|
WR
Brent Casteel |
|
|
2006
Statistics |
Coach:
Kyle Whittingham
15-10, 2 years |
2006
Record: 8-5 |
|
at
UCLA |
LOST
10-31 |
NORTHERN
ARIZONA |
WON
45-7 |
at
Utah State |
WON
48-0 |
at
San Diego State |
WON
38-7 |
BOISE
STATE |
LOST
3-36 |
TCU |
WON
20-7 |
at
Wyoming |
LOST
15-31 |
at
New Mexico |
LOST
31-34 |
UNLV |
WON
45-23 |
COLORADO
STATE |
WON
35-22 |
at
Air Force |
WON
17-14 |
BRIGHAM
YOUNG |
LOST
31-33 |
ARMED
FORCES BOWL |
Tulsa |
WON
25-13 |
|
2005
Final Rankings
AP-UR, Coaches-UR, BCS-UR
|
2007
Outlook |
Since
head coach Kyle Whittingham took over
for Urban Meyer after the Ute’s
12-0 BCS Bowl-winning campaign, his
teams have suffered five losses both
times. His guys look great for one
or two weeks and then vulnerable the
next. Getting dangerous and proven
dual-threat QB Brian Johnson back
from injury, along with every major
talent position starter and almost
the entire line, will hopefully solve
the few woes on that side of the ball…offensive
coordinator Andy Ludwig has done more
with less. As the former DC, Whittingham
needs to get his experienced linebacking
corps to deliver in underneath coverage
like they do in run support. Adding
Aaron Alford (as corners coach) should
help shape the Ute’s 80th-ranked
secondary for marked improvements.
And someone like P/PK Louis Sakoda,
who had the Utes rank atop the nation
for net punt results, guarantees an
upper hand in field position battles.
The spring game revealed how big the
dropoff is from their main components
to their reserves, so health issues
would be impacting if widespread,
especially with Johnson. Utah just
has to put their full potential in
motion to give themselves a chance
to win weekly. This team still has
the capability to keep up with BCS-conference
teams when firing on all cylinders,
and their ambitious non-conference
lineup (at Oregon State, UCLA, and
at Louisville) insists upon this or
it will be another season that falls
short. The ever-improving Mountain
West could easily suck Utah into its
parity. Moreover, tough trips to No.23
TCU and BYU should be pivotal in resolving
the league champion. If they can’t
hit the ground already going at full
speed, expect a disappointed Swoop
and Crimson-and-White faithful.
Projected
2007 record: 8-4
|
|
|
LB
Joe Jiannoni |
UTAH
*POWER RATINGS |
Offense |
Defense |
QB
- 3.5 |
DL
- 3 |
RB
- 3.5 |
LB
- 3.5 |
WR
- 4.5 |
DB
- 3 |
OL
- 4 |
.. |
|
RETURNING
LEADERS |
Passing:
Tommy Grady, 7-14-3, 102 yds., 1 TD
Rushing: Darryl Poston, 145
att., 553 yds., 5 TD
Receiving: Derrek Richards,
60 rec., 717 yds., 6 TD
Scoring: Louie Sakoda, 16-20
FG, 43-43 PAT, 91 pts.
Punting: Louie Sakoda, 59 punts,
44.0 avg.
Kicking: Louie Sakoda, 16-20
FG, 43-43 PAT, 91 pts.
Tackles: Steve Tate, 102 tot.,
58 solo
Sacks: Martail Burnett, 5.5
sacks
Interceptions: Steve Tate,
Malakai Mokofisi, Brice McCain, Stevenson
Sylvester, Joe Jiannoni - 1 each
Kickoff Returns: Brice McCain,
18 ret., 22.4 avg., 0 TD
Punt Returns: Marquis Wilson,
22 ret., 11.2 avg., 0 TD
|
|
|
|
|
UTAH
|
|
|
OFFENSE
- 9 |
----RETURNING
STARTERS---- |
DEFENSE
- 6 |
|
KEY
LOSSES |
OFFENSE:
Brett Ratliff-QB, Tavo Tupola-OT |
DEFENSE:
Kelly
Talavou-DT, Paul Soliai-NG, Soli Lefiti-DE,
Eric Weddle-CB, Shaun Harper-CB, Casey
Evans-SS, Eric Shyne-FS, J.J. Williams-LB |
|
|
2007
OFFENSE |
Coordinator
Andy Ludwig has been dealt a good hand for
2007 since the only major component requiring
replacement is at quarterback. How can needing
a new QB be good, you ask? Well, when you
get the 2005 conference passing leader,
Brian Johnson (also was 4th in the nation
for total offense and 11th in passing efficiency),
back completely healthy from the knee surgery
that held him out all of last year, a top
25 ranking is not out of the question. Only
20, this junior has the tools to become
the next of Ludwig’s No.1 draft choices
(coached David Carr) – he completes
nearly two-thirds of his pass attempts and
darts through tiny crevasses with his 4.6
second speed in the 40. Johnson also tutored
under No.1 pick Alex Smith…expectations
are high, as you can see. The drop-back
style of 6’7 backup Tommy Grady limits
the play calling in this wide-open offense
as do his sporadic errors, so don’t
be surprised to see dual-threat JUCO-transfer
Chad Manis behind center to keep the playbook
working for (instead of against) the Utes.
It’s the Darryl & Darrell show
for what are usually one-back sets. Senior
Poston is a slasher with softer hands, but
junior Mack can run both by and through
defenders as he proved to coaches all spring.
Look for productive senior bruiser Mike
Liti to also be featured once back from
knee surgery. Though the wideouts garner
more than just random carries (junior Brent
Casteel was team’s second leading
rusher) in this spread attack, Utah needs
more production from their hulking ground
game to balance this offense and make it
unstoppable again. The aerial assault sees
all six top receivers back, including two
All-MWC threats in American Fork-native
Derrek Richards and Casteel. Brian Hernandez
and Marquis Wilson will battle for the third
slot once deep-threat Wilson returns from
injury. Juniors Freddie Brown and Bradon
Godfrey will each use their 6’3 frames
for tough assignments, giving the Utes the
league’s most complete and deepest
corps. The only question left is whether
dangerous DB/WR/TB Sean Smith will get more
chances…our eight-ball says “absolutely”.
DE Paul Kruger has been a quick study in
his return to tight end (where he played
in prep) and should challenge senior Matt
Sims for both reps and the few touches this
position earns. The line only needs to secure
senior Jeremy Inferrera at left tackle as
it otherwise returns en mass. The right
side is stacked with all-conference selections,
and senior Kyle Gunther at center will sort
out the team’s complex blocking schemes.
Getting Johnson back to lead an already
gelled group means there is no excuse if
Utah fails to average nearly 400 yards and
30+ points per game.
|
|
K/P
Louie Sakoda
|
|
|
UTAH
2007 DEPTH CHART
Returning Starters/Key
Players |
OFFENSE |
QB |
Brian
Johnson-Jr (6-1, 210) |
Tommy
Grady-Sr (6-7, 235) |
RB |
Darryl
Poston-Sr (5-11, 200) |
Darrell
Mack-Jr (6-0, 219)
Ray Stowers-Jr (6-0, 223) |
WR |
Derrek
Richards-Sr (5-11, 175) |
Freddie
Brown-Jr (6-3, 207) |
WR |
Brent
Casteel-Jr (5-10, 193) |
Bradon
Godfrey-Jr (6-3, 197) |
WR |
Brian
Hernandez-Sr (6-0, 183) |
Marquis
Wilson-Jr (5-11, 170) |
TE |
Matt
Sims-Sr (6-1, 251) |
Colt
Sampson-Jr (6-4, 250) |
OT |
Jeremy
Inferrera-Sr (6-3, 296) |
Walter
Watts-Fr (6-2, 300) |
OG |
Zane
Beadles-So (6-4, 312) |
Caleb
Schlauderauff-Fr (6-5, 300) |
C |
Kyle
Gunther-Sr (6-4, 304) |
Tyler
Williams-So (6-1, 295) |
OG |
Robert
Conley-Jr (6-1, 316) |
Zane
Taylor-Fr (6-3, 305) |
OT |
Jason
Boone-Sr (6-4, 300) |
Dustin
Hensel-Jr (6-7, 320) |
K |
Louie
Sakoda-Jr (5-10, 178) |
Ben
Vroman-So (5-11, 187) |
|
|
2007
DEFENSE |
All-conference
free safety Steve Tate takes over the backfield
leadership role of Eric Weddle, and this
heady 24-year old senior (LDS mission) proved
why he was once Utah’s (prep) Mr.
Football by leading the team in tackles
last year. But despite losing a total of
four major components from the secondary,
we see the hiring of new corners coach Aaron
Alford (away from Akron, no doubt) as a
smart step toward solving the erratic performance
of the Ute’s 80th-ranked pass defense.
Brice McCain, a junior all-MWC selection
at corner whose consistency grounds his
side, finds 6’3 phenom Steve Smith
his opposite and looking more like Weddle
(than Tate) with his athleticism and ability
to smack ball carriers (just ask Casteel).
The battle between JUCO-transfer DeShawn
Richards and Joe Dale for the strong safety
slot will go on into the fall, something
that will benefit Utah as their competition
pushes each to their full potential. The
turnover and offseason progress amongst
the DBs will actually help them to improve
the overall result here. The linebackers
have assignments, but coach Whittingham
likes for his three best guys to be out
there, often shuffling who-goes-where due
to the all-around talent available and Utah’s
need to reformulate for better underneath
coverage. Kyle Brady, who started at “rover”
before seeing extensive action at “stud”,
moves back to RLB while former walk-on Mokofisi
(stud) and all-MWC Jiannoni (middle) round
out this well-sized, all-senior crew. Svelter
super soph Stevenson Sylvester has been
pushing for a permanent starting slot, but
there is little development behind him for
what proved to be a marginal (at best) effort
here last year. All-league “open”
end Martail Burnett is a great rebuilding
block for the vacated line, one which boasted
the 22nd ranking for run stopping. Experienced
backups Alex Puccinelli and Greg Newman
are being pushed by Koa Misi, a JUCO-transfer,
for the other start at end, making this
a promising two-deep. Senior Gabe Long finally
gets the well deserved start at nose tackle,
offset by proven sophomore Kenape Eliapo
after he beat out Zeke Wiley and Pauli Latu
in a competitive spring. The new-look line
will likely take little time until it performs
like last season’s group, and that
might mean more sacks. The Utes cannot afford
another rollercoaster ride on this side
of the ball – consistency has to be
their main goal after all five foes who
broke through the 30-point barrier in ’06
beat them. Progress this offseason looks
promising, though.
|
|
DB
Steve Tate
|
|
|
UTAH
2007 DEPTH CHART
Returning Starters/Key
Players |
DEFENSE |
DE |
Martail
Burnett-Sr (6-3, 262) |
Alex
Puccinelli-Sr (6-2, 252) |
DT |
Kenape
Eliapo-So (6-0, 303) |
Zeke
Tuinei-Wily-So (6-4, 308) |
NG |
Gabe
Long-Sr (6-3, 290) |
Casey
Sutera-Sr (6-3, 266) |
DE |
Paul
Kruger-Fr (6-5, 248) |
Greg
Newman-Jr (6-4, 260) |
SLB |
Malakai
Mokofisi-Sr (6-2, 243) |
Kyle
Brady-Sr (6-1, 234) |
MLB |
Joe
Jiannoni-Sr (6-0, 235) |
Mike
Wright-So (6-2, 225) |
RLB |
Stevenson
Sylvester-So (6-2, 210) |
Matt
Martinez-Fr (6-0, 230) |
CB |
Brice
McCain-Jr (5-9, 189) |
Mookie
Murphy-Fr (5-9, 167) |
CB |
Sean
Smith-So (6-3, 217) |
Elijah
Wesson-So (5-11, 175)
Justin Jones-So (5-10, 170) |
SS |
Joe
Dale-So (5-11, 197) |
Deshawn
Richard-Jr (6-1, 196) |
FS |
Steve
Tate-Sr (5-11, 195) |
R.J.
Rice-Jr (5-8, 183) |
P |
Louie
Sakoda-Jr (5-10, 178) |
Ben
Vroman-So (5-11, 187) |
|
|
|
2007
SPECIAL TEAMS |
Junior
Louie Sakoda, co-Special Teams Player of the Year
for the Mountain West Conference, should be an
All-American after more than half of his punts
came down inside the 20 and just under one-third
were fair catches. It all equaled the county’s
best net results. He is pretty solid as a placekicker,
but David Carroll has been vying for a look here,
and distance is needed after Sakoda’s longest
field goal was 45 yards. We are not sure why Marquis
Wilson isn’t listed as a punt returner with
his 11.2 yard average, but unheralded Brian Hernandez
seems to have the nod there while Casteel and
McCain will again share duties as the Ute kick
returners.
|
|