#24 Utah Utes Season Preview

The Utah Utes have a strong linebacking core.  Senior Middle Linebacker Chaz Walker will lead this strong linebacking core.

Offensive Outlook Utah quarterback Jordan Wynn returns at quarterback for the Utes after a recovering from a surgically repaired shoulder.  Wynn is a scrambler so he may hold onto the football too long by running with some option plays.

Utah has a decent offensive line this year.  Their best offensive lineman is center Tevita Stevens who is a pass blocker who will snap the ball to quarterback Jordan Wynn.  Utah had 2 potential NFL prospects at left guard and right guard last season with left guard Caleb Schlauderaff and right guard Zane Taylor leaving.  Is Stephens the real deal or was he a product of an awesome interior offensive line in Utah with juniors starting at offensive tackle?  Were going to find out how good Stevens is this season.

Utah also has two seniors at offensive tackle who can buy Wynn more time despite the fact that both offensive tackles are average at pass blocking and run blocking and don’t really excel or struggle in either category.

Jordan Wynn will have some playmakers to throw to.  Primary wide receiver target Devonte Christopher and tight end Kendrick Moeai will have to step up for Utah.  The #2 wide receiver spot in Utah is up for grabs.  Luke Matthews, Anthony Denham, Reggie Dunn, Kenneth Scott, Sean Fitzgerald, Dres Anderson, and Dexter Ransom are all in the mix to potentially end up as the #2 receiving option for Utah.  There are 7 wide receivers in the running for one job as a secondary wide receiver.

The good news with Utah’s receiving core is they have depth if injuries occur.  The bad news is they don’t have a clear cut #2, #3, #4, or even a #5 option that makes the process of elimination easier.  Things could get Utah if Devonte Christopher ends up getting injured because there is no clear cut receiver who stands out on the Utah depth chart besides Devonte Christopher.  That may make Wynn’s job easier since he will have multiple receiving options and the secondary won’t have one player in particular on who to shut down.

Utah’s running game will struggle because center Tevita Stephens struggles in pass blocking while Utah lost two starters at guard last year.  The offensive tackles are average run blockers which is why its crucial to find a back who stands out when your offensive line does not have a blue chip run blocker.

The other thing that hurts Utah’s running game is that there is no clear cut favorite to win the starting job who stands out.  Thretton Palamo, John White, Karl Williams, and 4 star recruit Harvey Langi are all in the running to be the starting back for Utah on opening day.   There is no questioning the depth that Utah has at running back from a long term picture.  Utah will probably turn to their running game once Jordan Wynn and Devonte Christopher both graduate as seniors.  The thing you have to take into account is that there is no clear cut back who stands out at this point.  At this point I’d say Palamo is the #1 back with John White coming in as the #2 back with Langi being used as a 3rd down back while Utah considers redshirting sophomore Karl Williams because Williams looked awful in the Utah Spring Drills scrimmage on ESPN U.

Defensive Outlook Utah is led by middle linebacker Chaz Walker.  Besides Walker there are a few other big name players who are making adjustments on defense.  Matt Martinez is moving from strong side to weak side transitioning from the left outside linebacker role to the right outside linebacker role converting from a SAM linebacker to a WILL linebacker.  Brian Blechen played strong safety next to Brandon Burton last year, but this year he will move to SAM linebacker at the left outside linebacker role because he bulked up and improved as a blitzer during spring drills.  Derrick Shelby was a left end for Utah last year, but he is moving to the right end spot in the Utes 4-3 scheme.

Utah has the ability to stuff the run.  The Utah Utes can even use Shelby as a pass rusher now and then to pressure the quarterback.

One glaring weakness that was a major strength for Utah last season was their secondary.  Brandon Burton a #1 shutdown corner who was a first round pick in 2011 NFL Mock Drafts at one point very early in the draft process around October of 2010.  Burton went 139th overall to the Minnesota Vikings.  Burton is gone and Brian Blechen is moving from strong safety to strong side linebacker playing the SAM role.   In 2010 Utah played some quality quarterbacks down the stretch including Pete Thomas, Tim Jefferson, Andy Dalton, Dayne Crist, Ryan Lindley, Jake Heaps, and Kellen Moore.  Utah plays Matt Barkley, Brock Osweiler, and Nick Foles 3 quarterbacks with great NFL caliber arm strength.  One could make the case that Barkley, Osweiler, and Foles put the 6 quarterbacks that Utah played last year to shame.

Projected Record 8-4 Utah plays USC, Arizona State, and Arizona going up against Barkley, Osweiler, and Foles.  Utah plays USC and Arizona on the road while hosting Arizona State.  I’m guessing Utah loses all 3 of those games along with a potential trap game where the Utah Utes either lose to BYU or California on the road.

The only thing that worked out in Utah’s favor is that they do not have to face either one of the PAC 12 Schools that enters the season ranked in the top 5.  Not having to face Oregon the team that lost to Auburn in the 2011 BCS National Championship game or Stanford led by quarterback Andrew Luck and left tackle Jonathan Martin is a huge advantage for the Utah Utes.  The fact that Utah does not play Stanford or Oregon is a huge benefit that Utes fans should be greatful for.

Utah is a team that is getting way too much hype.  Everyone expects this to be a 10 win team in the PAC 12 since they don’t play Stanford or Arizona.  If Utah beats USC on the road and Arizona State getting off to a 5-0 start then they could get 10 wins while ending up in the Pac 12 Championship Game.  I would be very shocked if that happened though.  Utah’s secondary struggled down the stretch last year against quality quarterbacks.  This year the Utes play 3 potential NFL quarterbacks in Matt Barkley, Brock Osweiler, and Nick Foles who will torch a Utah secondary with no key players.

I honestly would not be shocked if Utah finished 7-5, but predicting Utah to go 7-5 is a very unrealistic prediction when some people consider them the Pac 12 South favorite.  The other reason picking Utah to go 7-5 is unrealistic is because the Utah Utes have had 3 straight seasons of 10 or more wins.

At the end of the day expect Utah to finish 8-4 tied for 2nd in the Pac 12 south with USC and Arizona.  I have Utah losing to both USC and Arizona that means Utah would finish 4th in the Pac 12 South behind Arizona State, Arizona, and USC in that order.