Utah Football 2014 Spring Wrap Up.

Strengths & question marks coming out of spring

Spring practice didn’t answer a lot of questions for Utah, just based on some injuries to some key players, as well as the program awaits some additions in the fall.

With that said one thing we learned about the team is that there is some serious depth at running back. There could be easily four contributing running backs next season. I believe JC transfer, Devontae Booker, will ascend to the top spot on the depth chart. He’s got a dangerous combination of speed and strength.

Following Booker, will be last years top back Bubba Poole, who is dangerous in space, as well as Troy McCormick. McCormick is a 4.3, 40-yard guy out of Houston, Texas. He may be the most dangerous of the crew, just based on his speed.

The weakness, at least until proven otherwise, is offensive line. Little do people probably realize, is that Utah has a lot of speed and talent at the skill positions. See Dres Anderson, one of the top wide receivers in the Pac-12, who had over 1,000 yards receiving last year.

However, due to the serious inconstancy of the o-line, Utah hasn’t been able to protect the quarterback, which has lead to season and career ending injuries to the Ute starting QB in 2012 and 2013. In 2012 Utah was derailed when starting QB, Jordan Wynn’s career came to an end after a brutal performance by Utah’s offensive line.

Last season, Travis Wilson was knocked out for the season, and later revealed possibly his career, because the offensive line couldn’t close the swinging gate that the left side became. There is depth and skill at the position, it’s just so young and needs to be coached up by new o-line coach, Jim Harding.

Name a few breakout players to keep an eye on in 2014

Offensively it’s got to be either Devontae Booker or Troy McCormick, for the reasons I previously mentioned.

Defensively, I’d say watch out for Tevin Carter. Carter is a JC safety that should have been on campus last year, but due to academic issues wasn’t able to show up until this spring. He’s now a one to play one kid, but the coaches think he will slide in day one and be at the top of the depth chart. A ball hawking safety that loves to hit, and he may solidify that defensive secondary, along with Miami transfer Gionni Paul.

Grade each position group

QB – Incomplete

I know, incomplete isn’t really a grade, but there are a lot of factors going on at QB. Yes, Travis Wilson was cleared to practice this spring, after a possible career ending brain injury last season. But he wasn’t able to do anything football related for almost five months. You could tell he was still getting the feel for quarterbacking back. He started to get more comfortable as the spring went along. Not to forget, Wilson is yet to be 100% cleared to play full contact football. We should get that final ruling in July, which is expected to be positive. If he doesn’t pass, his career is likely over.

Behind Wilson there is an extremely talented redshirt freshman, Conner Manning. Manning is a pure passer, and he broke all of Matt Barkley’s high school records in Southern California. He has great pocket presence, throws a gorgeous football, and gets it out quick. He’s just never seen live action.

And the wildcard this fall is Kendall Thompson, a transfer from Oklahoma. Thompson was considered to be the front runner to start for OU last fall, until an injury. He eventually got so far down the depth chart he decided to transfer after graduating, making him eligible this fall.

RB – A

Like I stated above. There is a lot of talent, and a lot of different skill set. This crew is the reason Utah will be a run first offense this coming season.

WR – C+

Dres Anderson is proven, and seems to be improving. Behind him Kenneth Scott is the number two, coming off of only playing one series last year, before breaking his leg. Scott may be the best pure wide receiver on the team, based off of speed, size, and the ability to make the tough catch.

Behind those two there is no proven depth. There are a lot of potentially young talent on the roster, especially with Dominique Hatfield and Brian Allen making big plays in spring. The number three spot may be reserved for Kaelin Clay, a blazing fast JC transfer. Wesley Tonga, a great tight end, should play a big role in the receiving game as well.

OL – C

There was a coaching change at this position, and there has been some reshuffling of positions along the line. I’m optimistic for improvement here, I just want to see it. When all five possible starting lineman played together in the spring, the run blocking was good, the pass blocking needed a little work. There was a lot of mixing and matching in the spring, which is expected. There are more offensive linemen in the program then ever before, they just need to find the right combination.

DL/LB – Incomplete

I’m giving incomplete at both these positions as well. Most of the DL didn’t play spring. Traditionally, Utah has one of the best d-line’s out there. With pass rush specialist defensive end Nate Orchard returning, that is a good building block, but it’s about the other three guys that are lining up with him. I’m not too concerned here at all, just based off of a decade of d-line excellence at Utah.

Linebackers were decimated by injury this spring. Jacoby Hale, a pass rush specialist tore his ACL, and Gionni Paul had to have foot surgery. Paul could be a program defining player. He has rallied this team unlike any player I’ve ever seen at Utah, especially since he’s only been on campus since before this last season. We really have no idea what to expect out of the linebackers at this point, especially since they had to move a running back, Marcus Sanders-Williams, to linebacker in the last couple weeks of spring.

Secondary – B

Secondary looks improved. Most of the secondary returns this season, with a year of experience under their belts. You can tell that they are getting comfortable, because now when they run with their man, they are now looking for the ball to make a play. With the return of former freshman All-America, Brian Blechen at safety, with the addition of Tevin Carter, safety may be in as good of shape as we’ve in a few years.

Eric Rowe, another former freshman All-American, may be making the move to corner, where Utah has put the most into the NFL over the Kyle Whittingham era. If Rowe adapts to corner, which it sounds like he is, there is another 6’ 4’’ menace for wide outs to worry about. The key is to find the corner on the other side of the field, and it sounds like there is a battle between Reggie Porter and Davion Orphey for that position.

ST – A

Utah may have the best tandem of kickers in the country. Andy Phillips showed he has extended his range by kicking an almost 60-yard field goal in a scrimmage. Anytime you can get to about the 30-yard line and basically guarantee three points, that is a major advantage for the offense.

Tom Hackett, the Aussie, can place the ball anywhere he wants on the field with the rugby style punt.
Where Utah needs to improve from last season in ST is kick coverage, and with Andy Phillips now showing a stronger leg, I don’t see this as a problem.

What can we expect from Utah in 2014? 

In 2014 we can expect Utah to be better, IF the offensive line comes together and protects the quarterback. People forget that Utah jumped out to a 4-2 start last year, beating number # 5 Stanford, and were a dropped interception away from starting 5-1. After that start the o-line crumbled and down went Travis Wilson, making for a difficult last six games for Utah.

With the change at OC brining in Dave Christensen (former Mizzou OC), the offense is faster and more detail oriented. If the o-line does their job, the QB can stay upright and healthy, giving him time to get the ball to the playmakers. If the o-line is similar to the last two years, we may see the same results of being home in December, especially with such a brutal schedule in 2014.

My prediction for 2014 – as of NOW… 7-5. Utah should jumped out to a 3-1 or a 4-0 start in 2014. The key is the Michigan game in Ann Arbor. I think the Big-10 is vastly over rated, but the Big House effect could swing that game. The brutal stretch that Utah has to weather is @UCLA, @Oregon State, home against USC, @ASU, home against Oregon, and @Stanford. If Utah can pull off two of those games, they’ll be in great shape.

It will be a tough 2014, but the roster is finally filling out with Pac-12 talent type players, it’s now time for them to perform. The difference from the 5-7 to an 8-4 in 2013 was only a couple of plays, they only lost by a combined 11 points in those games. Most of which were on the final play of the game.

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Shane Roberts of Block U provided the information for our Utah Football 2014 Spring Wrap Up. For more Utah  football information, commentary and analysis, you can follow Shane on Twitter @BlockU.

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