I know their offense hasn't been the greatest or most consistent, but everyone needs to stop getting so down on them. Aren't they 7-0. Aren't they averaging 38 points a game. Didn't they just win 40 to 7? Everyone just needs to make the most of every opportunity and realize we are 7-0 and this is shaping up to be a great season. the defense and special teams has been great, and the offense gets the job done most of the time. now lets beat those rams!

Reasons for our lack of "rhythm,"

a) Our special teams and defense were scoring points, making it very hard for Johnson to build upon series. There were so many times when we would score but still had to kick off.

b) Sometimes we play to the competition of our competitors (but a little bit better). It's difficult to get all hyped up during a blow out.

c) Do you really think Whittingham was going to throw deep balls over Wyoming's lousy secondary all day. He'd probably get shot in Laramie, where it was only a finger in Salt Lake.

I wouldn't put the ball in any other player's hand than Johnson's right now. He's a great team leader, and though he does stay in the pocket too long and has a few sacks a game... he gets the job done at the end of the day. It's only halfway through the season and I'm pretty sure things will pick up. Whittingham's group of kids always seem to find their identity when conference play starts. I'm with the coaches, I see improvement each week.

Go Utes!!!

The points per game argument is a little misleading, always is, for every team. With the defense putting up a few touchdowns, a couple on special teams, short fields created by good special teams and defense, that number can distort how well the offense is doing. Even yards is a bit distorted. If you look at number of 3 and outs or number of field goals kicked, it's more telling that the offense is struggling.
We have had plenty of opportunity to get a rhythm going on offense and haven't do so well. There were a lot of 3 and outs in Laramie. I think Ludwig should toss out half the playbook and simplify it a little bit. It's tough to get in a rhythm when on 3 consecutive plays you have 3 different players taking the snap. But that is no one's fault but Ludwig's. We rely a bit too much on big plays, or the trick play, and not enough on just moving down the field. With the size of the O-Line, Mack, and Asiata, why don't we play a little smashmouth? Grind it out. Take control of the clock. Tire the opponent's defense out.

Bring back the plays that used to work like the reverse, inside pitch and wheel route. Get rid of the plays that never work like the sweep.

Ludwig and Johnson make me nervous.

Whit needs to replace Andy Ludwig at the play calling. We have two very tough running backs and what we are doing throwing the football to make 1st downs is killing us. Establish the run,,, the pass will always work when you need it. Just look at the 2nd half of the Air Force game it works...Keep the defense on there heels...Football is not hard when you have all the tools we have this year at UTAH...
GO UTES !!!!!!!! NOVEMBER 22ND A DAY TO REMEMBER...

i totally agree with ute forever. i dont care if we are undefeated if our offense consistently underachieves. i blame to play calling AND BJ's lack of consistency. call better plays and force johnson to play consistently, or pull him for a series and let his backup play. other top 20 schools do that, why not us? i hope we get all three facets of the team in unison before the rest of the games this season.

but the offense?

"Against Wyoming, the Utes had to punt a season-high nine times, went just 4-of-17 on third-down plays and, aside from a 41-yard pass play, gained just 201 yards against perhaps the worst team in the conference."

not good.

This offense will haunt the ute faithful. It will lose a couple of games for them. 4-17 on 3rd down conversions against Wyoming? Really? Rough waters ahead.

How Good is UTAH this year??

Michigan’s record 2-4

UNLV record 3-3 (UNLV matches Utah point for point – 3 of 4 quarters – pathetic) only difference being the 3rd quarter.

Utah State 1-4

Air Force (only good team with winning record the Utes had played to date – Utah almost loses. Utah’s outscored by the Falcons the 2nd and 4th quarters but manages to squeak out a victory.

Weber State – Utah is outscored by powerhouse Weber State in the 2nd half – pathetic.

Oregon State – Utah lucks out and pulls out a victory in the remaining seconds of the game to beat an average PAC 10 team. Brian Johnson plays like he’s retarded. OSU outscores Utah the 2nd half – the only difference in the game – the 2nd quarter.

Wyoming 2-4 - No touchdowns in three MWC games (although Utah gave up 7 against them)

Wasn't last years game in Nov. a day to remember too?

If you mean last minute finishes, then you're right.

offense! thats what we need to be worried about.

That's funny. Please, do the same post for your Cougars. At least Ute fans can say Michigan and Oregon St. beat top-ten teams (at the time, USC is back in). You find a positive with one opponent on BYU's schedule and I'll become a BYU fan.

Hey, "How Good is UTAH???" how about you focus on your game against TCU tonight. Oh, and you can forget the whole "UNLV matches Utah point for point- 3 of 4 quarters- pathetic" argument, because first of all UNLV is a good team (Beat ASU in Arizona), and second of all because that is stupid logic. I don't care how well you play for three quarters if you get outscored by 21 in another. By the way, the cougs would know all about getting lucky to beat a pac-10 team (although while ours was at least middle of the pack, Washington hasn't won a game this season).
With that out of the way, I agree with Kyle and am happy to see that they recognize the playbook is looking a little too complicated. Once we simplify things, this team will be complete and show the wannabe BCS busters how we do it in Utah (NOT utah county).

"Against Oregon State, the Utes struggled much of the game but came through when they had to, gaining more yards in the final two minutes than they had in the previous 28 minutes of the half."

That's because the refs helped them out and basically gave utah that game. That's the only reason they won that game and the one at Michigan.

"The fact that the Utes had no turnovers Saturday against Wyoming for the first time all season was a positive, according to Whittingham."

Oooo, no turnovers against the worst team in the conference. Now there's something to write home about. *Yawn*

i think whitt statement was right on they try to do to much and can't hang there hat on nothing on offense but i think they need more of the back up qb not less he does a good job running the team

You must be a zoob...

I can do the same thing with bywhos schedule... you haven't beaten ANYONE... so who cares.... ;You may think you have had prettier wins... but guess what this isn't gymnastics a win counts as 1. and at the end of the day the only thing is the w in the win column.

The UTES are 7-0.... does the offense have room for improvement.. yes... which means the UTES will only get better... and when they do watch out.

GO UTES .... 8-0

I guess since the refs gave Utah the game on an actual penalty (Pac10 refs by the way), then that would make BYU's game against Washington that much better and more meaningful right? My guess is that BYU "hearts" the refs a little more wouldn't you? To be the only team in the country to lose to Washington after being ranked in the top 15 would be embarrassing. But don't worry BYU fans, you don't have to be embarrassed by that, the refs "heart" BYU too!

While it would be great for Utah to meet an unbeaten BYU on 11/22, don't forget that the Y-ners still have to beat UNLV at home before then; something they have failed to do 2 of the last three times they have met in Provo.

I was really enjoying the comments...and then the BYU fans started talking smack. Like they have anything to say about anything. Their opponents have been crappier then ours and the opponents we have both played, well we have done better. I really like our backup QB, I think that he will do a great job for us and can't wait until the BYU game when he does a play action pass in the final minute and scores a touchdown to put us up by 21 points or 35-31 or whatever.

Yes except the refs didn't call a bunch of penalties against utah that they should have in those games. And in the Washington game, they refused to call all of the holding against Washington. And then at the end of the game they had to call the celeb penalty on Locker's mile high ball toss because it was just a little too obvious. If the refs had called all the holding against UW that they should have then BYU would have won by 2-3 TDs.

If you knew anything about football then you would have realized this. But no problem, I'm happy to take time to explain it to you. This should help a lot of other ute fans too. You're welcome.

OK We heart the Refs, when was the last time a ref put on shoulder pads and played in a game? Answer: Never, quit trying to knock down Utah's wins. Remember, you haven't beaten anybody yet this year, and if (small chance) you beat Utah on 11/22 you still won't have beaten anyone,if we beleive what you say. So how are you going to jusifiy playing in a BCS game? Think about it, before you write a bunch of garbage, that no one believes but yourself.

I think most refs actually did play football at some point in their life. Thus, you statement that they have NEVER played a game would technically be false. I'm just saying....

NM has a quality win against Arizona. Does that make you a BYU fan? After tonight BYU will have a quality win over TCU. Will that make you a BYU fan?

BYU 42, Utah 12 (all field goals)

BYU has the best offense in the country and is only down to TCU by 24 at half.

Problem with Utah's offense....

ANDY LUDWIG. END OF STORY.

BTW, nice way to show up tonight KEWGS.

I love how many Utah fans are saying, "take it easy on the offense, aren't we 7-0?", I only have one thing to say to that:
"Mediocrity SUCKS!"
Get it together BJ, you've been making bad decisions, and so far, you've gotten away with it. You hold the ball, in the pocket, far to long, and you refuse to get sacked, without trying to make something happen, which usually ends up costing us, usually turns into a turnover.
If we expect to bust the BCS, and be competitive in a BCS bowl game, we need to be clicking on all cylinders, and yes, that includes the offense!

Gear Up offense or it will be your fault TCU wins the conference outright.

Um I don't think so...Utahs may not be better, but our d is...expect a low scoring game on nov. 6 with the utes comin out on top.

I had to make a few more humble pies for the Cougar fans, but there will still never be enough for all the smack they talk...

OVERRATED!!!

Utah better find some sort of rhythm and soon or they will be joining the cougars with a loss. BJ is a senior, he shouldn't be having all these problems. Play calling is "interesting" to say the least. Simplify the playbook? With as many seniors in skilled positions as Utah has and beyond the season's halfway point, shouldn't they be able to handle "complicated"