So, I took this off twitter and thought it would be fun. Favorite all-time Utes.
QB: Alex Smith;
RB: Chris Fuamatu-Maʻafala;
WR: Steve Smith;
TE/Utility: Henry Lusk;
OL: Asiata;
DL: Luther Ellis;
LB: Gionni Paul;
CB: Andre Dyson;
S: Robert Johnson;
K: Louie Sakoda;
P: Tom Hackett;
KR/PR: Erroll Tucker
QB: Alex Smith;
RB: Mike Anderson
WR: Bryan Rowley
TE/Utility: Dennis Smith
OL: Jordan Gross
DL: Luther Ellis
LB:Kautai OlaveoStevenson Sylvester
CB: Sean Smith
S: Eric Weddle
K: Andre Guardi
P: Tom Hackett
KR/PR: Erroll Tucker
After thinking about it, I had to change out my LB choice.
Last edited by chrisrenrut; 06-04-2018 at 07:45 AM.
“To me there is no dishonor in being wrong and learning. There is dishonor in willful ignorance and there is dishonor in disrespect.” James Hatch, former Navy Seal and current Yale student.
Three things I'd like to see in 2018 that will improve our chances considerably in winning the South:
1. The less time the ball is in Tyler Huntley's hands, the better we'll be. Vince Young, who is 100X the runner Tyler is, never had as many carries in a single season as Tyler did last year. Huntley's sack rate of 1/10.4 attempts is brutal, almost unforgivable. Troy Williams' was slightly better at 1/13.75; as a team, Utah was 103/130 nationally in sack percentage rate. Now, to be fair, Utah has been mediocre in this state for some time -- the last time it ranked anywhere close to the top half of all of CFB was in 2010, when we were fourth nationally. And with a spread option attack, sack rates are always higher for such offenses (We were not a spread-option team in 2010 with Jordan Wynn as our QB). But Huntley is the least dynamic player we have at the skill positions -- he needs to be passing more and handing off more, and running less. 5-7 times per game to keep teams honest.
2. A game-changer in the return game. For as dominant as our STs have been under Kyle, they've almost always included a dynamo in the return game (Shaky Smithson, Reggie Dunn, Kaelin Clay, Cory Butler-Byrd). While our punt return game last year was above average based on our Pac-12 history, last year's kickoff return game was our worst ever and well under the bar we've set in this area.
Kickoff return national team rankings in the Pac-12 era (based on average yards per return)
2017: 116
2016: 20
2015: 46
2014: 17
2013: 111
2012: 6
2011: 35
Punt return national team ranking (also based on average yards per return)
2017: 27
2016: 70
2015: 38
2014: 8
2013: 42
2012: 104
2011: 52
The good news is, having Britain Covey back should help. The bad news is (and it's not really bad, because it affects everyone), the new kickoff rules could adversely affect any threat we have in the kick return game.
3. Better luck in one-score games in league games, and playing in fewer of them.
2017: 1-4
2016: 3-4
2015: 2-2
2014: 5-2
2013: 2-3
2012: 1-1
2011: 1-2
We play in too many such games, and we're losing more of them as of late. There's a lot that can be said about such a stat, and not all years should be viewed in the same context. I've also taken out the non-con and bowl games from this (which would add significantly to the totals, most of them wins). We're simply not a team that's gonna apply many pillar-to-post whuppings under Kyle, but we can win more close games, or win more games by more than a single possession. I think part of our November failures over the years hasn't been the physical strain (because everyone has injuries), but the mental strain of playing so in so many nail-biting games.
Last edited by SoCalPat; 06-04-2018 at 11:16 AM.
I'm interested to see what happens here. We ran the ball so much better when we didn't run RPOs last season. But I don't think we're ready to give up on the RPO. I hope we either:Originally Posted by SoCalPat
1) Figure out the RPO and make it the core of the offense. If it's working, Huntley should mostly be passing, pitching, or handing off. The 5-7 carry quota will happen naturally as Huntley learns to read the defense and as the offense learns to play RPO.
or
2) We abandon the RPO altogether.
What I hope doesn't happen is a hybrid where we sometimes are RPO and sometimes more traditional. I just think that sounds like a jack-of-all-trades, master-of-none scenario.
Tyquez Hampton to transfer. ��
2018 Utah OL
The 2017 OL lacked experience with only 1 returning full-time starter and 1 additional player with starting experience. 2018 finds us with 4 returning full-time starters (Barton, Falamaka, Agasiva and Paulo and 2 others (Havili-Katoa and Toala) with significant playing time. Experience along the OL alone should allow the Ute offense to be more productive in 2018 than 2017.
Offensive line is a position group that requires players to communicate and rely on one another in order to be effective. The only way to build the trust that leads to success is by playing together. I don’t think this group has the same level of talent as the 2016 group, but with a year under their belts, they should show improvement and greater productivity.
I anticipate that the starters going into the season will consist of 3 seniors Barton LT, Falamaka C and Agasiva RG and 2 juniors Paulo RT and Capra LG. Capra will be pushed by senior Havili-Katoa and junior Toala and Paulo/Barton will be pushed by redshirt freshman Nick Ford, who by all accounts made great strides in spring ball. If, Falamaka sustains an injury, I believe Capra will move over to center.
The only upperclassman who has not found his way onto the field is junior Keven Dixon and with 4 senior OL, it will be important for the coaches to develop underclassmen Jake Grant (So), Tucker Scott (So), Orlando Umama (So), Mo Unatoa (RsFr), returned missionary and former Oregon St. signee Simi Moala and true freshman Braeden Daniels.
On the recruiting front, the Utes will anticipate that highly regarded 2016 signee Johnny Maea will return for 2019 and the sole current verbal commitment is from Lucas Child, an OL from Timpview. According to Scout, the Utes have offered about 25 offensive linemen and OL should be an area of emphasis in this recruiting class.
Scratch, who I believe once lived in the San Clemente area, posted on Utefans that Tucker Scott has medically retired. However, he is still listed on the roster as of today.
That appears to be the case. I'm not sure what to make of both Singleton and Hampton transferring. I understand Singleton is going to Houston and will be closer to family. It will be interesting to see where Hampton ends up. Maybe his decision is as simple as seeing himself No. 5 or 6 at the outside receiver positions behind Mariner, Nacua, Simpkins, Boyd, Thompson and Solomon Enis.
OnlyU's analysis of Hampton transfer
Wasn’t in the mix for playing time…struggled to pick up the offense and struggled to gel here for whatever reason. Plenty of talent but writing on the wall…hopefully he can figure it out wherever he ends up. Hasn’t been around for anything since school let out. Everyone knew something was up.Mariner, Boyd, Thompson, Simpkins, Nacua, Covey, Enis, Perriman, Dixon, Field all see the field before Tyquez. It’s a loss but the impact is minimal.
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