The team is still trending up, and consistently improving. We don’t have the depth of a top program yet, but our depth is much better than it was a decade ago. We had weakness up the middle on the defense at LB and at safety. Fix these issues, and this is a much better team. Also, not having a top TE threat today was brutal.
This was a disastrous rebuilding year – disastrous in that the rebuilding on the offensive side was unfortunate and avoidable. But, we now have a loaded RB room, a well developed DL, strong CB’s, and a very bright future at safety (Vaki and Ritchie). Assuming Kuithe, Vele, and Rising come back, next year should be a great team.
The frustrating part of this game, is that this is one of the first big games that we DIDN’T loose because of the talent differential. Maybe UO has better recruits, but our talent matched up with theirs incredibly well. We didn’t loose because we were outclassed, but because key positions didn’t execute.
While, lots of this loss is on Rising, even given his bad game, in the crucial moment at the end of the game, he put the ball in positions in which receivers should have made plays. The drops on 3rd and 4th down were brutal.
I agree that he is not prototypical, and he has a harder path. I think he had the athleticism to pull off being an undersized TE, we will see if he still has it.
Shannon Sharpe (6’2″, 225) disagrees.
Kuithe doesn’t have prototypical size, but he seems to be a surprisingly good blocker for his size, and has the athleticism to create mismatches to get open. Who knows if his game will translate, but there are other tight ends with similar size that have been very successful.
That is the amazing part. The team has progressed to a point where we almost win games against top-tier teams when we have bad days. I am glad to see the team progress, but disappointed at the lost opportunity.
Peak Covey was uncoverable. Best option was to play zone and hope the QB would hang him out to dry so you could break him at the catch. But, not a no. 1 receiver. He provided a very overlapping utility with Kuithe, in that they both primarily attacked the same part of the field, albeit in different ways.
What seems to make Tavion a special running back is his vision. He seems to almost always make the right cut, which leads to a lot of arm tackles that he is able to run through. This is his big advantage over JJ in my mind. I think JJ is a better athlete, and if he can develop TT-style vision, will be incredible.
I heard we really emphasized our passion for nailing cougars in the offer.
What seemed absolutely out of control was the resetting of the clock. It is hard to view that as anything other than a blatant attempt to help U$C win.
To me, it looks like everybody is playing man defense except JT on that play. Vaughn, Phillips, and Bishop stick with their men. Definitely was a lot of contact between the TE and Bishop, but it looks like they both wanted it.
Rate your satisfaction: 2022 Utah Football season
Total Voters: 147