I have to admit, it was really difficult to motivate myself for this post. It's not so much that I'm pessimistic about our defensive backfield - actually quite the contrary. I think there's a lot of potential here. But I'm getting tired of all of the talk and speculation. It's time to see what this team has to offer. However, I felt I needed to do this since I've done every other position, and since I now have evidence that members of the team are reading certain posts on this board, I didn't want to leave anyone out. (Well except for the kickers. All I have to say on them is they'd BETTER be better than last year. If not, a post on them would look like Hod's pornolized site.)
Like I said, I really feel this crew has a lot of potential - particularly the safeties. The best part of the DB corps this year is the fact that of the 10 players on the two deep (including nickel backs) 6 are freshmen or sophomores (including all 4 safeties), 3 are juniors, only 1 senior - and he's not starting. That may not bode well early on, but this group is only going to get better and better for the next 3 seasons.
Arnold Parker is already a stud. I was amazed at a couple of plays he made last year in the Washington State and Air Force games. One play that particularly stands out is when he dropped into coverage against Air Force but saw the QB keep on the other side of the field. The QB had open field ahead of him and looked like a sure score. Parker came from clear across the field and leveled him. Yes, the QB got 7 yards on the play, but he should've gotten 7 points on a 52 yard keeper.
The thing about Parker is that he'll probably play both safety spots and some corner. Anthony White on KFAN said yesterday that some of the nickel packages will actually have 3 safeties on the field. I kind of like that considering that White, Parker and Antwoine Sanders are probably the 3 best defensive backs. In this situation, Parker will play Corner, White will be SS, and Sanders FS. I think this would be a very effective lineup against strong running teams - read Air Force. The other thing this line-up gives us is 2 guys who are 6'3 or taller (Sanders and Parker) to cover Flemming.
Kyle Wittingham said yesterday on Red Zone that "Fans will learn very soon who Antwoine Sanders is." Apparently he's looked REALLY good in fall camp. I got to meet him at the Fan Fest, and he's not only a good player, but a good guy. I was walking on the field with my little boy, and he came over and asked us if we wanted a picture. He picked up my little boy, and one of the guys with the Polaroid snapped a shot. He told the camera man he wanted another one so that he could keep it. He was keeping copies of all of the pictures he took with the kids. I thought that was a pretty cool thing to do. I can't say as I agree with the big old Superman logo medallion around his neck, but if he plays like it, more power to him.
I'm really excited to see Nagahi as well. Anytime a RS freshman can step up and take the starting job from a senior, it bodes well for the future of the team. Nagahi has the speed to be a good cover corner immediately, but I can't say as I've seen his tackling ability. With the propensity of shorter passes I've seen in the 4 college games I watched this weekend, CB's are going to need to be better hitters than cover guys. I'm thinking limiting YAC is going to be a major defensive key in college football this year.
I'm still concerned about the right corner spot. I'm not sold on Arabin Justin or Desmond Davis. However, since the '93 injury-riddled debacle of a backfield that contained a converted RB and QB, the DB's at Utah have been pretty good. I can't imagine that either of these guys could be much worse than Edwin Garrette, Teniel Ethridge, etc., and these guys were still pretty solid. (They just got burned an awful lot.) I just hope they tackle better than Harold Lusk. (I'll never forget watching him wrap-up Demario Brown on the 7 yard line on 3rd and goal, only to be pushed into the end-zone.)
Over all I like the team speed at Corner. I don't know how many picks these guys will get, but I would make a good bet that they'll get some decent returns off the ones they do get. I'm ingrigued with what D'Shaun Crockett brings. I haven't been impressed with the converted RB's in the past, but I've always loved D'Shaun's athleticism, and I've heard that he's made more than his fair share of incredible athletic plays to knock down passes and make incredible int's in practice.
I'm also intrigued by Antonio Young. He came out of high school with some really good credentials, and sounds like a good prospect. Mac said he may play this year because he's been looking good in practice, but that was a few weeks ago. I don't know if things have changed since then.
All in all, this squad looks like it could be solid by the end of the year. Unfortunately, they face Fuentes, Harrington (this one could be ugly), Flemming, and possibly Randle-El (well, I guess they'll be seeing him whether he's playing QB or receiver) in the first four games. There will almost certainly be some ugly moments, but it'll be good experience for the remainder of the conference season and the next 2 years.
GO UTES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Last modified .