Unfamiliar Territory

[UteFanatic]

It’s been a long time since we’ve been this bad on both sides of the ball. I can accept that the offense won’t be stellar with an 18-year-old freshman QB or a 20% healthy Cam Rising. But what is with the defense? Missed tackles, poor angles, lack of effort and enthusiasm. Barton was a highly recruited LB and has taken a major step backward relative to last year. I know that injuries are part of the reason for the struggles, but this team just feels broken at the moment.

Whittingham has been in this position several times (most notably after the 2007 loss to UNLV and the 2012-2013 seasons), and we know he is capable of getting the team back on track. It will be interesting to see if he can do it again, or if the team folds and hangs it up for the rest of the year.

Whittingham may be getting tired. It’s totally understandable. After all, he is retirement age and has been doing this for a very long time. He is a Utah legend and has brought national respect to the program and should be able to coach here as long as he wants to. I’m just hoping the Whittingham era doesn’t end on a bad note.

This team needs leadership. Players like Micah Bernard are going to have to lead this team back. There is still several winnable games on the schedule. All is not lost, it’s just not going to be the season we thought it would be. Adjusting expectations is always difficult.

[2008 National Champ]

You’ve got a top 20 defense in both scoring and yards allowed. The problem isn’t on both sides of the ball. One side is just having to shoulder an extra load because of the ineptitude of the other.

The two P4 wins were built on the defense either directly scoring points or putting the offense in position for easy points. The two losses, the defense played well enough not to lose. Defense scoring points should be the difference between a tight win and a blowout, not winning and losing.

[UteFanatic]

Statistically, they aren’t a terrible defense. But you have to admit, this is not the defense we are used to. Even Whittingham said after the loss to ASU that the defense is underperforming.

[2008 National Champ]

Every year there are missed tackles, receivers wide open, QB’s extending plays because D Ends lose contain. It just looks worse right now because it’s in the moment AND there isn’t a margin for error. Neither of the Skattebo breakaway runs are backbreakers in a 38-14 game but they absolutely make the difference when down by 1 or up by 3.

The D is giving up ~ 20 points a game and the O is scoring ~ 20 points a game against P4 teams. If I told you those numbers before the season which one would you say is likely and which one could never happen? Because that it how I base whether expectations are being met or not and then assign blame. To the extent that my loudmouth assigning blame matters to anyone.

[UteFanatic]

You’re probably right. I’m sure the defense just seems worse than usual because they’ve given up backbreaking big plays in both of the losses. The two Fifita throws and the two Skattebo runs were just killshots.

[RedUte14]

i am with 2008 through all of this negativity. this guy is the only person that has made sense.

he isn’t letting weird bias and excuses get in the way of logical thinking.

[Utah]

Agreed. We have six trips to the redzone and something like 9 points.

The losses are 100% on the offense. Sure, the defense saved us in year’s past with timely TO’s and they haven’t this year, but if we score TD’s in the rezone we are undefeated right now.

Our issues are 100% offensive play calling in the redzone.

[Utehoopsfan]

Why is Scalley an automatic for the HC position? Why can’t we have a legit coaching search when the time comes?

[2008 National Champ]

That’s part of being named Head Coach in Waiting. He wasn’t promised to get an interview so that he wouldn’t look at Alabama (which wanted to interview him under Saban) or any other school that might come in with an offer. He was promised the job barring any scandals between then and whenever Whitt moves on.

Short of a new AD who won’t honor that stipulation, I’m not seeing how the job isn’t Scalley’s. So worst case you are looking at potentially 3 years of underperformance under Whitt before he hangs it up and then 3 years of underperformance from Scalley before you actually do a real search for the position. Best case would be that Whitt wins a championship in 2025 (can we all agree that 2024 ain’t happening?) and hangs it up, then Scalley steps up in a seamless transition and carries the team forward with no worse than CCG results the next 3 years vindicating the Head Coach in Waiting designation. I’m not sure where the cutoff line between those two extremes that would constitute right plan / wrong plan is.

[UteFanatic]

He has a contract in place that that says he’ll be promoted to the HC when Whittingham retires. Of course, contracts can be voided, just requires money and some backstabbing.

[Utah#1]

Amen! Go UTES!!!

[Utesbyfive]

There are more than a few injuries to defensive leaders. Karene Reid being chief among them. If he can come back, I think it’s going to be a big spark to the defense. Missing O’Toole, Tanuvasa, Vimahi, and Damuni does not help.

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