The Utes survived nonconference play, going 3-1. First-time starting quarterback Terrance Cain got some much-needed game experience and the defense is coming off its most complete game of the season. But now the Utes turn their attention to the MWC for the remainder of their 2009 schedule8212;and it all starts this weekend in Fort Collins, Colo., against Colorado State.
The Utes are coming off their bye week, which conveniently split their conference and nonconference schedules, as opposed to last season when Utah’s bye came between weeks eight and nine.
“I was worried (the bye week) was going to come too early for us, with our bye week coming later in the season the past few years,” said offensive tackle Zane Beadles. “But I think it came at a great time8212;right before the conference season begins8212;and I think it is going to serve us very well.”
Beadles was one of four starters who were forced to leave the Louisville game two weeks ago because of injuries, but he will be ready to go Saturday against Colorado State.
Unfortunately for head coach Kyle Whittingham and the Utes, two of the four starters won’t be back this weekend. Defensive tackle Lei Talamaivao will miss significant time with a fractured fibula, and former starting running back Matt Asiata will miss the remainder of the season with a torn ACL.
With Asiata out, junior Eddie Wide moves into the starting role. Wide stepped in against Louisville after Asiata left the game in the first quarter. He finished the game with a career-high 129 yards on 19 carries. Although Wide is not as physical a runner as Asiata, he is still expected to carry the ball anywhere from 15 to 20 times per game.
“Matt’s strength was in the power-run game,” Whittingham said. “Eddie is not a bad inside runner. He’s got some ability to run up inside the tackles, as does Shaky (Smithson), so we don’t plan to change the scheme a great deal8212;just tweak it to what those guys’ strengths are.”
Smithson took reps with the running backs all week in practice and will likely back up Wide when the junior needs a rest. Utah now goes from a single back offense to a “running back-by-committee” system with multiple backs subbing in and out of the game to keep legs fresh. Despite the personnel change, Beadles said he is confident the Utes’ offense won’t skip a beat.
“We’re going to block the same way,” Beadles said. “We’re going to run the same plays, and they are going to get back there and do what they do.”
No matter who is lining up in the back field, the Utes look to improve on third-down conversions this weekend against the Rams.
Through four games this season the Utes are only 21 of 57 on third down, converting only 37 percent of the time.
“We talk about third down being the only down,” Beadles said. “We need to be successful on first and second down to set up third down. Keeping drives going by converting on third down is huge, and that’s something we need to get better at.”
The Utes will be trying to move the ball against a Colorado State defense that has only been able to hold opponents to a 50 percent third-down conversion rate through the first five games of the Rams’ season. The Rams are in their second year under head coach Steve Fairchild and seem to be a much-improved team from 2008.
“Colorado State is a hard-nosed, physical football team,” Whittingham said. “They’re very good up front on the offensive line. The quarterback is doing a nice job and is second or third in the league in efficiency. Defensively, they much improved from last year as well; there’s more size and athleticism than last year.”
The Rams got off to a quick start in 2009, winning their first three games before dropping back-to-back games against BYU and Idaho.
“(The Rams) have a really balanced attack,” said Mike Wright, middle linebacker for the Utes. “They run the ball well and they set up the passing game through their runs, so we’re going to have to prepare well, shut them down and force them into bad situations.”
The last time the Utes were on the road, they gave up 312 yards of total offense, 217 of which came on the ground. Although the Rams’ offense will be much more of a balanced attack than that of Oregon’s, Utah will look to force turnovers and get to CSU quarterback Grant Stucker.
“Our main goals are to force turnovers and get sacks,” Wright said. “The first couple of games we weren’t able to do that, but against Oregon and Louisville, our defense has been able to step up, force a few more turnovers, get some sacks for us and we’ve improved each week.”
The Utes kick off Mountain West Conference play against the Rams Saturday at 4 p.m. in Fort Collins, Colo.