Last week were some really good games. It was also the week where Kaylee and I differed the most. This week there are some excellent games. Outside of Utah, there are three great games between highly ranked teams. Kaylee went 2-4, and I went 4-2. That brings Kaylee to 11-13, and I am now at 16-8 on the season.
Toledo at BYU
Jordan's Pick: BYU Kaylee's Pick: BYU
BYU is just looking for even a glimmer of hope at making a bowl game at this point. Toledo is looking to keep its undefeated season going. Statistically, Toledo is much better, but they also have played Arkansas State, Maine and Fresno State. BYU has played all Power 5 schools this year in Arizona, Utah, UCLA and West Virginia. I fully expect BYU to win and probably big. This may be the game where it all comes together for BYU.
No. 18 Utah at Cal
Jordan's Pick: Utah Kaylee's Pick: Utah
Utah is coming off a comeback win over USC. Cal is hoping to get its first conference win after losing to Arizona State. Yet, Cal is favored. Cal has huge numbers through the air so far, while Utah has a very good defense. Utah only allows about 15 points per game while Cal allows 42 while scoring 45. These two teams couldn't be more different from each other. I think Utah's defense will be able to keep the passing game in check and Cal won't be able to run at all. Cal won't be able to stop Utah's new-found confidence in its offense.
Utah State at No. 24 Boise State
Jordan's Pick: Boise State Kaylee's Pick: Boise State
Utah State is already in a hole in conference play, and I think that hole is going to get a little bit deeper this week. Boise State may not be Boise State of the past, but I don't think Utah State is good enough to knock them off this year. Boise State should handle them and win by about 17 points.
No. 7 Stanford at No. 10 Washington
Jordan's Pick: Washington Kaylee's Pick: Stanford
A Pac-12 game in week five with huge playoff implications according to most media members. Washington is one of the favorites for winning the Pac-12, while Stanford is the reigning champion. Stanford's Christian McCaffrey might win the Heisman this year, but this won't be one of the games that proves why. He already struggles on the road and Washington has a tough defense. I don't think Stanford will be able to keep up with Washington this year.
No. 8 Wisconsin at No. 4 Michigan
Jordan's Pick: Michigan Kaylee's Pick: Michigan
Wisconsin has played a much better schedule thus far, but both teams are undefeated. Their yards per game and allowed per game are very similar. Michigan relies on a balanced offense, but Wisconsin doesn't allow many yards on the ground. Michigan only allows about 260 yards in both passing and rushing. Michigan has a much better quarterback than Wisconsin has faced yet. Michigan scores lots of points and fast, while Wisconsin likes to slow it down and score. I think Michigan has enough fire power to get past the Badgers, but not by much.
No. 3 Louisville at No. 5 Clemson
Jordan's Pick: Clemson Kaylee's Pick: Clemson
Louisville quarterback Lamar Jackson might be the Heisman favorite so far as he has scored 25 total touchdowns in four games. Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson was a Heisman contender last year and needs to have a big game to prove that he can be there this year also. Both teams have solid defenses, but this is by far the best defense Louisville will face. Clemson has played in this type of situation before, and I expect them to be able to escape Louisville's offensive attack.
Thursday, September 29, 2016
Tuesday, September 27, 2016
Blackout Game Thoughts
Hey! Here are my thoughts as I said in the last post about the game between Utah and USC.
Game-winning drive
I've got to start off with the best part of the game. First off, props to coach Kyle Whittingham for going for it on 4th down twice. Utah was in field goal range and coach Whitt went for the first down and got it, twice. It was brilliant play calling. Then he decided not to call timeout as the clock was ticking below 40 seconds and trusted his quarterback to make the throw to win the game. Quarterback Troy Williams was throwing strikes over one of the top corners in the league in Adoree Jackson.
Utah's defense
This was by far the worst performance on defense. The defense made plays when needed and forced three fumbles, but there were a lot of wide open receivers. There were also huge holes right up the middle of our defensive line. These two things need to be tightened up if Utah expects to keep up with Cal's offense. Utah needs to definitely clean up the wide open pass over the middle deep portion of the field, which brings me to my next point.
USC's quarterback
USC's freshman quarterback, Sam Darnold, got his first start Friday. He played incredibly well for a game in which Clay Helton kept him as mostly a game manager. He threw for 253 yards on 18 of 26 passing. He didn't throw any touchdowns, but he rushed for 41 yards and a touchdown. He could be the real deal. Maybe this will also help Helton's career at USC too.
Utah's offense
Utah's offense was stellar in the second half for sure, but struggled after its first drive to start the game. Utah ran the ball on its first 12 plays resulting in a touchdown. Freshman running back Zack Moss played great excluding one fumble. But I thought he was outplayed by Sophomore Armand Shyne this week. Moss had more yards, but Shyne ran with power and he ran harder than Moss this week.
The quarterback play was phenomenal in the second half. After the first drive of the second half, Utah would score a touchdown on every drive after that. The final three drives were 10 plays and 85 yards, 11 plays and 75 yards, and 15 plays and 93 yards. What a way to end the game. Utah's offense is becoming a complete team, and that should be scary for the rest of the Pac-12.
Game-winning drive
I've got to start off with the best part of the game. First off, props to coach Kyle Whittingham for going for it on 4th down twice. Utah was in field goal range and coach Whitt went for the first down and got it, twice. It was brilliant play calling. Then he decided not to call timeout as the clock was ticking below 40 seconds and trusted his quarterback to make the throw to win the game. Quarterback Troy Williams was throwing strikes over one of the top corners in the league in Adoree Jackson.
Utah's defense
This was by far the worst performance on defense. The defense made plays when needed and forced three fumbles, but there were a lot of wide open receivers. There were also huge holes right up the middle of our defensive line. These two things need to be tightened up if Utah expects to keep up with Cal's offense. Utah needs to definitely clean up the wide open pass over the middle deep portion of the field, which brings me to my next point.
USC's quarterback
USC's freshman quarterback, Sam Darnold, got his first start Friday. He played incredibly well for a game in which Clay Helton kept him as mostly a game manager. He threw for 253 yards on 18 of 26 passing. He didn't throw any touchdowns, but he rushed for 41 yards and a touchdown. He could be the real deal. Maybe this will also help Helton's career at USC too.
Utah's offense
Utah's offense was stellar in the second half for sure, but struggled after its first drive to start the game. Utah ran the ball on its first 12 plays resulting in a touchdown. Freshman running back Zack Moss played great excluding one fumble. But I thought he was outplayed by Sophomore Armand Shyne this week. Moss had more yards, but Shyne ran with power and he ran harder than Moss this week.
The quarterback play was phenomenal in the second half. After the first drive of the second half, Utah would score a touchdown on every drive after that. The final three drives were 10 plays and 85 yards, 11 plays and 75 yards, and 15 plays and 93 yards. What a way to end the game. Utah's offense is becoming a complete team, and that should be scary for the rest of the Pac-12.
Sunday, September 25, 2016
Utah Game Day Traditions
Kaylee and I were able to attend the blackout Utah football game against USC Friday. It was an incredible game, but more on that later. Whenever my family attends games, we always have the same traditions. When we arrive, we park over by an elementary school about a block and a half away from the stadium. The goal is to park at least two hours before kickoff, but usually earlier.
Once we park, we walk past the stadium and to The Pie Pizzeria. Generally, at some point, we realize the tickets are still in the car, so someone always has to run back to the car to get the tickets.
At The Pie, we usually get the same pizza toppings (Mountain of Meat), but this time we got the combo. The Pie is some of the best pizza you will ever have.
After eating, we walk back up to the stadium or if we arrived early enough, we go to the bookstore to kill some time. By the bookstore, there's a block U, so we snagged a picture by that this time, but don't judge us because it was wet and cold Friday.
Once we park, we walk past the stadium and to The Pie Pizzeria. Generally, at some point, we realize the tickets are still in the car, so someone always has to run back to the car to get the tickets.
After eating, we walk back up to the stadium or if we arrived early enough, we go to the bookstore to kill some time. By the bookstore, there's a block U, so we snagged a picture by that this time, but don't judge us because it was wet and cold Friday.
Finally, we entered the stadium. We've been sitting by our same group of people since 2008 when my dad first got season tickets, so we know them pretty well. One guy, Andy, is the loudest of our little group and does a first down chant. I've created my own chant. I yell "Welcome to Utah" when Utah makes a big play.
It rained before the game for hours, but then around midway through the first quarter it stopped for until about the fourth quarter and then it rained the rest of the game. The game was phenomenal. I'll write a little about that at some point.
Thursday, September 22, 2016
Week Four
Here comes week four and the start of conference play for most teams. Last week was a good week for us. Kaylee went 4-2 and I went 5-1. That brings us to 9-9 and 12-6. This week has some really good match-ups again, so here we go.
USC at No. 24 Utah
Jordan's Pick: Utah Kaylee's Pick: Utah
Utah is looking for revenge after USC ruined its perfect season last year. This time, the game is in Salt Lake City in cool temperatures, Utah's blackout game and possible rain. Utah is second in the nation in sacks, and USC is starting a freshman quarterback in his first game. I expect Utah to have a big win, similar to the Oregon game last year.
BYU at West Virginia
Jordan's Pick: West Virginia Kaylee's Pick: BYU
West Virginia is undefeated, but has beaten Missouri and Youngstown State. BYU is coming off two tough losses. BYU may have made a big mistake leaving Taysom Hill at the quarterback position and selecting him to be the starter. Don't get me wrong, Hill is an incredible athlete and an amazing person, but his passing is not quite good enough based on BYU's schedule. As long as Hill is the QB, I can't see the Cougars pulling off a win against a solid team because Jamaal Williams won't be able to establish a run game without a passing game. I've got West Virginia winning a close game.
Air Force at Utah State
Jordan's Pick: Air Force Kaylee's Pick: Utah State
Air Force hasn't been tested. Utah State was destroyed in its only test against USC. Utah State has a great running back, but Air Force has shown it can stop the run in dominant fashion. Utah State will need to establish a passing game to have a chance, and I don't see that happening. I have Air Force winning, and I wouldn't be surprised if they win big.
No. 11 Wisconsin at No. 8 Michigan State
Jordan's Pick: Michigan State Kaylee's Pick: Wisconsin
Wisconsin and Michigan State may be two of the most evenly matched teams to play this week. Wisconsin is coming off a scare from Georgia State while Michigan State is riding a big win over Notre Dame into the game. Both teams have been great against the run, and Wisconsin has done extremely well against the pass also. I also don't believe Wisconsin has been challenged even with opening the season against (one-trick pony) LSU. I've got Michigan State getting another big win this week.
No. 12 Georgia at No. 23 Ole Miss
Jordan's Pick: Ole Miss Kaylee's Pick: Georgia
Ole Miss is coming off a tough loss to No. 1 Alabama. Georgia is coming off a comeback win over Missouri. Ole Miss is 1-2, with losses to Florida State and Alabama. Ole Miss has been tested a lot more than Georgia which narrowly avoided a loss to Nicholls State. I don't think either team is as good as their rankings, but I expect Ole Miss is to win.
No. 19 Florida at No. 14 Tennessee
Jordan's Pick: Florida Kaylee's Pick: Florida
Two untested teams matched up for their first real tests of the year. Tennessee has looked awful against its three opponents, while Florida has at least not allowed many points. Florida hasn't allowed many yards total, and I expect those numbers to be exceeded, but I do expect Florida to win. I really don't think Tennessee is in the top 15. Don't expect Florida to be great this year though.
Now that I think about it, I don't think the SEC is that great this year. I keep picking these games because it's two ranked teams. Next week, I will try to pick better games that won't necessarily be two ranked teams.
USC at No. 24 Utah
Jordan's Pick: Utah Kaylee's Pick: Utah
Utah is looking for revenge after USC ruined its perfect season last year. This time, the game is in Salt Lake City in cool temperatures, Utah's blackout game and possible rain. Utah is second in the nation in sacks, and USC is starting a freshman quarterback in his first game. I expect Utah to have a big win, similar to the Oregon game last year.
BYU at West Virginia
Jordan's Pick: West Virginia Kaylee's Pick: BYU
West Virginia is undefeated, but has beaten Missouri and Youngstown State. BYU is coming off two tough losses. BYU may have made a big mistake leaving Taysom Hill at the quarterback position and selecting him to be the starter. Don't get me wrong, Hill is an incredible athlete and an amazing person, but his passing is not quite good enough based on BYU's schedule. As long as Hill is the QB, I can't see the Cougars pulling off a win against a solid team because Jamaal Williams won't be able to establish a run game without a passing game. I've got West Virginia winning a close game.
Air Force at Utah State
Jordan's Pick: Air Force Kaylee's Pick: Utah State
Air Force hasn't been tested. Utah State was destroyed in its only test against USC. Utah State has a great running back, but Air Force has shown it can stop the run in dominant fashion. Utah State will need to establish a passing game to have a chance, and I don't see that happening. I have Air Force winning, and I wouldn't be surprised if they win big.
No. 11 Wisconsin at No. 8 Michigan State
Jordan's Pick: Michigan State Kaylee's Pick: Wisconsin
Wisconsin and Michigan State may be two of the most evenly matched teams to play this week. Wisconsin is coming off a scare from Georgia State while Michigan State is riding a big win over Notre Dame into the game. Both teams have been great against the run, and Wisconsin has done extremely well against the pass also. I also don't believe Wisconsin has been challenged even with opening the season against (one-trick pony) LSU. I've got Michigan State getting another big win this week.
No. 12 Georgia at No. 23 Ole Miss
Jordan's Pick: Ole Miss Kaylee's Pick: Georgia
Ole Miss is coming off a tough loss to No. 1 Alabama. Georgia is coming off a comeback win over Missouri. Ole Miss is 1-2, with losses to Florida State and Alabama. Ole Miss has been tested a lot more than Georgia which narrowly avoided a loss to Nicholls State. I don't think either team is as good as their rankings, but I expect Ole Miss is to win.
No. 19 Florida at No. 14 Tennessee
Jordan's Pick: Florida Kaylee's Pick: Florida
Two untested teams matched up for their first real tests of the year. Tennessee has looked awful against its three opponents, while Florida has at least not allowed many points. Florida hasn't allowed many yards total, and I expect those numbers to be exceeded, but I do expect Florida to win. I really don't think Tennessee is in the top 15. Don't expect Florida to be great this year though.
Now that I think about it, I don't think the SEC is that great this year. I keep picking these games because it's two ranked teams. Next week, I will try to pick better games that won't necessarily be two ranked teams.
Tuesday, September 20, 2016
Movies, Music, Books & TV Shows
Hey guys, Jordan here. I've been wanting to talk about some of the media that Kaylee and I watch or listen to. We have some similarities but also some differences.
Movies
Kaylee and I love movies. We love seeing new movies, but we rarely go to the theaters to see them. Luckily, we both like the same types of series of movies (i.e. Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, etc.) or else that would be a bummer. We are also big fans of super hero movies, even if that's the only types of movies that come out anymore.
Kaylee's favorite movie (usually) is The Man From Snowy River. She is really into the older movies, which is great...sometimes. I don't always love them, but some of them are awesome. Kaylee has introduced me to some great movies though because her family has some great films I've never seen.
Kaylee: My Fair Lady is a tie for my favorite movie! Fletch also!...Never NOT funny!
My favorite movie changed virtually every day. I love (in no particular order) Inception, Coach Carter, Interstellar, The Dark Knight, Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl. I pride myself on the fact I haven't seen Avatar or Forrest Gump. Don't judge me, but I don't have any urge to see either of them. I am a huge movie critic. I have high standards for movies, but I don't agree with most well-known critics.
Pictures credited to imdb.com
Music
In high school, Kaylee was really big into punk rock music. She loved Linkin Park, Blink-182 and Nickelback. I've succeeded in mellowing her out though. She also loves country, but nobody around her (including me) does. She mostly listens to country now with a little One Direction (I know, embarrassing huh?). She also likes classic rock, which is where we match.
I used to listen to 3 Doors Down, AC/DC, Aerosmith and Nickelback mostly. I listen to John Mayer, Jack Johnson, Billy Joel and Brandon Flowers now because it is less crazy. I still love some classic rock in the right places, but I would more likely choose something more chill.
Books
Kaylee is one of those people that doesn't actually read, but listens to the books on CD. Don't tell her that's not reading though, because she'll fight you. She listens to Tennis Shoes Among the Nephites and Harry Potter. She once tried to read Lord of the Rings since we've been married, but I don't think she finished it.
Kaylee: I also absolutely loved reading The Great Gatsby, The Scarlet Letter and Shakespeare in high school. So, yes, I do read but we had some discussions in class that helped me understand it better.
I am a huge Harry Potter nerd. I have read all the books multiple times. I know for a fact that I would be a Ravenclaw and have my theories on certain unanswered parts of the books. I also love John Grisham's novels. His storytelling is nearly unrivaled when it comes to law and drama.
Picture credit to theguardian.com
TV Shows
I have no idea what Kaylee used to watch because of what we watch now. Kaylee and I don't watch many shows week to week, but one of them we do is The Walking Dead. We don't love every episode, but we do like discussing what could happen after each cliffhanger.
On Netflix, we've watched Friends (I love that show), How I Met Your Mother and Last Man Standing. If you can't tell, we love our sitcoms. I've watched Daredevil, That 70's Show and Friday Night Lights. Kaylee has watched The Dick Van Dyke Show and Gilmore Girls. If you have any suggestions on what to watch on Netflix, we would love to hear what they are.
Kaylee: PSYCH! always good
We are also completely obsessed with Sherlock. Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman are amazing! We can't wait for the next season to come out. We love theories about the show too, so if you have any good theories, let us know in the comments!
Picture from imdb.com
Movies
Kaylee and I love movies. We love seeing new movies, but we rarely go to the theaters to see them. Luckily, we both like the same types of series of movies (i.e. Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, etc.) or else that would be a bummer. We are also big fans of super hero movies, even if that's the only types of movies that come out anymore.
Kaylee's favorite movie (usually) is The Man From Snowy River. She is really into the older movies, which is great...sometimes. I don't always love them, but some of them are awesome. Kaylee has introduced me to some great movies though because her family has some great films I've never seen.
Kaylee: My Fair Lady is a tie for my favorite movie! Fletch also!...Never NOT funny!
My favorite movie changed virtually every day. I love (in no particular order) Inception, Coach Carter, Interstellar, The Dark Knight, Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl. I pride myself on the fact I haven't seen Avatar or Forrest Gump. Don't judge me, but I don't have any urge to see either of them. I am a huge movie critic. I have high standards for movies, but I don't agree with most well-known critics.
Pictures credited to imdb.com
Music
In high school, Kaylee was really big into punk rock music. She loved Linkin Park, Blink-182 and Nickelback. I've succeeded in mellowing her out though. She also loves country, but nobody around her (including me) does. She mostly listens to country now with a little One Direction (I know, embarrassing huh?). She also likes classic rock, which is where we match.
I used to listen to 3 Doors Down, AC/DC, Aerosmith and Nickelback mostly. I listen to John Mayer, Jack Johnson, Billy Joel and Brandon Flowers now because it is less crazy. I still love some classic rock in the right places, but I would more likely choose something more chill.
Books
Kaylee is one of those people that doesn't actually read, but listens to the books on CD. Don't tell her that's not reading though, because she'll fight you. She listens to Tennis Shoes Among the Nephites and Harry Potter. She once tried to read Lord of the Rings since we've been married, but I don't think she finished it.
Kaylee: I also absolutely loved reading The Great Gatsby, The Scarlet Letter and Shakespeare in high school. So, yes, I do read but we had some discussions in class that helped me understand it better.
I am a huge Harry Potter nerd. I have read all the books multiple times. I know for a fact that I would be a Ravenclaw and have my theories on certain unanswered parts of the books. I also love John Grisham's novels. His storytelling is nearly unrivaled when it comes to law and drama.
Picture credit to theguardian.com
TV Shows
I have no idea what Kaylee used to watch because of what we watch now. Kaylee and I don't watch many shows week to week, but one of them we do is The Walking Dead. We don't love every episode, but we do like discussing what could happen after each cliffhanger.
On Netflix, we've watched Friends (I love that show), How I Met Your Mother and Last Man Standing. If you can't tell, we love our sitcoms. I've watched Daredevil, That 70's Show and Friday Night Lights. Kaylee has watched The Dick Van Dyke Show and Gilmore Girls. If you have any suggestions on what to watch on Netflix, we would love to hear what they are.
Kaylee: PSYCH! always good
We are also completely obsessed with Sherlock. Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman are amazing! We can't wait for the next season to come out. We love theories about the show too, so if you have any good theories, let us know in the comments!
Picture from imdb.com
Friday, September 16, 2016
Week Three
Week two was a rough week for both of us. Kaylee went 2-4, while I went 3-3. That makes Kaylee 5-7, and I am 7-5. I guess that's what happens when you try to pick the hardest games on a week where there weren't tons of good options. Week three has some great options this week. I will add some bonus picks that I won't count in our overall records.
Arkansas State at Utah State
Jordan's Pick: Utah State Kaylee's Pick: Utah State
Utah State was killed by USC last week, while Arkansas State has lost both of its first two games against Toledo and Auburn. Utah State seems like a run-first team, and Arkansas State gives up 323 yards on the ground a game. Utah State should win big in this game just in time for conference play next week.
Utah at San Jose State
Jordan's Pick: Utah Kaylee's Pick: Utah
After an emotional win over its rival, Utah will be looking to just take care of business this week. SJSU allows 485 yards of total offense while Utah's only allows 243 yards. I don't expect the Spartans to be able to move the ball at all, while they won't be able to stop Utah. The Utes should win big.
UCLA at BYU
Jordan's Pick: BYU Kaylee's Pick: BYU
BYU proved it has a defense that can force turnovers at the right time last week as it forced 6 turnovers against its rival. I have not yet been impressed with UCLA's quarterback Josh Rosen. If BYU can keep it at least close or even lead by halftime, I expect the win. BYU will need to play great in the secondary without Kai Nacua and Austin McChesney in he first half. UCLA has speed, but if BYU plays physical like it did last week, especially on defense, it should get the win. One point of interest will be how BYU's offense performs also though. If BYU can move the ball well, the Cougars will get a double digit win.
No. 2 Florida State at No. 10 Louisville
Jordan's Pick: Louisville Kaylee's Pick: Florida State
Florida State is a one-trick pony. If Dalvin Cook doesn't get going, Louisville will dominate. Louisville has put up huge numbers against much lesser opponents, but FSU is a lot better. Louisville has also only allowed 84.5 rushing yards against those opponents, but I think their defense will hold against Dalvin Cook. I have Louisville by 7.
No. 12 Michigan State at No. 18 Notre Dame
Jordan's Pick: Michigan State Kaylee's Pick: Michigan State
Notre Dame had a heartbreaking loss to Texas, while Michigan State cruised to an easy albeit lackluster victory over Furman. Notre Dame has obviously played the tougher opponent, but I have Michigan State winning. I don't think Notre Dame is to the point of being a national power again this year because I don't believe Texas is great either. Michigan State wins by 10.
No. 1 Alabama at No. 19 Ole Miss
Jordan's Pick: Alabama Kaylee's Pick: Alabama
Ole Miss has beaten Alabama two years in a row. They've certainly gotten the attention of Alabama the past two years. That's not the attention you want. I expect Alabama to roll in this game. I would be willing to guess that 'Bama wins by 20+.
Bonus Picks
Colorado at Michigan - Jordan's Pick: Colorado Kaylee's Pick: Michigan - This is the point where we see if Colorado is real. Go Buffs.
Oregon at Nebraska - Jordan's Pick: Oregon Kaylee's Pick: Oregon - I don't think Nebraska is quite to the point of creating an upset.
Ohio State at Oklahoma - Jordan's Pick: Ohio State Kaylee's Pick: Oklahoma - Big Game Bob Stoops won't be able to break his big game losses against Urban Meyer.
USC at Stanford - Jordan's Pick: Stanford Kaylee's Pick: USC - USC won't be able to stop Christian McCaffrey.
Arkansas State at Utah State
Jordan's Pick: Utah State Kaylee's Pick: Utah State
Utah State was killed by USC last week, while Arkansas State has lost both of its first two games against Toledo and Auburn. Utah State seems like a run-first team, and Arkansas State gives up 323 yards on the ground a game. Utah State should win big in this game just in time for conference play next week.
Utah at San Jose State
Jordan's Pick: Utah Kaylee's Pick: Utah
After an emotional win over its rival, Utah will be looking to just take care of business this week. SJSU allows 485 yards of total offense while Utah's only allows 243 yards. I don't expect the Spartans to be able to move the ball at all, while they won't be able to stop Utah. The Utes should win big.
UCLA at BYU
Jordan's Pick: BYU Kaylee's Pick: BYU
BYU proved it has a defense that can force turnovers at the right time last week as it forced 6 turnovers against its rival. I have not yet been impressed with UCLA's quarterback Josh Rosen. If BYU can keep it at least close or even lead by halftime, I expect the win. BYU will need to play great in the secondary without Kai Nacua and Austin McChesney in he first half. UCLA has speed, but if BYU plays physical like it did last week, especially on defense, it should get the win. One point of interest will be how BYU's offense performs also though. If BYU can move the ball well, the Cougars will get a double digit win.
No. 2 Florida State at No. 10 Louisville
Jordan's Pick: Louisville Kaylee's Pick: Florida State
Florida State is a one-trick pony. If Dalvin Cook doesn't get going, Louisville will dominate. Louisville has put up huge numbers against much lesser opponents, but FSU is a lot better. Louisville has also only allowed 84.5 rushing yards against those opponents, but I think their defense will hold against Dalvin Cook. I have Louisville by 7.
No. 12 Michigan State at No. 18 Notre Dame
Jordan's Pick: Michigan State Kaylee's Pick: Michigan State
Notre Dame had a heartbreaking loss to Texas, while Michigan State cruised to an easy albeit lackluster victory over Furman. Notre Dame has obviously played the tougher opponent, but I have Michigan State winning. I don't think Notre Dame is to the point of being a national power again this year because I don't believe Texas is great either. Michigan State wins by 10.
No. 1 Alabama at No. 19 Ole Miss
Jordan's Pick: Alabama Kaylee's Pick: Alabama
Ole Miss has beaten Alabama two years in a row. They've certainly gotten the attention of Alabama the past two years. That's not the attention you want. I expect Alabama to roll in this game. I would be willing to guess that 'Bama wins by 20+.
Bonus Picks
Colorado at Michigan - Jordan's Pick: Colorado Kaylee's Pick: Michigan - This is the point where we see if Colorado is real. Go Buffs.
Oregon at Nebraska - Jordan's Pick: Oregon Kaylee's Pick: Oregon - I don't think Nebraska is quite to the point of creating an upset.
Ohio State at Oklahoma - Jordan's Pick: Ohio State Kaylee's Pick: Oklahoma - Big Game Bob Stoops won't be able to break his big game losses against Urban Meyer.
USC at Stanford - Jordan's Pick: Stanford Kaylee's Pick: USC - USC won't be able to stop Christian McCaffrey.
Sunday, September 11, 2016
Holy War Hangover
**Disclaimer: I am a huge Utah Utes fan. I am also a sports writer. I feel like I can watch a game unbiased while also cheering for my team. I try to give credit where credit is due, but if I miss something or have an opinion different from yours, that doesn't necessarily mean I'm biased. Try to read this post without your red or blue goggles on.**
First off, what an incredible game! The future battles between Kyle Whittingham and Kalani Sitake are going to be the most epic games of the Holy War. I fully expected the Utes to pull away at the end of the game, but turnovers were crazy. Credit BYU's defense for forcing turnovers at the most critical points on the field and in the game. There's just a few key points I'd like to put an opinion on and write about.
Turnovers
The game started in the same way that last year's Las Vegas Bowl started with a pick six (interception returned for a touchdown) for Utah. I thought that was going to be the start of a very long game for the Cougar faithful.
Utah's offense seemed to be able to move the ball extremely well on some drives, but BYU's defense kept making the right play at the right time to keep Utah from scoring. Utah had six turnovers. Two of which were after significant drives that were halted by interceptions within the five yard line.
BYU also committed three turnovers of their own that were costly, especially the first one. BYU's offense didn't look as good as Utah's, but did have some shining moments. The two touchdown drives were incredibly efficient and great athletic ability by Taysom Hill. Hill, not known for great passing, made some great passes in the game, especially on the last drive.
Targeting/Officiating
I've seen a lot of my friends on Facebook complaining about the targeting penalties called on BYU's Kai Nacua and Austin McChesney. I expressed my opinion on Twitter in the process of the game. I said Nacua's wasn't much of a targeting call, but McChesney's was. McChesney led with the crown of the helmet and hit Troy McCormick in the head. That's targeting as far as I knew at the time, but let's delve into the rule book. Here is the targeting rule from http://www.afca.com/article/article.php?id=2342
"RULES
Targeting and Initiating Contact With the Crown of the Helmet (Rule 9-1-3)
No player shall target and initiate contact against an opponent with the crown (top) of his helmet. When in question, it is a foul.
Targeting and Initiating Contact to Head or Neck Area of a Defenseless Player (Rule 9-1-4)
No player shall target and initiate contact to the head or neck area of a defenseless opponent with the helmet, forearm, fist, elbow or shoulder. When in question, it is a foul. (Rule 2-27-14)" (emphasis added).
First off, what an incredible game! The future battles between Kyle Whittingham and Kalani Sitake are going to be the most epic games of the Holy War. I fully expected the Utes to pull away at the end of the game, but turnovers were crazy. Credit BYU's defense for forcing turnovers at the most critical points on the field and in the game. There's just a few key points I'd like to put an opinion on and write about.
Turnovers
The game started in the same way that last year's Las Vegas Bowl started with a pick six (interception returned for a touchdown) for Utah. I thought that was going to be the start of a very long game for the Cougar faithful.
Utah's offense seemed to be able to move the ball extremely well on some drives, but BYU's defense kept making the right play at the right time to keep Utah from scoring. Utah had six turnovers. Two of which were after significant drives that were halted by interceptions within the five yard line.
BYU also committed three turnovers of their own that were costly, especially the first one. BYU's offense didn't look as good as Utah's, but did have some shining moments. The two touchdown drives were incredibly efficient and great athletic ability by Taysom Hill. Hill, not known for great passing, made some great passes in the game, especially on the last drive.
Targeting/Officiating
I've seen a lot of my friends on Facebook complaining about the targeting penalties called on BYU's Kai Nacua and Austin McChesney. I expressed my opinion on Twitter in the process of the game. I said Nacua's wasn't much of a targeting call, but McChesney's was. McChesney led with the crown of the helmet and hit Troy McCormick in the head. That's targeting as far as I knew at the time, but let's delve into the rule book. Here is the targeting rule from http://www.afca.com/article/article.php?id=2342
"RULES
Targeting and Initiating Contact With the Crown of the Helmet (Rule 9-1-3)
No player shall target and initiate contact against an opponent with the crown (top) of his helmet. When in question, it is a foul.
Targeting and Initiating Contact to Head or Neck Area of a Defenseless Player (Rule 9-1-4)
No player shall target and initiate contact to the head or neck area of a defenseless opponent with the helmet, forearm, fist, elbow or shoulder. When in question, it is a foul. (Rule 2-27-14)" (emphasis added).
After having read that definition, Nacua's was even targeting. Sorry BYU fans. That's the official rule. I may not fully agree with it, but the goal is to keep every player on the field safe, especially defenseless ones.
I thought the refs had a few missed calls on both sides, but were actually pretty good outside of the endless amount of replays.
Utah's 11-minute drive
The straw the broke the horse's back for BYU was the 19-play, 78-yard, 11-minute drive. 11:21 to be exact. That's a long drive! Utah received that ball at the 14:08 mark in the fourth quarter. The field goal was kicked at the 2:47 mark. I've never seen a drive like that in my life. The Utes were able to just keep the ball on the ground and the clock kept ticking.
Freshman running back Zack Moss was the key for Utah's drive. He rushed for 41 yards on that drive alone. I've been excited to finally see this guy play, and he proved why I was excited on this drive. He was a force to bring down, but he just kept going.
Here's my take on the field goal decision: I thought Moss could have gotten the first down. I also thought a QB sneak would have resulted in a first down. A touchdown on that drive would have really been the game winner. There wouldn't have been enough time for BYU to get back into the game. I also understand the field goal. Kicking a field goal puts Utah up by seven points and now BYU must score to tie. With the way Utah's defense played, I didn't think BYU would even get close.
2-point Conversion
BYU scored with 18 seconds left and Sitake decided to go for the win by going for the 2-point conversion. Was it the right choice? In retrospect, Cougar fans would say no. At the time though, I believe it was Sitake's only choice. He just had watched his defense spend 11 minutes on the field without many breaks and without stopping Utah. To kick the point after would have meant he would have to send his extremely tired defense back on the field without two key players due to targeting penalties.
Drawing up a QB draw was Sitake's biggest mistake. The beautiful thing about Taysom Hill is that he is smart enough to make the right play. He may not have the strongest arm, but he was only three yards out. Give him a play where he rolls out and has the option to run, don't force the run on him.
Overall, it was a fun, mostly clean game. I was happy to see that neither team was blatantly trying to hurt each other. That's where the game can be fun. It was stressful as a fan, but I am no longer 100% against playing the game because it's going to be more friendly with Sitake and Whittingham (who are great friends) at the helms of each team.
For the first time in a long time, possibly ever, I am looking forward to the Holy War next year.
Utah's 11-minute drive
The straw the broke the horse's back for BYU was the 19-play, 78-yard, 11-minute drive. 11:21 to be exact. That's a long drive! Utah received that ball at the 14:08 mark in the fourth quarter. The field goal was kicked at the 2:47 mark. I've never seen a drive like that in my life. The Utes were able to just keep the ball on the ground and the clock kept ticking.
Freshman running back Zack Moss was the key for Utah's drive. He rushed for 41 yards on that drive alone. I've been excited to finally see this guy play, and he proved why I was excited on this drive. He was a force to bring down, but he just kept going.
Here's my take on the field goal decision: I thought Moss could have gotten the first down. I also thought a QB sneak would have resulted in a first down. A touchdown on that drive would have really been the game winner. There wouldn't have been enough time for BYU to get back into the game. I also understand the field goal. Kicking a field goal puts Utah up by seven points and now BYU must score to tie. With the way Utah's defense played, I didn't think BYU would even get close.
2-point Conversion
BYU scored with 18 seconds left and Sitake decided to go for the win by going for the 2-point conversion. Was it the right choice? In retrospect, Cougar fans would say no. At the time though, I believe it was Sitake's only choice. He just had watched his defense spend 11 minutes on the field without many breaks and without stopping Utah. To kick the point after would have meant he would have to send his extremely tired defense back on the field without two key players due to targeting penalties.
Drawing up a QB draw was Sitake's biggest mistake. The beautiful thing about Taysom Hill is that he is smart enough to make the right play. He may not have the strongest arm, but he was only three yards out. Give him a play where he rolls out and has the option to run, don't force the run on him.
Overall, it was a fun, mostly clean game. I was happy to see that neither team was blatantly trying to hurt each other. That's where the game can be fun. It was stressful as a fan, but I am no longer 100% against playing the game because it's going to be more friendly with Sitake and Whittingham (who are great friends) at the helms of each team.
For the first time in a long time, possibly ever, I am looking forward to the Holy War next year.
Strangely Sad Week
**Disclaimer: I am not an emotional person. I don't outwardly show my emotions because nobody wants to see that or hear about that, but these couple of things have really gotten to me this past week.**
I'd like to share a little bit of my emotional state from this past week. I've been sick, so don't judge me for feeling more than normal. I had the opportunity to chat with my grandpa Wednesday night. He recently lost his wife of 60ish years. Unfortunately, Kaylee and I weren't able to attend the funeral because of an already planned trip to Hawaii. So this was the first time we were able to see him since my grandma's passing.
I'd like to share a little bit of my emotional state from this past week. I've been sick, so don't judge me for feeling more than normal. I had the opportunity to chat with my grandpa Wednesday night. He recently lost his wife of 60ish years. Unfortunately, Kaylee and I weren't able to attend the funeral because of an already planned trip to Hawaii. So this was the first time we were able to see him since my grandma's passing.
It was nice to talk to him, but he seems incredibly lonely. It made my heart hurt. I'm not blaming anyone in the family, because everyone gets busy, but I'd like to hope that if one of my parents were left alone, I would be able to make an effort to keep them close. I would also like to know that others would be able to do that if Kaylee or I were ever in that same position.
It was a really weird week. I found out one of my favorite missionary companions is gay. That's not necessarily an issue, but it came as quite a surprise to me when it was posted on Facebook.
This got me thinking a lot about God's plan for us. It is stated in the Bible in 1st Corinthians 10:13: "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it."
As a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, I believe this scripture to be true, but I also believe it is not in accordance to God's plan to have a homosexual relationship. Having said that, I do not hate gay people, I do my best to hate the sin only. I hope that this companion will be able to find his "way to escape" this burden.
I am also glad that this is not something that I have on me as a burden. I understand how difficult it could be to have this issue and not be able to do anything about it because of a belief in the LDS gospel. I know that God will be able to help us though if we seek him with any burden. I implore anyone that has any type of struggle to go to God with your struggles, and He will be able to help you more than anyone on this Earth could.
I am also glad that this is not something that I have on me as a burden. I understand how difficult it could be to have this issue and not be able to do anything about it because of a belief in the LDS gospel. I know that God will be able to help us though if we seek him with any burden. I implore anyone that has any type of struggle to go to God with your struggles, and He will be able to help you more than anyone on this Earth could.
Saturday, September 10, 2016
Week Two
Kaylee and I had almost identical picks last week, but the one difference I happened to win, so I am at 4-2 and Kaylee is at 3-3 after the first week. Oklahoma and Ole Miss let us down last week. Props to Houston (who probably will go undefeated now) and Florida State.
Week two isn't quite as exciting outside of the state of Utah as last week was. It also doesn't help me finding games when two of the teams I plan on picking each week are playing each other.
We'll start off with the biggest game in Utah.
BYU at Utah
Jordan's Pick: Utah Kaylee's Pick: Utah
November 28, 2009 was the last time Utah lost to BYU. That game, in Lavell Edwards Stadium, has left BYU fans wanting another victory ever since. This was also the game where the rivalry may have changed for as long as Kyle Whittingham is Utah's head coach. After that game, coach Whittingham has said Utah will never lose to BYU again as he is the coach. BYU will be trying to prove him wrong Saturday.
Utah's win against SUU was lackluster, but BYU's last-second win over a weak Arizona team wasn't anything spectacular either. I expect this game to be a slow, defensive battle for the first half. There won't be a ton of points on the board at halftime, but the game will be with the team that makes changes at halftime. I expect Whittingham to get the better of his protege, Kalani Sitake in the first game of their personal (friendly) rivalry. I have Utah winning by two touchdowns in the end.
Utah State at USC
Jordan's Pick: USC Kaylee's Pick: USC
USC was absolutely destroyed by Alabama in what could have been a huge statement win for the Trojans turned out to be an even bigger statement for the defending champions. Utah State, on the other hand, absolutely dominated Weber State (as they should). USU rushed for 428 yards while USC only had a total of 194 yards. USC should be hungry to prove they are still relevant because a loss to USU would mean the end of the season (and possibly the end of Clay Helton's USC coaching stint). I have USC winning by 10 points or less. Utah State isn't the real deal, but I don't think USC is quite there yet either.
Texas Tech at Arizona State
Jordan's Pick: Texas Tech Kaylee's Pick: Texas Tech
Texas Tech and Arizona State are playing their first games against a quality opponent. Arizona State dismantled Northern Arizona last week while Texas Tech demolished Stephen F. Austin (who I didn't know had a football team). I expect Texas Tech to come into Arizona and leave with the W this week though. I just don't have a lot of faith in the Sundevils this year. Sorry ASU.
Washington State at Boise State
Jordan's Pick: Washington State Kaylee's Pick: Washington State
Washington State may have suffered the most embarrassing loss of last week when they fell to FCS opponent Eastern Washington. Boise State has had one of the best decades of football for any team. I think Washington State pulls the upset here though. Washington State can score big points fast, but I don't think Boise will be able to keep up.
Penn State at Pittsburgh
Jordan's Pick: Pittsburgh Kaylee's Pick: Penn State
Like the Utah/BYU game, this is a renewed rivalry after a hiatus. I've been a huge fan of Pittsburgh's running back James Conner for a long time. The guy is a hard runner and I expect him to be able to run well again Penn State.
South Carolina at Mississippi State
Jordan's Pick: South Carolina Kaylee's Pick: South Carolina
If Washington State didn't have the worst loss last week then Mississippi State did. Mississippi State lost on a missed field goal to FCS South Alabama. Losses like that can motivate a team to do some incredible things. Look at Washington State last year. Even though Mississippi State is favored in the game, I have South Carolina winning. Without Dak Prescott, Mississippi State just isn't the same.
*Kaylee doesn't know my picks when she selects her picks. I don't know why her picks are always so similar.
Week two isn't quite as exciting outside of the state of Utah as last week was. It also doesn't help me finding games when two of the teams I plan on picking each week are playing each other.
We'll start off with the biggest game in Utah.
BYU at Utah
Jordan's Pick: Utah Kaylee's Pick: Utah
November 28, 2009 was the last time Utah lost to BYU. That game, in Lavell Edwards Stadium, has left BYU fans wanting another victory ever since. This was also the game where the rivalry may have changed for as long as Kyle Whittingham is Utah's head coach. After that game, coach Whittingham has said Utah will never lose to BYU again as he is the coach. BYU will be trying to prove him wrong Saturday.
Utah's win against SUU was lackluster, but BYU's last-second win over a weak Arizona team wasn't anything spectacular either. I expect this game to be a slow, defensive battle for the first half. There won't be a ton of points on the board at halftime, but the game will be with the team that makes changes at halftime. I expect Whittingham to get the better of his protege, Kalani Sitake in the first game of their personal (friendly) rivalry. I have Utah winning by two touchdowns in the end.
Utah State at USC
Jordan's Pick: USC Kaylee's Pick: USC
USC was absolutely destroyed by Alabama in what could have been a huge statement win for the Trojans turned out to be an even bigger statement for the defending champions. Utah State, on the other hand, absolutely dominated Weber State (as they should). USU rushed for 428 yards while USC only had a total of 194 yards. USC should be hungry to prove they are still relevant because a loss to USU would mean the end of the season (and possibly the end of Clay Helton's USC coaching stint). I have USC winning by 10 points or less. Utah State isn't the real deal, but I don't think USC is quite there yet either.
Texas Tech at Arizona State
Jordan's Pick: Texas Tech Kaylee's Pick: Texas Tech
Texas Tech and Arizona State are playing their first games against a quality opponent. Arizona State dismantled Northern Arizona last week while Texas Tech demolished Stephen F. Austin (who I didn't know had a football team). I expect Texas Tech to come into Arizona and leave with the W this week though. I just don't have a lot of faith in the Sundevils this year. Sorry ASU.
Washington State at Boise State
Jordan's Pick: Washington State Kaylee's Pick: Washington State
Washington State may have suffered the most embarrassing loss of last week when they fell to FCS opponent Eastern Washington. Boise State has had one of the best decades of football for any team. I think Washington State pulls the upset here though. Washington State can score big points fast, but I don't think Boise will be able to keep up.
Penn State at Pittsburgh
Jordan's Pick: Pittsburgh Kaylee's Pick: Penn State
Like the Utah/BYU game, this is a renewed rivalry after a hiatus. I've been a huge fan of Pittsburgh's running back James Conner for a long time. The guy is a hard runner and I expect him to be able to run well again Penn State.
South Carolina at Mississippi State
Jordan's Pick: South Carolina Kaylee's Pick: South Carolina
If Washington State didn't have the worst loss last week then Mississippi State did. Mississippi State lost on a missed field goal to FCS South Alabama. Losses like that can motivate a team to do some incredible things. Look at Washington State last year. Even though Mississippi State is favored in the game, I have South Carolina winning. Without Dak Prescott, Mississippi State just isn't the same.
*Kaylee doesn't know my picks when she selects her picks. I don't know why her picks are always so similar.
Thursday, September 8, 2016
Busy Week
Hey guys, it's Jordan.
It's been a crazy week so far for us. Monday was great as it was Labor Day and there wasn't a ton that went on. College football is back, so that's the greatest thing about this time of year.
Tuesday was just busy with travel. I went to classes at SUU in Cedar City. I ran down to work in St. George (about a 35 minute drive). It's our facility's maintenance week, so the pool is empty, and I had the great opportunity to pressure wash the deck. That was more gross than I thought it would be. Then I drove back to Cedar City to have church meetings that went from 7 to about 9:30 p.m. Then I was finally able to go home. "When do you eat?" You might ask. Before my 1 p.m. class and then not again until after all of that. It was that crazy of a day.
Wednesday, I had class and then got to drive up to Salt Lake City to stay at my grandpa's house so that I could take the Pharmacy College Admissions Test (PCAT) the next morning. Kaylee went with me up there, so that was good. I took the test last year also, so I was hoping to do better than my 64 percentile composite score from last year. The only issue with going to SLC was Kaylee and I are both getting sick.
Thursday, I took the three-and-a-half hour PCAT. It was awful, and I didn't surpass my score from last year, but that's ok. I will gladly accept the 64 as my score from last time. Finally, I have had the opportunity to relax a little bit and watch some football.
It's been a crazy week so far for us. Monday was great as it was Labor Day and there wasn't a ton that went on. College football is back, so that's the greatest thing about this time of year.
Tuesday was just busy with travel. I went to classes at SUU in Cedar City. I ran down to work in St. George (about a 35 minute drive). It's our facility's maintenance week, so the pool is empty, and I had the great opportunity to pressure wash the deck. That was more gross than I thought it would be. Then I drove back to Cedar City to have church meetings that went from 7 to about 9:30 p.m. Then I was finally able to go home. "When do you eat?" You might ask. Before my 1 p.m. class and then not again until after all of that. It was that crazy of a day.
Wednesday, I had class and then got to drive up to Salt Lake City to stay at my grandpa's house so that I could take the Pharmacy College Admissions Test (PCAT) the next morning. Kaylee went with me up there, so that was good. I took the test last year also, so I was hoping to do better than my 64 percentile composite score from last year. The only issue with going to SLC was Kaylee and I are both getting sick.
Thursday, I took the three-and-a-half hour PCAT. It was awful, and I didn't surpass my score from last year, but that's ok. I will gladly accept the 64 as my score from last time. Finally, I have had the opportunity to relax a little bit and watch some football.
Hopefully, I will have time to publish our predictions for week 2 of college football tomorrow. It should be a good one with the Holy War.
Sunday, September 4, 2016
My Husband
So I thought it’d be my turn now to share some thoughts on
Jord!
First off, if you couldn’t tell
already, he loves to write. Hence, he’s the one that took this blog idea and
ran with it, and here I am struggling to get one post in a week. It’s become a
little embarrassing how little I know about grammar and punctuation. He knows all about it, and he should because
he has written for the St. George newspapers for about 4 years now. Although he
has a love and talent for writing, he also has a passion for sports; put those
together and he absolutely loves writing about sports. Watch for his articles
on Cedar High School football and basketball.
He’ll also talk your ear off about
sports too. If you’re a fan of any sport he’ll easily make friends with you. Although
football and basketball are by far his favorites, he knows the rules to most
all sports. Jordan is pretty much a genius; of course that is my own biased
opinion. Now, besides his wisdom in writing, sports and chemistry I can’t miss
an opportunity to mention how much he knows about the gospel. Growing up in a
wonderful family that nurtured him in the gospel, as well as reading endlessly
on his mission on gospel principles and scripture, he has developed a great
knowledge and testimony of the gospel. He also serves in callings with such a
quiet gentle spirit.
I mean that quite literally. Not
only in spiritual things, Jordan has a quiet soul in everything he does (this
is why I have to call them discussions instead of arguments). He truly does
like to discuss deep doctrine, controversial ideas, our future plans, and
sometimes politics but I often make them more heated than he likes. Some of my
favorite ways to describe him are calm, chill and level headed. I’d be shocked
if you’d ever find him in a fight because he would never bother with such
silliness.
Speaking of silliness, here’s a
secret about Jordan: he’s a goof ball. To get me to smile he’s really good at
turning on his silly button. That’s why I call him Silly. You’ll also easily
see it if you ever watch him with his nieces and nephews, he’s just one of the
kids. I can’t wait for him to be a dad!
Finally, I’ll end with the things I
find most attractive about him so if you’re just about fed up with this ooey
gooey stuff I won’t be offended if you stop reading now. He’s got such bright
blue eyes, which, it’s a shame he loves Utah so much because they just pop when
he wears blue. Sometimes he wears glasses too, which I never thought I would
like but it makes him look intelligent and cute. If you let him go a week
without shaving and he has that perfect amount of scruff, he just looks
adorable. At 5 foot 11 inches, he is just tall enough for me; also fit enough
to be active with me, usually involving his love for Frisbee and volleyball.
And so we have come back to sports, which wraps Jordan up quite nicely! I love
him more than I could say.
Friday, September 2, 2016
SUU at Utah
Hey guys, Jordan here again. I had the opportunity to attend the Southern Utah at Utah game last night. It was a fun, defensive game.
SUU's defense started off with a bend-don't-break mentality when Utah drove its first two drives down and were stopped and settled for field goals. Utah's offense looked poised though. Utah quarterback Troy Williams isn't afraid to air the ball out.
SUU's offense looked good on the first drive gaining two big chunks of yards on the first two plays but receiver Ty Rutledge fumbled on his first carry from the wildcat position and Utah recovered. SUU quarterback McCoy Hill would bounce in and out of the game with an apparent shoulder injury.
Utah eventually settled down and didn't allow much yards against them, but the offense didn't fully sync as the Utes were held to only 24 points.
I was thoroughly impressed by SUU's defense. They played incredibly well against a superior team. Obviously, there were times where coverage broke down, but Utah, being in the Pac 12, should have better speed and talent. That showed a little bit, but SUU will do some major damage in the Big Sky, especially if their offense gets going.
Although I expected a bigger margin of victory for Utah, I was impressed by the presence of Troy Williams in the pocket and his poise throughout the game. The offensive line needs work, but Troy Williams stood strong in the pocket and made some beautiful throws. I was also impressed with Troy McCormick. McCormick looked like he was just toying with SUU at times and looked like he was having the most fun on the field. I expect him to start next week against BYU.
Defensively, I wasn't impressed initially, but thinking back, the defense never had problems outside of the first SUU drive, which ended in a fumble. They held SUU scoreless, so you can't ask for more than that.
Here are some of the pictures from the game:
SUU's defense started off with a bend-don't-break mentality when Utah drove its first two drives down and were stopped and settled for field goals. Utah's offense looked poised though. Utah quarterback Troy Williams isn't afraid to air the ball out.
SUU's offense looked good on the first drive gaining two big chunks of yards on the first two plays but receiver Ty Rutledge fumbled on his first carry from the wildcat position and Utah recovered. SUU quarterback McCoy Hill would bounce in and out of the game with an apparent shoulder injury.
Utah eventually settled down and didn't allow much yards against them, but the offense didn't fully sync as the Utes were held to only 24 points.
I was thoroughly impressed by SUU's defense. They played incredibly well against a superior team. Obviously, there were times where coverage broke down, but Utah, being in the Pac 12, should have better speed and talent. That showed a little bit, but SUU will do some major damage in the Big Sky, especially if their offense gets going.
Although I expected a bigger margin of victory for Utah, I was impressed by the presence of Troy Williams in the pocket and his poise throughout the game. The offensive line needs work, but Troy Williams stood strong in the pocket and made some beautiful throws. I was also impressed with Troy McCormick. McCormick looked like he was just toying with SUU at times and looked like he was having the most fun on the field. I expect him to start next week against BYU.
Defensively, I wasn't impressed initially, but thinking back, the defense never had problems outside of the first SUU drive, which ended in a fumble. They held SUU scoreless, so you can't ask for more than that.
Here are some of the pictures from the game:
This is the front of the stadium taken from the parking lot area near the building formerly known as "The Fountain of Ute." It was a beautiful evening for football.
Utah got a new scoreboard! It is huge, this shows how big it is next to the Olympic torch from 2002.
Another picture of the scoreboard in regards to the south end zone. The clarity was incredible.
Is there a more beautiful campus/area for football?
Utah fans were told to "checker" Rice-Eccles Stadium. It wasn't perfect, but it was good enough.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)