Over the course of the season, the Utah football team has played quite well, compiling a 7-2 record, and it recently hosted ESPN’s College GameDay. The Utes have played hard and they have beaten some good teams including USC, UCLA and BYU. Utah also came close to snatching victory from the jaws of defeat in close losses against Cal and Washington.
So far, the success of this Utah team can be directly attributed to the run game.
The Utes started the season somewhat rough in that column, but they have since found a way to be effective on the ground. The Utes have at least five players who have gone for 175 yards or more this season. Two of those five each have over 300 yards and the undisputed rushing king at Utah — Joe Williams — has 758 yards.
While the Utes have been effective through the air as well this season, there is no doubt that the run game is their bread and butter. Just ask UCLA or Oregon State, both of whom were literally ran all over when Utah played them.
It is simple math — Utah is much more effective running the ball than they are throwing it. Not to say that Troy Williams isn’t a good quarterback, because he has had his shining moments. But the identity of this team should be its rushing attack, not necessarily its passing game.
In nine games played so far this year, the Utes have had 203 first downs and 109 — more than half of them — have come from running the ball, compared to just 76 first downs that have happened because of completed passes.
Utah is also more effective scoring when one of the running backs takes the ball. Utah has scored 20 touchdowns on the ground and just nine through the air. Each time the Utes run the ball, on average they gain 4.6 yards per carry. Sure, the passing game nets a few more yards per completion, but that’s what passing does. It’s generally much harder to gain huge yards running the ball than it is to gain them by passing.
But perhaps there is no greater example of running the ball for the Utes than Joe Williams. In his first three games back from a four game retirement, Joe Williams has been nothing short of excellent, tallying 683 yards and six touchdowns. He even set the all time school record with 332 yards against UCLA.
All this goes to show that Utah should move more toward the running game. It’s hard to think of someone replacing the sainted Devontae Booker, but if there is anyone who can rival him, it’s Joe Williams.
Behind Williams, the Utes have serviceable options in Zack Moss and Troy McCormick (even Troy Williams has netted 175 yards on the ground). With so many running options who can attack the defense, why shy away? Why not continue to work with our strengths, rather than against them?
Over the years the Utes have almost always had great running backs who could deliver for them and it is no different this year.
If you want to argue who has had the bigger impact between the two Williams’ on the team, my vote goes to Joe Williams.
The senior revitalized an offense that needed help. He provided energy for the team when they needed it the most. Over the last three games, Joe Williams has averaged nearly 228 yards on 32 carries per game, not to mention his six touchdowns. In that same span, Troy Williams has passed 384 yards, and he has thrown for just two touchdowns.
There is a reason why Utah has moved more from throwing to running — it’s because it works. The Utes will only get better from here, because even though they lost a heartbreaker to Washington, they still control their own destiny in the Pac-12 South. But in order to get better, they need to embrace the run game.