2013-14 Football Previews — (Pac-12) — Utes
The Utah Utes entered the 2012 season with high expectations after a successful first season in the Pac-12. Unfortunately for them, injuries and inconsistency plagued the team throughout the year, meaning they’ll enter 2013 a bit more under the radar than they were a year ago.
2013 Preview: Utah Utes (Team Link)
Coach: Kyle Whittingham
2012 Record: 5-7
UW Gambling Odds from Bovada.lv: +2030 (Field)
Utah missed out on playing in a bowl last season for the first time since 2012. Head coach Kyle Whittingham has a tougher schedule this time around, as he had the apparent luxury of missing out on both Stanford and Oregon last year. This year he has both on the agenda to go along with other contenders in Oregon State, Arizona State and USC.
The nice part about the schedule is that five of the team’s first six games are at home, and the road game is against BYU, which will still be played in their home state. A strong start to the year is going to be imperative to this team’s success, as four of the final six contests will be played in enemy territory.
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On the offensive side of the ball, Utah convinced former Arizona State head coach Dennis Erickson to come out of retirement and join the staff as a co-offensive coordinator. Erickson is going to have a weapon at the quarterback position in sophomore Travis Wilson. The young QB has the physical attributes and experience to earn him the starting job, and he has the kind of mobility that this system calls for.
Erickson’s knowledge of the spread offense should help with some of the consistency issues that the Utes faced in 2012. Streamlining the offense is going to be important, and Erickson should help the team do just that with more of a no-huddle approach.
Along with Erickson, look for the offensive line to help set up Wilson for success. The group is headlined by sophomore Jeremiah Poutasi, but the group as a whole will block well so long as they stay healthy.
Unfortunately for the entire offensive unit, a consistent scheme and solid blocking won’t make up for the fact that defense is what’s going to save this team from becoming irrelevant. Star Lotulelei, arguably the team’s best player from a year ago, is now an NFL defensive tackle, but a strong crew across most positions will help make up the difference.
Trevor Reilly (DE) led the team in tackles with 69, recorded 6.5 tackles for loss and grabbed 4.5 sacks as well. He will look to lead again, but with the help of players like Tenny Palepoi (DT) and Eric Rowe (S) complementing him along the way. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
As mentioned in the beginning, getting off to a hot start is going to be crucial for this year’s Utes. Unfortunately, a home-heavy schedule may not be enough to give them the edge they need.
Chances are that with health on their side, this year’s team will be slightly better than the one that took the field in 2012. The problem is that the schedule is tougher toward the end of the year, and that’s including two gimmes in Washington State and Colorado to close out the year.
Utah has to start strong if they want to be better than the 5-7 team they were last season, and if they can’t win the winnable games along the way, they might be looking at a second straight year without making the postseason.
2013 Utes Schedule:
Thurs, Aug. 29 vs. Utah State
Sat, Sept. 7 vs. Weber State
Sat, Sept. 14 vs. Oregon State
Sat, Sept. 21 @ BYU
Thurs, Oct. 3 vs. UCLA
Sat, Oct. 12 vs. Stanford
Sat, Oct. 26 @ USC
Sat, Nov. 9 vs. Arizona State
Sat, Nov. 16 @ Oregon
Sat, Nov. 23 @ Washington State
Sat, Nov. 30 vs. Colorado
