Your Utes at the Bye

Ahh, it's nice to take break. Especially when things are hunky-dorey and we're humming right along. Would it be nice to have the week off for the Utes right after TCU and before Notre Dame? Sure would, but it is hard to complain. In fact it is hard to complain about anything regarding the Utes right now. About the only thing I can think of is our terrible schedule. But even that is fixed by the gauntlet the Utes have to run at the end of the year.....(Question, could @SDSU be a scarier and tougher game than the Holy War?)

So during this period of peace and rest, let's review the season and look forward as well.

The start of the season has gone better than I think anyone could have hoped. The first game the Utes looked shaky, but pulled out the win. And the Utes have been getting better ever since. Culminating with dominant performance over an awful San Jose State team in which the Utes dominated in every facet. Also, consider the fact the turnover plagued and penalty ridden Fightin' Whittinghams had zero turnovers and only one penalty for five yards. The job the coaching staff had done is fantastic. And yes, I know the schedule was against patsies, but the a great team did what great teams are supposed to do against patsies. (Consider Nebraska, Oklahoma, Mississippi, etc who are or were considered potential solid teams who struggled or lost to bad teams.)

The three most satisfying aspects of the season are the Defense, the QB situation and Shaky's bounce-back.

First, coming in all the questions for the Utes were about the Defense. Everyone knew they would have a great offense. But the defense has been dominant. The only potential weakness is against the pass, but you can't run on the Utes. Not bad for a line-backer corps as young as they are.

Second, having a back-up QB that could be the starter and is content with his role is like a warm blanket and hot chocolate on a cold snowy day. How great was it to lose Wynn for two games only to have Cain come in and not miss a step. Man I love this team.

Third, Shaky Smithson had a disastrous day against Pitt. Two fumbles that both led to Pitt scores. Then in the next two games, no fumbles and two kick returns for TD's. That's what I am talking about.

Looking forward now to the rest of the season, the schedule is a breeze more or less until the Air Force game on Oct 30th. The only game worth worrying about is @Iowa State. The Utes should win, but you never know. Though I am comforted by the fact that this is the first game off the bye and Whittingham knows how to prepare a team, especially with extra time.

But once Oct 3oth hits the Utes should be undefeated and then its @Air Force, home with TCU, @ Notre Dame, @ a much improved San Diego State team, home to the lowly Cougs (hate to call you lowly, but...). That is a heck of a stretch and if the Utes come through that unscathed, you're looking at a top 3 ranking and possibly a trip to the title game. My prediction, unfortunately, is that Utah loses one of those games either AF or TCU.

Regardless, an 11-1 season and a bowl win (to make it 10 in a row) is a great way to head into the PAC-12, a National Championship would be even better.

GO UTES!

Swint's Week 3 Top 25

It was another good weekend for we Ute fans! The Utes dominated the Lobos like they were supposed to and the Cougs lost! What's not to love?

For this week's top-25 not a lot of movement at the top, there weren't many upsets, but at the bottom was some solid shifting. Team of the week goes to Nevada after their dominating victory over Cal.

Overrated? Florida. Their offense just isn't that good, but their Defense is. We still don't know who they are.

Underrated? Stanford. Great QB, Great Coach. They could play with any team in the country.

Unrated highlight? Kansas. What on earth?? Lose to South Dakota Girls School, beat Georgia Tech, lose to Southern Miss!! Crazy.

1. Alabama - Please Arkansas, Please!!
2. Ohio State
3. Oregon - They're good.
4. Boise State - Last big game of the year this weekend. After that it's smooth sailing.
5. TCU - Great win over Baylor,
6. Nebraska - Win over Washington justified the jump over OU

7. Oklahoma - Survived a big test against A.F.
8. Texas
10. Utah - Haven't missed a step with the backup QB. This could be a special season for the Utes.
11. Arkansas - Mallet is a beast

12. Florida
13. Stanford
14. South Carolina - Only because of Lattimore.
15. Arizona - First Rose Bowl??
16. Wisconsin - Ugh, they're boring
17. LSU - Miles looks to be ruining this proud program.
18. Pittsburgh
19. Iowa
20. Miami (FL)
21. Auburn
22. Air Force - Are there really any good loses? Yup, see last AF-OU
23. Nevada - Could they threaten Boise?
24. Oregon State - The nation turns it's lonely eyes to you.
25. Penn State - Still don't know what this team is.

QB Duel Over...Wish It Had Happened Differently

Video Courtesy of KSL.com

It has been heavily speculated that Bronco would make the decision on Wednesday to name Jake Heaps the starter for this Saturday and perhaps the rest of the season. All that speculation is now moot.

It was announced today that Riley Nelson will undergo season ending shoulder surgery. I guess he tweaked it in Fall camp and this just re-agravated it. A torn labrum is what I read. Above you can watch the play in which it happens. Also, you can hear comments from Bronco, Doman and Heaps here at Greg Wrubell's Cougar Tracks.

This is really too bad. While I have been in the camp calling for Heaps to get majority reps and the starting nod for some time so that the offense can get in synch and so that we can develop a phenomenal talent in Heaps, I am sad to see it end this way. Nelson is a great leader and a tough, gritty player. In fact it appears that he told no one of the injury but in practice he couldn't even lift his arm. I hope he comes back in the role of RB next year. He is perhaps the best runner on our team. As a running QB this was almost bound to happen. Doman said after practice today that he has several injuries and this is just the one that tipped the scales. Thank you Nelson for your leadership. Good luck in your recovery and good luck to Jake. Make us proud.

Swint's Top 25 and MWC Powerpoll

Here is the first of my new weekly installment of Swint's Top 25 and MWC Powerpoll. I think after two weeks we are starting to get an idea of where teams stand. There is still a lot we don't know, but some frauds have been found and some real contenders have been identified.

Highlights for the week:

Underrated? Oregon - I didn't give them much credit to start the season considering all that happened with Masoli in the off season, but they are for real.

Overrated? Utah - Perhaps the 10 ranking is homerish. But resume so far justifies it. If the Utes lose before TCU, we'll know if they are overrated.

Not Ranked Highlight? Virginia Tech. Obviously they aren't and shouldn't be ranked, but I lean towards giving them a pass for James Madison, sort of. I still think the ACC will come down to them, Miami, and FSU. I think they have the best chance to win it.

On to the rankings:

1. Alabama - Can't stand Saban, so it pains me to rank them here.
2. Ohio State - Looked strong against Miami, almost ranked them 1.
3. Oregon - I think their resume so far could justify a #1 ranking. Sure UNM sucks and Tennesse is barely better, but they won in impressive fashion.
4. Boise State - Despite who they play, they are a fantastic team.
5. TCU - Get by Baylor and smooth sailing until Utah.
6. Oklahoma - I think the real OU is the FSU version.
7. Nebraska
8. Texas
9. Iowa - Don't understand people's love affair with Ferentz, his teams rarely meet expectations.
10. Utah - All the questions were about the Defense, they've been answered.
11. Wisconsin
12. Florida - Could be great, could suck.
13. Arkansas
14. South Carolina - Only because of Lattimore.
15. Stanford
16. Houston
17. LSU - Miles looks to be ruining this proud program.
18. Pittsburgh
19. Arizona
20. Miami (FL) - Season depends on Jacory. Could lose 5, could go undefeated rest of way.
21. USC
22. Air Force - Is anything harder to prepare for than Option teams?
23. Cal
24. Florida State
25. Michigan - Trying not to drink the kool-aid, but lots of mediocrity at the bottom of the poll

For the MOUNTAIN WEST:

1. TCU - Clearly the top.
2. Utah - Only real risk to TCU in conference.
3. Air Force - Utes @ Air Force scares me to death.
4. BYU - Better get the QB situation figured out now or they lose to SDSU or Wyoming.
5. San Diego State - Look good so far, but should still be far below the MWC-4.
6. Wyoming - Good on 'em for playing Texas tough. Should qualify for a bowl.
7. UNLV - Guarantee they finish 7th.
8. Colorado State - A tragedy what has happened to this solid program. Ugh.
9. New Mexico - Can we trade for New Mexico State?

Utes Thrive, Cougs Wallow in Controversy and Division

It has been a crazy summer and pretty interesting first two weeks of the season for our respective teams that this blog focuses on. For the Utes and Cougs things started off well in week 1 with big wins and both teams entering the Top-25, the Utes at 20 in both polls and BYU entering the Coaches at 24.

However, week 2 sent both teams in opposite direction. The Utes had the week we expected, a dominating win over UNLV, 38-10 and, somewhat surprisingly, jumped six-spots in the polls to #14 thanks to a bunch of losses ahead of them, including the collapse of the ACC (it is a travesty that the Big East and ACC have auto-bids and MWC does not by the way. But BYU had a devastating week.

A loss to Air Force was bad enough, something that hasn't happened in about 5 years, but the week, game, and post game was wrought with division. Predictably, (did anyone really not see this coming??) due to the two QB system Bronco decided to go with. In the game against Washington it worked, in the game against Air Force it was a disaster. Apparently, and I didn't watch the game, at one point Jake Heaps was benched and the Cougs went with Riley Nelson. Apparently Heaps was ticked off. But even worse is the fact that Riley can't throw. Sure he's a heck of a runner, but he either missed receivers or checked down to running backs the whole game. Their top two receivers, McKay Jacobson and Oneill Chambers didn't have any receptions...a travesty for BYU football.

It is also rumored that during the week in practice Chambers went off and yelled, "it's because we have a running back as our QB" and was subsequently kicked out of practice. This is unsubstantiated and based upon a source feeding a poster on Utefans.net, but I wouldn't be surprised if it happened, having a two QB system will ALWAYS create division.

It was a stupid idea on Bronco's part. He needs to pick a QB and stick with it. The Utes went into last season with the same problem that the Cougs had this year, Whittingham handled it beautifully and as a result the Utes have thrived. Bronco needs to have this fixed this week, he needs to grow some cojones and do what is best for the program. And that means he better pick Jake Heaps. Move Riley to RB or TE or something, he probably shouldn't be the back up either, they are too different in style to be able to have Riley come in at a moments notice.

QB Controversy Over

Time to hand the Keys over to Jake.

Hurt Locker

OK so that was overstated. BUT BYU did for the most part contain his running. Heaps looked great. If anything his passes were maybe too hard. His receivers dropped some passes including a TD drop by Frosh TE Wilson but Heaps really zings that ball in there. Nelson also looked great. I don't want to say this but for this game anyway the 2 QB system worked well. No sacks, no INTs. Each passed for exactly 131 yards. Eerie. DiLuigi had 70 yards rushing and 80 yards receiving including a 40 yard TD catch. This game though goes to the Defense. Amazing stops in the 4th quarter to put this one away. Brian Logan saved a TD and the D-Line knocked down a late 4th down pass to seal the game. Also, congrats to Juice on his first BYU TD! I have high hopes for this team and can't wait to see them play against AF next week. Go Cougars!

Here Come the Irish!

As part of their press conference where BYU declared its independence and announced an 8 year deal with ESPN to cover all BYU football home games, BYU also announced that they have inked a 6 year deal with Notre Dame! I LOVE THIS! Our games against the Fighting Irish have been some of my favorites. They are a great program with very classy fans and a solid team. I hope to catch another game in South Bend. One of my favorite sports experiences ever was watching BYU play at Notre Dame. It is the Holy Land of College Football as far as I am concerned. This bodes well and it sounds like BYU has had calls from a number of programs asking for match-ups. I hope the first game with Notre Dame can be in 2011. I know ND has one vacancy left. If we play them and Utah in 2011 that almost fills our schedule. Here's to good times to come!