[2008 National Champ]

I don’t have any predictions for the game but I do have some concerns that I will be watching for during fall camp.

1. Center of lines: Utah is returning all starters on the O Line, but the interior has gotten beaten badly the last two years. On the other side, Utah is replacing the 3 who got the most time at DT the last two years with people that didn’t beat them out. I don’t feel like Utah can control this game if there are camp injuries and/or mediocre performances between the Tackles.

2. Receivers: I need to hear repeatedly that they are making plays. Let me rephrase, I need to hear repeatedly that they are dominating the DB’s and making all the 50/50 plays. Even then I might not believe it. But I won’t feel good about this group if we’re just getting the standard so-an-so is looking good and starting to separate. I need to start hearing that multiple guys are uncoverable.

3. Health: Utah just can’t have another fall camp with multiple starters beat up. Granted, we won’t hear about camp injuries until late October. But if Parker spends the season limping off the field like Jackson did in 2023 or they have to start the season with the 3rd string Center it could get ugly in a hurry.

First game of the year is tough on everyone. On paper 2022 Utah was better than Florida and they laid an egg. I don’t see this years team having that same advantage on UCLA and Utah is notorious for limiting the play sheet game one so it will come down to execution. For me to believe that Utah can go down there and win handily, I need to hear that the offense is making the D look silly in camp. I trust Scalley to get his guys where they need to be when it matters. I haven’t had that same belief from the offense since 2004.

[Jim Vanderhoof]

Beach I could care less about conference realignment hypotheses. I don’t deny BYU has had a better winning pct. I’m talking about talent. I’ve watched both teams play since the 60’s. You asked if I would trade BYU BB success for Utah? Depends on if you count all the sweet 16 appearances,BYU BB players in the NBA, tough schedule you had to endure(LMU,SanDiego,Santa Clara,Pacific)in the past 15 yrs. My answer:who cares. Neither has much stature. I assume stature is national notoriety. BYU has real stature now. No argument there. Why real stature? Because they have talent!! I would love that talent at Utah and would fight for season tickets. Would I switch places this year? Hell yes. Previous 15 years who cares.

[2008 National Champ]

No doubt on that! I’ve wanted him to play a Percy Harvin role since I saw his HS Soph tape before he got on campus and I’ve got the downvotes to prove it.

Many moons ago, HS QB’s were really only suited to being the Quarterback. Now, they are typically the best athlete on the team that can also throw. And if you look at the success Whitt has had moving those types around, it’s not only helped the team but their careers. Off the top of my head: Jackson, Christopher, Hansen, Covey and Blechen all did more at their new positions than they ever would have as QB.

Johnson has all the physical tools to be a great QB. And I’m sure he’s nice to old people and dogs, even when the cameras aren’t on. But “going through progressions” has two parts, recognizing the right place to throw it and delivering a catchable ball on time. He was poised and did that against Baylor. His feet were in cement and he threw two-hoppers after that. I’ll jump out of my chair if he delivers a 40 yard ball off a reverse but I don’t ever want to see him under center unless it’s “break glass in case of emergency time”. Or someone has the bright idea to try Wilson again.,, whichever comes first.

[Chasqui]

My bad bro! Never said he should be our starter. Just trying to make a point that he can go through progressions. Is he the best? No. There is a reason he isn’t playing qb. We all saw that. But if you have a guy who has that experience in my opinion a defense has to respect it. He can be used as a weapon in many ways.

[2008 National Champ]

don’t need the highlights. I watched that game. And then I watched the UCLA game. And then I watched the first half of Oregon State. Where was that advanced progression reading ability after Baylor?

If the outlier from a sample set of mainly negative outcomes is extremely positive, it’s probably best not to ignore the most common outcomes and assume that the outlier is the true representation. There’s a really good reason he got benched at Utah, got beat out at Vandy, and is now trying his hand as a slot/rb hybrid.

[stbone]

If we poundi Johnson up the middle into tight holes, Johnson might bust quick. Basically, we can’t force Johnson straight down the throat of the defense. If we relax and slow dow with Johnson, use him around the edges, to hit unexpected holes, and in open space, he can bust into the secondary and leave them with quite a mess on their hands.

Also, seeing the success with Harold Lusk, I propose a hybrid package taking plays that worked with Harold and using them for Johnson. We can call it the Harry Johnson package.

I’ll be here all night…

[Chasqui]

Utah vs Baylor Highlights

[Chasqui]

Start it at the 6:00 minute mark. That when he took over for Bryson. Yes there were the 10 yard slant that he completed as well as the rpo but there were also times he went through multiple progressions. Especially on the play action towards the end.

[Tednab]

And hold on to it

[2008 National Champ]

what progressions? Baylor was playing deep and wide to prevent the big play. The first read – slant – was there and he hit it, multiple times. All credit in the world to him for making the throws but let’s not pretend he was buying time until his 5th read came open every play.

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