I am a bit surprised with Whitt
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- This topic has 14 replies, 12 voices, and was last updated 13 hours, 17 minutes ago by
Utegator.
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ProudUte
ParticipantWe are moving to an up-tempo, no-huddle offense. This is something that Whitt does not typically like to do. He is all about winning the possession time battle and keeping his defense off the field.
I like the idea of playing up-tempo. But, it could lead to our D being on the field more than in past years.
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Utes 69
Participantwe will see, offense has been anemic for years.
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AZUTE
ParticipantUp tempo means no huddle. Utah will always be a run first team. Get a D tired don’t let them make substitutions.
Utah’s OBlock has spent most of this offseason running and doing conditioning drills.
Rewatch what Utah did to Alabama in the Sugar Bowl
Having an OC and QB that are hand and glove makes this possible. Damp knows the O inside and out and can check to plays at the line.
But make no mistake if Whit sees a team wearing down he gonna pound the rock down their throats.
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Jim Vanderhoof
ParticipantI agree AZUTE. The dline will get tired and have to stay on the field making it easier to pass protect. Not allowing subs on a long drive gives the offense an advantage.
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BeachUte
ParticipantI might be misunderstanding you with the Sugar Bowl comment. Are you using it as an example of a non-traditional Whitt offense? Or an example of what he likes to do? Because the game vs Alabama was not a run-first offense. They ran hurry up and picked apart the Tide early through the air. I think Whitt knew he couldn’t establish the run vs their dline and knew the only chance they had was to run a pass-first hurry up offense.
On Utah’s first three drives, they had 14 pass attempts and only three rushes (one was a two-yard TD run from Asiata set up by a 30 yard pass from BJ to David Reed, and another was a run by BJ – so only two handoffs on their first three drives).
That offense caught Alabama off guard because it was so out of character from what Utah ran that season.
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2008 National Champ
ParticipantThey went no huddle but it wasn’t a hurry up offense. They got to line quickly, made a fake snap call, and then everyone looked to the sideline to get the play call. But they still milked the clock while not allowing Alabama to change personnel.
Whitt did a few uncharacteristic things that game and it was an impressive piece of self-scouting. I’d have like to have seen more of it over the years
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BeachUte
ParticipantIt was still hurry up, at least those first few drives. Utah was snapping the ball seconds after the last play ended.
But regardless, those drives were not run-first. Utah didn’t grind and wear Alabama out. They went for the jugular.
But I agree that I wish Utah would have employed that more over the years.
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utefansince79
ParticipantMy goodness we took Bama to the woodshed in the first quarter of that game.
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BeachUte
ParticipantIt was an amazing opening. Maybe the best quarter in Utah football history.
I still remember Kenny Albert saying, “wow, wow, wow…” after Utah went up 21-0 on the Tide.
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dwainegf
ParticipantIf you bring in a new guy who has had success, I believe you let him do his thing until it is obviously not working. In the past, I believe our OC’s haven’t been given that latitude. Continuing to do the same thing over and over and expecting a different result is not overly wise. Maybe Coach Whitt has learned that? Then again, old dog new trick?
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DataUte
ParticipantD can’t be on the field more than multiple 3-and-outs we’ve seen the last couple years, even with using all the play clock on every down.
No huddle/hurry up also doesn’t have to be early for every play. Gives the qb a little more time to assess the defense, adjust the play, check to the sideline, etc. I don’t expect a Chip Kelly Oregon type speed, but with a more spread formation, I don’t expect what we’ve typically seen with 11 and 12 packages with the snap at 3 seconds and TOP the main thing Whitt wants to control through the game.
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EmersonUte
Participantits interesting, last season stats:
New Mexico – Time of Possession – 29 minutes
Utah – Time of Possession – 32 minutesNew Mexico – PPG – 34
Utah – PPG – 23.3So I’d expect to see our time of possession be about the same as it was in the last year (since our defense is better relative to our competition than New Mexico’s to its competition). But our offense will score more quickly when it scores.
Just for fun, in 2021 when our offense was great:
Time of Possession 31 min
PPG 36.3if we return anywhere near those stats we will win 9 games
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Ute Dub
ParticipantUp-tempo running the ball is what I envision. Whitt likes to run the ball and he has one of the most elite QB’s at doing it, along with a solid running back, and solid OL.
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BeachUte
ParticipantIf Whitt is to be believed, Utah will mirror New Mexico last year more than what many here are suggesting. He flat-out said it will be the same offense Beck ran with the Lobos. New Mexico wasn’t a pass-first team but they were far more aggressive through the air than we’ve seen for most of Whitt’s time at Utah. The Lobos last year finished just behind BYU (61st I think) in passing yards per game. Utah has only managed a better ranking twice under Whitt since leaving the MWC (2017 and 2022).
So, if Whitt is being honest, I would expect more passing than we’re generally used to.
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Utegator
ParticipantWhile agree he prefers keeping the defense on the field. He (or ludwick) made decisions that went our offense going 3 and out on, literally every down.
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