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It’s a combination of two TV stations and two radio stations that will bring more sports coverage into Utah homes than ever before. You’ll see live high-school football games, NFL preseason games of the Broncos and Raiders; Salt Lake Bees baseball, and Utah State football and more, all this month! This fall, your Utah Jazz return with 80 games on both TV and Radio. Prepare to be amazed.
Email The Hosts PK : : DJ : : Alema Harrington : : David Locke : : Ben Bagley : : Scott Garrard
The Jazz stubbled out of the starting blocks and never found their step as the Nets came into Energy Solutions Arena and handed the Jazz their second home loss this week. Click below for post game interviews from both the Nets and Jazz. The Jazz will look to bounce back as they travel to Sacramento for a game Tuesday night.
David Locke and Coach Nissalke recap
The Utah Jazz separated themselves with a 44 point 3rd quarter and cruised to a 120-94 win over the Sacramento Kings. Hear what the coaches and players had to say about the victory for the Jazz, what to expect tomorrow night against the Nets and what was different in the start of that 3rd quarter.
1st Quarter -- Jazz 29 Kings 23
Jazz are playing the we can outscore you game and they can
It will not take a lot of defense to beat this team so don't expect much.
CJ Miles got an extended run in the 1st quarter
AK came in to play the 4 with Korver back
Deron got hit by a brutal and nasty Brad Miller pick.
Deron answered with 9 points and 3 assists in the quarter
Ronnie Price hit a nice three and had a great steal but had two brutal possessions down the stretch.
Kings shooting 55% and the Jazz at 50% but have 4 threes
Jazz got 30% of the offensive rebounds.
Halftime -- Jazz 50 Kings 50
Kings are playing harder than the Jazz
The Kings shot 10 of 18 in the 2nd quarter and the Jazz shot just 8 of 25
In the pre game show we talked about how the Kings might not be good but they are good offensively which means they can beat you.
Jazz seemed to lose their rhythm in the opening part of the quarter and haven't recovered.
The halftime bmx show was insane
Morris Almond got time but couldn't handle guarding John Salmons.
Korver played and hit a few shots.
Okur 12 and Williams 12 lead the Jazz.
3rd Quarter - Jazz 94 Kings 67
Yes it was tied at 50-50 at half time.
The jazz scored 44 points in 26 trips across halfcourt
CJ Miles and Ronnie Brewer were amazing.
CJ is showing flashes of being a really nice player. He has added a dribble drive to his 3 point shot.
CJ defending Salmons very well in the quarter
The Jazz forced a ton of turnovers which lead to a highlight show on the fastbreak.
The best of the best was Deron leading a break looks behind him sees CJ and left it high off the glass for CJ to finish.
The Jazz energy out of the half was great.
Memo started it hitting a few shots and Miller missed for the Kings on three in a row and it was a 9-0 run. Theus timeout did nothing and as coach said to me the Kings lost concentration.
Deron was great as you anticipate with super passes to a cutting Ronnie Brewer.
Deron has 15 assists, Memo has 20 points and 12 rebounds.
4th Quarter Jazz 120 Kings 94
This game ended in the 3rd quarter. Jazz hammer the Kings and run away with blowout win.
The Utah Jazz came through with a 117-100 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday night. Take a listen to what the players and coaches had to say about the victory, having Deron Williams back on the floor and the sense of urgency to get a win after the loss on Monday.
Carlos Boozer, Brevin Knight, Kyle Korver and Jeron Collins are all out for tonights game against the Memphis Grizzlies. Matt Harpring is doubtful. Deron Williams is listed at a game time decision but is expexcted to start. For more on the Utah Jazz listen to Powerhouse at 1pm and Locked on Sports starting at 3pm.
Listen to what coaches and players had to say about tonight's game and having Deron back in the lineup.
The difference from last year to this year in Ronnie Brewer’s shooting percentage is startling. In his breakout year last season Brewer shot 56% from the field. This year he has shoot 44%.
More striking is how he shows in the Locke Offensive Rating, a Rating system that values the efficiency of a possession as well as the ability to get a shot off. An average offensive player ranks as a 10; a really strong offensive player breaks 20 and a star gets over 25. A replacement level, or D-League player, is at zero
Last season Ronnie Brewer was at 25.6 or top 25 in the NBA. This season he is a -.9 or slightly below replacement level.
So what has happened?
First he is taking different shots. Last season, Brewer used 6% of his possessions to shot a three (he shot 50 all season). This year he is shooting 12% of his possessions as a three (he has shot 25). Last season, Brewer went to the free throw line, 14% of his possessions this year it is down to 9%.
This is a very disturbing trend.
There are two explanations and one is acceptable the other is a very bad sign for the Jazz.
With the injuries to Deron and Carlos, Ronnie has been unable to play off other people the same way he did a year ago. Therefore, he is not getting as many back door cuts or baskets off other people action. In addition, the rotation change of AK coming off the bench has put a less good passer in CJ Miles on the floor.
Moreover, with the injuries Brewer has been asked to shoulder a larger role on the offense that he may not be ready for at this stage of his career. The numbers clearly show he is not.
The other scenario that is daunting for the Jazz is that in effort to expand his game and become a more marketable (read profitable) player in the NBA Brewer has changed his game. His efforts to expand his shooting range and improve his jump shoot have changed his on floor desires.
The answer will come as the Jazz return to full strength and Brewer is asked to assume his previous role.
The Utes have three potential destinations and about a dozen possible opponents. Meanwhile, the Las Vegas Bowl can do the right thing, or the fiscally responsible thing. Read DJ's blog...
Now that the season is over, what areas are the '08 Utes better than the '04 Utes? Plus, Dave and Alema talk about other great college football stories that never surfaced because of the BYU and Utah success. It's all on the Best of Powerhouse!!!
The Utah Jazz look to move on from their 101-100 loss to the Bulls last night as they get ready for the Grizzlies. Hear what the coaches and players had to say about trying to play with different guys on the floor every night and what they expect to improve on in the near future.
Injury Report:
Collins (elbow): Did not practice (Out)
Korver (wrist): Out of practice, improving, (Game Time Decision)
Boozer (quad tendon): Did not practice (Doubtful)
Knight (finger): Did not practice (Doubtful)
Williams (ankle): Did practice (Game Time Decision)
Harpring (back): Left the team to get treatment on his back. (Doubtful)
Larry Hughes silenced the Energy Solutions Arena crowd with a 23 foot fadeaway that hit bottom as time expired on Monday night to give the Bulls a 101-100 victory over the Utah Jazz. Listen in on what the coaches and players had to say about the finish to the game, the bizarre situation with a shot clock that didn't work and whether or not there is any kind of rhythm or flow with the Jazz right now.
David Locke and Coach Tom Nissalke
Back in the spring, walking to the parking lot adjacent a ballfield, Kyle Whittingham exuded a quiet confidence about the upcoming football season.
The
Let the other guys speak freely of it, to the point of splattering a cute phrase across T-shirts. In his mind, with all the talent situated perfectly in place, 12-0 was a strong possibility.
As it turns out, as they showed all season, anything is possible with these Utes. Comfortable in watching the attention divert other ways, Whittingham was right all along.
With 12-0 graduating from possibility to reality,
The thinking goes that athletic teams, especially in college football, take on the personality of the head coach. Whittingham is a scrapper, the kind of coach who refuses to show weakness even in the face of adversity.
Only 13 months ago, the Utes were in the depths of despair. As the team flew home following a humiliating defeat to UNLV, which dropped the team to 1-3, Whittingham took inventory of his program.
Since then, the Utes have won 20 of 21 games. And they’ve done it without any bold declarations.
Maybe an incidental shot or two, but no declarations.
“This quest – well, I guess quest is the wrong word – this journey started way back [with] the UNLV game last year,” Whittingham said. “That’s when it started. This team has had a mindset that has been tough as nails since that point in time.”
Narrow wins over
Without a doubt, this team is the best the Mountain West has seen since Urban Meyer stormed his way to the Fiesta Bowl in the 2004 season. Even BYU’s two-year conference run of 16-0 is not as impressive as what
It seemed as if the Utes toyed with BYU. The overmatched Cougars put up a decent fight, pulling to within 27-24 in the third quarter, but
There’s a specific reason why quarterback Max Hall suffered through the worst game of his career. His five interceptions and one fumble didn’t happen by accident.
“Tonight, Utah was the better football team,” said BYU receiver Austin Collie, who stood in front of the media as Utah hecklers shouted out his name and references to the infamous “magic happens” comments he made after the Cougars stunned the Utes at LaVell Edwards Stadium.
“You’ve got to give it up to
Like always, Collie – who extended his streak of at least 100 receiving yards speaks the truth from his perspective. Only a fool would not respect him.
And only a fool wouldn’t respect
“
In defeat, the Cougars obviously can point to the turnovers. Hall picked the most inopportune time to struggle. But he was quick to praise the Utes, in particular defensive end Paul Kruger, who stunned Hall with an interception.
Except for one ball that bounced off tight end Andrew George’s leg, the others were great defensive plays.
“Their defense played outstanding,” Hall said. “They caused me a lot of trouble.”
For its part, BYU demonstrated class in losing – something that can’t be said for a low number of
Except for a few instances, notably when linebacker Stevenson Sylvester and safety Robert Johnson approached the Cougars as they did the pregame Haka dance, the game was relatively clean. The biggest trash talking incident was aired early in the game, when Kruger said in an ESPN interview that he didn’t like BYU’s attitude.
“I don’t like their attitude sometimes, too,” said BYU defensive end Jan Jorgensen.
Jazz guard Kyle Korver underwent another MRI today on his injured right wrist today. It was confirmed that it is just a sprained right wrist. He will miss tonight's game, but is listed as day-to-day for the near future.
Dave and Alema take reaction to the BYU/Utah game on Saturday. Was BYU out of line before and after the game? Also, Chuck Swarski from ESPN Radio 1000 in Chicago joined the show to preview the Bulls and Jazz tonight. It's all on the Best of Powerhouse!!!
Utah Montage "Clawing for that inch"
As expected, Monday morning’s e-mail came in volumes. And as always, it is entertaining to read all the different perspectives. It’s always fun to get called a Ute or Couger homer in the same show.
Listeners hear what they want to hear, no doubt. But we love the feedback, no matter the slant.
Here’s a sampling of the e-mail:
Comments: Brian Johnson was absolutely terrible about 40% of the time this season. Austin Collie was absolutely fantastic every game. He contributed every week. Yeah, he dropped a few, but he made the big plays and was the best. If not him as offensive MVP, then Louis Sukoda, not Johnson.
Way to read an email that is five mintutes old on the air, despite the typos. Also, you need new pictures on the website. Those shots do not represent well the man who is PK. - Darren
Comments: PK. We need to be lobbying not to play BSU in a bowl game. If we want to break up the BCS system, that last thing we need is to have two of the top for non-BCS teams playing each other. That should be a strictly prohibited practice in the "Let's break up the BCS" coalition. We need to play BCS teams, even if it's just
And there is no question about the fact that Collie is/should be MWC offensive player of the year. #1 receiver in the nation. - Darren
A couple quick thoughts:
1. This MWC season came down to home games -- the top 3 teams were clearly Utah, TCU, and BYU -- and all won their home head-to-head games. BYU played both on the road and lost both.
2. Brian Johnson is 21-4 the past two year. Max Hall is also 21-4. And he's a Junior coming back next year. He'll be the better QB when it's all said and done. (He had 1,000 more yards, and more than twice the TDs as BJ even this year.)
3. So much for the Ute defense being the greatest thing since the '85 Bears. Collie got his 100+, Unga got his 100+, and BYU outgained the Utes. Turnovers were the key. Give credit to the Utes for causing them, BUT they didn't stop the BYU offense from moving the ball. Hall needs more poise, and he'll have it as a senior.
4. Finally, I hope we get to see
Comments: Hey Guys,
UteThunder here to collect my kudos. Before the season started I emailed you guys and said there was no way BYU would go undefeated this year. I was right. I said they would lose at least two games(most likely @ TCU and @ Utah). I was right. I said
I’m off!
Go Utes!!!!!!!!!!!! - Mike
Dear PK,
I’m the guy with the kidney stone dilemma and asked for your advice about whether or not to sell my tickets. Thank you so very much for your inspired advice. I felt great after the surgery and indeed went to the game. My wife and I were at the game 2 hours early and left 1 hour after the game. It was a surreal night. I am very thankful to be a Ute today. I am very thankful for others that share their wisdom (PK), but I am mostly thankful for Max Hall.
Go Utes!!!!!!!!!!!!!
“it’s not a quest for us, it’s just what we do. 12-0” - Scott
Comments: I just want to say that your line of questioning at the end of the game when talking to the BYU players was pathetic and disgraceful. You were trying to bait these kids and worse yet you kicked them when they were down. Your disappointment over the outcome was quite obvious and you were trying to bait these kids in to dishing out a few cheap shots. Fortunately most of the Cougars were not willing to stoop to your level.
Except for the Jan Jorgensen quote you used in your blog. Of course you left out the rest of his comments in which he admitted the season was NOT a success, seeing as the Cougars failed at accomplishing their goals. He was the only Cougar who told it like it was, he was the only Cougar that gave the Utes their due credit and he was the only Cougar who told the TRUTH in his interview. And you, being the selfish media guy you are, used his one quote - a quote you baited out of him when he was at a low point - that was a bit tasteless.
Speaking of your blog, are you really so blind to think that the Cougars were graceful in defeat? Come on Mr. BYU "Insider", even the Provo Daily Herald admitted they were disrespectful in the fact that they refused to give the Utes credit for beating them; they would only imply that they played horribly and NOT that the Utes MADE them play that way. The only Cougar that did give the Utes the credit they deserve was Jorgensen and you made him look just as classless as the rest of them.
You should take this loss like a man and not bait these kids just so you can get a small taste of redemption and a sound bite to make your column or blog intruiging (which is the real motivation we all know). I never would have accused you of having much integrity but you have totally erased any shred of respect I had left for you. - Jake
Comments: PK
I just watched this from my living room and so you would have a better vantage than I did, but it seemed like in the end of the 3rd quarter and 4th quarter, Max Hall was trying to throw into windows that didn't exist. It looked like he was trying to force things. Part of it was the defensive scheme that he was looking at but some of it appeared to be him just trying to do too much on his own. Let me know your feelings - Brian
Click here for David Locke's in Game thougths on BYU v. Utah. A game he thinks was closer than the score.
“We are the ‘08 - 09 Utes, and we want to show everybody that we are the new team to talk about, you know what I’m saying. Put ‘04 to bed.”
Those are the words of Ute cornerback Sean Johnson after Utah dispatch BYU 48 - 24. Words that mark, in many ways, a culmination for Head Coach Kyle Whittingham and this Utah team.
A culmination that results in a 12 - 0 record, a conference title, and a 2nd BCS birth.
Coach Whittingham said the journey truly began last year as a defeated Utah team walked off the field in Las Vegas having been beat 27 - 0.
Since that loss, the Utes have only suffered 1 other, to BYU. 20 wins, 1 loss.
That loss to BYU last year has been the only speed bump, and now it too has been avenged.
Tonight victory announced to the Conference that there is a new sheriff in town. While the Cougars may have dominated the MWC over the past two years, they have now been surpassed.
And the Utes in some ways have the Cougars to thank for that.
“Everybody talked about how explosive BYU’s offense was, and how inconsistent we were through the entire year.” Ute QB Brian Johnson said, “We wanted to come out and show people that when we put it together we can be pretty good.”
Johnson called it a “personal challenge”. He, and this Ute team, had been paying attention to how the spotlight was shining on BYU up until the TCU loss. Paying attention to Max Hall and how he was getting a lot of press. And tonight was their night to make sure there was no mistake who was the best team in the conference.
It also was just as it has been all season long. Since that UNLV game, Kyle Whittingham has made it his goal that his teams were prepared for every week, and that every week was no more important that the last or the next. This was evident this week, as there was not gag order. No short media availability. And Coach Whittingham challenged reporters when they asked about why not make changes for rivalry week.
“Do you know a better way of getting a team prepared?,” is the question he asked.
Brian Johnson was the definition of prepared tonight. Johnson said that there was nothing that BYU’s defense put out on the field that he hadn’t seen on film this week. Johnson said at times he felt he knew what they (the BYU defense) was going to do before they did.
It showed. To the tune of 30 for 36 (83% completion rate).
Tonight’s win did something more. It can now quiet all those (myself included) who continued to question. The offense was not good enough. It was tonight and has been good enough all season to be undefeated. Continue to question that, and you are not that bright. It is good enough.
Maybe one other thing that tonight’s game did, is put notice on BYU. While your system of recruiting has worked in the MWC to this point, it may not in the future. BYU is going to need to have more athletes to keep pace with the TCU’s and Utah’s who both have put a focus on recruiting athletes with speed.
Now the question is where will the Utes end up after New Years. Most indications point to the Sugar Bowl, but maybe, just maybe if what Coach Whittingham calls the “perfect storm” happens, the Utes could end up with a chance to compete for a National Championship.
A pipe dream? Brian Johnson doesn’t think so, “Why not,” he said after the game, “Obviously I think we are talented enough. I do think we have proven to be an elite team in this country. We’ve beat 3 ranked teams. I think the resume is there for it.”
The Jazz looked much better on the back side of the back to back road trip as they defeated the Memphis Grizzlies 103-94. If you missed the game hear post game interviews below from some of the players. The Jazz will face the Chicago Bulls Monday night.
Brian Johnson completes 83% of his passes, while the Ute defense created 6 turnovers on their way to a 48 - 24 win over BYU at Rice-Eccles Stadium. With the win the Utes clinch the outright Mountain West Conference Championship, an undefeated regular season, and a likely BCS Bowl birth. Click on the names below to here post game comments.
Brian Johnson, Paul Kruger & Robert Johnson
Patrick Kinahan was in Rice Eccles Stadium after BYU was handed a 48-24 loss. PK was able to catch up with the players and the coaches. Click on the following names to hear the interviews:
This is a live game blog. Hit refresh and most current entry will appear at top.
8:00 4th - Utah 41 BYU 24
And it's over. Sean Smith breaks on a ball and picks off Max Hall. That would be Hall's 4th of the day.
Check back after the game for the finish of live blog, and post game interviews and blogs from myself and PK.
12:00 4th - Utah 40 BYU 24
I had mentioned Gary Anderson pulling out all the tricks on the defensive side of the ball. Max Hall just threw his 3rd INT of the game, this one to Paul Kruger who dropped into coverage from his defensive end position, and stepped in front of a Hall pass across the middle of the field.
All that stood in front of Kruger and the pick 6 was the 5-yard line which tripped him up.
Matt Asiata comes in and throws a 4-yard pass to Chris Joppru in the back of the endzone.
You are beginning to get a sense that this one is over.
14:31 4th - Utah 34 BYU 24
Ask and ye shall recieve. Utah throws the ball 4 straight times coming out of the quarter break. Four throws, 4 completions, 31 yards. Touchdown.
Brian Johnson has an 80% completion rate. Why would you run the ball? BYU cannot stop the Utah passing game. Each time a drive has stalled, it has been because the play calling has been switched to add a couple of run plays.
End of 3rd - Utah 27 BYU 24
While BYU’s offense seems to have figured out the Utah defense over the past 3 drives, Robert Johnson comes up with a big play to end the latest Cougar scoring drive and preserving the lead.
Johnson, playing center field reading Hall’s eyes, comes across the field and makes a very athletic interception. After a review, the play is upheld. (Of 4 reviews, all have gone Utah’s way.)
On the following BYU drive, Max Hall fumbles and Utah recovers. Turnovers are the only reason right now that Utah has a lead.
But the Utah offense has once again stalled. Since half the Utes are still 4 and 5 wide, but have decided to run more of a spread option running attack. Which isn’t attacking too much. On 11 offensive plays in the 3rd quarter, the Utes have run 5 and passed 6. The runs have gone for + 3 yards, passes for 44. You’ve had your success with the quick passes and spreading it out. Andy Ludwig, forget the quota of run plays and put it in the air.
6:46 3rd - Utah 27 BYU 24
Gary Anderson has it working. Twists, fake blitz, slants, 2 man rushes, and zone blitzes. Utah is throwing it all at the BYU offense, and it seems to be working.
Max Hall is now feeling pressure, but not always sure where it’s coming from. And he’s also seeing his passing lanes get shut off by the hands of Ute linemen (they have batted down 5 balls thus far).
Yet as it was in the first half, just when the Ute defense would seem to fluster the Cougs, they would settle down and begin to move the ball down the field. This time, Dennis Pitta’s first catch of the game sparked the beginning of the drive. Then a couple of hard runs by Fui Vakapuna got a couple of first downs.
Then after another Brice McCain pass interference call, Max Hall finishes the drive by himself running it in from 11-yards out.
Halftime - Utah 27 BYU 17
Momentum is a funny thing. The Utes have it early as they seemingly stroll down the field and score on their 3 possessions.
Then BYU seems to capture it as they catch up to BYU as Max Hall is given time to sit in the pocket and find an open man.
17 - 17
Then it shifts back to Utah. After a 3 and out on offense, and a BYU score, the Utes come out and again move the ball down field but stumble at the end of the drive (as for some unforeseen reason, Andy Ludwig decided to go back to 3 wide with 2 backs and 4 straight run plays) and once again Louie Sakoda is called on and the Utes squeak ahead by 3.
Then the Ute defense comes alive getting pressure on Max Hall. Max Hall, under pressure, is intercepted by Joe Dale. After the INT, Hall gets into a shoving match with a Ute and gets a personal foul. So with under a minute left the Utes drive down and Brian Johnson hits David Reed for a 32 yard TD pass.
Utes back up by 10.…27 - 17.
The Utes have scored on all but one drive. And for the most part have stuck to a game plan of spreading the field with 4 and 5 wide, and allowing receivers to find holes in the zone defense. They are eating up the Cougar zone with crossing routes over the middle with Freddie Brown and Brent Casteel.
Defensively, Brice McCain needs help. He is getting isolated by the Cougars no matter who he is covering. It is almost as if Max Hall is getting to the line of scrimmage, finding McCain and throwing his way. And to this point it has been successful.
STATS -
Brian Johnson 21/25 for 228 and 2 TD’s
David Reed, Freddie Brown, and Brent Casteel are all over 50 yards receiving.
Utes Total Offense - 43 plays 286
BYU Total Offense - 30 plays 194
Neither team is really having a lot of success on the ground. Utah 58 rushing yards, BYU 85.
6:26 2nd - Utah 17 BYU 17
Brice McCain must hate playing BYU. First is was his old friend Austin Collie that was able to make a couple of plays against him. So Gary Anderson switches it up. Puts Sean Smith on Collie and moves McCain over to cover Micheal Reed, who promptly makes a great catch over him. Then McCain gets a pass interference call on him as he was once again covering Reed. That put the ball at the 2-yard line, where BYU scored on the next play with a direct snap to Unga.
The Ute defense is now struggling to slow down the Cougars. Max Hall is getting time. Kruger has batted down a couple of passed, but Hall has yet to really feel any pressure. Not a good sign for Ute fans.
9:00 2nd - Utah 17 BYU 10
You didn't think that the Utes were just going to run away with the game did you?
BYU's offense found a rythmn on a couple of plays made by Harvey Unga. One being a touchdown run, where Unga got the left corner and was untouched going into the endzone.
The drive began with Austin Collie beating up on Brice McCain for a couple of plays, but the Utes switched and put Sean Smith on him who gave him no room to get off the line.
The Utah offense then came on the field and looked like the offense that has driven the Ute fans crazy by going 3 and out going away from the style of play that had them clicking earlier.
End of 1st - Utah 10 BYU 3
The Utah offense is moving the ball at a pace that is wearing out the BYU defense. All but 3 plays were run out of 4 or 5 wide sets. All were ran out of a shot gun formation, and the Utes mixed in a bit of no huddle. This has kept the BYU defense on their heels. It has also resulted in positive yards on all but 4 plays. It has also not allowed BYU to put together a blitz. I have only seen 1 blitz to this point.
Brian Johnson, by my count, has passed for 143 and has only 3 incompletions. He is doing a fantastic job of eating the BYU zone up.
8:27 1st - Utah 3 BYU 3
That didn’t take long. The Utes offense did a good job of spreading the field on a 12 play drive. Of the 12 plays, 10 were out of 4 or 5 wide sets. And they seemed to move the ball at will.
The bad news. The drive stalled at the 20, and they had to settle for a Louie Sakoda field goal.
The defense holds BYU to a 3 and out….Bad news…Austin Collie returned the kick to the Utah 30, so the Cougars get a field goal. Tied ball game.
Pregame Activieties...No Haka.
Well there it is. The Ute team comes onto the field as the Cougars attempt the Haka. As officials, and coaches separate the BYU team is unable to haka. Love a rivalry.
Pregame Thoughts
RICE-ECCLES STADIUM - With all the busyness that goes on all week leading up to the actual game, I somewhat lost track of the intensity that the rivalry brings to fans, players and all involved. So many interviews. So many angles. So much minutia that I forgot how fun the game actually is.
Then I got up this morning and turned on ESPN Gameday (sorry Mtn. it’s “Live at the Stadium” doesn’t quite cut it), and watched some of the pregame confrontations at the Ohio St./Michigan, and West Virginia/Louisville games, and I flashed back to Utah players getting worked up over the BYU Haka. At that time it hit me. Today is the most intense game that I’m going to get to cover this year. And then the excitement kicked in and I couldn’t get to the stadium fast enough. (I’m only 3 hours early.)
So what do we expect to see today?
While the past three games have all come down to the difference of 1 play, I see today differently. This game is not going to be as close as many have predicted it to be. Let’s face it, Utah is deeper and has more athletes top to bottom then BYU does.
Now before Cougar fans get all worked up, think about it. How many Cougars would start on the Utah team. I count 5 (Max Hall, Austin Collie, Dennis Pitta, Jan Jorgenson, and Dennis Nixon). Outside those 5, I’ll take the athleticism of the Utes. They are faster and more athletic than their Cougar counterparts. And that spells success for the Utes.
That being said, it doesn’t guarantee victory for Utah. It’s still the rivalry game, and crazy things happen.
If the Ute defense cannot put pressure on Max Hall and he can hit Austin Collie and Dennis Pitta/Andrew George on a consistent basis the Utes cannot outscore a BYU offense clicking on all cylinders.
So here are the keys to the game -
- The Utes are just as fast and athletic as TCU is on the front four. That spells trouble for the Cougars. But, the front four needs to be able to put the pressure on Max Hall for the most part by themselves. While the Utes will blitz, they can’t rely on it down after down to create pressure. The linebackers are going to be needed in helping with coverage on Max Hall and Dennis Pitta.
- Brian Johnson needs to be consistent, again. We’ve seen the consistency from Johnson in games against SDSU, and CSU but this is BYU and he needs to be consistently good for the whole game. Not allowing sacks, INT’s, and avoiding 3 and outs.
- Spread the field. David Locke has documented in his “Rivalry Magna Carta” that Utah has a lot of success when spreading the field out with 5 wide and an empty backfield. Out of this formation the Utes are putting athlete on athlete, and as stated before, I’ll take the Utes. They also have a lot of options. Direct snaps to Brian Johnson, Matt Asiata, or Corbin Louks and letting them run or throw.
- Don’t allow BYU touchdowns. Improbable, yes. I’m pretty sure BYU will move the ball. But the Ute defense needs to force field goals inside the red zone not touchdown.
Prediction - Like I said, I don’t see it as close as everyone else. BYU is a much poorer team on the road. Utah has more athletes. Utah gets the win 34 - 23.
Third Quarter
Somewhere, Mark Eaton must be smiling. With 9:12 left in the quarter,
But Hall put together a gutty, 83-yard touchdown drive that pulled the Cougars to within 27-24 with 6:46 left in the quarter. Hall scored on a designed draw that went for 11 yards.
On a third-and-10 deep in BYU territory, Dennis Pitta hauled in a 16-yard pass for his first reception of the game.
Props to BYU’s defense for forcing
On the ensuing possession, Hall lofted an ill-advised pass that Robert Johnson intercepted. From my view in the press box, it was clear that
Hall again blew it with a fumble on the next possession.
If the Cougars didn't commit those two turnovers, they probably would have the lead going into the fourth quarter. But if the queen had 'em, she'd be king.
Second Quarter
Max Hall owes his team an apology. Besides throwing an interception late in the first half, he made a bonehead play by getting a personal foul on a cheapshot.
The Utes then went three plays to score a touchdown that put them up 27-17. David Reed beat Brandon Bradley on a 32-yard pass.
Austin Collie ought to stand for the team at halftime and call out Hall, who screwed up big-time in a close game. There’s no excuse for his behavior.
Hall got hot early in the quarter, as BYU got a much-needed touchdown. The Cougars went 68 yards in seven plays, consisting mostly of short passes.
BYU caught a break when Paul Kruger was offsides on a play in which Hall got sacked. You catch Kruger on ESPN Game Day this morning? In an all access interview Kruger said he didn’t like BYU’s attitude. Nice generalization.
This game has the feel of 2006, when the favored Cougars started quick and then the Utes caught up. Same thing here, as BYU has tied the game at 17-17.
After looking awful in the first quarter, BYU forced Utah into a three-and-out with the Utes leading 17-3.
The Cougars then went 75 yards in nine plays, capped by a trick play. With Max Hall barking signals as we walked toward the sideline behind the line of scrimmage, Harvey Unga took the direct snap and rumbled 2 yards into the end zone.
The drive’s big plays included Hall’s 30-yard pass to Mike Reed, who beat Brice McCain. Three plays later, on a third-and-10, McCain was called for interference on Reed inside Utah’s 5-yard line.
Remember my earlier comment a “BCS call” in which a BYU administrator complained about Andrew George’s holding penalty? How about the personal foul call on safety Andrew Rich when Utah faced a second-and-14?
This is football, fellas, let ‘em play.
Utah’s offensive staff had a brain cramp on the drive that ended in Louis Sakoda’s 35-yard field goal. Instead of sticking with the deadly short passes, the Utes got stuffed on two running plays.
Hey Utes, get over the friggin’ Haka.
Once again, the boys in red took exception when the Cougars began their silly pregame dance. As BYU began to boogie, linebacker Stevenson Sylvester and defensive back Robert Johnson stood right behind the dance line.
Within seconds,
My question: Why would a pointless dance make the Utes so jealous?
Now, on to the game.