Big Plays

[Wilson’s Mustache]

Does anyone else find it odd that, to my knowledge, have yet to have a big offensive play go for a touchdown through 4 weeks of the season?

I could be wrong, but even if we’ve had one it would still be unusual. Utah hasn’t been an explosive team for a while now, but we still would occasionally have big plays.

[utahsportsguy]

we had a pick 6 against AZ which is better than nothing. We’ve also had a few 40 yard pass plays. 

[Wilson’s Mustache]

I’m thinking offensive plays.

[Anonymous]

We’ve had quite a few “offensive” plays. 🙂

[gUrthBrooks]

from the Utah 20 to the BYU 32 – but not a TD

[Wilson’s Mustache]

Yeah but I’m looking for scoring plays.

[Tony (admin)]

Define big play. 

[GameForAnyFuss]

I’ve seen “Phantom of the Opera” and “Wicked” on Broadway. Those were both pretty big plays.

[EagleMountainUte]

Yeah I am trying to think of any huge chunk plays that went for a TD. Boobie Hobbs runs lately have been pretty good. 

[sweetgrass]

20 second mark

27 yard TD

[Wilson’s Mustache]

So a 26 yard pass is our most explosive scoring play. Thats concerning.

The point of this question is as it relates to Red Zone struggles, it would be great if we could get some TD strikes outside the 20 yard line. We tend to be able to drive methodically down the field and then stall within the 10 yard line. I wonder if defenses just aren’t respecting our run game so it hurts our deep passing game.

[PlainsUte]

Converting 3rd and 18 was pretty big!

[AllInUteFan]

Many variables at play. Here’s my starter list off the top of my head.:

Huntley has been accurate, except on the deep balls

Moss doesn’t have Williams’ second (or third) gear

Offensive line isn’t getting to the second level on run plays

Offense feels like it has lots of WR screens and short routes. Correlated to first point?

Only four games so far – Huntley and offense have yet to mature

We haven’t played UCLA 🙂

[utahsportsguy]

the bigger red flag right now is our inability to score td’s consistently in the redzone, tbh…

[Wilson’s Mustache]

Yeah I get that. That’s why I raised the question. It would be nice to be able to get some scores without getting bogged down within the red zone.

[THEeyepatch]

That’s what I was talking about the other day. Neither Huntley or Williams can hit the receiver in stride. Those are how you get big plays. We know the running game isn’t going to do it… Maybe against UCLA and their atrocious run ‘D’ haha?

[Utahute72]

I think you’re more likely to get longer scoring plays with Williams at QB, because he is more accurate down the field, and takes those shots more often.  Huntley on the other hand is better at taking the short to intermediate stuff to move the chains.  

[MotherJabubu]

lot’s of troll responses

We’ve had streaking WRs open all year, but so far Huntley and Williams haven’t been able to hit anybody in stride deep. Both of them need to work on their touch, especially for the deep ball. Other than that.. we were a bit spoiled on long rushing TDs last year because Joe is so god damn fast

[UtMtBiker]

It’s because we haven’t pushed the ball down the field. Prior to the AZ game we had only thrown the ball more than 20 yds down the field 4 times and 2 were on Huntley scrambles where the WR adjusted his route and went up the field. I haven’t tallied up after the AZ game but I only can recall 2 deep throws. The deep ball isn’t strength of Troy Taylor’s offense. It’s your typical dink and dunk, high percentage, keep the chains moving type of offense.

The problems come when a defense is happy to let you take that and force FG’s. When you don’t take a few shots it also makes the running game very difficult. When the running game is weak, play action (typically big shot plays) aren’t effective.

I really don’t see this offense as any improvement over last year which really isn’t that bad. We won 9 games and were very very close on 2 more. I think we are pretty much in the same place but with an improved QB situation.