Fanblogs.com - Latest Comments in Utes getting help against Bama from Urban Meyer

Re: Utes getting help against Bama from Urban Meyer

Ben Prather — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 22:51:11 -0000

I agree with almost everything. Fortunately that is the offense we try to field every week. Unfortunately the offense has stretches of lackluster performance. That can not happen in New Orleans.

Our defense will be competent. Alabama can move even on a competent defense but our showing will be respectable on this side of the ball.

The part I disagree with the the part about BYU and TCU. The TCU game was known to be intense going into it and they gave us a run for the money, where by the time BYU came around we were the solid favorite ready to avenge the beatings of the recent past. They have won games ruining great seasons and streaks in the past. Their defense is the only thing we saw that is really comparable to Alabama, maybe better. TCU stopped us, but we know what kind of defense we will be facing. The dog fight against TCU, and the determination and resilience we displayed, is exactly the kind of game we should be remembering over a lopsided win over a storied instate rival.

This is the biggest game and opponent Utah has ever faced in its 100+ year history and we have a chance to make a game of it, or a buffoon out of ourselves.

Re: Utes getting help against Bama from Urban Meyer

Ben Prather — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 19:49:01 -0000

Updated Financial Planning:

1) Go to sugar bowl, have fun
2) Find Bankruptcy lawyer

Re: Utes getting help against Bama from Urban Meyer

Zac — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 20:33:23 -0000

Ben, here's my advise to your Utes. Take it for what it's worth.

Take some advise from Houston Nutt; even in a loss, his team had some answers for Bama.

Bama is gonna come hard and fast. That's their M.O. Your boyz need to prepare for that, yet be disciplined enough to pace themselves. If they stick to the fundamentals, if they play mistake free ball, even if they're down by as much as 10 at the half, they got a solid shot.

Offense: Everything, ASOLUTELY EVERYTHING, from the get-go needs to be done off play-action. Solid, well executed fakes are a must. The split second their defense is frozen to determine run or pass will make all the difference. More to the point, UT can't tip em off to run or pass until the last split second. The linemen have to hit hard from the get-go and not let up. Given Bama's speed, plays involving straight up blocking or mis-direction are a must. Even straight up plays need to involve designed cut-backs or naked boot legs. Early on, pass plays need to be quick - NO DROPING BACK; just take the snap and let er go. Even should UT take or maintain a lead, they shouldn't let up; they should be throwing down field, or pulling the reverse, or triple option zone reads. If your boyz wanna win, they're gonna hafta earn this one.

Defense: JPW has grown and matured into a fine young man. He was every Bama fan's weak link; the guy they wanted thrown off the island. Now he's everyone's unsung hero. He can still be had, if Ut's line and LB's can get to him early and often. If the "D" doesn't put a spy on him every play and communicate where the play is going, he'll single handedly riddle UT's "D". KNOW who's gonna carry the mail: Glenn Coffee, Mark Ingram, Roy Upchurch - solid backs ALL! When one or all are in the backfield, for the duration of every play, someone has to be punishing everyone of these players whether they have the ball or not. When one of them has the ball, long run or not, they have to be hit and hit hard and brought down hard - gang tackling is a must. Shake off the big plays, but make these guys earn every inch.

Pass Defense: If someone isn't assigned to chucking Julio Jones every time he comes off the line, intended receiver or not, he'll run roughshod through the 2ndary. Now, he may be their only go-to guy, but that doesn't mean ignore the likes of Nick Walker, Mike McCoy, or Marquis Maze. They have to be on their toes back there. Tackling has to be crisp and low, none of this high shouldering stuff; wrap em up for crying out loud. FUNDAMENTALS!!!

They should have put the TCU game out of their minds by now; learned from it (I hope.) and moved on. They need to pretend Bama is BYU, is riding a 30 year winning streak over them, and this is the only shot they'll have over the next 30 years to beat them. Otherwise, they may just as well sit and watch the game, because it'll likely look just like it looked against Clemson. I think they can do it. Will they? That's up to them. Enjoy one; enjoy ALL!!!

Re: Utes getting help against Bama from Urban Meyer

Zac — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 22:53:46 -0000

Heck, he had his hands full beating Ole Miss, and that was in Tuscaloosa!

Re: Utes getting help against Bama from Urban Meyer

Ben Prather — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 17:09:53 -0000

If a ticket were made available, I would be there!

Re: Utes getting help against Bama from Urban Meyer

Ben Prather — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 17:07:13 -0000

Taking all comers and giving them a chance, then expecting them to excel, is what Utah does.

This is true in athletics and academics. Utah suffers in some college rankings due to its low admitssion standards and entrance scores. They excel in producing quality graduates.

Taking what is left after the cream has been skimed off and developing it into exceptional candidates is what they do. Besides, the cream is used to being treated like they own the place, and Utah doesn't have the time to deal with that. Prove it or step aside. Its the tempo of the campus, not just the football team.

Re: Utes getting help against Bama from Urban Meyer

War_Eagle_Atlanta — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 17:01:18 -0000

What if we took up a collection here on Fanblogs to buy you a ticket, Ben? Would you go then?

Re: Utes getting help against Bama from Urban Meyer

Ben Prather — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 16:46:14 -0000

Finances are to tight to afford the 150+ tickets and 200 mile drive.

I wish this game was a mile high and in the snow. I would be their for sure then...

Alabama's hubris is thier biggest weakness against Utah's zeal.

It will be interesting to see if Utah has any kind of run game. If Utah can get a run game going it will be close. Asiata and Mack will be ready for a battle. If we struglle here the game will be over by the half.

I expect to see a lot of participation from underclassmen who will be starters next year. That is part of Utah's success with bowl games, giving us a month to create looks that are not present on this years tapes.

We are healthy, we won't be missing our best receiver/rusher.

I have already stated that Utah has an occational weakness in the passing coverage. Jones will give us trouble.

If the game is close in the fourth quarter Utah has insane resiliency this year. Johnson average for the first 56 minutes of the game but is Favre like if it is close at the end game.

Re: Utes getting help against Bama from Urban Meyer

utes08 — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 15:06:14 -0000

Thx BigTide i am excited to be going i cant wait. It will be fun meeting Bama fans as well. This is my 1st time down to the Bigeazzy looking forward to having a good time and a good game.

Re: Utes getting help against Bama from Urban Meyer

TampaGator — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 14:36:23 -0000

Ben:

Ok, this is a bit off topic per se, but related in an indirect sort of way--about Utah. Check out the article linked below; it's from a Notre Dame cite, about Notre Dame--but the anaylsis is very well done, and very objective (the author doesn't spin anything at all; he simply reported his findings, good, bad and ugly...). I thought you'd like it though, because 1. it's numbers/stat intensive; and 2. Utah is #1 over the time period covered, in terms of getting best results out of its recurits (you can scroll down to bottom for graph of results, if you don't want to spend too much time reading the article). Enjoy!

http://www.blueandgold.com/...

Note to others: UF, USC, Penn State, Alabama, Pittsburgh, Michigan State, North Carolina, and Boston College (among others), also mentioned conspicuously.

GO GATORS!!

Re: Utes getting help against Bama from Urban Meyer

Ben Prather — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 10:20:03 -0000

Lets keep this thread on topic:

Former Utah Quarterback Coach Dan Mullen has accepted the head coach position at Mississippi State.

Re: Utes getting help against Bama from Urban Meyer

Ramblin' Gator — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 18:41:23 -0000

Too funny! I first heard it on the radio, but found some online confirmation that it is Mullem:

http://www.gatorsports.com/...

Re: Utes getting help against Bama from Urban Meyer

Ben Prather — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 17:35:03 -0000

My official prediction:

Utah 17 Alabama 24

Re: Utes getting help against Bama from Urban Meyer

Ben Prather — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 17:33:29 -0000

1) Whittingham and Meyer have been bouncing ideas off one another all year. This is nothing new.

2) Here is Meyers advice:

I have sent you a floor plan of the stadium, including all thermostat locations. If you can control these points and maintain a temperature of 20 degrees it will be an interesting game.

Re: Utes getting help against Bama from Urban Meyer

Ben Prather — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 17:29:36 -0000

I believe the last time they set up criterion to be evaluated at the end of every year to determine if 5, 6 or 7 conferences would participate.

Based on the criterion the Big East is significantly more likely to lose their bid than the MWC is to gain one. If we add Boise State things improve dramatically, but only after they have played n the MWC for a year.

Re: Utes getting help against Bama from Urban Meyer

Ben Prather — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 17:26:50 -0000

I don't think our QB is that good. Sure he had a good year two years ago...

Our kicker, King Louis, could start for any team in the nation.

Smith is tough at strong safety, and Kruger is a monster at defensive end. Asiata would not be too far down the depth chart. Utah has consistently gotten running backs to the NFL.

Utah will handle the run defense competently. It won't matter that much, as you will be able to get it done through the air.

It is obvious who the higher powered team is, but Utah is, IMO, only two or three turnovers from making a game of it.

Re: Utes getting help against Bama from Urban Meyer

TampaGator — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 16:43:20 -0000

"...the SEC's three musketeer like code of honor..."

LOL!

SEC fans are just more open and transparent about it, but it happens most everywhere. For e.g.: I distinctly recall y'all's most hated enemy suddently becoming some of your most adament fanatics, leading up to the '06 NC game.

As for Meyer helping out the Utes--I'd call it a tip of the hat to the school that gave him his big chance (and, should Utah win--imagine the dividends on the recruiting trail!!!)

GO GATORS!!

Re: Utes getting help against Bama from Urban Meyer

OU_Ron — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 16:09:50 -0000

To show you how things get screwed up, one of our local TV stations reported that Kevin Wilson, OU's OC was MS's next HC....amazing...

Re: Utes getting help against Bama from Urban Meyer

Ramblin' Gator — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 15:44:34 -0000

Florida OC Dan Mullen has accepted the head coach position at Mississippi State.

Re: Utes getting help against Bama from Urban Meyer

FSU_Ben — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 14:21:22 -0000

Heh, Thanks. I don't know if I am Bowling this year, I'm contemplating the peach bowl as a psuedo GT fan and I'll bring my brother who went there (only one of us that didn't go to FSU). Be nice to see LSU lose to GT!

Re: Utes getting help against Bama from Urban Meyer

Wardboy3 — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 13:22:18 -0000

Myself and a couple of buddies want to come to LSU for a game but those tickets are a little pricey. We looked at the game against Mid TN St last year and the cheap ones were in the $75 range if my memory serves me right.

Re: Utes getting help against Bama from Urban Meyer

thebuckstopshere — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 09:26:49 -0000

"So Urban Meyer going against the SEC and helping out his former team....hmmm.....interesting"

I guess he is going against the SEC's three musketeer like code of honor. All for one and one for all..........

Re: Utes getting help against Bama from Urban Meyer

Bama_Babe — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 03:18:29 -0000

So Urban Meyer going against the SEC and helping out his former team....hmmm.....interesting..

Ben,
Are you planning on coming down to N'awlins?

I've only seen Utah play once or twice this season, so I don't really know much about them - other than they run an offense like Florida. This works in Bama's favor seeing as they just played FL - same offense, better athletes. Not taking anything away from Utah though. They have accomplished a lot in their 12-0 season.

What do you see as the best matchup? I know you have already stated that ya'll have a pretty solid run defense. Is there any weaknesses that you've seen in either team that benefits the others strengths? Just wondering what your thoughts are...

;)

...if anyone is wondering why I'm posting so late- Fanblogs is a good break from studying and writing papers for finals...... :)

Re: Utes getting help against Bama from Urban Meyer

Bama_Babe — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 03:03:54 -0000

I like you...

I root for Florida State whenever I get a chance to watch their games. One of my uncle's best friends lives in Tallahassee and is a big FSU fan, so we actually took a trip down there last season during Bama's bye weekend to go to a game. Of course, it was Duke, but I had a great time. That was a blackout game and my uncle's friend even bought us black shirts with an outline of Chief Osceola and Renegade on it. I had always thought it would be neat to see the planting of the spear in person, and it didn't disappoint me!

Anyways, just thought I'd share that....back on topic...

I'll be attending the Sugar Bowl. Already have the hotel booked! A little less than a month....hopefully Christmas festivities will keep me occupied. I hate fooball-free weekends....

Re: Utes getting help against Bama from Urban Meyer

Bama334 — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 23:09:44 -0000

The only way Meyers can help Utah, is to send his team to play for them. Otherwise, UTAHS' GOIN DOWN!!!