Ute 'D' zeroes in on Tech QB

Sacks were plentiful in Utah's 35-7 victory over Pittsburgh in the Fiesta Bowl. The Utes racked up nine of them — one more than Emerald Bowl opponent Georgia Tech has given up all season long.

Statistically speaking, such stops will be more difficult this time around.

Utah coach Kyle Whittingham attributes Georgia Tech's successful protection to a couple of factors — an effective two-back run game and an athletic quarterback in Reggie Ball.

"Even if you can get in the backfield you have a tough time tackling him because he's so elusive," Whittingham said. "When you have a quarterback like him with his athleticism and you combine that with a very solid running game, that's the reason their sacks are down as a unit."

Utah, though, is still determined to make Ball uneasy.

"You hope you can get pressure on the quarterback," Whittingham said. "That's something you want to do every week."

Eleven Utes combined on 27 sacks for 166 yards this season. Steve Fifita, defensive MVP of the Fiesta Bowl, leads the team with five.

Getting more, he insists, may not be necessary.

"As long as we just get back there and disrupt what they're trying to do I think that will be better than getting sacks," Fifita said.

The mobility of Georgia Tech's offense presents a variety of challenges.

"It's hard to bring pressure at a running quarterback because he'll make one move and he's out of the gate," said safety Eric Weddle. "We've just got to mix it up. Play zone, play man and bring the blitzes when the time is called. If we all do that and play a solid game — don't turn the ball over — we'll have a chance to win."

Utah's focal point defensively is to make things as difficult as possible for Ball.

"We are going to have to get pressure on him," Whittingham said. "Sacks aren't really as important as making him uncomfortable in the pocket and not letting him get into a rhythm. We don't necessarily have to sack him, just get him out of his rhythm."

A couple of sacks, though, wouldn't hurt.

"If we can get them that would be a huge asset to the defense and get them in bad field position," Weddle said. "It'll come down to making the plays when the plays are coming at you — just containing their athletes and making plays when needed."

Ratliff rests

Utah quarterback Brett Ratliff, who tweaked his left ankle Friday, did not practice Saturday. Head coach Kyle Whittingham doesn't expect the minor sprain to keep Ratliff off the field again Monday when practice resumes.

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E-mail: dirk@desnews.com