That large deflating sound you heard around 500 south and 1400 east on Saturday, that was the sound of 45,000 fans being taken out of the game almost immediately. In a game that meant everything, the Utes came out extremely flat. Now Head Coach Kyle Whittingham is facing the toughest challenge of his head coaching career. Meanwhile, in Provo, the Cougars finally found some offense. Talk about flipping the script. An offense that couldn't be stopped can't get out of the garage, while an offense that couldn't get started, didn't have a brake pedal.
Over-rate-d
It didn't take long for TCU to make the Utes look as overrated as their early schedule was easy. The Utes came out flat, and it seemed almost from the opening kickoff that the moment of this game had overwhelmed them. On the first drive of the game the Horned Frogs moved at will down the field, before finally burning backup DB Conroy Black for an opening TD. Defenders were frequently out of place, and seemed as if they were all a bunch of high schoolers playing an NFL team. On first down, the Horned Frogs were frequently getting 6 or 7 yards, setting up 2nd and 3 or 4's. On those second downs the Horned Frogs would get 6 or 7 more yards.
When the Utes were actually able to force a long 3rd down possession, the Horned Frogs frequently answered the bell. Particularly bad games were had by the DB's, specifically Black who was a favorite target of TCU QB Andy Dalton early and often. 20 points later the first quarter had ended.
The terrible start by the defense put the offense in a deep hole early in the game. A hole they were unable to get out of. QB Jordan Wynn never seemed comfortable in the game, and was frequently unable to get into a rhythm. Wynn would frequently overthrow easy passes, and let the ball sail over his target. Of course when he did try to settle down, and actually deliver a nice pass, his WR's turned into BYU WR's, and dropped everything they possibly could.
Wynn wasn't helped by the playcalling who seemed to abandon the run almost from the start. Of course being down 20-0 doesn't help, but there was still time to come back, but the Utes would need to run. The few run plays they did call, though, seemed intent on attacking the edges. Something that is a terrible decision with TCU's speed.
By the time it was done, the final score of 47-7 wasn't anywhere indicative of the overall demolishing the Utes took on the day. Oh and by the way, on the lone Ute score of the day, he was short. Knee down with the ball outside of the goal line, I actually took a picture that shows it. And with as bad as the Utes played that day, there's no guarantee they would have converted.
How Much Blame For Wynn
QB Jordan Wynn seems to be the favored whipping boy for last week's debacle. While he definitely deserves his share of the blame, he wasn't helped out one bit by anybody. Not his offensive mates, certainly not the defense which couldn't stop anything, and definitely not the coaching gameplan.
It's hard to remember but Wynn is just a true Sophomore, starting only his 11th game last weekend. And yes, the moment definitely was too much for him, and he made some terrible mistakes. Especially as he kept trying to press to make plays, and instead caused turnovers. In fact, he easily played worse than last year as a true freshman making his 2nd career start. But he wasn't alone. Everyone on the team was playing well below their ability. If all those veterans were overwhelmed, and if Whittingham was as outcoached, and outclassed as he was, imagine how Wynn felt.
And for anyone calling for Cain to come in, how easily you forget how often the offense stutters and stalls with him in there against bad teams.
What Did You Have To Lose
Although someone who does need more blame is Coach Whittingham, Defensive Coordinator Sitake, and Offensive Coordinators Dave Schramm and Aaron Roderick.
It's clear that this game became too much for the players. That falls onto the coaching staff. Defensively players were frequently out of place, and during the game, the team was slow to adjust. During the first half TCU would frequently line up in a trips formation. Everytime they lined up in this position, the play was a quick bubble screen to the back player of the "trip". Yet Utah defense never adjusted. They never moved a guy out whenever this position was shown, and sure enough this play would go for 7-8 yards.
Offensively, the biggest glaring issue early was that they put this game on Wynn's shoulders from the start. While it's great that they had the confidence in their sophomore QB, once it became obvious that Wynn was uncomfortable, and that the moment was bigger than Wynn, they should have adjusted and tried running up the middle more, since the middle was the one area that seemed to be a weakness for TCU.
Not only that, but as the game was slipping away, the staff seemed unwilling to get aggressive. Many times in the 2nd quarter, and early in the 3rd quarter, the Utes would face a 4th and short. Every time the punting units came out. With the game already 23-0 or worse, what did the Utes have to lose. So what if the ball was on your own 35. Show some fight, show some heart. Show the team, and the fans that were still there, the fans that were trying so hard to stay in the game, show them that you were still going for the win.
Instead out came the punting unit, and out came the boo birds.
View From The Red Zone
Got to say, I've got mixed feelings about the crowd this week. On the good side, they tried to get into this game multiple times even late in the 3rd, and beginning of the 4th quarter, long after it looked like this game was over. It didn't help that the team just couldn't do anything on the field. However, I have to say I was dissappointed to look around early in the 3rd and see a lot of emptying seats.
As far as the team, there was one play that summed up their attitude to me. Late in the 2nd quarter, I believe it was, TCU was kicking off, again. The kickoff went to Dunn and was about 7 or 8 yards deep in the end zone. It was obvious they were going to down it for a touch back. However, Dunn didn't field it cleanly and it dropped to the end zone. While Dunn eventually did get to the ball and down it, he was very very slow doing it. So slow that TCU players had actually gotten to the goal line before he did.
Kickoffs are live balls, Had TCU recovered it would have been another 7 points for them. Seeing Dunn's body language as he slowly got to the ball laying in the end zone, made it clear that on that day, this team had been clearly defeated.
3CS Busted
Chance at a national championship game. Never realistic, but busted! Chance at a 3rd BCS game. Busted! Chance to avenge last year's humiliating defeated. Busted! Chance to leave the MWC with a conference title. Most likely busted!
So now Coach Whittingham has his toughest coaching job ahead of him the next three weeks. Most of the goals that were there for the Utes to begin the season are gone if a Horned Frog flash. Coach Whit will have to make this team wake up, shake off any hangover, and go out and play. The Utes can still pull off an 11-1 season. A season that would include victories over possible Big East Champion Pitt, Air Force, Notre Dame, and BYU.
If things bust right they could end up in the top 10 before the bowl season. This could go down as possibly one of the top 4 seasons in Utah history. But only, if Coach Whit does the best coaching job of his career over the next few weeks.
Holy Offense Batman
While the Utes were struggling, the Cougars appeared to put their week off to good use. For the first time all season the Cougars showed some semblence of an offense, as they rolled UNLV 55-7. It was already 55-0 before UNLV spoiled the shutout.
While Jake Heaps finally had a good day through the air, don't let that fool you. The offense was set up by the run. The Cougars came out running first, and then after softening up the Rebels, they started finding a passing game.
Defensively, the improvement that BYU has seen since Mendenhall took back the defensive coordinator job continued. UNLV was unable to find any rhythm offensively, and weren't ever a threat to score until the very end.
Admiral Ackbar Saturday
So with BYU rolling, and Utah struggling last week, I am going to deem next Saturday "Admiral Ackbar Saturday". The reason, both teams face serious trap games.
Utah had their season explode in their face last weekend. Now they travel to historical Notre Dame. Home of Touchdown Jesus, The Golden Domers, and Rudy. Also home to an extremely overrated school that has been living off of past history for the past 15 years. This year's team is also extremely down. They are sitting at 4-5, and have lost their starting QB, starting RB, and starting TE, who was likely to be a 1st round pick.
You would think that this is exactly the type of game the Utes need to get back on track. That's just the problem. As weird as it sounds, it's too easy to overlook this Notre Dame team. If the Utes are dwelling at all on last weekend, they will get caught in a trap. Not only that, but the aura of going to such a bastion of college football history could become overwhelming. Utah must have their heads on straight.
As for BYU, everything seems to be going right. They finally had an offensive outburst that was very BYU like. Defensively they've been much improved the last 4 games. It seems like they have righted the ship. What looked like a few weeks ago would be a season without even a bowl berth, is now a season that they control their own destiny for 2nd place in the conference.
Don't be fooled by CSU. They are a better team than their record. This is exactly the type of game that could come back to bite BYU. Especially since this game is on the road. CSU held TCU to 6 points in the first half on the road. CSU's offense and defense have both come on as of late, and this is a team that shouldn't be taken for granted.
Both teams go into games, that on paper they should win. But both teams are in situations where they could be tempted to get caught looking behind at what could have been, or get caught looking at what might still be. They both be careful or they might be saying "It's a trap!"
Congrats Air Force
Two consecutive losses didn't mean anything to the Falcons as they rolled the Black Knights of Army and captured the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy. This marks the end of Navy's 7 year reign, and makes Air Force the supreme football service academy. While winning the conference, and bowl games, and all the other stuff is important each year to all of the service academies, this trophy, also helps mark a successful season.
Winless No More
Well apparently miracles do happen. The Lobos of New Mexico won a game. This makes the grand total of vicotories under Head Coach Mike Locksley double to 2. Hopefully it doesn't fool the AD of New Mexico into thinking that they haven't got worse, and give Locksley a 3rd year.
Rankings Game
After their loss, Utah dropped 9 spots to 15th in the AP/Coaches polls, and 14th in the BCS. It's too bad, because other games went well for Utah last week. Alabama lost their second game, so at least the snake Nick Saban's squad will maybe stop getting National Championship love. Iowa State also took Nebraska to overtime before losing by 1.
With the loss, the goals have changed. Now Utah should look at getting back into the top 10. The loss seems to have helped TCU get a ton of love as they jumped Boise State to become 3rd in all polls. Now Utah, will have a hard time proving they are anything other than overrated.
Believe it or not, this week's game will actually help. Sure Notre Dame is down, but Notre Dame is Notre Dame. They still get love. Plus it will be nationally televised. Not nationally televised like The Mtn, or CBS-C is nationally televised. This game will be on NBC (channel 5). If Utah can go out and put a whooping on the Irish, it will help remove some sour tastes from the mouths of voters. Also TCU must continue to go out and take care of business.
Around Utah there isn't much going on. Iowa right in front of them plays Northwestern who upset them last year, so don't expect it to happen twice in a row. Michigan State plays Purdue, Oklahoma plays Texas Tech, and Oklahoma State plays Texas. None of those higher ranked teams should lose. The only chance at an upset may be #12 Alabama facing off against #19 Mississippi State. However it's at Bryant-Denny Stadium.
Most likely unless there is a major upset, expect the rankings to have very little movement this week. Especially since a lot of the top teams are playing crappy teams right now.