On Thursday, when the Utes take the field for the first time in 2014 against Idaho State, the offense will be looking to improve on a sub-par string of performances that plagued the team in the latter stages of the 2013 season. First-year offensive coordinator Dave Christensen is the man in charge of pumping some new life into the Utes’ offense, and he will have plenty of tools at his disposal to put Utah in the upper echelon of Pac-12 offenses.
Christensen’s last stint as an offensive coordinator with Missouri back in 2007-08 saw him lead one of the most potent and high-tempo offenses in the country to an overall record of 22-6 while scoring just over 41 points per game.
While Christensen will continue to employ the spread attack that Utah has been known for since the days of coach Urban Meyer, he will look to give the offense the speed boost that has become so prevalent in the modern college game.
As for Thursday, Christensen just wants to see his offense worry about its own duties and make plays all over the field.
“We’re going to try and execute our offense,” Christensen said. “We’ve got to be prepared for anything and everything. It’s really more about us and how we execute our assignments … it’s always like that in the first game, you never know what you’re going to get. You need to prepare yourself for every scenario and all the different looks, different coverages they could give us and just be sound in what we do.”
The Utes should be able to test many different scenarios and schemes on Thursday when veteran starters join forces with talented and surprising incoming players.
The Utah offense will be led by junior quarterback Travis Wilson, who has put on a good amount of weight and muscle after sitting out the final three games of last season due to injury. Wilson will look to improve on his game management skills as well as his ball safety after throwing 16 interceptions last season.
“I want to take care of the football, just make easy throws, and I think our offense allows me to do that,” Wilson said. “I’m really comfortable with where I need to go with the football and where I need to look. I think fall camp was a big step in making sure that I take care of the football.
While throwing the ball will be a priority, Wilson’s six-foot-seven-inch 233-pound frame should be more than capable of running for some crucial yardage and first downs. Wilson’s backup, Kendal Thompson, is more of a dual-threat quarterback who can make big plays with his feet as well as his arm. Keep an eye out for Thompson in certain situations like third-and-short and some red zone schemes.
Whether it’s Wilson or Thompson throwing the ball down the field, the Utes’ receiving corps is looking to make a name for themselves in the Pac-12. Returning starters Dres Anderson and Kenneth Scott take the field alongside talented youngsters like Delshawn McClellon, Tim Patrick and Dominique Hatfield.
Scott missed almost all of last season after suffering a leg injury in the first half of the Utah State game last year. Scott said he is more than ready to return to the field with his teammates this season and he feels great about this year’s group of receivers.
“Our receivers have a ton of confidence. Me and Dres look at each other, and we already know. We give each other that look all the time, and it’s like ‘Alright, let’s go,’ ” Scott said. “We can be really good, we’ve just got to be consistent, and when the opportunities come our way, we just got to go get them.”
As for the running game, the Utes will once again be a backfield by committee because of this year’s stable of talented (yet mostly inexperienced) running backs.
Junior Bubba Poole is the only returning starter at running back from last year. Poole started in nine of 12 games in 2013 and rushed for 607 yards on 149 carries, including a career night against Stanford where he ran for 111 yards on 22 carries. Poole is also a versatile receiving back who snagged 229 receiving yards over the season while averaging 7.9 yards per reception.
While Poole will most likely be given the majority of crucial reps when Thursday rolls around, the Idaho State game will also be a great opportunity for the younger running backs to show the coaching staff what they can do in game situations. Nipping at Poole’s heels are talented freshman backs Devontae Booker, Troy McCormick, Dre’Vian Young and Tavaris Williams.
Your first chance to catch the Ute’s offense in action will be this Thursday, Aug. 28 when the Bengals of Idaho State roll into Rice-Eccles Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. MT.
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