USA Today, Utes #6, ESPN Power Ranking Utes #4

[PlainsUte]

Some good way-too-early pre-season ranking hype for the Utes football team…

USA Today Pre-Pre-Season Rankings

ESPN Post-Spring Pre-Season Rankings

[AlohaUte]

This team has the makings for a special year, but it’s hard to run table, especially as a power 5 team. But I’d our Utes can manage no more than 1 loss, we may just find ourselves in the playoff.

[Utesbyfive]

I’m sorry, I want to enjoy this, but I swore after the 2010 TCU game that I would never again believe the hype. Just like the players, I hope, I will take one game at a time.

All of this tends to frighten me more than energize me… fwiw.

[D T]

I welcome all the hype as a fan, so long as the team doesn’t buy into it…..The hype & being highly regarded nationally is absolutely priceless as far as recruiting goes…..I’ll take it every day, so long as the team’s sole focus is on UF…..Win that game & it’s on baby!

[UteBacker]

^^this^^  my anticipation and excitement level for this season hinges on the Florida game.  Win that game and we’re at least in the playoff discussion.  Lose and our overall season goal will be the Rose Bowl again (which is fine).  I just don’t think we get through the conference without a loss.  SC was the last team to do it, I think, and that was in 2004.

[salUTE]

The Utes were one score away on the road against a team (Oregon State) that went undefeated at home from being undefeated in conference play last year.

The Utes showed that an undefeated season in conference is certainly possible for them.

 

[2008 National Champ]

I’m sure every team that only loses one conference game can point to something and say “if”. Until someone manages to run the table, the odds are against it. 18 years of data > “if”

[ProudUte]

I completely understand what you are saying.  I tend to be more cautious and I need to see the team play before I get too excited.

Things I am optimistic about:

An established QB, solid running backs, excellent tight ends, an established coaching staff, and our starting CBs.

Unanswered questions: (Could be very good)

Offensive line, new linebackers, safeties, and D-line.

Things that concern me:

Special teams, wide receivers, and depth at defensive back.

[Yergensen]

Any anxiety over WR is unnecessary.  So is any excitement over landing a 4* WR.  WR play is a minor success factor for our power run, ball control offense.  

In our scheme WR rotate a lot, run routes netting 1 to 2 targets a game and downfield block.  By design it is the least utilized position in terms of making plays with the ball.  Covey said this.  Yet we keep thinking it’s the other way around, that talent dictates the usage rate.  It’s not the case.

[Utesbyfive]

Ludwig tailors his offense to the talent, he’s always said this. You think if we had a Drake London on the team that hoovered in every ball thrown anywhere near him, Ludwig wouldn’t use him as a go-to producer?

[krindor]

Utah’s a ball-control, power run offense and will stay that way. Our WR aren’t a huge part of the success. And that works as long as we’re not looking for success at the highest levels.

But if we want to succeed at a higher level, then we have to be able to be effective in every aspect of the game, not just our preferred power run game. There’s going to be times that a team can take us out of that or where we’re going to have to make plays in the pass game. And yes, it would help to have some excellent WR there.

Maybe those guys are on the roster, maybe not. But even if we rarely need them, fixing rare deficiencies is what it takes to get to the level we want to be.

[PlainsUte]

I know what you’re saying, because I lived that too, but the reality of college football is to get into the conversation for CFP you have to start pretty high.  Much harder to start 20-25 and work your way up, than to start high and maintain.   Being in the conversation for CFP has the advantage of getting the Utes name out there for recruiting.  Of course the team still has to win every game or drop no more than one game to stay in it, not saying it means anything by the end of the season.

This year is special because of the big Florida (SEC SEC SEC) game early which could cement the Utes in the top ten much like Oregon was last year after beating Ohio State.   Agree if the Utes lay an egg it looks really bad to have been hyped, so hoping the Utes team pulls through.

[Trailgoat]

Utah historically has early season struggles with way too many injuries before the season for some odd reason and looking like they skipped Fall camp in the first couple games. Utah follows this trend against Florida it will be a long day.

Biggest concerns with Utah IMO in the context of a Top 10 team against UF:
– Playing in the loud Swamp with very hot, humid weather
– Lack of experience and depth at CB. Broughton and Marks have very little experience at CB and UF will go at them
– Unproven edge rush players: Fillinger is young, Reid was decent-not great at Stanford
– QB depth: hopefully a non-factor
– KW’s achilles heal as HC of preparing his team’s confidence to play as a top ranked team.
– Special Teams: no explanation needed

I could see this game going either way.

[cj13]

Thankfully Florida has many problems. Brand new coach and was under .500 last year. There’s no reason we should not beat them. Best scenario for the Utes to prove themselves. We are playing a storied brand in the SEC but they really aren’t that great.

[PlainsUte]

I remember the year the Utes opened against Michigan.   Lots of hype for Coach Khakis Harbaugh pre-game and it was the first game of the year.  Granted it was a home game, but the Utes did very well.   2022 opening opponent’s situation is similar, new coach coming in presented with a rebuilding/restoring past greatness situation.

 

[Crazyforu]

Not sure about Fillinger being unproven, I would argue the exact opposite with him.

The comment about QB is interesting to me as well. I am not sure how many teams would expect a better QB situation than what Utah has. I know you mentioned the backup, having an all-conference returning QB is pretty much best case scenario. Not sure a team could ever expect to have a backup with a ton of experience, that happily plays second fiddle.

Also, Broughton will be just fine, opposite of CP. Are there some questions, sure, none of those should be seen as a question mark at this point though.

[chinngiskhaan]

Yep… He was every bit as disruptive as Tafua toward the end of the year. I think we still need a pass rusher we can rely on when playing the best of the best. IIRC both Fillinger and Tafua struggled against Oh st. Maybe Fillinger can be that guy. I sure think he can. 

[Utah5410]

Surprised depth at DB convenes you. Marks and Vaughn have both played a ton of football. Vaughn is very good. They are our backups..

Truth. I do not believe we will go undefeated in the pac. But for any shot at the playoffs we must beat SC and can only lose one game. My money is on the Oregon game. If we lost that one. But won the rest including the pac championship the playoffs is very real.

[D T]

FYI—No P12 champ’s ever gone undefeated in conference play.

[Ute Dub]

Truth. Utah had 7-8 DB’s goes down last year from spring to end of season. T-Boney, RJ Hubert, Aaron Lowe, Broughton, Marks, Vaughn, and I know I’m missing some others.  

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