Utah Utes College Football Preview 2021: Keys To The Season
Utah Utes Biggest Key: Offense
The passing game had to be more efficient. Utah’s offensive line was decent enough – and it’s about to be fantastic – but QB Jake Bentley threw six interceptions to go along with his six touchdowns and struggled to make the downfield plays. He’s gone to South Alabama, and now it’s up to Charlie Brewer from Baylor to step in and do more.
Utah averaged 6.9 yards per throw after averaging almost ten per pass – with Tyler Huntley throwing 19 touchdowns and four picks – in 2019. 2020 was the first time since 2015 the team failed to hit seven yards per throw, and the change since then was by design.
The Utes made a point to come up with a more open attack to go along with the ground-and-pound, and it worked. Now it’s up to Brewer to bring it back.
Utah Utes Biggest Key: Defense
Giving up passing yards is okay, but don’t give up the really big plays. The Utah defense was a brick wall against the run and should be again. Forget about pounding on this massive front six, and you don’t play defensive back for Kyle Whittingham if you don’t tackle.
So teams have to throw to get by.
The 2020 Utes allowed 257 yards per game, which might’ve been among the most in the Pac-12, but it wasn’t that bad considering there was next to nothing happening on the ground.
That’s fine as long as there weren’t a whole lot of deep shots.
The Utes allowed over seven yards per pass twice last year – both games were losses. They allowed fewer than seven yards a throw in the three wins and are now 14-0 going back to the beginning of 2019 when they don’t get bombed on.
The program is 3-11 since the start of 2017 when it gives up more than seven yards a pop.
Utah Utes Key Player To A Successful Season
RB Micah Bernard, RFr.
Forgive the crass analysis of anything football related considering the heartbreaking passing of Ty Jordan – he really was a terrific running back.
He averaged over seven yards per carry on his 597 yards with six touchdowns, and the second-leading running back Devin Brumfield is a Tulane Green Wave. There might be talents coming in from the transfer portal, but Bernard will get the first look.
He didn’t get a whole lot of work considering how good Jordan was – he only carried it 15 times for 76 yards. And that’s where Oklahoma’s TJ Pledger and LSU’s Chris Curry come in.
It will take a good rotation to replace when Jordan brought to the Ute offense.
Utah Utes Key Game To The 2021 Season
at USC, Oct. 9
The Utes have lost two straight to USC, but it’s worse than that – at least for this season.
The 2021 Utah team can absolutely beat the Trojans, but there’s one massive issue – it’s in LA.
Including the 1993 Freedom Bowl in Anaheim, Utah has lost ten straight to USC in the greater Los Angeles era. The last win in the series on the road was a 27-12 victory to kick off the 1916 season.
Change that around and win this, and the game in Salt Lake City against Arizona State a week later might turn out to be for the Pac-12 South title.
– Utah Utes Football Schedule Breakdown & Analysis
2020 Utah Utes Fun Stats
– Time of Possession: Utah 33:20 – Opponents 26:40
– Punt Return Average: Opponents 23 yards – Utah 16.3 yards
– Average Yards Per Carry: Utah 5.1 – Opponents 3.8