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
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