Bruins Nation - UCLA-Utah: Utes' PreviewsBlog Of The Bruins, By The Bruins, For The Bruinshttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48017/bruinsnation_f.png2013-10-02T13:00:09-07:00http://www.bruinsnation.com/rss/stream/45615152013-10-02T13:00:09-07:002013-10-02T13:00:09-07:00Opponent Preview: Utah's Offense
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<figcaption>Stephen Dunn</figcaption>
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<p>After the second bye week of the young season, the UCLA Bruins (3-0, 0-0 in Pac-12) will head to Salt Lake City on Thursday to start Pac-12 play against the Utah Utes (3-1, 0-1 in Pac-12) . As a prep for the nationally televised Thursday night game, we preview the Utes, with a look at the Utes' offense.</p> <p>On Monday, Bellerophon covered <a href="http://www.bruinsnation.com/2013/9/30/4785872/ucla-utah-preview-examining-the-utes-coaches-and-special-teams" target="_blank">the special teams and coaching staff</a> of the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/utah-utes" class="sbn-auto-link">Utah Utes</a> and AHMB <a target="_blank" href="http://www.bruinsnation.com/ucla_bruin_football/2013/10/1/4791700/oppo-notes-utahs-defense">covered the offense</a> yesterday. Today, I'll take a look at the Utes offense position-by-position.</p>
<p>This is a unit that the UCLA defense manhandled in last season's 21-14 win. Through the first 57 minutes of the game, the defense was pitching a shutout against Travis Wilson in his first collegiate start. The only score on the board was a result of the infamous <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/136311/steven-manfro" class="sbn-auto-link">Steven Manfro</a> punt return fumble in the endzone. Utah ended up putting together a 90-yard drive against a prevent defense (my least favorite part of defensive schemes at the end of games) and scoring their only offensive touchdown after an <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/113876/eric-kendricks" class="sbn-auto-link">Eric Kendricks</a> tackle knocked Wilson out of the game and backup quarterback <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/136394/jon-hays" class="sbn-auto-link">Jon Hays</a> threw a fade to <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/114732/dres-anderson" class="sbn-auto-link">Dres Anderson</a> on 4th and Goal. Prior to that drive, UCLA's defense had only given up 219 yards.</p>
<p>That Utah offense was a mediocre unit, so far with this year's version that has not been the case.</p>
<p>The Utes come into Thursday averaging 504.8 yards per game (16th in the NCAA) and 7.37 yards per play. The rushing game comes in at 31st in the NCAA (218.8 yards, 5.68 per carry). The passing offense has been similarly effective coming in at 30th in the NCAA at 286 yards per game. That's a big improvement after looking pretty average all around last season. Their scoring offense is really bloated by a 70 point game against Weber State (scheduling FCS teams will always earn scorn from me), but ranks 19th in the country at 42 points per game.</p>
<p>Where UCLA's defense has a huge advantage, besides the clear one in overall talent, is on 3rd down. Utah's offensive numbers are impressive, but they are terrible on 3rd down, 92nd in the NCAA (only converted 19 of 54 3rd downs). The Bruins defense is 13th in the nation in 3rd down defense (12 out of 45, only allowing a 26.7% conversion rate).</p>
<p>Now that the generalities are out of the way, we can take a look at the players that put together the nation's #16 offense.</p>
<p>This was their starting unit in their last game against Utah, I'll take a look at these guys and some key role players outside of that group.</p>
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<td style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #222222;" bgcolor="#00008b" align="left"><font color="#ffffff" size="2" face="verdana"><b>Pos </b></font></td>
<td style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #222222;" bgcolor="#00008b" align="left"><font color="#ffffff" size="2" face="verdana"><b>## </b></font></td>
<td style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #222222;" bgcolor="#00008b" align="left"><font color="#ffffff" size="2" face="verdana"><b>Offense </b></font></td>
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<td style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #222222;" align="left"><font color="#000000" size="2" face="verdana">LT </font></td>
<td style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #222222;" align="left"><font color="#000000" size="2" face="verdana">73 </font></td>
<td style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #222222;" align="left"><font color="#000000" size="2" face="verdana">Poutasi, Jeremiah</font></td>
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<td style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #222222;" align="left"><font color="#000000" size="2" face="verdana">LG </font></td>
<td style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #222222;" align="left"><font color="#000000" size="2" face="verdana">76 </font></td>
<td style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #222222;" align="left"><font color="#000000" size="2" face="verdana">Tofaeono, Jeremiah</font></td>
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<td style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #222222;" align="left"><font color="#000000" size="2" face="verdana">C </font></td>
<td style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #222222;" align="left"><font color="#000000" size="2" face="verdana">64 </font></td>
<td style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #222222;" align="left"><font color="#000000" size="2" face="verdana"><a style="outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; color: #bb122f; text-decoration: none;" target="_new" href="http://utahutes.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/vyncent_jones_434864.html">Jones, Vyncent</a> </font></td>
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<td style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #222222;" align="left"><font color="#000000" size="2" face="verdana">RG </font></td>
<td style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #222222;" align="left"><font color="#000000" size="2" face="verdana">59 </font></td>
<td style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #222222;" align="left"><font color="#000000" size="2" face="verdana"><a style="outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; color: #bb122f; text-decoration: none;" target="_new" href="http://utahutes.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/junior_salt_796861.html">Salt, Junior</a> </font></td>
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<td style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #222222;" align="left"><font color="#000000" size="2" face="verdana">RT </font></td>
<td style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #222222;" align="left"><font color="#000000" size="2" face="verdana">60 </font></td>
<td style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #222222;" align="left"><font color="#000000" size="2" face="verdana"><a style="outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; color: #bb122f; text-decoration: none;" target="_new" href="http://utahutes.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/siaosi_aiono_757021.html">Aiono, Siaosi</a> </font></td>
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<td style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #222222;" align="left"><font color="#000000" size="2" face="verdana">QB </font></td>
<td style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #222222;" align="left"><font color="#000000" size="2" face="verdana">7 </font></td>
<td style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #222222;" align="left"><font color="#000000" size="2" face="verdana"><a style="outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; color: #bb122f; text-decoration: none;" target="_new" href="http://utahutes.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/travis_wilson_796841.html">Wilson, Travis</a> </font></td>
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<td style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #222222;" align="left"><font color="#000000" size="2" face="verdana">RB </font></td>
<td style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #222222;" align="left"><font color="#000000" size="2" face="verdana">34 </font></td>
<td style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #222222;" align="left"><font color="#000000" size="2" face="verdana"><a style="outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; color: #bb122f; text-decoration: none;" target="_new" href="http://utahutes.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/bubba_poole_814372.html">Poole, Bubba</a> </font></td>
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<td style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #222222;" align="left"><font color="#000000" size="2" face="verdana">WR </font></td>
<td style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #222222;" align="left"><font color="#000000" size="2" face="verdana">6 </font></td>
<td style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #222222;" align="left"><font color="#000000" size="2" face="verdana"><a style="outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; color: #bb122f; text-decoration: none;" target="_new" href="http://utahutes.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/dres_anderson_702109.html">Anderson, Dres</a> </font></td>
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<td style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #222222;" align="left"><font color="#000000" size="2" face="verdana">WR </font></td>
<td style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #222222;" align="left"><font color="#000000" size="2" face="verdana">80 </font></td>
<td style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #222222;" align="left"><font color="#000000" size="2" face="verdana"><a style="outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; color: #bb122f; text-decoration: none;" target="_new" href="http://utahutes.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/westlee_tonga_701705.html">Tonga, Westlee</a> </font></td>
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<td style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #222222;" align="left"><font color="#000000" size="2" face="verdana">WR </font></td>
<td style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #222222;" align="left"><font color="#000000" size="2" face="verdana">83 </font></td>
<td style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #222222;" align="left"><font color="#000000" size="2" face="verdana">Fitzgerald,Sean </font></td>
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<td style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #222222;" align="left"><font color="#000000" size="2" face="verdana">TE </font></td>
<td style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #222222;" align="left"><font color="#000000" size="2" face="verdana">82 </font></td>
<td style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #222222;" align="left"><font color="#000000" size="2" face="verdana"><a style="outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; outline-color: initial; color: #bb122f; text-decoration: none;" target="_new" href="http://utahutes.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/jake_murphy_757002.html">Murphy, Jake</a> </font></td>
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<p>Let's start with the players up front.</p>
<p><b>Offensive Line</b></p>
<p>The two Jeremiahs make up the left side. Poutasi (6'5, 345, Sophomore) and Tofaeono (6'2, 320, Senior) both started 6 or more games last season. Poutasi was a Honorable Mention All-Pac-12 guy at right tackle as a freshman and moved to the blindside this year. He'll be a good test for <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/113882/cassius-marsh" class="sbn-auto-link">Cassius Marsh</a> on that side. The rest of the unit made up by a senior at center in Jones (6'3, 305) who was a guard the last three season, a redshirt junior transfer at right guard in Salt (6'2, 325) and a redshirt sophomore at right tackle in Alono (6'2, 305). This unit has done a nice job of keeping Wilson's jersey clean, having allowed only 4 sacks through 4 games. That was an issue in this game last season, as Wilson got hit a lot and it clearly affected him in his first start. Something to keep an eye on.</p>
<p><b>Passing Game</b></p>
<p>The Utes have 5 players with 8 or more catches, so those are the guys I'll focus on. The headliner is Dres Anderson, an IE guy out of JW North. He's leading the team with 18 catches for 404 yards and 3 touchdowns. He's got good size at 6'1" and scored the only offensive touchdown for the Utes against the Bruins last year.</p>
<p>Their next leading receiver is actually their leading rusher in running back Bubba Poole. Poole has 15 catches for 120 yards, I'll get into his play more in the next section.</p>
<p>The next two receivers are both big targets in Sean Fitzgerald (6'3, 200 pound senior from Mission Viejo) and <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/136393/anthony-denham" class="sbn-auto-link">Anthony Denham</a> (6'4", 222 pound senior from Monterey Park). Fitzgerald has 14 catches for 231 yards and 2 TDs and Denham has 10 catches for 142 yards and 1 TD.</p>
<p>The focus with these wideouts will be preventing the big play. A great deal of each player's yardage this season is a result of huge plays. Anderson's longest reception is 74 yards, Fitzgerald's is 80 yards and Denham's is 51 yards. With the Utes' struggles on 3rd down, keeping the huge gain in check will be a key.</p>
<p>Finally, redshirt junior tight end Jake Murphy (6'4, 252) is a player to keep an eye on. On the year, he has 8 catches for 152 yards and a TD and he had a nice game (4 catches for 65 yards) against UCLA last year.</p>
<p><b>Running Game</b></p>
<p>Last year the Utes inability to run the ball really hurt their offense as a whole. The Utes finished 2012 with the 94th rushing offense in the country at only 128 yards, while 2011 yielding a similar 134 yards per game. This year, the Utes have been moving the ball on the ground well and that is the biggest reason why they've been successful on offense.</p>
<p>Bubba Poole (6'0, 196) is a redshirt sophomore who transfered into Utah last year from Saddleback College. He's a good sized back and has had a great start to the year, rushing 58 times for 304 yards (5.2 YPC) and oddly scoring only once. He's complimented by <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/114724/lucky-radley" class="sbn-auto-link">Lucky Radley</a> (5'8, 187) who has carried 14 times for 112 yards and 2 touchdowns.</p>
<p>If nothing else, these backs dominate the battle for best names. What school can top a backfield of Lucky and Bubba?</p>
<p>Travis Wilson has also been essential in the Utes' success on the ground, rushing 32 times for 251 yards and scoring 5 touchdowns. He's sneaky athletic and UCLA will have to do a good job of containing Wilson from picking up yards scrambling.</p>
<p><b>Quarterbacks</b></p>
<p>Travis Wilson has made a huge leap in his first season as the unquestioned starter. He's unquestionably got the size at 6'7", 240. Through 4 games his numbers are eerily close to Brett Hundley's. He's completed just over 64% of his passes (74-115) and thrown for 9 touchdowns with 3 interceptions. His 1118 yards nearly surpass his total from last year (1311) in only 4 games.</p>
<p>As far as QBs go, Wilson is probably the best pure passer the Bruins have played thus far. It'll be a good test for the Bruins secondary to start off Pac-12 play.</p>
<p>Well, there you have it. The Utah offense. Thursday night kicks off the Pac-12 season for the Bruins on a national stage. We will all get to see if the big improvements of the Utah offense and the UCLA defense are for real or a product of the competition they've played.</p>
<p>Until next time, Go Bruins!</p>
https://www.bruinsnation.com/ucla-utah-bruins-utes-2013/2013/10/2/4789084/oppo-notes-utahs-offenseIE Angel2013-10-01T11:36:30-07:002013-10-01T11:36:30-07:00Oppo Notes: Replacing a Star
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<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/KgUcNw9N5vtDMTFv8ZDoTT6RWIc=/0x167:4000x2834/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/20489767/20121004_ajl_ai4_094.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Russ Isabella-US PRESSWIRE</figcaption>
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<p>Utah is replacing a lot of talent up front, and the results so far have been what would be expected after losing so much talent on the defensive line.</p> <p dir="ltr">Utah is replacing a lot of key parts of last year's defense, and so far the numbers have shown that they are going through growing pains. The defense is giving up over 400 yards a game, despite holding Weber St. to only 205 yards in one of their games. They've been beat up a bit both through the air and the pass. Utah St. and BYU rushed for nearly 200 yards each, while Oregon St. passed for nearly 450 yards against the Ute defense. That said, they've been good on third down, allowing only 26/71 conversions on third down, and the defense has already tallied 15 sacks and 31 tackles for loss this year.</p>
<p dir="ltr"><b>Defensive Line</b></p>
<p dir="ltr">Utah's four man front lost <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/114734/star-lotulelei" class="sbn-auto-link">Star Lotulelei</a> and Dave and <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/114735/joe-kruger" class="sbn-auto-link">Joe Kruger</a> from last year's squad. However, they've brought back a couple really good lineman in <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/88026/trevor-reilly" class="sbn-auto-link">Trevor Reilly</a> and <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/161174/tenny-palepoi" class="sbn-auto-link">Tenny Palepoi</a>. Reilly (6'5, 255 lbs., Sr.) starts and is a sort of hybrid LB/DE. Reilly has two sacks and 6 tackles for loss, and is probably the best defender on the unit. The other end is manned by <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/208587/nate-orchard" class="sbn-auto-link">Nate Orchard</a> (6'3 255 lbs., Jr.) who also has a sack and 3.5 tackles for loss this year.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Palepoi (6'2, 300 lbs., Sr.) has been very good from the tackle position, tallying 2.5 sacks, 3.5 tackles for loss, and 18 tackles. He'll be paired with <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/77676/latu-heimuli" class="sbn-auto-link">Latu Heimuli</a> (6'3, 305 lbs., Sr.), LT Tuipulotu (6'1, 305 lbs., Sr.) <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/136421/sam-tevi" class="sbn-auto-link">Sam Tevi</a> (6'5 295 lbs., Fr.) to form a pretty deep group inside.</p>
<p dir="ltr"><b>Linebackers</b></p>
<p dir="ltr">While there was a lot of attrition on the defensive front, Utah returns a solid group of linebackers. Utah utilizes small, fast linebackers that can play both run defense and pass defense equally well. While their stature may not be impressive, their production is off the charts. MLB <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/114716/v-j-fehoko" class="sbn-auto-link">V.J. Fehoko</a> (5'11, 225, Jr.) after playing in 11 games last year and has 14 tackles in 3 games this year.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Utah's WLB, or Rover slot, is filled by <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/114723/jacoby-hale" class="sbn-auto-link">Jacoby Hale</a> (6'0, 225 lbs., Jr.) and <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/161161/lt-filiaga" class="sbn-auto-link">LT Filiaga</a> (6'0, 240 lbs., So.). They are both good athletes capable of making plays. Filiaga was a fairly highly rated recruit in the 2009 class that has sat out three years for an LDS mission and redshirt season. Filiaga has not played in the last two games, but I cannot find any injury news.</p>
<p dir="ltr">The SLB is filled by <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/136408/jared-norris" class="sbn-auto-link">Jared Norris</a> (6'1, 230 lbs., So.), who fits the mold as another quick linebacker. He has 25 tackles and 2 tackles for loss this year. <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/161166/jason-whittingham" class="sbn-auto-link">Jason Whittingham</a> (6'2, 240 lbs., So.), nephew of head coach Kyle Whittingham, will also see plenty of action. He missed the first two games of the year but has 15 tackles over the past two games.</p>
<p dir="ltr"><b>Secondary</b></p>
<p dir="ltr">Utah's secondary lost the top three cornerbacks from last year's team, and the youth really showed when Oregon St. put up nearly 450 passing yards in Utah's Pac-12 opener. Last game, however, BYU only managed to complete 18/48 pass attempts and the secondary should improve all year long. The cornerbacks are Juco transfer <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/136392/keith-mcgill" class="sbn-auto-link">Keith McGill</a> (6'3, 205 lbs., Sr.), Michael Walker (5'9, 182 lbs., Sr.), and freshmen <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/161158/reginald-porter" class="sbn-auto-link">Reginald Porter</a> (5'11, 190 lbs., Fr.) and Justin Thomas (5'9, 173 lbs., Fr.).</p>
<p dir="ltr">At safety, Utah does not have experiences issues. Eric Rowe (6'1, 185 lbs., Jr) starts at FS and has started his entire career at Utah. Rowe has 24 tackles and has broken up 5 passes this year.</p>
<p dir="ltr">At SS, Utah often utilizes it's linebackers to shift into rover, which <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/114714/brian-blechen" class="sbn-auto-link">Brian Blechen</a> (6'2, 215 lbs., Sr.) can do very well as a hybrid type player. He's a very good athlete, but he's probably better against the run than in coverage. <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/88014/quade-chappuis" class="sbn-auto-link">Quade Chappuis</a> (5'11, 198 lbs., Sr.) is a very athletic back-up but has been out the past two games.</p>
<p dir="ltr">That concludes the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/utah-utes" class="sbn-auto-link">Utah Utes</a> defensive preview. Fire away with any additional comments.</p>
https://www.bruinsnation.com/ucla_bruin_football/2013/10/1/4791700/oppo-notes-utahs-defenseAHMB2013-09-30T10:00:13-07:002013-09-30T10:00:13-07:00Oppo Notes: Utah's Coaches & Special Teams
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<img alt="Hundley and the Bruins will need to step up their game if they're to pick up a big win in Salt Lake City." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/CNgbIvcvfuxqP1qng5BPt7bhdxQ=/0x0:4000x2667/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/20413659/154068152.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Hundley and the Bruins will need to step up their game if they're to pick up a big win in Salt Lake City. | Stephen Dunn</figcaption>
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<p>With the past weekend a bye week, the Bruins will head to Salt Lake City fully-rested and hopefully not rusty, with a tough road game on tap this Thursday. With the nationally televised Thursday night dog fight against Utah coming up quick, we preview our Thursday night opponent, beginning with a look at the Utes' coaching staff and their special teams.</p> <p>Thursday night is going to be a tough test for our Bruins. Not only will UCLA be facing an opponent they were barely able to put away at the Rose Bowl last season (winning 21-14), they'll be doing it in Salt Lake City against an opponent with a more complete coaching staff. Fortunately, their special teams play is shakier than last season, so if the Bruins play disciplined and smart football this Thursday, they might finally shake off their Thursday night/Utah bad vibes and pull out a solid road win.</p>
<p>Let's begin with the Utes' coaching situation: Kyle Whittingham is in his 10th season in charge of the Utes after taking over for Urban Meyer in 2004. UCLA fans are plenty familar with him, as he's gone 2-2 against the Bruins over the past decade, with his highlights against UCLA being beating the 44-6 beat down he handed the Bruins in Salt Lake City in 2007 and the 31-6 whooping he delivered in SLC in 2011. Troubling for UCLA fans: he's never lost to the Bruins in Salt Lake City.</p>
<p>Whittingham has put together some impressive Utah squads in that decade and it looks like this year's version isn't the kind of pushover UCLA would hope for on a road trip to the mountain states (like Colorado was last year). Whittingham was one of the hot coaching names in demand after some of those deep runs, but the past few seasons of so-so results in the Pac-12 have quieted down the talk of him being a Tier 1 candidate.</p>
<p>However, the most important element of the coaching staff isn't the stability provided by Whittingham, but the dynamic offensive scheme run by new offensive coordinator Dennis Erickson. While Erickson has struggled to consistency find a winning formula as a head coach, the one thing about all of his teams is that they could score, and Utah has improved by leaps and bounds from last year: under Erickson, the Utes are scoring 42 points per game, as compared to last season's measly 26.7 points per game. Sure, the sample size isn't huge, but Utah's offense is much stronger than the one we barely got by at home last year. On the defensive side of the ball, Utah is led by long-time Whittingham assistant Kalani Fifita Sitake, who has also been the Utes' key recruiter. The defense hasn't changed much, if at all, from last season's version (surrendering 25.1 points per game last year, as compared to 24.2 so far this season), but by holding steady, it's translated into more wins as the offense isn't an anemic joke like the prior year.</p>
<p>Flipping over to the special teams, there's a bit of change as the Utes are having to replace former kicker Colem Petersen (8 for 13 on FGs in 2012) with redshirt freshman Andy Phillips (7 for 7 on FGs so far in 2013), while also replacing graduating punter <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/38387/sean-sellwood" class="sbn-auto-link">Sean Sellwood</a> (38 punts, 46.5 yards per punt, 9 inside the 20 in 2012) with sophomore punter <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/161149/tom-hackett" class="sbn-auto-link">Tom Hackett</a> (23 punts, 43.8 yards per punt, 9 inside the 20 in 2013), but so far the transition has been pretty seamless. Likewise, it seems Utah is still trying to find who is their most explosive return men, with Whittingham employing a return-by-committee season (at least from the early season numbers), with last year's leading return men still in the squad.</p>
<p>UCLA will head up to Salt Lake City this week and gear up for their Thursday night match against the Utes: let's hope Mora is what UCLA needs to finally get over the Whittingham and Salt Lake City hump.</p>
<p>GO BRUINS</p>
https://www.bruinsnation.com/2013/9/30/4785872/ucla-utah-preview-examining-the-utes-coaches-and-special-teamsBellerophon