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Utah Utes football: 2 backs, zero problem for Utes

With Brian Johnson healthy, this backfield is on par with my team down in Provo (sorry fellow Cougar fans). I'd love to see both teams stay healthy and roll through the season up to the finale in November. Good luck against Michigan!

Just start Mack... he's got the most "moves"

Will this be the year Utah finally gets to play a ranked team in a bowl?

asiata and mack are both animals, and both have the potential to put up over 1000 yd seasons. im so stoked to watch the utes go to the big house. good luck mwc, lets start to earn respect instead of just beggin for it

Utah played a ranked team in a bowl two years ago in 2005 in Georgia Tech and destroyed them. Calvin Johnson was shut down by Eric Weddle who held him to two catches.

Is he a Junior or Senior?

Two years ago I would never have listed Mack as a starter. He gingerly hit the holes and was quite tentative. Asiata's one or two runs last year were the complete opposite; quickly and powerfully hitting the hole.

Even after Mack's incredible year last year, I still get the feeling he's not as powerful of a back as the Utes need him to be. Regardless, having two backs is a great problem to have!

I am just glad that Asiata was able to recover from last years injury. I still cringe when I recall seeing his leg break on that play... I hope he does well this year and lives up to his reputation.

Junior

I am way excited to see this tandem. Utah has had some pretty good 2 back combinations over the years. Fuamatu Ma'Afala-Juan Johnson, Omar Bacon-Mike Anderson, Dameon Hunter-Adam Tate, Quinton Ganther-Marty Johnson, and now Mack-Asiata(don't forget Ray Stowers as a back that can come in as well) This should be a fun year watching both of these running backs split the duties.
Go UTES!

The final polls show that Utah has only played 4 ranked teams in their bowl history, and two of those teams were only ranked in one poll.

Year...Team......Rec...AP...Coaches
1992...Wash St...9-3...15...17
1993...USC.......8-5...---...25
1994...Arizona...8-4...20...20
2004...Pitt......8-4...25...---

I think both these backs are legit. Utah's running game is going to be very powerful. With the O-line we have, with Asiata and Mack, then throw in the plays they run for Casteel, Brooks, and the Louks package (kid runs a 4.4), the Utes could get around 300 rushing yards a game. Plus if BJ's arm is healthy as it appears to be, and with all our receivers (Godfrey, Brown, Casteel, Brooks, Wesson, Key, Reed), the Utes offense will be scary for opponents. Look out Michigan, and look out BCS!

Go Utes!!!

Utah beat 2 ranked Bowl opponents since 2004 (Pittsburgh, Ga. Tech). BYU hasn't beat a ranked Bowl opponent since 1996 (Kansas St.). That may have even been the last ranked bowl opponent they've faced up to now. Will this be the year the cougars finally play a ranked opponent in a Bowl game?

The 2004 Pitt team was ranked #19. They didn't drop to 25 until AFTER the Fiesta Bowl. The 2005 Ga. Tech team was ranked #25. They didn't drop out of the top-25 until AFTER the Emerald Bowl.

Two great running backs, an experienced and healthy QB and a solid O-line should equal a lot of touchdowns and wins up on the hill this year (assuming the defense continues its great tradition). I'm projecting Mack as the starter at Michigan just because of what he did last year, but Asiata should get a lot of reps as well. Good luck to both young men and the entire Utah squad.
Go Utah!!!!!

So Utah fans count their ranked opponents by their opponents rank when Utah played them, but counts everybody else's ranked opponents by final ranking.

So, Utah beat #19-ranked Pittsburgh in 2004, but BYU beat unranked (#3-ranked, when BYU played them) Pittsburgh in 1984.

How convenient.

I like the 1 and 1A idea, why not have two legitimate backs share the duty?

This year�s team has me so stoked for the football season. I'm praying there are no significant injuries this year; last year was brutal injury-wise. If they can stay healthy, this year should be a blast to watch!

GO UTES!

The Utah Utes also have a uproven back in Bo Hikila. From Seattle he will be the underdog for the starting position for Running Back. Bo Hikila if given a chance will shock the nation.

"...1996 (Kansas St.)... may have even been the last ranked bowl opponent they've faced up to now."

WRONG!

BYU has faced 2 UNDEFEATED Top 10 bowl opponents and 4 ranked bowl opponents overall since 1996.

Year...Team........Rec...AP...Coaches
1976...Okla St.....9-3...14...14
1978...Navy........9-3...---...17
1979...Indiana.....8-4...19...16
1980...SMU.........8-4...20...20
1982...Ohio St.....9-3...12...12
1985...Ohio St.....9-3...14...14
1986...UCLA......8-3-1...14...14
1989...Penn St...8-3-1...15...14
1990..Texas A&M..9-3-1...15...13
1991...Iowa.....10-1-1...10...10
1992...Kansas......8-4...22...23
1993...Ohio St..10-1-1...11...10
1996...Kansas St...9-3...17...17
1998...Tulane.....12-0...7...7
1999...Marshall...13-0...10...10
2001..Louisville..11-2...17...16
2005...California..8-4...25...25

Having a two back rotation is pretty much par for the course now days. Look at what Auburn did with Ronnie Brown & Cadillac Williams.

It seems like the wise thing to do regardless. It would be nice to have a speedy change of pace RB to compliment Mack & Asiata.

Of course, this all hinges on Ludwig using more of Urban's scheme and less of the old school Ron McBride approach.