Charlie

Well, there you have it. Whitt just said he would have changed up practice with the QBs if he knew then what he knows now. Does not look like Whitt was gaslighting anyone.

First, #1 (Branch) should not have been allowed a return. In this situation the chance of a fair catch is near zero, the chance of a long return is quite likely even though it has been defended prior, kick out of bounds is the correct strategy.

Given the ball on the 11, Utah either let CW score or the defense was given a sleeping pill…[Read more]

Centering the ball is the only play close to a kneel down in terms of easy. The OL doesn’t even have to move. At that point it is the kickers preference. Giving him basically a longer extra point is the highest percentage option, holder and kicker. Then there is the whole thing about which things cause a 10 second runoff but then a runoff can be…[Read more]

First, Whitt told us years ago he does not like to give opponents heads up on player status before games. Maybe we should have heard that and accepted that.

Next, it is very likely that some recoveries have not gone as planned or as indicated at points during the process.

Last, I have no issue with putting some practice time into the best…[Read more]

Yes, my top 3

I will miss the west coast destinations as much as anyone. I was getting ready to do another Oregon coast thing since we were going every year. Now I will try to put some advantages together, if possible.

I have lived in Cali and was back in May but Cali is not the same place any more. I miss what it once was and don’t like where it is now.…[Read more]

Josh is Ethan’s older brother. I think he transferred in from Washington when Ethan committed to Utah. He has been on 2 deep rosters and I have seen him on special teams and one or twice at LBer. I think he has been bothered by injuries before this year. I would expect Medlock coming in first. There will be dropoff.

Odd to see Riley sitting at a table alone with a line of 5 microphones and water bottles answering questions…

Barton is very good but there are options to work with. Medlock and Fotu are the likely suspects along with Calvert to fill in.

Rarefied air.

Well, he leads the team on tackles, second on TFL, and tied for 4th with TFLs in the Pac 12. That is a somewhat important guy on defense. I agree, he is also an uncommonly gifted offensive player with vision few have. What to do? I expect going forward he will have a lot to say about his preference, he will be very wanted by both sides, and I…[Read more]

We should keep in mind that Barnes in HS was 1A. I don’t know how many of us have peered into HS football in rural, small school America at that level. I expect he never got to learn or experience football before college on the level that 98% of D1 athletes experience in HS or even in middle school. I am fairly sure there is not little league…[Read more]

Myself, I think what was holding him back was the ability to make quick decisions. He was quicker tonight than in the Cal game but not as quick as the league’s top QBs. Next week, maybe a bit quicker still?

The last TD was a gift so Utah could get the ball back with time on the clock. Watch a replay, Utes were not hiding the intent much at all. Never the less, the gift made Williams jump for joy.

I think the coaches have this. RBs rotate anyway and the safeties can rotate as well. I think they are very aware of a total pitch count. Unless they see errors that would relate to not being fully prepared, let him live in the rare air of being a two way star.

I don’t expect to see a ceiling with so few starts, his ceiling is not too much higher but he can win more games.

As on explanation, a great deal is accomplished in fall camp and the non conference schedule. How many freshman backups miss these two periods and do catch up? Maybe it was close enough that Rose has to catch others where they are now and that is difficult with all the focus on the two that may play game to game.

More the colors of a tree frog in South America than any duck I have shot. Could make you feel you could stick to a wall.

It will become easier to beat USC as the season continues, however, the first Pac team to beat them will have the greatest satisfaction. USC feeds off success and the complementary expectations but that also makes them more venerable to downward spirals that are hard to reverse.