So Utah's D-line...

by KongAtTheGates on Dec 20, 2008 9:55 PM CST

averages 250ish pounds.....

Is this going to be as one sided as I think it will be due to that fact alone?

I mean, it's one thing to be outweighed...it's another to give up at least 50 pounds per person against the best O-line in NCAA football...

I'm not trying to be cocky, I just put a lot of stock into the battle up front, and I don't see how the Utes can compete in this one...

Any theories?

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yeah

I’ve thought about that a lot too. they are severely undersized in the worst possible position to have a disadvantage at when playing against us. Seems to me we should be able to get 2 or 3 yards before the backs even get touched practically ever rushing down. I may be wrong, but this just seems like an area we have a HUGE advantage in.

by jsholt969 on Dec 21, 2008 1:12 AM CST reply actions

I'll explain again.

Utah had its starting interior Dlinemen injured about five games into the season. Our current nose tackle (Shelby) is a converted DE. That occurred because our starting NT (Talimaivao, 6’2", 295) was out with a broken foot. He’ll be back for the bowl game. Also, Kenape Eliapo (our other actual DT) was out with hamstring problems for several games, forcing us to start another converted DE (Newman). Kenape is 6’0" and 303. So our Dline averages about 280, not 250.

Also, we’ve faced Olines just as big (BYU, Michigan, etc) without getting blown away. I’m not saying we’re going to abuse your very good Oline, but it’s not the mismatch you think it is.

Everyone hates a pink-shirt-wearing communist.

by displacedute on Dec 21, 2008 9:01 PM CST reply actions

no comparisons

Your examples of size are not helping your case. BYU just got run over by Arizona and Michigan,well was pitiful this year. I don’t think we’ll just run all over a good Utah team nor do I believe CNS does. He WILL have a great game plan. He Should have his guys not overlooking the opp but taking care of assignments.

Rex E Mathis

by rmathis on Dec 21, 2008 9:57 PM CST reply actions

When you’re talking about teams of roughly equal stature, size is a proxy for a whole lot of things. We typically assume that one 300 lb. guy is going to be about as fast and about as strong as another 300 lb. guy. Within the SEC (hell, within most BCS conferences), that’s basically true.

Problem is, of course, that that isn’t true for BYU, or really anyone else on Utah’s schedule with a big offensive line.

If anyone up in the Mormon State thinks that they’ve seen offensive lines as dominant as Alabama’s, they’re in a for a big (pun intended) surprise come January.

There was hardly a team in the SEC that could stop our running game this year even when they knew it was coming. Utah’s not going to win the battle up front. They might provide a little resistance in the first quarter, but I honestly wouldn’t be surprised to see Coffee break the single-season rushing record by half-time.

I got a kick out of the article not too long ago talking about how the Utah players weren’t impressed with Alabama on film and how all they had to do to win was stop the running game. Oh, is that it? Just stop Alabama’s running game? Wow, it’s a good thing nobody in the SEC thought of that or we’d have had a much more difficult season.

by PeteHoliday on Dec 22, 2008 9:34 AM CST up reply actions

"All we have to do to win is stop the running game."

If you go back and pull the press releases from our opponents the week before the game, isn’t this the theme? Haven’t we heard this time and time again?

I think the record speaks to the…what…validity?…..possibility?…..of that statement. One team won, and even they will admit it wasn’t because they “stopped the run.”

I was feeling like it would be a close, interesting game, then I read that the comparison of “big OL” that they did well against and won was Michigan and BYU. Do you really think that we will not give you any more problems than these two teams? I have seen Michigan several times this year, and BYU this weekend. Wow! I hope this is how the team is preparing is all I can say.

by crimsongirl on Dec 22, 2008 11:23 AM CST up reply actions

Why would they over look this opponent?

Its the last game this team will play till August. And the Utes just simply havent played a team with a line to the calibur of bama. This isnt Michigan we are talking about. Unless we suffer horrific injuries during the game. The lines on both sides of the ball should hold the Utes in check pretty much throught to the in.

by J.JACOBS4PRES on Dec 24, 2008 1:43 AM CST up reply actions

Displaced,

I wasn’t trying to talk smack, sorry if you took it that way. I got the 250 number from ESPN, so I wouldn’t be suprised if they were wrong. I don’t see a huge blowout here- ball controll offenses like ours don’t tend to put up gaudy numbers. I just wonder if the Utes can compete on the line.
So your injured linemen are expected to be back for the bowl game?

by KongAtTheGates on Dec 22, 2008 3:43 AM CST reply actions

Yes, both Talimaivao and Eliapo will be back.

I wonder who’s calling the game. The UNC announcers in 2005 had significant problems pronouncing about half of the Utah roster. The Polynesians sure make for some awesome last names. Kemoeatu and Fuamatu-Ma’afala are still two of my favorites.

And I don’t anticipate stopping Alabama’s running game will be possible barring anything short of a miracle. Slowing it down is all I hope for. If we force JPW to take some shots against our very fast and talented secondary, then we’ll be in the game. If Coffee and your other back run for over 200 yards like they have consistently against about 90% of your opponents, then it’ll take a miracle for us to stay in this game.

Everyone hates a pink-shirt-wearing communist.

by displacedute on Dec 22, 2008 1:19 PM CST up reply actions