Travis Wilson

[Utah]

What are you guys looking for in this kid this year?

I am hoping that he will be quicker. Quicker on his first read, quicker to his second read, quicker to pull the ball down and run (and possibly finding a third read once in a while).

I like him a lot, and think he will be a very, very good QB. He has good accuracy, sticks in the pocket well, and good instincts.

I really think that if he works his butt off he could end up being our second be QB ever at Utah. I see him as a better overall QB than Mitchell, and could win a ton of games here.

[Jarid in Cedar]

I want to see his accuracy improve. His completion percentage was excellent, but many throws required the receiver to slow down a half step, or even stop in stride. This cost us a ton of YAC. I rewatched the Arizona game a few weeks ago, and there were 6 plays where if he had hit the receiver in stride, he would have had about 60 more yards, and 3 more successful 3rd down conversions.

I do think that having all spring and summer as "the man" to work and build chemistry with the receiving corp will help with this immensely.

[Utah]

I want to see his accuracy improve. His completion percentage was excellent, but many throws required the receiver to slow down a half step, or even stop in stride. This cost us a ton of YAC. I rewatched the Arizona game a few weeks ago, and there were 6 plays where if he had hit the receiver in stride, he would have had about 60 more yards, and 3 more successful 3rd down conversions.

I do think that having all spring and summer as "the man" to work and build chemistry with the receiving corp will help with this immensely.

Good point. How many deep balls did he throw that were a little short and cost us HUGE gains, if not TD's? A ton.

I think that is a quickness/confidence issue. Hopefully if he gets that ball out quicker, he will hit those passes in stride.

[big z]

Could also be an arm strength issue, i'm hoping this Spring we'll see him with some added size

[kccougar]

I'm just glad to see he's spending so much time in the off-season improving that timing with his best receivers like Kenneth Scott.

[Utah]

I am too. Hopefully that's a good sign that he is working hard and taking over this team.

[old_gregg]

What are you guys looking for in this kid this year?

I am hoping that he will be quicker. Quicker on his first read, quicker to his second read, quicker to pull the ball down and run (and possibly finding a third read once in a while).

I like him a lot, and think he will be a very, very good QB. He has good accuracy, sticks in the pocket well, and good instincts.

I really think that if he works his butt off he could end up being our second be QB ever at Utah. I see him as a better overall QB than Mitchell, and could win a ton of games here.

So you basically want him to not be a freshman.

[Utah]

So you basically want him to not be a freshman.

LOL. Yup. I was thinking that when I wrote it. I want improvement. He has potential, a ton of it. He needs to work to realize it.

[NorthwestUteFan]

Of all the impressive deep throws last season, the ones that really stick out are the toss-back TD pass in the USU game by WIlson, several by Hays (including the 64 yarder against USC), and the laser shot by Shulz in the Cal (WSU?) game.

I love me some TW and know he has the basic skill set and potential to be very good (a la Osweiller, sans the misspelled tattoo), but I still want to withhold judgement until I see some solid improvement. I hope the coaches will fully open up the QB competition in Spring Camp. I will be thrilled if TW rises to the top, but I also see the competition as a way to drive him harder to improve.

[Hot Lunch]

I want to see his accuracy improve. His completion percentage was excellent, but many throws required the receiver to slow down a half step, or even stop in stride. This cost us a ton of YAC. I rewatched the Arizona game a few weeks ago, and there were 6 plays where if he had hit the receiver in stride, he would have had about 60 more yards, and 3 more successful 3rd down conversions.

I do think that having all spring and summer as "the man" to work and build chemistry with the receiving corp will help with this immensely.

This and I want to see him change some plays at the line of scrimmage. I hope that even with Dennis coming on board yesterday he can spend time in the film room this spring and summer to be able to recognize when he needs to get out of a play and get into one that is better designed to go against the defense he sees in front of him.

I have a lot of hope for Travis. It was up and down throughout the end of the year but I liked the improvement that I saw from him.

I also like that Brandon Cox will push him. Cox is a talent. Travis will be forced to make major improvements if he wants to stay on the field.

[Jarid in Cedar]

Good point. How many deep balls did he throw that were a little short and cost us HUGE gains, if not TD's? A ton.

I think that is a quickness/confidence issue. Hopefully if he gets that ball out quicker, he will hit those passes in stride.

I saw it more on the shorter throws, where Dres had his guy beat on a drag route, but the throw made him slow down a half step. The defender was able to close the gap and tackle him for a 4 yard gain, instead of the 12-15 yard gain he had if the throw led him.

[Crimsonute]

What are you guys looking for in this kid this year?

I am hoping that he will be quicker. Quicker on his first read, quicker to his second read, quicker to pull the ball down and run (and possibly finding a third read once in a while).

I like him a lot, and think he will be a very, very good QB. He has good accuracy, sticks in the pocket well, and good instincts.

I really think that if he works his butt off he could end up being our second be QB ever at Utah. I see him as a better overall QB than Mitchell, and could win a ton of games here.

I want him to grab the position and prove himself the starter and not look back. If not Cox and Manning will push for time.

[Utah]

Of all the impressive deep throws last season, the ones that really stick out are the toss-back TD pass in the USU game by WIlson, several by Hays (including the 64 yarder against USC), and the laser shot by Shulz in the Cal (WSU?) game.

I love me some TW and know he has the basic skill set and potential to be very good (a la Osweiller, sans the misspelled tattoo), but I still want to withhold judgement until I see some solid improvement. I hope the coaches will fully open up the QB competition in Spring Camp. I will be thrilled if TW rises to the top, but I also see the competition as a way to drive him harder to improve.

This is what I am excited about. I wonder how my Wilson was really pushed last fall. You can't tell me that he didn't feel like he would be starting by default eventually last year. He had a QB that couldn't throw and a DII QB in front of him. He had to know, work hard or not, he would be starting by the year's end. It will be good for him to have Cox there, a true QB talent like Wilson, pushing him for the starting job. Hopefully this will make both better.

[SavaUte]

I don't you are suggesting that Wilson slacked because he didn't feel the push of a guy behind him, but if that was the case, and i'm not saying it was, Wilson is not the guy

[Hadrian]

I think he played fairly well for a true freshman. People like to compare his performance to Johnny Manziel, Marcus Mariota, and Brett Hundley, but that is rather unfair because those three guys were all redshirt freshmen. Matt Barkley started at USC as a true freshman and wasn't spectacular in his first season either (15 TDs, 14 INTs). I think we can expect a lot of improvement out of Travis this season.

[hardcoreUTE]

I'd like to see him slide and not take so many hits. Sacks will happen and that's ok. But the needless hits when scrambling down field scared me last year. I don't know if it's a side effect from Wynn's injuries but every time I saw Wilson take a hit I cringed. It's noble to fight for that extra yard, and that's great on a 3rd down in the 4th quarter with the game on the line, teammates respect and get behind a guy willing to gut it out to get just one more yard, that's cool. But dammit I hope he's being taught to slide and that it's ok to slide. You're worth a hell of a lot more to the team under center than on the x-ray table.

[Utah]

I don't you are suggesting that Wilson slacked because he didn't feel the push of a guy behind him, but if that was the case, and i'm not saying it was, Wilson is not the guy

I am not suggesting that at all. BUT, there are very few people, when they know they are the best, that put out 100% effort. Maybe he was putting out 85%, maybe 90%. BUT, I do not think anyone (except maybe Michael Jordan or Peyton Manning) put forth 100% when there isn't the competition to do so. I am just saying that if Wilson has Cox pushing him, he will work harder, longer. It's human nature.

[UtahDan]

I'd like to see him slide and not take so many hits. Sacks will happen and that's ok. But the needless hits when scrambling down field scared me last year. I don't know if it's a side effect from Wynn's injuries but every time I saw Wilson take a hit I cringed. It's noble to fight for that extra yard, and that's great on a 3rd down in the 4th quarter with the game on the line, teammates respect and get behind a guy willing to gut it out to get just one more yard, that's cool. But dammit I hope he's being taught to slide and that it's ok to slide. You're worth a hell of a lot more to the team under center than on the x-ray table.

Is there a specialist for this? If so, can the Redskins and I borrow him once he's done with Travis?

[Red Blooded T]

I think some people have cooled quite a bit on their enthusiasm regarding Travis because of how we played as a team last year. I'm not gonna be ridiculous and say he's going to save our program but I think he still has a great chance to improve and make a serious impact. He has a great frame and is only getting bigger. Every time I see him on campus I just notice how big that dude is! I want to see him improve his reads this year and mature into a leader.

[Jarid in Cedar]

Aside from the stinker at Washington, Travis improved significantly over the course of the season. He was still a freshman in many ways (lack of audibles, etc) but those are all things that can be improved with a full spring, summer, and fall camp. There are almost zero examples of true freshman quarterbacks in a BCS conference excelling at the level necessary to be a contender in the conference.

[Jarid in Cedar]

I think some people have cooled quite a bit on their enthusiasm regarding Travis because of how we played as a team last year. I'm not gonna be ridiculous and say he's going to save our program but I think he still has a great chance to improve and make a serious impact. He has a great frame and is only getting bigger. Every time I see him on campus I just notice how big that dude is! I want to see him improve his reads this year and mature into a leader.

Good first post, welcome to the board

[Utah]

I was listening to a guy on the radio about a month back. He used to be a coach at USC and Washington. He then left to start his own website (something about sports and thinking and being a champion. I don't remember the website).

Anyhow, he had recruited/worked with Sanchez at USC and had recruited Wilson as well.

He talked about BJ and Wilson and thought the world of both.

First on BJ:

He talked about how BJ had all spring, summer and fall to develop his pro-style offense. He said Johnson had the luxury of a QB that knew the offense inside and out. He could walk up to the line, within 1-2 seconds know where the key defenders were, where the blitz was coming from, could make a quick audible or know that his #1 option would be covered but his #3 would be open, so the #3 is now the #1 option, etc.

Then he spoke how when Wynn went down, 99% of the time, Wilson would have been the next guy in. BUT, the year before the Utes had been able to limp to a winning record and a Sun Bowl win with Hayes as the QB. So he could understand why they would go with Hayes, even with all his limitations, thinking they could ride White and Star to a repeat of 2011.

Finally, he got to Wilson. He said that when it became painfully clear and Hayes' limitations were huge and Utah wasn't going to win games with him as the QB, they went to the more talented Wilson.

Side note here, he said the fact that BJ could put together three offenses in the course of a year shows his potential and that he is on track to be an amazing coordinator (prostyle offense with Wynn, whatever that trainwreck was with Hayes, and then the spread/one back with Wilson).

Back to Wilson. He talked about being a true freshman and compared him to where Wynn was mentally. He said whereas Wynn could know pretty much what the defense was going to do within 1-2 seconds, with a freshman QB, your goals are completely different.

He said that if your Freshman QB can come to line, recognize his key on the DL or LB, point that out to the team, within 4-5 seconds, he is doing fantastic pre-snap. After the snap, he said that if your freshman QB can find his 1st option, and then be smart with that decision (pass if he is open, tuck it and run if he is covered), and be accurate with his throws and can every once in a while find his second option then you have a very special kid on your hands.

Wilson was able to do all those things, and didn't look too horrible doing them. Wilson's first two starts were against OSU and UCLA, two of the best teams in the PAC-12 that year. And we were in those games.

As far as progression goes, he said that the goal for a Sophomore QB is to be able to find his key defender, discover where the safeties are shading, and have a vague idea where the blitz is coming from. After the snap, have the QB can go from his first option to his second most of the time. IF they can get that down by the end of their second year, they are special.

When I heard that, and heard him talk about how much he really like Wilson and how impressed he was with how held carried himself and played as a true freshman, my opinion/hopes for Wilson shot up. Now you throw DE into the picture...I'm starting to get a little excited.

A couple of months ago I wasn't sure we'd make a bowl in 2013. Now I am starting to get hopeful.

[Jarid in Cedar]

Nice read, Utah. I am always surprised at the gap of opinion between what outside "experts" think of our program, and some of our fans.

[LA Ute]

Nice read, Utah. I am always surprised at the gap of opinion between what outside "experts" think of our program, and some of our fans.

True, well done, Utah. That was the most informative, insightful piece I've read about the QB issues at Utah last year.

[U-Ute]

I was listening to a guy on the radio about a month back. He used to be a coach at USC and Washington. He then left to start his own website (something about sports and thinking and being a champion. I don't remember the website).

Very interesting read Utah! Thank you! As a fan, we obviously hear all of the praise he gets from guys like Kyle and Dennis, but since don't get to sit in on the meetings and listen to BJ with the quarterbacks, sometimes we tend to chalk it up to guys protecting their own (although Kyle has always struck me as a straight shooter). So hearing an independent, outside voice talk up BJ and Wilson is extremely encouraging.

Nice read, Utah. I am always surprised at the gap of opinion between what outside "experts" think of our program, and some of our fans.

I think Ute fans see guys like Barkley, Handley, and Price, and think "Why not us?". I think they sometimes forget about the other talent around those guys that makes their growth a bit easier.

Barkley had, well, USC talent.
Price had Polk (look how much worse he did this year without him).
Handley had Franklin (I suspect he will struggle a bit more next year).

While I think White was a fantastic college RB, I don't think he'll be confused with Polk or Franklin.

[Jarid in Cedar]

Very interesting read Utah! Thank you!



I think Ute fans see guys like Barkley, Handley, and Price, and think "Why not us?". I think they sometimes forget about the other talent around those guys that makes their growth a bit easier.

Barkley had, well, USC talent.
Price had Polk (look how much worse he did this year without him).
Handley had Franklin (I suspect he will struggle a bit more next year).

While I think White was a fantastic college RB, I don't think he'll be confused with Polk or Franklin.

I would also add that Barkley was the only t true freshman in that group and his first year was relatively mediocre.

[Red Blooded T]

Look at these stats.

Player 1: 16.4/28.4 (57.8%) 204.7 yards per game, 126.2 passer rating, 9 TD, 9 TD, 1,0 TD/INT, 1 RTD
Player 2: 17.1/27.7 (61.9%) 173.3 yards per game, 116.1 passer rating, 6 TD, 6 INT, 1.0 TD/INT, 2 RTD

One player is Matt Barkley and the other is Travis Wilson. These are their stats for their first 7 conference starts (which happened to be Travis's first starts ever)! Now in no way am I claiming that Travis is better or will ever be a better quarterback than Matt Barkley. That's just silly and I have no authority to predict something like that. However, it's cool to see that Travis actually did fairly well for a true freshman, especially considering the overall sad state of our offense, lack of an identity, porous (at best) offensive line, and defense that struggled in some of these games. He came in and did at least as well as you can expect a true freshman to do. In fact, if you take out their worst games (Washington for Travis and Arizona State for Matt), their numbers are pretty eerily similar.

MB: 18.0/29.5 (61.1%), 220.2 yards per game, 8 TD, 8 INT, 1.0 TD/INT, 1 RTD
TW: 18.6/28.5 (65.3%), 193.0 yards per game, 6 TD, 5 INT, 1.2 TD/INT, 2 RTD

So basically, Travis was a little more accurate and Matt threw for a few more yards. But with more experience behind him and some legit NFL talent around him, that's to be expected. I know stats can't always tell the whole story, but I think here they support the theory that Travis's freshman campaign was by no means a failure and he still has a great chance to turn into an all-conference QB in his time at Utah.

[Utah]

Wow. Great analysis. I'm so excited for Spring ball. This will the first spring in three years with any semblance of decent QB's.

[Big Kahuna]

Adding a couple of other points

1. Our O line was a work in progress. Ask Wynn, Hayes, and Wilson
2. Losing JWIV mid season combined with #1 made us that more uni-dimensional on Offense
3. Not sure Norm Chow would have done much more with what we had last year

I am of the opinion that we need an experienced QB and Wilson has that experience. If we go with Cox or Manning, even if they win the job, I do not expect to win more than 3-4 games next year. Love him or hate him Wilson will be the key to our team this coming year. I fully expect Erickson to add a lot to the O while helping Wilson out.

Frankly, I'd like nothing better than to red shirt one or all 3 of our incoming QBs. We need to spread the QB classes out a bit.

I have a lot of optimism that the game starts to slow down for Travis and that our O line and WRs do a better job of helping Wilson this year. RB is where I've got a lot more questions than answers right now. Hopefully York steps up or perhaps some our world class freshman with "Texas" speed come in and shake things up. I think RB is an easier position for a true freshman to have some impact versus QB.

[Utegasm]

The more I read the more it's clear that our weaknesses on offense may become strengths. Utah's offense has been painful to watch for awhile and that all hinges on the O line and quarterback. We'll always have athletes that can catch and run the ball. But the absence of a solid, healthy quarterback and an injury riddled O line have made for frustrating viewing as a fan. Hopefully Travis gives us 3 solid years and the O line just keeps getting better with each Pac 12 recruiting class.