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Thread: Utah Utes 2017 football pre-season

  1. #361
    Quote Originally Posted by DrumNFeather View Post
    Perhaps this is posted elsewhere, but Mitch and Matt both named finalists for the Guy and Groza awards, respectively.
    Punter/Kicker U!

  2. #362
    Ok, season wrapup. Great season with exactly the number of wins and losses I predicted! I think you have to have hope after playing four ranked teams to the final play (including giving away the game @ UW), and most the offense back and about half the defense. The game against ASU still chaps my hide, but I really can't complain about that one game.

    On offense next year:
    We have Huntley, Moss, and 3/5s of the O-line back (Falamaka will try to get a medical redshirt to make it 4/5). Most of our WRs are back except the big loss in Carrington and a lesser loss in Troy McCormick. Both TEs graduate, but is that even a position at Utah anymore? Basically we have the ingredients to be really good on offense next year.

    We lose our two-headed backup QB situation which turned out to be very valuable this season. We get (hopefully) the highest rated QB recruit at Utah, ever. Our RB depth should improve as we get Armand Shyne back to play with Moss and Henry-Cole. We have some really young WRs that will be asked to fill Carrington's role: Wilson (to be Jr), Simpkins (Jr), Singleton (Sr), Nacua (So), Thompson (So), Boyd (Fr), Hampton (So, got little playing time this year). I don't think anyone is as good as Carrington, but we will have serious depth at wideout. On the O-line, there are some worries (Jordan Agasiva!), but Im' hoping the young guys (Umana/Tucker Scott) can help out. The offense gives me great hope, if we can figure out the o-line.
    Last edited by Applejack; 11-26-2017 at 03:23 PM.

  3. #363
    I owe Utopia an apology. He was right about the running game--it works when TW is the qb. Moss runs better; the o-line blocks better. Amazing how few penalities there were last night--and no ineligible receiver penalties. Cant be completely due the UC's porous defense. I hope Taylor gets rid of the RPO next year--at least make it much less dominant. Huntley keeps the ball too often, and the plays take too long to develop. It hurts our passing game, because the two or thee step drop isn't there, and it takes Huntley too long to see the receivers. And Huntley wont have an experienced back up next year. have to keep him healthy. Run Huntley maybe more than TW ran last night, but along the same lines.
    Last edited by concerned; 11-26-2017 at 03:40 PM.

  4. #364
    On defense nest year:
    Ouch! Our mediocre pass rush gets decimated (Fitts), as does the interior of our D-line (Mokofisi, Lotulelei), as do our linebackers (Luafatasanga, Sunia T). We need to work hard to replace all those players. And the D-line was the most disappointing part of this team! The only guy we lose on the backside is the overrated Boobie.

    Now, on the bright side, I haven't been this excited about a Utah defensive backfield since Antwan Sanders was back there. We have will STUD sophmore dbs. Guidry and J. Johnson are incredible. Add that to very serviceable dbs Blackmon (Jr) and Hughes (Sr, I love Casey Hughes) and you have a very young, very talented pass defense. Our safeties as well: Chase H (Sr), Blair (Sr), Ballard (Sr), and Afia(Jr). One of those safeties (at least) probably gets moved full-time to linebacker (my guess, Chase).

    But I don't know who picks up the slack on the interior. At linebacker we are THIN. Cody Barton is back but he is not a starting pac12 talent. Other than him, who do we have? Donovan Thompson got some time late in the season due to injuries/suspensions. Who else? I feel like I am always harping on this, but why do we not recruit enough LBs?

    Worse still is the D-line. Now, I know that Whittingham doesn't have awful D-lines, but this year's group was not great and they are gone. Anae (Jr) is back, but he doesn't get a ton of pass rush. The others are very meh: Tupai, Caleb Repp, Davir hamilton. And at defensive tackle it's just as bad. I think Leki Fotu is one starter at DT next year, but the others are a mystery to me. (Probably John Penisini right now?). In Kyle I trust, but his work is cut out for him.

  5. #365
    Quote Originally Posted by Applejack View Post
    Worse still is the D-line. Now, I know that Whittingham doesn't have awful D-lines, but this year's group was not great and they are gone. Anae (Jr) is back, but he doesn't get a ton of pass rush. The others are very meh: Tupai, Caleb Repp, Davir hamilton. And at defensive tackle it's just as bad. I think Leki Fotu is one starter at DT next year, but the others are a mystery to me. (Probably John Penisini right now?). In Kyle I trust, but his work is cut out for him.

    It would be so painfully ironic for Utah to put together a nearly complete team - a championship caliber team - that is only missing a defensive line. But that is what appears to be happening.

    Some great QBs in the Pac next season. Who is the favorite for first team all-conference? Tate? Herbert? Browning? I think Huntley is the top dark horse candidate.

  6. #366
    Quote Originally Posted by concerned View Post
    I owe Utopia an apology. He was right about the running game--it works when TW is the qb. Moss runs better; the o-line blocks better. Amazing how few penalities there were last night--and no ineligible receiver penalties. Cant be completely due the UC's porous defense. I hope Taylor gets rid of the RPO next year--at least make it much less dominant. Huntley keeps the ball too often, and the plays take too long to develop. It hurts our passing game, because the two or thee step drop isn't there, and it takes Huntley too long to see the receivers. And Huntley wont have an experienced back up next year. have to keep him healthy. Run Huntley maybe more than TW ran last night, but along the same lines.
    I agree with this, but CU is #10 in the conference in run defense. We also ran all over UCLA (#12) with Huntley.

    I think Moss must get excited when he hears TW is starting; he knows he'll get a ton of carries designed just for him.

  7. #367
    Quote Originally Posted by Applejack View Post
    We have some really young WRs that will be asked to fill Carrington's role: Wilson (to be Jr), Simpkins (Jr), Singleton (Sr), Nacua (So), Thompson (So), Boyd (Fr), Hampton (So, got little playing time this year). I don't think anyone is as good as Carrington.
    I can’t wait and see Covey in spring ball. Hopefully, the mission hasn’t snuffed out his speed and shiftiness.



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  8. #368
    Quote Originally Posted by Dwight Schr-Ute View Post
    I can’t wait and see Covey in spring ball. Hopefully, the mission hasn’t snuffed out his speed and shiftiness.



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    Yeah, forgot to mention the little guy. You never know with missions.

  9. #369
    Quote Originally Posted by sancho View Post
    It would be so painfully ironic for Utah to put together a nearly complete team - a championship caliber team - that is only missing a defensive line. But that is what appears to be happening.

    Some great QBs in the Pac next season. Who is the favorite for first team all-conference? Tate? Herbert? Browning? I think Huntley is the top dark horse candidate.
    Can't Browning declare this year? If not, drat!

  10. #370
    I wouldn’t say we are thin at LB. we have Thompson coming back, who has been great. The last four games, he is averaging almost 10 tackles a game.

    Barton will be back, and he has been solid. The coaches really like Lloyd’s potential. Nuimatalolo played a lot of special teams as a FR.

    Sione Lund and Tufua are coming into the program.

    If Chase returns, it wouldn’t shock me to see him move up to LB.

    If Chase plays LB, we will be very, very good at LB. If he doesn’t, we will be average at worst.

    As for the DL, we will be fine. Fotu and Penisini will start and they will be your traditional very good at worst Utah DT. Pututau will be really good. Pita Tonga has been solid for us and will be a sophomore.

    Anae was unstoppable by the end of the year. Hamilton will be a sophomore. Maxs Tupai will be a sophomore. Hart will be a JR (it seems like he has been here forever). Heninger played really well for a freshman. The coaches think Repp can play in the NFL if he gets his weight up.

    Too many fans mistake inexperience for lack of talent. We were insanely young this year, which will pay dividends next year. Our front 6 will be just fine.

    Look at our front 6:

    Anae - all conference potential
    Tupai - 4 star player
    Penisini
    Fotu - both DT’s are very good already

    Thompson - only averaging just under ten tackles a game.
    Hansen - NFL talent or Barton, who was very solid at worst to end the year.

    Then, you sprinkle in some Gary Andersen? Our defense will be fantastic.

    Next year hinges on Huntley staying healthy and figuring out how to maximize Huntley AND Moss AND Shyne together.

  11. #371
    Quote Originally Posted by Utah View Post
    Anae was unstoppable by the end of the year.
    I'm not sure about our LB situation or the Dline in general or really anything else in your post, but this part, I am certain, is not true.

  12. #372
    Quote Originally Posted by Applejack View Post
    Punter/Kicker U!
    Wilner, always loving the contrarian role, doesn't put Mitch on his all-conference team (and votes for Todd Graham as COY):

    http://www.mercurynews.com/2017/12/0...award-winners/

  13. #373
    Quote Originally Posted by sancho View Post
    I'm not sure about our LB situation or the Dline in general or really anything else in your post, but this part, I am certain, is not true.
    Tough to argue the evidence. Hell, many times even QBs couldn't stop him from running right past them.

  14. #374
    Quote Originally Posted by Dwight Schr-Ute View Post
    Tough to argue the evidence. Hell, many times even QBs couldn't stop him from running right past them.
    Ugh.

    Don't get me wrong. I'm high on Anae, and he ought to be mayor of Sack Lake City next season. But he's never approached anything like Unstoppable this year.

    By the way, we still need to make a bigger deal out of the Mayor title. Key to the city. Ceremony. Sash. Etc. We try to force-create so many traditions. This is one that happened naturally that we can really adopt and make a big deal of.

  15. #375
    Quote Originally Posted by sancho View Post
    Ugh.

    Don't get me wrong. I'm high on Anae, and he ought to be mayor of Sack Lake City next season. But he's never approached anything like Unstoppable this year.

    By the way, we still need to make a bigger deal out of the Mayor title. Key to the city. Ceremony. Sash. Etc. We try to force-create so many traditions. This is one that happened naturally that we can really adopt and make a big deal of.
    Agreed.

    And my old year's resolution was to not get in a fight with UTAH about linebackers, so I won't go there! All I will say is that too many fans mistake lack of experience with talent; if someone was sitting the bench behind someone that wasn't great (d-line!), that probably tells you that the backups weren't as good.

  16. #376
    Official conference honors. No Utes listed on offense or defense but get 2 out of 5 on special teams.




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  17. #377
    Quote Originally Posted by Dwight Schr-Ute View Post
    Official conference honors. No Utes listed on offense or defense but get 2 out of 5 on special teams.




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    No Jaylon Johnson for Defense? He's the best corner in the conference
    "Be a philosopher. A man can compromise to gain a point. It has become apparent that a man can, within limits, follow his inclinations within the arms of the Church if he does so discreetly." - The Walking Drum

    "And here’s what life comes down to—not how many years you live, but how many of those years are filled with bullshit that doesn’t amount to anything to satisfy the requirements of some dickhead you’ll never get the pleasure of punching in the face." – Adam Carolla

  18. #378
    Quote Originally Posted by Dwight Schr-Ute View Post
    Official conference honors. No Utes listed on offense or defense but get 2 out of 5 on special teams.
    LaUte is going to go nuts about this!

  19. #379
    Quote Originally Posted by Dwight Schr-Ute View Post
    Official conference honors. No Utes listed on offense or defense but get 2 out of 5 on special teams.




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    Nice to see Julian Blackmon make the second team. I would like to see a lot of the jrs. and some sophomores (not Julian) from these lists in the NFL draft this year.

  20. #380
    Utah,
    Let me play a bit of a contrarian based on conversations with a few people within the program. Experientially, we are thin at defensive line and linebacker. Coach Scalley is recruiting his fanny off trying to attract a couple of JC D'ends and JC linebackers as well as grabbing key high school talent. The East kids are high on the list. Anae has been a good pass rusher but not great and he's weak against the run. He has a lot of work to do to be a strong end these next two seasons.

    Hansen may stay. If he does, he needs to play safety. I imagine the U will move him around some but he's a safety. That leaves the U with two experienced linebackers. One of those, Thompson, is undersized but really showed a Gianni Paul-like knack at getting to the hole and making stops. The other, Barton, got better this year but we still see him being worn like a cape by offensive players instead of getting to and filling gaps. He's a step late too often and ends up making tackles from behind. He'll improve no doubt but we're not solid at the position.

    I agree with you at D'Tackles. We'll be fine. Lund has to sit a year. I hope he's a linebacker. Mika Tufua (I'm not sure if that's his name) - the decommit from BYU who came here after a mission, is working hard at D'end and may be in the mix. Too many maybes at end.

    The secondary is an embarrassment of riches at this point.

  21. #381
    Which East kids? Junior Angilau? Paul maile? S. Vakalahi? I hope they come, although I heard Maile wants to be o line in college. Any chance we can flip that buy commit? Apu ika?

  22. #382
    Concerned,
    I wish I had more info for you. All I was told was that we're hard after three East kids. I wasn't told they are all defensive players but it was within the context of talking defense with a few people.

  23. #383
    Sam the Sheepdog LA Ute's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Applejack View Post
    LaUte is going to go nuts about this!
    I did smile, inwardly and wanly.

    "It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye."
    --Antoine de Saint-Exupery

    "Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold."
    --Yeats

    “True, we [lawyers] build no bridges. We raise no towers. We construct no engines. We paint no pictures - unless as amateurs for our own principal amusement. There is little of all that we do which the eye of man can see. But we smooth out difficulties; we relieve stress; we correct mistakes; we take up other men's burdens and by our efforts we make possible the peaceful life of men in a peaceful state.”

    --John W. Davis, founder of Davis Polk & Wardwell

  24. #384
    Quote Originally Posted by Utebiquitous View Post
    Concerned,
    I wish I had more info for you. All I was told was that we're hard after three East kids. I wasn't told they are all defensive players but it was within the context of talking defense with a few people.
    Thanks. My daughter went thru elementary and jr. High with them. I have a big personal rooting interest in them. They are great kids.

  25. #385
    Five-O Diehard Ute's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by concerned View Post
    Thanks. My daughter went thru elementary and jr. High with them. I have a big personal rooting interest in them. They are great kids.
    I know there’s been a lot of talk that many of East’s top kids aren’t going to qualify, hopefully they’ve gotten that square away.


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  26. #386
    Pretty sure the East kids they're pushing the hardest for are Angilau, Pututau, and Maile.

  27. #387
    Sam the Sheepdog LA Ute's Avatar
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    If Marquise Blair and Huntley had stayed healthy, Blair would have been first or second team and Huntley would’ve gotten some recognition.

    "It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye."
    --Antoine de Saint-Exupery

    "Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold."
    --Yeats

    “True, we [lawyers] build no bridges. We raise no towers. We construct no engines. We paint no pictures - unless as amateurs for our own principal amusement. There is little of all that we do which the eye of man can see. But we smooth out difficulties; we relieve stress; we correct mistakes; we take up other men's burdens and by our efforts we make possible the peaceful life of men in a peaceful state.”

    --John W. Davis, founder of Davis Polk & Wardwell

  28. #388
    Quote Originally Posted by Scratch View Post
    Pretty sure the East kids they're pushing the hardest for are Angilau, Pututau, and Maile.
    East kids should always go to the u. We have a long legacy of ehs stars, beginning with Jason Jones, the first punter extraordinaire at punter u.

  29. #389
    Not sure where to put this, but here is scary video of what must be the 405 from last night. Is that how LA Ute gets to work?

    https://twitter.com/twitter/statuses/938437285258907648

  30. #390
    Senior Member Scorcho's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by concerned View Post
    Not sure where to put this, but here is scary video of what must be the 405 from last night. Is that how LA Ute gets to work?

    https://twitter.com/twitter/statuses/938437285258907648
    that must have been scary for his chauffeur

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