Posted By: UtahDan
Date: Saturday, 27 October 2001, at 4:28 p.m.
I know we all hoped in our hearts that there wouldn't be a meltdown this year as there has been every year that I can remember. You know, if we had come in and played hard and just lost because we outplayed I would be okay with it. But when you come in and fumble into the endzone, have field goals blocked, and call two passing plays when you are 2nd and goal at the 2, damn it, it makes fans angry.
This is not a loss to a Boise State, but this is a game that we had every opportunity to win. Props to CSU for the win but you got a little help from us.
I have stayed silent regarding the crazy old circus monkey this year because I have hoped that things had changed. No, I'm wrong, different year, but same damn Ron McBride brand of timley mistkes and inexplicable play calling football.
This is obviously not fatal to our season but it highlights to me that things have not changed. I think we can all deal with losing to a better team or giving our best effort but going down like we did today is why year after year it gets harded to get behind McBride.
Our coaching lost this game today. Every time we established a few good runs we started to throw. Seeing as how we had then badly overmatched up front this is hard to figure out. I know we will never be rid of McBride and I'm sure he is a decent human being but games like today, and we get at least one every year, is why he will never have this Ute's support.
Posted By: UTEopia
Date: Saturday, 27 October 2001, at 4:59 p.m.
Earlier this week I posted what i believed would be the keys for a UTE win. Now a look back in CAPS
Defensively, the Utes will need to:
1. contain the QB. The guy is athletic and can pull the ball down and run. These types of QB's have given the Utes trouble over the years because the QB is generally unaccounted for in the defensive scheme.
I WOULD SAY THAT THE UTES MANAGED TO DO THIS QUITE EFFECTIVELY.
2. prevent the TE from making big plays in 3rd down situations. The TE has been all conference for several years, and TE's have given the Utes problems over the years.
CSU'S LAST FIRST DOWN WAS A TIGHTEND PASS OVER THE MIDDLE.
3. keep WR in front of them. Last year CSU beat the Utes with 2 long TD's.
TWO LONG PASSES WERE IMPORTANT TO CSU WIN
Offensively, the Utes will need to:
1. not commit turnovers giving the Rams a short field.
UTES DIDN'T GIVE THE RAMS A SHORT FIIELD, BUT TURNED IT OVER AT THE GOAL LINE.
2. control the clock as they have in the 6 games so far this year.
DIDN'T HAPPEN. WHEN THE UTES DID CONTROL THE GAME WITH THE RUN, THE PLAY CALLING IN THE RED ZONE SWITCHED TO THE PASS AND THE UTES COULD NOT GET IT DONE.
3. keep the Rams off-balance with play calling and some trick plays.
NO TRICK PLAYS. THE UTES DIDN'T NEED TRICK PLAYS. THE RUNNING GAME WAS SOLID. RICE IS NOT A GAMER.
Special teams will need to:
1. punt the ball out of bounds. Dallas Davis, 2000, need I say more.
PUNT GAME HURT BECAUSE OF FIELD POSSESSION AND BLOCKED FIELD GOASL ATTEMPT ENDED UP BEING THE DIFFERENCE.
Both teams recognize the importance of this game and will be prepared to play a physical game. Both have comparable talent. Utah won 4 in a row from 91 -94 and CSU has won the last 3.
Posted By: Portland Ute
Date: Saturday, 27 October 2001, at 5:03 p.m.
and the offensive line has nothing to be ashamed of. I thought that, again, Rice made a couple of nice passes down field for big yardage. After that, I thought it went down hill. The defensive backfield made Van Pelt look like a real QB...something that he hasn't looked like in the past. The special teams were horrid.
Red zone offense was atrocious. I did not understand the play calling much at all...and the execution was poor. But why the consecutive passing plays on the TWO at the end of the half when we have the running game we have???? And what about on that last drive? Hunter was running all over people, so they go to Russel over the middle? i don't get it....anyway...maybe I am way off on my perception of why the red zone offense sucked, but I do know one thing....it sucked. Big time.
I posted a couple of days ago that I thought that Rice had much to prove against good defenses. I think that he was exposed today by CSU...especially in that last two minutes of the game. There were plenty of open receivers, but he either a) didn't see them, or b) over-threw them. I stated a couple of days ago, that I didn't feel that Rice was the kind of QB that was going to lead the team to a victory in a tight game. He isn't.
Well, go Utes.
On to the BCS, Cougars! (Hey, the payout to the U will be great, won't it???
TIC )
Posted By: MalamUTE
Date: Saturday, 27 October 2001, at 5:14 p.m.
he didn't lose this game for Utah. It was obvious when Utah had to throw though that he couldn't get it done. He floats the out ball too much and the defenders have ample time to make up lost ground.
My reasons for the loss:
- Special teams that allowed CSU excellent field pos. the entire 1st half.
- A costly fumble at the goal line when the 1st down was already in hand and the stretch for the TD was not necessary.
- Several dropped balls where Rice had put it right on the money.
- Play calling that didn't take advantage of the way Utah was able to run over the CSU defense.
I still called a 7-4 season a success and I think 8-3 is still possible.
Posted By: MeSoVanHorny <rickmajerus99@yahoo.com>
Date: Saturday, 27 October 2001, at 5:40 p.m.
Can anyone tell me why Ver Steeg would call nothing but immediately after Hunter busted tackle after tackle for 71 yards during the previous series? EVERY call was a 40+ yard pass attempt!
I am unbelievably tired of Ron. Whittingham has built a nice defense and we have an outstanding offensive line that tires out the opposition in every game. So why don't we continue to use them in Q4?
I am dumbfounded and I don't know what to say.
When they showed Hunter on the sideline praying, in retrospect, I'm convinced he was praying that Ver Steeg and Co would let him into the game again to run the ball.
I don't blame Rice. He looked pretty good all day considering the play calling.
I'm really tired of the unrealistic play calling when the game is on the line.
I know that if Ver Steeg had called it, our offensive line would have opened
some holes and Hunter would have made more progress than the long passes that
were being thrown out there.
Posted By: L.A. Ute! <la_ute@hotmail.com>
Date: Saturday, 27 October 2001, at 5:48 p.m.
A few points:
1. Hey, at least we didn't run up the score on them! (Thought I'd try that one to see if a few of you might laugh, or maybe just smile a little.
2. This is was a painful loss, but NOT a shocking loss, like the loss to New Mexico when the team is ranked in the top 10 (think back to 1994!). We weren't even favored today, were we? If we were, it was by less than a touchdown, IIRC.
3. We should keep in mind that this team has been overachieving just a bit all season. We have a decent QB, but not the kind you need to win a game like this one. Prior to this game, we had strung together a 5-1 record with a fair amount of talent, but with some good bounces of the ball, too. I think they learned a lot today.
4. The Utes (and their coaches) had some bad moments in this game, but there has not been a game like this all year. Last season, the first four were all like this one.
5. CSU played a fine game. No doubt about it. There were a number of terrific plays by guys who wanted to win. (Like the blocked FG.) From a CSU fan's perspective, their defensive goal-line stand at the end of the first half was a thing of beauty. Hey, they stopped us. Give them credit.
6. The Utes had their moments too. Utah's second touchdown sounded like a picture-perfect play to me. The o-line dominated. Hunter played a great game. The guys all played with heart. (Sometimes their heads were in a dark place, but their hearts were in the game.)
7. We have all been saying, all along, that with this team, 7-4 would be a fine year. To get there, all we have to do is beat San Diego State and UNLV, which we should be able to do. Air Force is a tossup, and BYU is a very winnable game. So we're looking at a good year still and perhaps a bowl. (Beating Air Force would help with that.)
And, as UtahDan said, this is only a football game.
Go Utes!
Posted By: Mr. Crimson (Ute Bandwagon Driver and
brewmaster) <me@me.com>
Date: Saturday, 27 October 2001, at 5:54 p.m.
Seriously how many times does this numbnutz need to play not to lose and lose before he figures it the hell out. Fourth and goal at the one at the half and he kicks a FG after he just missed one and you're moving the ball. Fourth and 5 inside the 10 and you need a TD, your defense has had some issues and you don't go. What the hell you don't make it maybe the defense gets a stop with CSU playing in its own endzone and you get great field position. The way he played it looked as if he wanted to leave the game in Kaneshiro's hands and who the hell would do that.
Second, offensive play calling, why in the hell did we throw 41 times today with Hunter breaking thru, and when we get the ball back with over 2 minutes why go right to the shotgun especially when Rice hasn't looked good and the receivers are having their own issues. I'm sure Ver Steeg will figure it out but damn if I understand now.
Give CSU credit for doing whatever it had to do just to hang around.
But seriously we dominated that team and should have won by 2 touchdowns. While no big thing contributed and they tried to give us the game with the roughing the holder it is just maddening. I would rather go out trying than turning it over to an inconsistent kicker just so you can say after the game that he should have made the kick.
Win or Lose I pray that this is Mac's last year, dude just isn't a winner, he's the Karl Malone of the MWC.
Posted By: BigUte
Date: Saturday, 27 October 2001, at 7:07 p.m.
Even thought this loss hurts, it wasn't totally unexpected. I think the line was Utah by 4 so it's not like previous years when we lose to teams we should beat handily.
Except for CSU, Utah still controls their own destiny. I imagine after next Thursday, Utah will be in complete control of their destiny. Even with that comforting thought, I have no confidence in the team winning or tying for a championship this year. I think there is pretty much a 0% chance of them getting by all the remaining teams on the schedule.
Even though the defense usually secures the game, there are always times in a season when a game is close down at the end. That is the Achilles(sp?) heel of Utah football. A ball control offense has its strengths but relying on that offense to move the ball quickly at the end of a close game is a big problem for the offense. Our two minute offense is pathetic! Except for the dropped ball by Lyman, there wasn't one pass that I can remember that was even close to being completed. Most had a better chance of interception rather than reception. The Utah team and fans better hope games are well in control in the last five minutes of a game because I think most MWC teams have the advantage over us in a close game going down the stretch.
Posted By: S. Gil
Date: Saturday, 27 October 2001, at 7:12 p.m.
1) Mac was wrong blaming the blocked FG on Ryan. CSU did get a good push and allowed the jumper to make the play. Mac choose to blame the kicker rather then the play calling. Typical Mac (diverting blame), "You can't question the play calling". Ya, OK, whatever...Idiot!!!
2) Those of you who are choosing to blame Rice. Was it Rice's fault that Cliff fumbled inside the 5? Was it Rice's fault that Lyman droped 3 balls, Cliff droped 2, Richardson 1, and the coaches put him in bad positions? This wasn't Rice's best day but he played well enough to win. We should of ran the ball on the 1 yrd line, and we still could of run the ball on the 2 minute drive at the end. Hunter had a right to be pisted. It piss'es me off when players aren't given a chance to win. Instead Rice is in the freak'n shotgun!!
3) Once again CSU beats us by just doing enough and waiting for the Utes to self distruct (thats two years in a row). Their was PANIC in the way the coaches called this game and the way it was exicuted by the players. We just can't ever seem to deliver the knock out punch. All in all a true Utah meltdown.
4) It's to much to think that the Utes would beat CSU, AFA, UNLV and BYU on the road. It is probly to much to think we can win the 3 remaining road games. Next week at UNLV we'll see what these guys are made of.
Posted By: Mr. Crimson (Trying to find the bright
side of life) <me@me.com>
Date: Saturday, 27 October 2001, at 10:08 p.m.
While CSU did have a nice push and jump, Kaneshiro needs to be underneath that ball, he did drive it as he has a tendency to do and it was his fault.
Now he never ever ever ever should have been kicking that ball. McBride is a chickenshit panty waste for not going for it and why the hell we never ran the ball on the play before I'll never understand but technically, that kick was his fault.
Posted By: Ram21
Date: Saturday, 27 October 2001, at 8:43 p.m.
Good game today on both sides. This year for CSU we just need to hold off until the end and that's what we did today. I would like to thank Utah for what seemed like 5-10 dropped passes-that was a killer for the Utes.
I like your QB-I wouldn't be dissing him, he played well. Dropped passes, fumbles, blocked FG-not his fault. He played solid and it's a shame the supporting cast around him performed so poorly.
Anyway-good luck against BYU. I think CSU is going to get creamed, we'll need you to get the W instead.
Posted By: UTEopia
Date: Sunday, 28 October 2001, at 1:25 p.m.
1. Play calling in the red zone. The Utes controlled the line of scrimage but went from the ground to the air when they got close. I'm sure that many of us would be complaining had the Utes unsuccessfully run the ball in those same situations.
2. Play calling on the last drive. The Utes had plenty of time to drive the ball down the field with a mixture of run and pass. I think Ver Steeg got a little nervous and abandoned the run too soon. With CSU coming up the middle, I think a middle screen to dennis smith or one of the RB's could have been successful.
3. Cliff Russell trying to do too much. I guess i would rather have him try to do too much tan too little, but that fumble was painful.
4. Special Teams allowed CSU to have too good of field position.
5. Blocked FG. Kanashiro's trajection is always low and therefore suseptible to the block up the middle. However, without the failure of the play calling, this is a non-issue.
6. Dropped passes and missed receivers.
7. A couple of defensive lapses allowing CSU to get some big plays. Without those big plays, CSU doesn't score a TD.
8. Rice's inability to make the big play. Rice's play did not cost the Utes the game (see 1-7 above). However, Rice had an opporunity to do for his team what Doman was able to do for BYU last year against the Utes and this year against both UNLV and UNM. He didn't.
What didn't cost the Utes the game was MAC. I have been critical of Mac in the past, but that was for teams being unprepared mentally and physically to play the game and for being undisciplined during the game. This team was ready to play and, for the most part, played well. Play calling hurt the Utes and that falls on Ver Steeg. Then again, Ver Steeg is new at OC.
Posted By: Swami Chub
Date: Saturday, 27 October 2001, at 5:18 p.m.
Yards Offense: Utah 442, CSU 324
First downs: 22, CSU 13
Passing Utah 18-41-1
Hunter 148 yards
Turnovers Utah 2, CSU 0
Three times inside the five, three points to show for it.
17 points
aaaarrrgggghhh
Posted By: Centerville Ute (formerly runninute)
Date: Saturday, 27 October 2001, at 4:41 p.m.
Receivers dropping balls. Our star receiver fumbling in the end zone. Coaches calling 2 passing plays on the 2 yard line and then not getting any points. I hope this game was an aberration, because everybody sucked today! Even at the end when Hunter had to come out to take a breath. I knew right then, that we wouldn't score a touchdown.
Also, in the first half we had 3 4th down and inches. What did we do? Punt on every F**king one of them. I am soooo pissed. I hope I don't have too many typos, because I'm about to throw my computer out the window.
Ver Steeg's play call was horrible! The receivers sucked big time today. Man, I've got to find a new addiction. This team is killing me.
Rams suck! They are 1 lucky team today. They played us on our worse game of the season. Who can I kill?
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