Tres Llaves: 3 Keys to a Utah Victory over Arizona State

Today's tilt against the Arizona State Sun Devils will likely paint a nice picture for how the University of Utah Utes will fair their sophomore season in the Pac 12. The loss the Arizona State last year was the second loss of a brutal 4-game Pac 12 losing streak for Utah. A win today, on the road no less, would show marked improvement over that 2011 team. A loss would lead one to believe that matching last year's 4-5 Pac 12 record is more likely than not.

The 3 keys to a Utah win today in Tempe. (What's with the way people pronounce Tempe? Where is the accent supposed to go? I have heard it said in which the first syllable holds the accent and also in which the second receives the emphasis. Is this one of the those regional pride things?)

1. The Offensive Line. BYU has a good defense. Utah's offensive line held against the stalwart Cougar defense for most of the game. Yes, Jon Hays took some shots, but some of that can be attributed to his own actions (holding onto the ball too long, rolling out of the pocket, etc.). Sure, the running game was atrocious, but holes were opened up that a healthy John White IV may have been able to exploit. If the offensive line can improve upon their performance of last week against one of the best defenses in the country, it bodes well for Utah chances against a less-proven defensive side. This segues nicely to....

2. John White IV's health. Maybe I have not looked hard enough, but I cannot find a definitive answer as to whether he is playing or not against the Sun Devils. I suppose that with the recent ballyhoo over injury reports in the Pac 12, I shouldn't be surprised. Regardless, if he is able to play effectively, it is a boon for Utah. The inexperience of Jerrell Oliver, Lucky Radley, and Kelvin York showed against the BYU defense. I feel that a healthy John White would have been able to gain crucial yards in last week's Rivalry game, particularly when Utah was trying to close the game out. White was at his best in the fourth quarter of games last year. If White's work on the ground is able to force Arizona State to respect the run, that will take the pressure off of...

3. Jon "The Sweeper" Hays. I have already documented the high hopes I have for Jon Hays. His performance against BYU was a textbook "The Sweeper" performance. He made plays when needed to and overall his performance was overshadowed just enough for it to be a secondary topic of post-game discussions. Most importantly, he did not turn the ball over. This is what Utah needs Jon Hays to do. Clean up the occasional mess (a 3rd and long situation) and to not create any messes of his own (fumbles and interceptions). Jon Hays struggled mightily against the Sun Devils last year. His three interceptions were part of five total turnovers for Utah that day. Hays has come a long way since his first start as a FBS quarterback against ASU in 2011. If he plays mistake-free football and converts the occasional 3rd and long pass, I like Utah's chances.

Honorable Mention: The defensive front seven of Utah. If they are able to put pressure on ASU's sophomore quarterback Taylor Kelly early and often, it could create the all-important turnover. I truly feel that the ability to put pressure on the quarterback will be key for Utah success for the balance of the season. Look at what Stanford was able to do against then #2 USC when they applied pressure to then-Heisman-frontrunner Matt Barkley. Pressure the quarterback, win games.

It is interesting how one win can completely change the outlook of a season. Following the loss the Utah State, Utah was seemingly on life support. The win over the BYU changed that outlook simply because it showed that Utah's offensive line was improving, their QB situation is likely better with Jon Hays, and that their defense is about as good as advertised. If Utah is able to get production out of the running game going forward, the prognosis improves even more. Today's game is a significant barometer for expectations the rest of the season.

Prediction:

Utah - 28

ASU - 24

Tragedy and "The Sweeper": Jordan Wynn and Jon Hays

The tragedy of Jordan Wynn.

It has been so long since Jordan Wynn threw his way into our hearts with his MVP performance in the 2009 Poinsetta Bowl. Three shoulder surgeries (with a pending fourth), a top-ten ranking in 2010 (followed by an almost disastrous November), and an unforgettable hair-style later, Wynn is hanging up the cleats. Retirement comes sooner for some.

I am actually very proud of that introduction. At this point in the article, I would begin a narrative of the Jordan Wynn story from his humble beginnings as a 150-pound freshman to his last Napoleonic stand in Logan. Alas, though a player worthy of such an article, I do not wish to discuss Mr. Wynn any further. Instead I wish to focus on his predicted replacement, Jon Hays, a player who I feel has potential to approach legend status in the annals of Utah football and claim a spot in the Brett Ratliff wing of the Utah Football Hall of Fame (especially if he can direct Utah to a victory over BYU).

Jonathan Perry Hays. 6’0” 208 lbs. His story includes being in the situation not in which he was cut from the football team, but in which the football team was cut from him. After a stint at Butte College he anticipated playing for the Nebraska-Omaha Mavericks football team. After receiving word that Nebraska-Omaha was exterminating its football program, Jon Hays began preparing for life without football. His football-less life was almost as short-lived as his time as the Nebraska-Omaha starting QB. It was not too long before he received a call from the man who was instrumental in three Heisman trophy campaigns, Norm Chow. Hays enrolled, thereafter, at the University of Utah.

How Norm Chow or anyone the Utah coaching staff discovered Jon Hays, I have no idea. He joined the team in the summer of 2011. Within a few games, and with very little preparation to be a Division-I quarterback, Hays was called upon to save Utah’s season after the aforementioned Wynn went down with a shoulder injury. A few games into the Jon Hays Era and things were looking bleak for Utah Football, particularly following a punch-less performance against the Cal Bears. Following that loss, Hays' performance improved, he cut down on the turnovers and as a coup de grace on the season, he delivered a bowl-game-saving performance against Georgia Tech. Many a Utah fan remembers the New Year's Eve 4th and 14 pass to Devonte Christopher.

Flash-forward to summer, 2012.

Bowl-game-saving performance aside, Jon Hays found himself in a familiar position--as an afterthought. With Jordan Wynn on the mend, and two new high-profile freshman recruits in the program, Jon Hays was relegated to 4th string. To the coaching staff, Hays had already produced above any expectation that could have been set for him. Like a college textbook, they used him for a semester but kept him on the shelf, just in case. Now, the idea was to keep the ball out of his hands. Here Jon, hold this clipboard. 

The quarterback job opened up considerably as September rolled around. But before the season even started, Chase Hansen went down with an injury and decided to go on an LDS mission. Jordan Wynn lasted almost six quarters before injuring his shoulder and calling it a career. That left Jon Hays, Travis Wilson, and Adam Schulz. Schulz is a walk-on from Wisconsin with little hope of ever entering a live game. Travis Wilson, as it stands, has no FBS starting experience. Jon Hays is a 6 wins and 3 losses Pac-12 quarterback. The case for Hays to take over is strong and the early returns in the loss to Utah State were positive. Yet again, Jon Hays' life took a familiar path to the buttocks of the starting center on the offensive live: from afterthought, hiss and a byword to hero.

If Jon Hays can pull this off again, meaning, go 6-3, it will be the stuff of legend. If he can go 6-3 over the next nine games, that will put Utah at 7-4 going into the pretend Rivalry Game with Colorado. Utah, much like in 2011, should be able to defeat Colorado. Assuming Utah wins in Boulder and improves to 8-4, they will stand one win better than 2011. No small feat. For Hays, he is once again taking the reigns of a wagon from which many have jumped off after proclamations of a 10-win season now seem unattainable. At this point, with injuries on both sides of the ball and an unexpectedly strong Pac-12 South Division, a 4-5 record for Utah in conference is optimistic. This is why I am advocating the bestowal of legend status if Jon Hays is able to surpass optimism and pull off a 6-3 record in 2012. This record would likely mean victories over Arizona, UCLA, BYU, and Arizona State.

If it happens, "it" being a 6-3 record over the next nine games, it will likely be without much fanfare or awarding of accolades for Hays. Each game that Hays runs onto the field for the first offensive series there will be a contingent clamoring for the 6'6" frame of Travis Wilson to be in that spot. The moment Hays makes an errant pass on 3rd down, that contingent will likely swell in number and voice. After each of the predicted three losses there will be calls for "looking toward the future" which is fan-speak for "start the freshman." Wins will be followed by an examination of Hays' limitations rather than his successful management of the game. It would be the most under-appreciated 6 wins in the history of football. Through it all, Hays would remain his unflappable and consistent self. 

When he left the program following this performance, precious few would mourn. The commencement of spring practice would bring no pining for the presence of Jon Hays. He came. He saw. He cleaned up. That's legend.

Now, if legend is too strong of a label to attach to Jon Hays, let me set up something else. A story told by a sales executive was conveyed to me recently. This successful sales executive explained that in many of his previous companies he employed someone called "The Sweeper." It was the job of "The Sweeper" to clean up a territory after the previous salesperson presiding over that territory had been relieved of duty. The Sweeper's job was not glamorous and he was not expected to out-perform the other salespeople in the company. His job was to clean up. Is not this an apropos description of one Jon Hays?

It will be interesting to see how the whole team responds to the suddenly lower expectations. The Sweeper may sweep but if the rest of the team is unable to shoulder their load, a below .500 record is not out of the question.

Though not the same in name, the Seinfeld clip below felt appropriate.

"Jon, this is Kyle."

"Yes?"

"We have a problem."

"I understand. I'll need the offensive line to open holes for John White IV and..."

"Jon, we'll do what we can. I can't exactly promise...."

"If I am curt, then I apologize."

Jon Hays, you're up.