Official UofU homer thread

[//r00t 4 Jazz]

Lots of nervous Ute fans after 2 ugly-ish wins but I'll take it. We're very lucky Travis is only missing a game. I haven't been super impressed with Oregon in the first 2 weeks. They seem less physical than they normally are (which isn't much to begin with) and Vernon Adams has been "meh". Michigan State just gave Utah the blueprint on how a physical team can beat them without getting into a shoot-out.

Ugly or not, Utah can leave Oregon at 4-and-0 in two weeks if they tighten up a few things on both sides of the ball.

I've been wanting to post something about the game since it ended but ... well I guess nervous might be the closest word I can think of. I am happy to hear TW's shoulder isn't serious looks like he might only miss 1 week.

Let's just say the most optimistic thing I can think to say is, there's lots of cleaning up to do and room for improvement (for penalties, play and coaching).

Happy for the win for sure but it's like they did JUST enough to win, just enough bad (mistakes, penalties and play calling) to give the other team a chance to win and then just enough good plays to pull it out and give you some nervous hope.

 

[7StraightIsGreat]

I've been wanting to post something about the game since it ended but ... well I guess nervous might be the closest word I can think of. I am happy to hear TW's shoulder isn't serious looks like he might only miss 1 week.

Let's just say the most optimistic thing I can think to say is, there's lots of cleaning up to do and room for improvement (for penalties, play and coaching).

Happy for the win for sure but it's like they did JUST enough to win, just enough bad (mistakes, penalties and play calling) to give the other team a chance to win and then just enough good plays to pull it out and give you some nervous hope.

This is a great post that pretty much sums it up. One thing that we'll only find out after the season moves on is, just how good are USU and Michigan? Many have picked USU to be the G5 rep in one of the big bowl games, and with how good Michigans Defense is, they may be an 8 win team.

Maybe the 2 teams Utah has struggled with aren't that bad, or maybe Utah is not as good as we hoped. We're definitely not good with Travis Wilson out so let's hope when he comes back, he stays healthy. It's still early. We're seeing teams like ASU struggle with Cal-Poly. Lots to be sorted out.

 

[prodigy]

I thought we looked pretty terrible on Friday night, if it was Chuckie Keeton of a couple years ago it would have been a loss. Our defense just looks slow. The offense remains one dimensional. Play calling isn't helping, how often can you run the ball with Booker up the middle?

 

[UGLI baby]

I think it will just be more of last year, super ugly games with (hopefully) lots of close wins.

Our Defense is better than most Utes fans are thinking after two games.

 

[fishonjazz]

This is a great post that pretty much sums it up. One thing that we'll only find out after the season moves on is, just how good are USU and Michigan? Many have picked USU to be the G5 rep in one of the big bowl games, and with how good Michigans Defense is, they may be an 8 win team.

Maybe the 2 teams Utah has struggled with aren't that bad, or maybe Utah is not as good as we hoped. We're definitely not good with Travis Wilson out so let's hope when he comes back, he stays healthy. It's still early. We're seeing teams like ASU struggle with Cal-Poly. Lots to be sorted out.

This.
Fwiw I think Utah is a really good team and that their struggles have just been early year struggles out the gate. I think they will clean things up and Booker will get rolling and they will win 9 games and be right there with a shot at the conference title.

I do think Michigan might be pretty good. Usu I have no idea but they certainly look pretty poor so far

 

[7StraightIsGreat]

This.
Fwiw I think Utah is a really good team and that their struggles have just been early year struggles out the gate. I think they will clean things up and Booker will get rolling and they will win 9 games and be right there with a shot at the conference title.

I do think Michigan might be pretty good. Usu I have no idea but they certainly look pretty poor so far

USU is a huge question right now. If you take the Southern Utah debacle out of the equation, they did some things that's gave Utah problems and they basically came into Utah and looked like you'd expect them to look. Honestly, after watching Boise State the last 2 weeks, I don't see why USU can't wrestle away the MWC title from them. Chuckie still has some rust, but Boise's QB looks pretty underwhelming thus far and I think USU is gonna be fine all year defensively.

 

[fishonjazz]

USU is a huge question right now. If you take the Southern Utah debacle out of the equation, they did some things that's gave Utah problems and they basically came into Utah and looked like you'd expect them to look. Honestly, after watching Boise State the last 2 weeks, I don't see why USU can't wrestle away the MWC title from them. Chuckie still has some rust, but Boise's QB looks pretty underwhelming thus far and I think USU is gonna be fine all year defensively.

Ya I said in my post that I don't know what to think of usu but so far they look pretty poor.
I think that is true. Struggling against suu and then only playing one half in a rivalry game in which the other team losses their starting qb and then not even really having a chance in the end. All of that equals poor so far imo.

Boise beat a pac 12 school (all be it a poor one) and should have beat byu on the road. Boise has a very good defense and has been the better program than usu for a long time. Boise state was ranked this year.
At this point in the season I have Boise > usu.

 

[7StraightIsGreat]

Ya I said in my post that I don't know what to think of usu but so far they look pretty poor.
I think that is true. Struggling against suu and then only playing one half in a rivalry game in which the other team losses their starting qb and then not even really having a chance in the end. All of that equals poor so far imo.

Boise beat a pac 12 school (all be it a poor one) and should have beat byu on the road. Boise has a very good defense and has been the better program than usu for a long time. Boise state was ranked this year.
At this point in the season I have Boise > usu.

Hard to argue that at this point. I did really like Boise's front 7 but the secondary let BYU get behind them all night long. Props to BYU for exploiting it, but it did give me concerns about them going forward. They still might be the best team in the MWC but IMO they look a little lesser than the Boise teams we've seen in the past. I think they play USU in 2 weeks, so we'll find out pretty soon.

 

[YB85]

If Kendall Thompson is the QB for more than the Fresno State game, this season could spiral down the drain very quickly. I would rather see Hansen get a shot against Fresno St. and get some time under his belt.

 

[fishonjazz]

If Kendall Thompson is the QB for more than the Fresno State game, this season could spiral down the drain very quickly. I would rather see Hansen get a shot against Fresno St. and get some time under his belt.

I agree. I always questioned the many ute fans who wanted Thompson to get the starting job from day one

 

[seattlejazzfan]

I don't need to see CH play a snap to know he's a better QB than Thompson. Hansen will win that job if Wilson can't go. So jealous of the Hansen/Covey combo the next 3-4 years.

 

[7StraightIsGreat]

I agree. I always questioned the many ute fans who wanted Thompson to get the starting job from day one

If anybody is still calling for Thompson after his performance last week, they need their head checked. Chase Hansen needs to start this week. There's no reason in the world Utah shouldn't give him some starting experience vs Fresno. While Wilson should be back next week, if history has taught us anything, he's probably going to miss more time before the season is said and done. It would be nice to know Hansen has at least a little starting experience once that happens.

Barring some star-studded surprise recruit, Hansen is the QB next year. It makes ZERO sense to try and tread water with Thompson, but I fear Kendall will get the start. Whitt has given a ton to this program but he has to be one of the least QB savy HC's in college football.