Preview 2019: Previewing and looking ahead to the Utah Utes season with what you need to know.
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– What You Need To Know: Offense | Defense
– Top Players | Key Players, Games, Stats
– What Will Happen, Win Total Prediction
– Recruiting Class Analysis | Schedule Analysis
– Utah Previews 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015
2018 Record: 9-5 overall, 6-3
Head Coach: Kyle Whittingham, 15th year, 120-61
5. WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE UTAH OFFENSE
– Former Utah offensive coordinator Andy Ludwig returns after bouncing around a bit – spending the last few years at Vanderbilt – and now he’s in charge of a veteran group that only averaged close to 400 yards and 28 points per game. To be fair, the Utes lost their two key stars late over the key late stretch, but now they’re back …
– Things were starting to click for QB Tyler Huntley. The running game was rolling – and he contributed to that – but when he was on, the passing game was a killer. A bit inconsistent, he had a good run in conference play before getting knocked out for the year with a collarbone injury. He’s back, and so is backup Jason Shelley, who filled in admirably to help the Utes get to the Pac-12 title game.
– Also returning is RB Zack Moss, who went down with a knee injury late in the season after running for 1,096 yards and 11 scores. He’s an NFL-caliber back who can handle the workload, but the Utes lost key backup Armand Shyne to Texas Tech.
Moss will work behind a large line that was okay – not amazing, especially in pass protection, but okay – even with two All-Pac-12 first teamer in Jackson Barton and Jordan Agasiva. They’re both gone, but three starters are back for yet another large line that should be able to pound around Darrin Paulo, a star at one tackle spot.
– The passing attack did a great job of spreading the ball around, and now the pieces are there with 60-catch No. 1 target Britain Covey leading a deep receiving corps to spread things around – if he’s back at 100% after suffering a torn ACL late last year. Making the already good situation fantastic is the return of Bryan Thompson, who hasn’t been able to stay healthy so far, but is a big, dangerous deep threat on the outside. The tight end situation is terrific, too, with the combination of Cole Fotheringham and Brant Kuithe likely to account for at least 40 grabs.
NEXT: What You Need To Know About the Defense, Top Players, Keys to the Season, What Will Happen
4. WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE UTAH DEFENSE
– The Utah defense came up with its best season in a decade. It led the Pac-12 and finished fifth in the nation against the run, dominated in the backfield, and ended up 14th in the country in total D, allowing 316 yards and 19 points per game. The top four tacklers are gone, but this is still a loaded group that should be among the nation’s best again, mainly because …
– The defensive line is going to be a killer. With the addition of 6-6, 315-pound Hawaii transfer Viane Moala to go along with 318-pound John Penisini and 327-pound Leki Futu – and more bulk in the rotation – good luck working inside on this group. That takes the pressure off all-star pass rusher Bradlee Anae on one end and with veterans rotating on the other side.
– The linebacking corps loses top two tacklers Cody Barton and Chase Hansen, but 230-pound sophomore Devin Lloyd is coming of a terrific offseason, and Penn State grad transfer Manny Bowen will be among the team’s leading tacklers on the inside.
– There’s some likely shuffling going on in the secondary. Julian Blackmon was and is a terrific corner, but he’ll get a shot to use his skills at free safety. In what amounts to a 4-2-5, the safeties are fine after the move, even after losing the top guys from last season. Veteran options are in place to fill the corner spot in fall camp on the other side of Jaylon Johnson.
NEXT: Top Players, Keys To the Season, What Will Happen
3. TOP UTAH PLAYERS
Best Utah Offensive Player
RB Zack Moss, Sr.
Just when it seemed like Moss was ready for the NFL, he chose to come back for another year after coming up with a great nine games – running for close to 1,100 yards and 11 scores – before missing the last five games of the season with a knee injury.
He ran for 100 yards or more in five of his last six games, ran for a touchdown against everyone but USC, and was a steadying force for an offense that did a good job emphasizing the passing game a bit more.
2. QB Tyler Huntley, Sr.
3. WR Britain Covey, Jr.
4. OT Darrin Paulo, Sr.
5. OG Nick Ford, Soph.
Best Utah Defensive Player
DE Bradlee Anae, Sr.
The defense might be missing backfield killer Chase Hansen, but it gets back the 6-3, 263-pound Anae, who earned All-Pac-12 honors with 51 tackles, eight sacks and 15.5 tackles for loss.
He’s big, he’s got a quick first step, and he’s relentless on the outside. With the massive bulk inside eating up everything against the run, and with good pass rushing options on the other side, look out for Anae to be turned loose to do even more.
2. DT Leki Fotu, Sr.
3. CB Jaylon Johnson, Jr.
4. DT John Penisini, Sr.
5. S Javelin Guidry, Jr.
NEXT: Keys to the Season, Prediction & What Will Happen
2. KEYS TO THE SEASON
Biggest Key To The Utah Offense
Besides keeping all the skill parts healthy, it would be a major plus if the Utes could stop turning the ball over in bunches. It’s been a puzzling part of the equation for a relatively air-tight program that doesn’t do a lot of things wrong – there have regularly been a LOT of turnovers over the years. The last time Utah didn’t turn it over 20 times in a season? 2014.
Last season, the Utes gave away a whopping 14 fumbles – they were killed by them in the bowl loss to Northwestern – and gave away the ball 26 times in all. The turned it over six times in the two games against Washington, six times against NU, and three times against Arizona State – and lost all four games.
In an improved Pac-12, if you’re looking for the paper-thin difference between a good season and going back to the conference title game, this might be it.
Biggest Key To The Utah Defense
Don’t let running games get into a groove. This will be among the nation’s best run defenses again – good luck averaging more than four yards per carry against this bunch.
But it’s not just about the bulk yards against the Utes, because they won’t be there. It’s actually more about the attempts. Run it 40 times or more against them – meaning you have to stick with it, even if it’s not there – and it works.
Northern Illinois lost early on to the Utes, but they hung around in a 17-6 fight by grinding it out 43 times. Along with turnovers, the other key element in the four losses last year were rushing attempts, with Washington (twice), ASU and Northwestern all running it 40 times or more. No one other than NIU was able to.
To take this one step further, Utah is 3-12 in its last 15 games when teams run the ball 40 times or more.
Key Player To A Successful Season
PK Andrew Strauch, Sr.
And/or freshman Jadon Redding. Go ahead and throw in freshman Ben Lennon, too, as he has to try replacing Mitch Wisnowsky – who finished last year averaging over 45 yards per kick with 24 put inside the 20 – as the new star punter. But he’s considered a potential star. The Utes aren’t so solid at placekicker.
Lou Groza winner Matt Gay is done after nailing 26-of-31 field goals including 10-of-15 from behind 40 yards last season. The gig was supposed to go to Chayden Johnston, but he’s retiring from football to focus on his future life in the health care world.
That leaves Redding or Strauch, a UCLA grad transfer who didn’t get much work, but now has to become a weapon – if he gets the gig.
Key Game To The Utah Season
at USC, Sept. 20
Utah opened up the 1916 season with a scintillating 27-12 win over USC. That was the one and only time the program was able to beat SC in LA.
The Utes have done a nice job over the last few years against the Trojans, but the three wins in five seasons were all in Salt Lake City. This time around, it’s the Pac-12 opener for Utah – USC will have already played Stanford – and there’s a week against Idaho State the week before to tune-up.
Win this, and with three of the next four games at home – and the road game at Oregon State- there’s a shot to go on a massive run and realistically shoot for a 5-0 Pac-12 start before going to Washington.
– Utah Schedule Breakdown & Analysis
2018 Utah Fun Stats
– Field Goals: Utah 26-of-31 – Opponents 9-of-17
– Fumbles: Utah 22 (lost 14) – Opponents 15 (lost 6)
– Passing Yards Per Game: Utah 215.79 – Opponents 215.29
NEXT: What Will Happen
1. UTAH WIN TOTAL PREDICTION: WHAT’S GOING TO HAPPEN
Here’s the problem. Utah will be better than the 2018 version, but USC will be better than its 2018 version, too. So will UCLA, so will Colorado, and so will Arizona.
Here’s the positive. Utah is almost certainly going to be better than all four of those fellow Pac-12 South teams, and it gets Arizona State at home.
Yeah, there’s a date at Washington to deal with, but there’s no Oregon to face from the North. There’s no Stanford, either, and Washington State and Cal have to come to Salt Lake City.
The non-conference slate? Whatever … win the Holy War over in Provo against BYU, and Northern Illinois and Idaho State will be a piece of cake.
But even with a promising schedule that has a slew of key breaks …
Set The Regular Season Win Total At … 8
Again, most of the Pac-12 South will be stronger. That doesn’t mean Utah can’t and won’t win it – everyone is going to beat each other up in the conference – but there will be a miss or two like the Arizona State loss last year, or the Arizona State loss in 2017, or the loss to Cal in 2016 – that will screw things up a bit.
Utah will lose at USC because it’s USC in Los Angeles, it’ll almost certainly lose at Washington, and throw in a random misfire – at Arizona in late November seems about right – into the equation.
However, beat USC and/or Washington, and then this season takes on a whole different tone. The talent really is there to beat anyone and everyone on the slate, as long as that talent stays healthy.
The defense will to be another brick wall against the run and returns a terrific-looking secondary. As long as the O doesn’t turn the ball over in bunches, and if it can consistently hit the 30-point mark – the program is 19-1 over the last three seasons and 8-0 last year when doing that – it’s going to be a major player again.
Don’t underestimate this Ute team, and be prepared to pivot on that win total in a hurry. It’s not going to be under the eight-win mark and it just might go way, way over if the rest of the Pac-12 South isn’t ready for primetime yet.
– What You Need To Know: Offense | Defense
– Top Players | Key Players, Games, Stats
– Recruiting Class Analysis | Schedule Analysis
