#97) – Roderick / Harding
2014: 190.4 rush (#41), 197.7 pass (#95), 388.1 total (#79) – Christensen
2013: 160.8 rush (#72), 236.3 pass (#62), 397.0 total (#76) – Johnson / Erickson
2012: 133.8 rush (#93), 190.7 pass (#100), 324.4 total (#108) – Johnson
2011: 137.6 rush (#80), 173.2 pass (#99), 310.8 total (#109) – Chow
2010: 152.9 rush (#62), 236.1 pass (#47), 389.0 total (#52) – Schramm
2009: 160.3 rush (#48), 229.2 pass (#44), 389.5 total (#54) – Schramm
2008: 156.5 rush (#51), 244.5 pass (#35), 400.9 total (#35) – Ludwig
2007: 167.5 rush (#44), 202.2 pass (#81), 369.6 total (#80) – Ludwig
2006: 140.5 rush (#54), 227.9 pass (#34), 368.4 total (#41) – Ludwig
2005: 178.5 rush (#32), 294.5 pass (#12), 473.0 total (#12) – Ludwig
2004: 236.1 rush (#13), 263.7 pass (#21), 499.8 total (#3) – Sanford / Mullen

[Charlie]

I expect that so many of the great coaches have awesome offense numbers but have defensive numbers like Whitt’s offense numbers. I expect that very few have great numbers on both sides over a range of years like this. But we remember and note the coaches with great offenses, I suppose because most fans completely enjoy a 45 to 42 win. Whitt’s final conference rankings until recently are very respectable, defensive ranks very good and offensive ranks leave plenty to be desired. Hard to have it all. Defense can win championships but is not as interesting to watch as great offense. Over time our defense may slip, the offense will improve, our national standings could be typical Whitt ranks or lower and our fans will be happier. Thank God our great defensive coach had a few great QBs for some pleasant runs. Also thank someone we are in a conference that a typical Whitt team will be competing for a championship. Scalley may be able to keep the cake but eat more, I hope.

[2008 National Champ]

I’m not a bigger fan of 45-42 than I am of 13-10. I do want a team that is capable of putting up 45 every week and don’t think that should be sacrificed so that the team will only give up 10. Great teams are capable of both. Good teams do one or the other and bad teams can do neither.

[Charlie]

Don’t get me wrong, I want more particularly on the offensive side, as much as anyone. I just don’t think is is as simple as slap leather and go out and get someone better. Other schools with greater resources want the very same solutions that we seek. Better is very difficult and the hoped for solutions carry a real chance of not delivering improvement. Programs like USC would not lose to us if it were that simple and we are not at all in the same category related to resources. With the exception of Oregon, we are like other former Pac schools and the best thought out change options will be maybe / maybe not. The folks working on this for us are dealing with a degree of difficulty beyond the comprehension of almost every fan. Let’s hope for the best and be carful if we choose to criticize.

[Red Rhino]

In my opinion scheme is important to attracting QB and Receiver talent. What QB wants to hand it off 35 times a game and what receiver wants to spend most of their time blocking? I’ve been saying it for a while; it is not an attractive environment for offensive talent.

[MG_Ute]

Couldn’t agree more Rhino. It is sickening to think that, had Utah averaged 25 points this year we’re probably in the championship game and winning it.

[UteNamedOg]

Not disagreeing, but any idea on what the time of possession or average starting field position stats are? Utah has had a good record over this time frame, and teams like Michigan, Wisconsin, Stanford, LSU, Michigan State, Wisconsin again just cause I love me some fullback, and even Bama have had less than exciting offenses for periods of time in the 2010’s. Reason being is if they ever built up a lead your offense might not see the ball again.

[Author]

Posts