Utah’s Explosive Offense the Missing Piece that Devastated Oregon
Brock Jensen
The Utes have had as good of a weekend as they probably ever have as a member of the Pac-12.
Utah absolutely destroyed last year’s Pac-12 champion in Oregon. It was one of the worst home losses the Ducks have endured in quite some time. It also had large implications for the College Football Playoff, as it now seems Oregon, a preseason candidate to qualify for the playoff, is likely going to be shut out.
While there was plenty in this game that deserves attention, the score is what most people saw. While Utah’s score, Oregon’s score and the score differential were all surprising numbers, I believe Utah’s offense putting up 62 points is the most impressive of them all.
The Utes started the game with senior quarterback Travis Wilson at the helm, something that was uncertain entering the game because of his recent injury. It was clear throughout the game that Wilson was playing through pain, but he pushed through it and notched one of his most impressive performances as a Ute. Wilson threw for 227 yards and four touchdowns, while also adding six rushes for 100 yards and a score on the ground. This kind of performance is what Ute fans have been longing for from their quarterback.
Prior to this game, Wilson was seen by others, at best, as an average Pac-12 quarterback. The fact that he was able to do it against a quality opponent (or so we think) in Oregon is the bigger story than Utah’s usual role as a top defensive team. Devontae Booker also was able to find success in the rushing attack, and Oregon just never had an answer for the combo attack that came both on the ground and air from Wilson and Booker. Oregon got a dose of what it had been serving other Pac-12 teams for the last few years — a seemingly unstoppable offense, going for score after score after score.
Yes, holding the Ducks to a mere 20 points is quite the accomplishment and deserves recognition. The Ute defense is for real, and it slowed down a very good offense for most of the game. I’m not saying that wasn’t impressive, but scoring 62 points against any opponent will cause heads to turn. And it was against Oregon, and with a less-than-100 percent healthy quarterback.
Utah showed it could score in a plethora of ways as well. The Utes used a game plan that featured fake punts, halfback passes and a punt return that had everyone fooled. Utah’s offense looked on-time and effective. It finally utilized Kenneth Scott’s size and athleticism in the passing game, and the team didn’t turn the ball over either. They won the field position game, and the team scored a touchdown on nearly every position.
There were just too many positives of this game for Ute fans not to get excited about.
The offense was (and may still be) the question that many have about the Utes, even after putting up 62 points, but the fact that they did it shows the potential is there. The Oregon game was a great performance for all aspects of Utah’s game, but with this type of explosive offense, the Utes will be scary the rest of the year.
@brock_jensen02
Infamous “Sack Lake City” D-Line Responsible for Sinking the Ducks
Tyler Crum
In the locker room after Saturday’s game against Oregon, Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham asked his team a simple question: “Did that surprise anybody?”
The Utes may have responded with a thunderous “Hell no!” but their historic demolition of the reigning conference champions sent shock waves throughout college football and surprised even the most die-hard Ute fans. Utah’s 62 points set a record for the highest score ever put up by a visiting team in Eugene. While no one could have predicted the perfect storm of offense and special teams that precipitated the lopsided score, there were plenty of red flags leading up to the game suggesting the Ducks would struggle defensively against the Utes.
Oregon’s defense is filled with inexperienced players who are all underclassmen, with one exception. Although they are an athletic group, they lack discipline. This was made clear in the first three games of the season as the Ducks allowed 42 points in their first game against Eastern Washington and 28 points in their next games against Michigan State and Georgia State. They were 104th in the country in total defense before taking on the Utes. They consistently gave up big plays in those first three games, and Oregon’s defensive shortcomings were highlighted Saturday as Utah racked up 530 yards of total offense.
While Oregon has never been known for having a stout defense, it has been able to build a nationally prominent program on the back of a powerhouse offense that has averaged more than 45 points per game since 2010.
Coming into Saturday’s game, the Ducks were averaging about 33 points a game and were eighth in the country in rushing yards. But the Utes held them to just 222 rushing yards and 20 points.
This was the Utah defense that gave up an average of 370 yards per game to the likes of Michigan, USU and Fresno State. The Utes kept one of the nation’s most effective offenses from converting on 72 percent of its third down attempts — the same defense that only tallied two sacks in its first two home games in “Sack Lake City.”
Against Oregon, Utah forced three turnovers and sacked the quarterback five times. Even special teams did an outstanding job of keeping Oregon from scoring as the Utes held the country’s best non-offensive scoring team to 23.3 yards per return on a staggering 11 kickoffs, not allowing any return touchdowns.
Don’t forget about special teams standout Tom Hackett, who had a 33-yard fake punt and an average of 60.2 yards punting, which kept the Ducks from starting a drive in decent field position.
The truth is, the Utes only managed to put forth such a stifling defensive effort and take home the crushing victory due to the near-perfect execution by all units on the field, something that has not been seen since the 2009 Sugar Bowl. Utah fans will undoubtedly hope the brutally effective and comprehensive play showcased in Saturday’s game will be here to stay for the rest of the season.
If the Utes continue to play in this manner, the team is definitely in store for a memorable season.