Well, I know its tough to hold onto the top players on great teams, but the losses of Paul Kruger and Sean Smith are particularly difficult to stomach. They both are leaving early for the NFL Draft after Utah's fantastic season. It is painful because Utah's defense was expected to be even better than it was this year, but now the Utes have to replace both corners, which is such a vital position in Utah's pressure defense and replace its top pass rusher. While Utah will put good players on the field, they will not come close to the quality that Smith and Kruger brought. Utah has a bunch of corners that look like they will be good and they are bringing in some D-linemen that should be able to help right away, but it will take a while to get over the losses.
It wouldn't be so bad if Utah wasn't also retooling its offense next year with the losses it sustained. Utah will certainly not be as good next year, but hopefully a few players can blossom into big time play makers. We'll just have to wait and see. I think Utah will still have a strong defense, especially in the run game. Offense will struggle at times, but if Louks or Cain can develop into a decent short passer (Utah showed the deep ball is not necessary in this offense) then they will be pretty good. My guess as of right now is that Utah wins all of its home games, since the home schedule is very weak and then wins 3 of 6 on the road for a 9-3 season. Losses at Oregon, BYU and TCU, with victories at CSU, SJSU, & UNLV. That is a respectable record, and a decent follow up to the great season. If they get to 10-2 Whittingham should be the coach of the year.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Friday, January 9, 2009
Utah Number 2
Well its official, Utah did not quite have enough momentum to steal the top spot in the AP poll. Though they got pretty close with the number two spot. Plus they had 16 first place votes, which is fantastic. Best ranking ever for the U and totally unexpected at the start of the year. Now the question is whether or not Utah can follow up this amazing season and keep the ball rolling. Whittingham is the key to that. Since he is staying, Utah won't suffer the loss of momentum that nearly sent Utah into a tailspin after Meyer left. But with Brian Johnson and a few key playmakers leaving due to graduation, or possible early entries into the draft (Sean Smith, and Paul Kruger) they will certainly have some big holes to fill.
Also, I should mention that ranked fourth in the coaches poll is dissappointing, but not surprizing. All the teams in front of them also have strong arguments for being ranked that high, so coaches judgments were not necessarily faulty. I just wish Utah had been able to prove more to the coaches.
Also, I should mention that ranked fourth in the coaches poll is dissappointing, but not surprizing. All the teams in front of them also have strong arguments for being ranked that high, so coaches judgments were not necessarily faulty. I just wish Utah had been able to prove more to the coaches.
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Utah National Champ articles
Since the Sugar Bowl victory, there have been a lot of articles written by sportswriters around the country about whether or not Utah deserves to be number 1. I'm listing some of my favorites, and one that is less complimentary of the Utes.
Rick Reilly, ESPN Magazine: http://sports.espn.go.com/espnmag/story?id=3815656
I love this article. In a way that only Rick Reilly can describe, he puts Utah up as the national champs. It is tough to argue with his reasoning, because really Utah did something that no one else did this season, won all their games.
John Feinstien, Washington Post: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/06/AR2009010600092.html
John Feinstien also makes strong points in favor of Utah. Great to see the pub coming from the Washington post. I doubt that they've ever written something about the Utah Utes football team before. Very complimentary
Stewart Mandel, SI http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/stewart_mandel/01/07/cfb.mailbag/index.html
I consider Mandel to be a fairly objective writer. It is also difficult to argue with his reasoning that he just doesn't see Utah as the best team in the country. While I would wish it otherwise, I probably have to agree with him because of Utah's close games against teams that Florida and Oklahoma probably would have taken care of in short order.
Greg Doyel, CBS Sports
http://www.sportsline.com/columns/story/11229831
This was certainly my least favorite of the national writer's articles. Doyel took the opportunity to show his bias against nonBCS schools and tear down Utah. While he does touch on some valid points, he doesn't focus on them. Instead, he takes the opportunity to trash Utah, its fans, and others in the national media that have proclaimed Utah number 1. While I probably agree that Utah doesn't have as strong a resume as a couple of the other top teams, it is frustrating to see that still are still supposed non biased writers that refuse to give them the credit they deserve. A case in point in his article is his comment about Utah probably being a top ten team, which is rediculous. They beat two other top ten teams and didn't lose a game. How he could not even give them credit for being a top team in the country is beyond me. Utah is certainly a top ten team, and likely a top four team. There is no probably about it. It is tough to go from a fairly objective writer like Mandel to a clearly biased one like Doyel.
These articles are only a sampling of what I've read in the last few days about the Utes. Most of the rest is also good. Utah clearly has marked itself in the national picture and they really have a chance to build on this momentum and become a great team for a lot of years. If anybody sees any other atricles that they would like to have included here, let me know and I'll add them.
Rick Reilly, ESPN Magazine: http://sports.espn.go.com/espnmag/story?id=3815656
I love this article. In a way that only Rick Reilly can describe, he puts Utah up as the national champs. It is tough to argue with his reasoning, because really Utah did something that no one else did this season, won all their games.
John Feinstien, Washington Post: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/06/AR2009010600092.html
John Feinstien also makes strong points in favor of Utah. Great to see the pub coming from the Washington post. I doubt that they've ever written something about the Utah Utes football team before. Very complimentary
Stewart Mandel, SI http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/stewart_mandel/01/07/cfb.mailbag/index.html
I consider Mandel to be a fairly objective writer. It is also difficult to argue with his reasoning that he just doesn't see Utah as the best team in the country. While I would wish it otherwise, I probably have to agree with him because of Utah's close games against teams that Florida and Oklahoma probably would have taken care of in short order.
Greg Doyel, CBS Sports
http://www.sportsline.com/columns/story/11229831
This was certainly my least favorite of the national writer's articles. Doyel took the opportunity to show his bias against nonBCS schools and tear down Utah. While he does touch on some valid points, he doesn't focus on them. Instead, he takes the opportunity to trash Utah, its fans, and others in the national media that have proclaimed Utah number 1. While I probably agree that Utah doesn't have as strong a resume as a couple of the other top teams, it is frustrating to see that still are still supposed non biased writers that refuse to give them the credit they deserve. A case in point in his article is his comment about Utah probably being a top ten team, which is rediculous. They beat two other top ten teams and didn't lose a game. How he could not even give them credit for being a top team in the country is beyond me. Utah is certainly a top ten team, and likely a top four team. There is no probably about it. It is tough to go from a fairly objective writer like Mandel to a clearly biased one like Doyel.
These articles are only a sampling of what I've read in the last few days about the Utes. Most of the rest is also good. Utah clearly has marked itself in the national picture and they really have a chance to build on this momentum and become a great team for a lot of years. If anybody sees any other atricles that they would like to have included here, let me know and I'll add them.
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
First Post
Welcome to my blog, this is the first time I've tried this so we'll see how it goes. Anyhow, I'm going to make this a blog focused on sports. Particularly Utah Utes and college football, though I'm open to talking about just about anything on it. Its been a big last week for us Ute fans and there's lots to say about them.
First though, Congrats to Kyle Wittingham and the team. Way to go in and kick the BCS to the curb. Next, thanks to all Alabama fans for your friendliness and good sportsmanship. I was certainly impressed.
Anyhow, feel free to send me a message on this topic or anything elst that you would like to hear from me.
First though, Congrats to Kyle Wittingham and the team. Way to go in and kick the BCS to the curb. Next, thanks to all Alabama fans for your friendliness and good sportsmanship. I was certainly impressed.
Anyhow, feel free to send me a message on this topic or anything elst that you would like to hear from me.
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