ASU/Utah

[Tyler]

Man, Utah is not ready for the PAC. With the way we played I expected us to lose. Thankfully their Mid Majorness showed up.. GO DEVILS!!

 

[Mathew81]

Devils D has really turned opportunistic lately. Didn't force any turnovers the first 2 games and 18 in the last 4. Also, Gerrell Robinson was a beast today, finally living up to the hype.

 

[Gaddabout]

Outside of Miles and Pflugard, I think the rest of the ASU receivers had about a 50 lbs. advantage average on Utah DBs -- and not much less against their linebackers. How Oz didn't connect with Willie on the slant about 15 times is beyond me. He was open. Every play.

 

[AzStevenCal]

Man, Utah is not ready for the PAC. With the way we played I expected us to lose. Thankfully their Mid Majorness showed up.. GO DEVILS!!

I don't know about that. I'd say they've been a stronger football program than we have for several years now. We caught them in a down year and in their first game without their starting QB and even still, if it hadn't been for some key turnovers we'd have had our butts kicked. Our defense stepped up big several times today but Utah moved the ball fairly consistently against us.

Steve

 

[Mathew81]

I don't know about that. I'd say they've been a stronger football program than we have for several years now. We caught them in a down year and in their first game without their starting QB and even still, if it hadn't been for some key turnovers we'd have had our butts kicked. Our defense stepped up big several times today but Utah moved the ball fairly consistently against us.

Steve

Don't think that's really accurate. Look at the drives. Only 3 of over 30 yards and one of those needed a fake punt to do it.
http://scores.espn.go.com/ncf/drivechart?gameId=312810254

And it's not like those turnovers were gifts, most were really good plays by the D. Have to give them credit. They're not going to be a stingy defense like the 2000 Ravens. They're more of a big play defense like the 2009 Saints.

 

[AzStevenCal]

Don't think that's really accurate. Look at the drives. Only 3 of over 30 yards and one of those needed a fake punt to do it.
http://scores.espn.go.com/ncf/drivechart?gameId=312810254

And it's not like those turnovers were gifts, most were really good plays by the D. Have to give them credit. They're not going to be a stingy defense like the 2000 Ravens. They're more of a big play defense like the 2009 Saints.

I think the defense came up big at big moments but Utah was able to move the ball on the ground against us pretty easily. They averaged around 4 yards per carry and while their total yardage wasn't impressive that was because they had a lot fewer plays on Offense than we did. Those 5 lost balls kept their offense off the field and yes, our D earned those turnovers for the most part.

Actually, I thought the most impressive part of our defense wasn't so much the turnovers as it was the way we stymied them on 3rd down. I'm really not trying to take anything away from this win but we were trailing with 2 or 3 minutes left to go in the 3rd quarter and it sure felt like anybody's game to me.

Steve

 

[Mathew81]

I think the defense came up big at big moments but Utah was able to move the ball on the ground against us pretty easily. They averaged around 4 yards per carry and while their total yardage wasn't impressive that was because they had a lot fewer plays on Offense than we did. Those 5 lost balls kept their offense off the field and yes, our D earned those turnovers for the most part.

Actually, I thought the most impressive part of our defense wasn't so much the turnovers as it was the way we stymied them on 3rd down. I'm really not trying to take anything away from this win but we were trailing with 2 or 3 minutes left to go in the 3rd quarter and it sure felt like anybody's game to me.

Steve

Been doing that all season. They were leading the nation in 3rd down D going into today. Again, a big play defense. Injuries have probably killed any chance of them being a shut down D.

We were losing but I'd put that more on the offense. They were terrible in the first half. The swing pass that we run so much was getting blown up and the offensive line isn't very good. We went away from the swing pass in the 2nd half and it worked out better. The OL still didn't play very well but the rest of the guys overcame it. GRob and Mike Willie (finally!) were awesome.

 

[Tyler]

I don't know about that. I'd say they've been a stronger football program than we have for several years now. We caught them in a down year and in their first game without their starting QB and even still, if it hadn't been for some key turnovers we'd have had our butts kicked. Our defense stepped up big several times today but Utah moved the ball fairly consistently against us.

Steve

Stronger program in a weaker division. Its apples to oranges. They arent build for the Pac12.

 

[Mainstreet]

The second half of the Utah game reminded me of the second half of the Southern California game. The ASU defense started to play with an attitude. It was great to see and see the ASU offense feed off it.

Utah definitely belongs in the Pac 12 and will only improve with recruiting since joining the conference... not that they didn't already have an excellent program. IMO, they are likely to form a strong rivalry with ASU since they go back to the WAC days together.

 

[AzStevenCal]

Stronger program in a weaker division. Its apples to oranges. They arent build for the Pac12.

And again I'll say, they've had a stronger football program than us for several years now. IIRC, they put 8 guys into the NFL off of just one team not that long ago. Plus, the Pac 10, other than USC and Oregon, has been pretty weak for the past decade or so.

I'd put the Mountain West (and the WAC) above us as often as not. In the last 6 years alone Utah has played in 2 BCS bowl games and you can ask the two teams they beat (Pittsburgh in 2005 and Alabama in 2009) if they're a second tier program. The Utes also have the highest Bowl game winning percentage of any program with at least 10 Bowl appearances. This is a somewhat weak Utah team but this is NOT a weak football program.

Steve