FOOTBALL: Thoughts on the Game, the future, and the ColoUte Tip of the Week:
Posted By: ColoUte
<everutes@hotmail.com>
Date: Wednesday, 26 December 2001, at 9:13 a.m.
1. Wow, our Defense is awesome! I'll be sleeping much better next season knowing that we return 9 guys from that team that held SC to 1 freakin' yard on the ground. However, I'll also be tossing and turning with the image of Kyle Wittingham's message light blinking from getting calls from every program looking for a DC, and possibly a couple of programs looking for a HC. I fear he may be gone. He's not going to Provo, but there are going to be a lot of openings here in the very near future that would really be good career moves. I hope there's some way we can lock him up for a while. However, if we can't keep him, some new DC (Kaufusi?) will be inheriting a windfall.
2. When we entered the 4th tenuously holding on to a 4 point lead, I figured, "Here comes number 13." (Referring, of course, to the 13th 4th quarter choke the Utes have had in the past 5 years.) However, the defense came up huge. And how nice was it that the offense was able to finish a game? How many of us were picking up things to throw at the TV when we were 3rd and 19 from inside our own 15? Heck, I was nervous at that 3rd and 5, and everyone in the room saw the draw coming. It was nice to see the offense becoming our best defense at the end of the game.
3. Props where props are due. Rice didn't have a spectacular game yesterday by any means, but he made the plays when he had to. (I guess he's analogous to the BYU defense.) He still made some bad throws, and there were some great catches by the receivers that bailed him out a couple of times. But he did convert 6 third and long situations in that game. That 3rd and 14 late in the 4th was absolute nails. It was a great read and a very good throw. I'm not sitting here shouting, "YIPEE! We get him back next year." But he does deserve credit for making some key plays and playing a huge role in that victory.
4. Now, I've said many times that Rice isn't capable of leading us to a conference title. I don't think that's true. I think we have the ability to win the title next season with Rice under center if 3 other things take place:
- Obviously Rice is going to have to make some drastic improvements in his game. No, his arm is not going to get a whole lot stronger, but he can improve his mechanics. He needs to learn to plant his foot before throwing. He needs to lose the happy feet. He needs to learn to lead his receivers better.
- We're going to HAVE to get similar production out of our running game. Johnson and Peroulis are going to have to go for 2400 yards again. This may be asking a lot, but we're going to have to depend on our running game again since our passing game will be somewhat suspect once again.
- The coaching staff will need to recognize that by going with Rice again, they're tying the proverbial hand behind their back. The offense will need to be adjusted to plays that Rice CAN make. VerSteeg is going to need to be fitted with a shock collar that knocks him through the back wall of the booth if he even THINKS of calling that freakin' hitch pattern again.
5. With all due respect to Dameon Hunter and Adam Tate, I thought the MVP was Sheldon. Dude put Carson Palmer on his back early and often, and by the end of the game, Palmer wasn't looking for receivers anymore. He was wondering where Deckart was, and preparing to get into the fetal position.
6. That final sack was a thing of beauty. Savage, Garrett, Smith, and Kaufusi just blew the SC O-Line up. That line collapsed like the furniture in Helaman Halls.
7. I have to take issue with Rosetta's assertion that this was Utah's biggest win ever. Don't get me wrong, that was a nice win, but I don't even think this ranks in the top 5 during Mac's tenure. '94 alone had 4 victories that were bigger. Utah beat nationally ranked teams in Oregon (PAC-10 champ), CSU, BYU, and Arizona (T-2nd in the PAC-10) that year. The '96 victory over a ranked Kansas team was pretty big too. I don't think beating a 6-5 USC team that finished 5th in the PAC-10 quite matches up.
8. You know what's really scary? What happened in this game was almost exactly what everyone on this board predicted would happen. We showed we could get our yards on the ground. We showed that our D was not only good because we didn't play anyone. I must admit that I really missed the boat by predicting that SC would be able to move the ball on the ground, though. That option hurt a couple of times, but SC got nothing between the tackles.
9. Speaking of the option, I wonder if we'll see more of that next year. We did have some trouble with it when we weren't expecting it. I think our problems are correctable, though. It's almost all on Kaufusi, actually. He's not slow-playing at all. He's allowing the pitch to be made too early. Actually, against USC, his best bet would have been to take the pitch and make Palmer keep it. He wouldn't have made it past the LB line. But by forcing the pitch early, he's essentially overpursuing the TB, and not giving the safeties time to get over. I'm sure that correction will be made this offseason.
10. I have to say that I thought SC's cheerleaders were WAY overhyped. The camera kept going to them, and I didn't see one that wasn't a mullion. Student Body Right was correct in stating that this was a down year for them.
ColoUte Tip of the Week: You know, instead of bashing exUte, we should be thanking him. I personally would like to thank exUte for sacrificing his holiday to...how should I put this...man the "power-plant" in YzGay's absence. Someone had to keep the lights on.
GO UTES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Our defense against the run...and a couple other notes...
Worked pretty much like I said it would (I had to gloat just a bit
)
Honestly, we're blessed to have Parker, Sanders and Revill. Parker's ability to play man coverage totally changes what an offense sees. Usually a team has to bring in that 5'9" 175 lb CB for their 5th guy, and the first thing you do is try to attack the obvious size mismatch. But with Parker, Sanders and Revill, you basically have 5 "linebackers" in who can also cover...it makes a huge difference. It also doesn't hurt that Sheldon Deckhart is a stud above all studs. I have a feeling NFL D-Coordinators are going to be licking their chops about Sheldon...he reminds me a lot of San Fran's Smith...who is getting a lot of praise this year..although I think Sheldon is even faster than Smith.
One other thing, I loved the replay ABC showed to demonstrate the way our defense is "innovative". It's a 3rd down, I believe, and long, and Parker is up on a reciever, playing tight man. Just as the ball is snapped he goes on a dead sprint to the middle of the field and the linebacker slides over to the reciever. As Danielson said, how in the world does a QB read that? And if he does, what does he do with it? I've never seen that in years of watching football, it's a great scheme.
Palmer, in an LA Newspaper, said we threw a lot of things at them that they didn't expect...that's a tribute to our guys...and our coaches.
One last thing, I found encouraging. When it came to the 3rd and 5 draw play, Ver Steeg said in the paper this morning that he, Mac and Wittingham were on the headset's together discussing what to call there. THAT is a very good sign IMO. Ver Steeg wanted both their opinions on what to do, something that will make him a better and better coach...he also said Rice had an audible to a short pass if he felt the draw was covered...again another good sign IMO.
FOOTBALL: Great win by the Utes but is it really that big of a surprise?...
Posted By: Jason
Date: Wednesday, 26 December 2001, at 8:53 a.m.
I had seen SC play earlier in the year and wasn't impressed at all. I know they won their last 4 games and had a year similar to the Utes in that they lost most of their games by small margins. That having been said, I actually felt Utah was probably the better team going into the game and was surprised to hear that the SC guys were so cocky and arrogant during pregame functions. Obviously they didn't do their homework and paid for it (Utah should have been 10-1 if not for dumb play calling and even worse quarterbacking vs. CSU, BYU, & AFA)and deserved far more respect then SC was giving them. With a decent QB, Utah may have been as good as some of the upper echelon PAC-10 teams this year as evidenced by their game at Oregon.
I guess its that old Pac 10/So. Cal. arrogance. Even when they have a mediocre year they still think a MWC opponent is just going to roll over for mighty Tommy Trojan. It was a great win for the Utes and very satisfying to see SC eat some humble pie. Next year's defense looks like it could be great again and if we can get a new quarterback who can complete a pass beyond 10 yds. the Utes might be very good next year as well. My Christmas wish from MAFU for next year: PLEASE! - no more Lance Rice.
FOOTBALL: Stats and Notes...
Posted By: Diehard
Ute <utahfan@hotmail.com>
Date: Tuesday, 25 December 2001, at 6:38 p.m.
First note, the AP thinks Doug Kaufusi is a Defensive End...do these "news" agencies ever do any homework? No wonder their football polls are so screwy.
Stat of the game, IMO, Time Of Posession:
Utah 38:01 USC 21:59...that, my friends, is domination.Rushing Yards
Utah 54 carries for 222 yards (4.1 per carry)
USC 25 carries for 1 yards (0.0 per carry)Total Yards
Utah 358 on 76 plays (4.7 per play)
USC 151 on 55 plays (2.7 per play)The stats bear two things out.
1)Utah's O-Line is just incredible, as we all know.
2)Utah's defense is incredible. USC had one 80 yard drive that took 4:57. The rest of the game Utah gave up 71 yards on 43 plays, and USC only had the ball for 17 or so minutes...that's domination. That's 1.65 yards per play...astounding. I'm looking forward to watching this defensive unit next year...it should be fun. If there's one thing I'd love to see us improve on, it's forcing turnovers...but if we keep holding teams to so many 3 and outs..it's not necessary.
FOOTBALL: thank you utes for a wonderful christmas present
Posted By: Wakara
Date: Tuesday, 25 December 2001, at 5:48 p.m.
a game played with heart and determination and thoroughly beating up a PAC-10 team. I was waiting for the announcer to catch the irony. The team from the "lesser" conference was the power team, the team that lines up and tries to outman the opponent with strength and size. The team from the "Power" conference tries to finesse a victory. Great win Utah.
Rice was average most of the day, and with our running game didn't need to be much better. But he hit the biggest pass of his life with 5 minutes to go, a dart to Richardson on 3rd and nine that allowed us to run out the clock. Nice throw Lance. Doesn't redeem you for everything else completely, but I glady eat a little crow and you can savor your big time throw, knowing that it may have won the game.
Kudos to Kevin Wilson. An injured backed played with great heart.
Defense was OUTSTANDING. Love the hit by Sanders in the 4th quarter. I think it brought Utah back emotionally when they were starting to move.
Nice game Utes, and thank you for the present.
Merry Christmas to all, Utes, Cougars, Trojans,
FOOTBALL: Mr. Crimson's complete report about the Vegas Bowl and all things Vegas...
Posted By: Mr.
Crimson <me@me.com>
Date: Wednesday, 26 December 2001, at 12:54 a.m.
The first thing I learned is that it is 295 miles exactly from my apartment to Luxor.
So I roll into town feeling good about the game only to drop $200 in blackjack in less than an hour. So I get to walking around and chatting with some SC fans whom there were alot of. And while nice they were dismissive, talk of return to glory and all things like that. I downplayed our chances as well saying we had no QB and SC had looked good of late.
I return to my hotel and get that feeling that I might be ready to get back that money I lost. Another hour another $200 gone. Seeing as the gambling, strip bar and hooker budgets were all blown, I went to bed.
I'm awakened at 6AM by a phone call from my brother who never really has gotten the concept of time zones nor the fact that some of us quit getting up early on Christmas at 12. So after that a shower, trip to the breakfast buffet and check out its 10:30. I take out $40 to get me food at the game and on the way home but I am drawn in by blackjack one last time. 11:30 comes and I'm up $200 and debating whether to leave, then I think, "I haven't seen another Ute fan since I got here, there should be at least one at the game."
So I drive from Luxor to the Arizona border where the stadium is located only to see lots of U fans, I am plesantly suprised. But then I realize my ticket is sitting nicely on my desk back in Ventura. Thank Goodness for the $10 tickets.
The game was fun if you enjoy a real defensive beat down. Carson Palmer was the defensive units redheaded step child as was the entire USC running game. 1 net yard damn that is impressive. Props also need to go to Lance Rice who made some nice throws and alot of good decisions.
The joy by the team and MAC was great to see after the game and especially the quote on ESPN tonight when he said SC thought they were going to come in and squash us like a bug.
I head out resisting the temptation to see if I still was on fire at the tables and return home.
Next year is going
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