I vacillated between whether to put this in response to Skinny’s PAC-12 pick thread or post it separately. I decided to go with separate because I felt it would might generate more and better feedback in a stand-alone thread.
Here are the top 5 reasons why I can’t pick the Utes to win the South in 2018. My list is based on the issues Utah had in 2017 and my perception of Utah’s ability to overcome those issues in 2018. I don’t know the rest of the South well enough to conclude Utah will be better year-over-year than anyone else. I look forward to reading why I’m wrong and what I’m missing.
(1) Interior offensive line. When I read that Taylor has a drill to have QBs practice fielding bad snaps, I said, “He leaves nothing to chance…and knows Lo is the best option.” SMH. If Utah can’t be much, much better up front, then my next concern and concern number (5) approach being moot points. The OBlock has to do a much, much better job of: (a) snapping the damn football; (b) creating a solid pocket and affording decision makers time to read the defense (as opposed to dodging and dancing); and (c) generating push in the run game. Yes, with point (c) I might be confusing the old Utah style of OL play with whatever it was the 2017 unit was trying to accomplish. Point being, they – Oblock – did not get it – whatever it was supposed to be -- done consistently last year. It all starts up front.
(2) Who’s offense is this? Is this going to be a Zac Moss power running team, or a Tyler Huntley chuck-it-around and razzle-dazzle team? Ha-ha, not so fast. That was a trick question! If the answer is not, both, then I don’t see how Utah can be balanced enough to win. Moss appears good enough (save for Issue (1)) to carry a Utah offense, ala Booker, ala Joe Williams. That, however, has not been good enough in the past. Moss is not a transformational talent, so merely replicating what Booker and Williams did just results in the same outcome: no trip to Santa Clara. Now, if Moss and Huntly work together as a well-functioning duo, then the sky’s the limit.
(3) Depth. Quality depth. I think this is less of an issue than it’s probably ever been, but, could be a factor if we have injuries like 2016 or injuries hit a particular unit hard, like they did to Safety in 2017.
(4) Defensive line. Bradlee Anae really had issues containing the run at times last year. I think he improved towards the end of the year, but if he’s the best of the returnees, it’s not a typical Utah situation where you have one or more standouts you know you should be able to count on. Anae and Fotu should be fine, but they represent a discernible drop in terms of known, dependable returnees. Compare Anae and Fotu to 2017 returnees Fitts, Lotulelei and Mokofisi. Other than injuries to the Kylie and Lowell, there weren’t any question marks in terms of demonstrated ability anchoring the unit. You don’t have the same track record with Anae and Fotu. They’re first-year lead dogs. That does not instill confidence.
(5) Is it really, and will it always be, Troy Taylor’s show to run? This last one was a tough choice between my A, B and C concerns for the fifth reason. I could easily have gone with (5b) Who replaces DC or (5c) Can Morgan Scalley coordinate a defense without gimmicks and strategic non-fits? In terms of 5b), no, the answer is not Covey. Covey and Carrington are different athletes and won’t have the same role in the offense. Covey’s two years out of football and those two years weren’t spent walking on water. For 5c), Scalley had two years with the training wheels on and was still wobbly at times. Time to take them off and ride hard, just like the big boys (Kalani, Gary, Kyle) did.
I’m going with the tried and true, option A: will Whitt really empower Taylor to run the offense Taylor wants to run? For the most part I think 2017 went about as well as could be expected in that regard. However, I feel the coaching staff got a little too conservative late in the game at Washington last year. They must have the confidence to play all four quarters to win each and every game, not play to not lose the game. If they do the latter, they’ll inevitably drop a game on the road that they should win and probably were in position to win. Those losses will cost them the 2018 Championship.
Here are the top 5 reasons why I can’t pick the Utes to win the South in 2018. My list is based on the issues Utah had in 2017 and my perception of Utah’s ability to overcome those issues in 2018. I don’t know the rest of the South well enough to conclude Utah will be better year-over-year than anyone else. I look forward to reading why I’m wrong and what I’m missing.
(1) Interior offensive line. When I read that Taylor has a drill to have QBs practice fielding bad snaps, I said, “He leaves nothing to chance…and knows Lo is the best option.” SMH. If Utah can’t be much, much better up front, then my next concern and concern number (5) approach being moot points. The OBlock has to do a much, much better job of: (a) snapping the damn football; (b) creating a solid pocket and affording decision makers time to read the defense (as opposed to dodging and dancing); and (c) generating push in the run game. Yes, with point (c) I might be confusing the old Utah style of OL play with whatever it was the 2017 unit was trying to accomplish. Point being, they – Oblock – did not get it – whatever it was supposed to be -- done consistently last year. It all starts up front.
(2) Who’s offense is this? Is this going to be a Zac Moss power running team, or a Tyler Huntley chuck-it-around and razzle-dazzle team? Ha-ha, not so fast. That was a trick question! If the answer is not, both, then I don’t see how Utah can be balanced enough to win. Moss appears good enough (save for Issue (1)) to carry a Utah offense, ala Booker, ala Joe Williams. That, however, has not been good enough in the past. Moss is not a transformational talent, so merely replicating what Booker and Williams did just results in the same outcome: no trip to Santa Clara. Now, if Moss and Huntly work together as a well-functioning duo, then the sky’s the limit.
(3) Depth. Quality depth. I think this is less of an issue than it’s probably ever been, but, could be a factor if we have injuries like 2016 or injuries hit a particular unit hard, like they did to Safety in 2017.
(4) Defensive line. Bradlee Anae really had issues containing the run at times last year. I think he improved towards the end of the year, but if he’s the best of the returnees, it’s not a typical Utah situation where you have one or more standouts you know you should be able to count on. Anae and Fotu should be fine, but they represent a discernible drop in terms of known, dependable returnees. Compare Anae and Fotu to 2017 returnees Fitts, Lotulelei and Mokofisi. Other than injuries to the Kylie and Lowell, there weren’t any question marks in terms of demonstrated ability anchoring the unit. You don’t have the same track record with Anae and Fotu. They’re first-year lead dogs. That does not instill confidence.
(5) Is it really, and will it always be, Troy Taylor’s show to run? This last one was a tough choice between my A, B and C concerns for the fifth reason. I could easily have gone with (5b) Who replaces DC or (5c) Can Morgan Scalley coordinate a defense without gimmicks and strategic non-fits? In terms of 5b), no, the answer is not Covey. Covey and Carrington are different athletes and won’t have the same role in the offense. Covey’s two years out of football and those two years weren’t spent walking on water. For 5c), Scalley had two years with the training wheels on and was still wobbly at times. Time to take them off and ride hard, just like the big boys (Kalani, Gary, Kyle) did.
I’m going with the tried and true, option A: will Whitt really empower Taylor to run the offense Taylor wants to run? For the most part I think 2017 went about as well as could be expected in that regard. However, I feel the coaching staff got a little too conservative late in the game at Washington last year. They must have the confidence to play all four quarters to win each and every game, not play to not lose the game. If they do the latter, they’ll inevitably drop a game on the road that they should win and probably were in position to win. Those losses will cost them the 2018 Championship.
