Week Eight Mountain West Football Preview: Colorado State at Utah

(3-3) #13 (7-0)

Rice Eccles Stadium 12PM MT TV: Radio: KCOL 600 or KALL 700 Sports

With the BYU loss, Utah has a little more added pressure to defeat Colorado State with an outside shot of being in the top 10 in the polls. The big question again is if the Utes can put together a complete game—well, more importantly, on offense.

Also, a side note is now that BYU lost, the University of Utah has the nation's longest winning streak at eight games dating back to last year, when Utah defeated Navy in the Poinsettia Bowl.

As for the team's players, there have been some grumblings from Darrell Mack about not being entirely happy with his role, this is coming from the Salt Lake Tribune:

Asked this week about Utah’s lack of running productivity against Wyoming, in which he rushed a season-low six times for 15 yards and (Matt) Asiata rushed 11 times for 37 yards, Mack said he didn’t know why that was.

"I don’t really care either," he said. "I don’t care."

Mack didn’t specify what he didn’t care about and continued to be vague. Asked if he was frustrated, Mack said, “I just come to practice every day; I don’t even know. I have nothing to say.”

He's being vague, but six carries would be frustrating for any back. Hopefully this is not a distraction for the team. In my opinion, the Utes need to use Asiata more than Mack and move away from the 50-50 split and perhaps toward a 65-35 split, but what do I know? I just watch games, and it seems that Asiata is the better back.

Play calling has come into question toward offensive coordinator Andy Ludwing, because the Utes staff keeps saying it wants playmakers so it bring in third back Eddie Wide, who is a speed guy; however, the Utes already have Brent Casteel as a speed guy and aren't utilizing him too well, especially in the deep passing game.

Reasons the Utes have not being pursuing the vertical passing game is because of Brian Johnson’s arm strength, but they have not tried too much, either. Against this Rams team, Utah will need to put up points early and often to try and bury the Rams.

While Colorado State has a good running game in Gattrell Johnson III and Kyle Bell, ultimately its inexperience with Billy Farris does not have the skill set to lead the Rams back if they get behind early. Wideout Reshaun Greer and tight end Kory Sperry are who the Utes need to key on in the passing game and, the way Sean Smith and others have been playing, Utah should be able have success in slowing down the passing attack.

Defensive lineman Paul Kruger should be able to bring his usual pressure and add to his 5.5 sacks on the year because Utah should bring pressure and blitz five to six players a lot, forcing the young quarterback into mistakes.

Utah should not take the Rams lightly because they played a close 13-7 loss last week to TCU, which, as we know, played amazing Thursday night in its win over BYU. The Rams will be successful if the running game takes off and then Farris can limit turnovers and make a play here and there.

Here is Colorado State’s play-by-play announcer Kevin McGlue talking about Saturday's game.

Final Score: Utah 37, Colorado State 17