[Rick]

He’s a one – slated to start at point guard right now. Definitely a score first one.

[Rick]

Utah1,
You’ve got to give the BYU rhetoric a rest. I don’t love that they have embraced NIL like they have but I don’t see anything evil about it. There are existential reasons why perpetuating this wild, wild West system is a bad thing. At least I feel that way. But any program and donors choosing to play -even at lower levels, is part of that perpetuation. I hope some reasonable guard rails are established soon.

Anyway, I say let the Y do what they do. We’ll continue to settle it on the field. I think good things are to come for both football programs this year – especially our Utes. And I love that Alex Jensen is building a program that’s going to be built on tough, physical defense. That’s something I can cheer for even when I don’t see players who are committed to my university. Damn NIL.

[Rick]

Dallin Bentley is the starter. Landon King and Hunter Andrews will play alot. Landon will be all right. He’s working hard.

[Rick]

I’ve discussed rim-protecting with my sons a little. We do hope for someone with true center size who can protect the rim and be a nice lob threat.

Don’t you think that Dawes could play the role of rim protector? I seem to recall a few moments in the season where he came from the weak side and made some nice blocks. I realize that’s only one aspect. I wonder if Traore has the ability? We don’t know anything about him except that he redshirted after making great impressions on the coaching staff last fall.

Anyway, I do think we need rim protection and I’d love a more traditional point guard; but the roster construction does look promising – filled with positional length and athleticism.

[Rick]

I get it Champ. I just don’t know that it’s subterfuge. I see that it could be. I’m just saying that Whittingham was driven by knowing two things – he wanted Rising on the field if at all possible, and the U didn’t have a suitable backup.

[Rick]

Champ and Gator,
I don’t mean this to argue with either of you about Whitt’s handling of the Rising situation the past two seasons. I think it could have been better, especially last season more from a personnel standpoint. We simply did not have the right back up.

I do think a lot of us forget context from Coach Whitt’s perspective. I talk to fans all of the time who forget that Rising had three seasons ruined by injuries, not two. Remember that he started against USC and experienced a season-ending shoulder injury 15 to 20 plays into the first game (in the first quarter). He had earned the starting position over Jake Bentley.

The next season Whittingham made what I think was perhaps his worst decision as head coach. He started Charlie Brewer over Cam Rising. I don’t know that Utah would have defeated BYU but we surely would have defeated SDSU.

I’ll get to my point. I think Coach Whitt will forever regret that decision. I think it weighed significantly on his handling of Rising the next two seasons. Whitt knows what a winner Rising is, and he never wanted to doubt him or put him behind anyone again. He wanted him on the field.

I realize that this is an apologist viewpoint, but I believe it’s fundamentally what has driven Whitt’s thinking about the QB situation until the leg injury against ASU.

On a related note, think of Rising having to rehab and return from so much injury. The physical and mental toll must be brutal. I admire him. I also don’t fault Whittingham as much as others given the context above.

[Rick]

22,
I can’t wait until you have to shut up about Beck using his tight ends.

[Rick]

Interesting perspective Caleb. I think you fit into “we suck no matter what category” with that response.

Having watched the team a little in spring and spoken with a few insiders, I think the floor is 7-5 and the ceiling is 10-2. Utah is capable of defeating everyone on our schedule and losing to five or six of them, but only if injuries become a significant factor again. As much as I’d like to say that won’t happen again, we said after the 2023 season and then 2024 happened.

The parts are in place to sit back and enjoy this season. The offense is going to be interesting to watch and over-analyze as we tend to do. I don’t get Proud’s angst about the defense. I see talent everywhere – every position group and good depth. I do think the defensive line has something to prove this season, including depth at defensive end; but I sure like the guys lining up as starters right now.

Proud asks about playmakers. How many do you need? I think Fano, Barton, Damuni, Hall, Johnson and Davis will all be playmakers – perhaps even in that order. I think there are three or four more we could list and a few more who will emerge. By the way, I shouldn’t omit the defensive tackles but if they do their job, Barton, Damuni and Hall will make a lot of plays. I have all kinds of optimism for the defense.

On offense, if your best playmaker is the quarterback, you’re in pretty good shape. We saw that when Rising was healthy. Of course, he had terrific tight end play both of those years and a good to great running game. I see parallels to that this season – best playmaker at quarterback, a tight end room that looks good coming out of spring and a remade running back room that looks good. It will be great if Parker meets expectations. All of these position groups depend upon an offensive line that features a first-round tackle and a future high-level draft tackle at each end.

I don’t think we’ll win every game but we’ll win a lot.

[Rick]

Utah Man,
I don’t have great info for you other than coaches being impressed with Williams, Caldarella, Whittemore, Tia and Glover throughout spring. Of those, Williams has separated himself; but I don’t know the pecking order. I’ll see what I can find out. I would think Zipperer and Washington will get in the mix. I’d hate to see Zipperer transfer. He has talent – decent size and good speed.

[Rick]

While I agree we need more shooting, Elijah’s a shooter. Watch his highlights. I realize they are highlights but watch his mechanics – footwork and release. He’s very skilled as a shooter.

[Author]

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