Thursday the defense faces perhaps its biggest challenge, which arrives in the smallest package.
In order to beat the Oregon State Beavers (2-2), the No. 15 Utah Utes (5-0) know they have to stop the run, and that means finding a way to bring down 5-foot-7, 193-pound Jacquizz Rodgers.
USC certainly couldn't do it, providing highlight after highlight of broken tackles, undisciplined schemes and flat-out misses as Rodgers ran for 186 yards and two touchdowns in Oregon State's 27-21 win over the then top-ranked Trojans.
Utah's defenders took note of those poor efforts and they are determined not to be the next backdrops in Rodgers' big-gain clips when the teams play at 7 p.m. Thursday in Rice-Eccles Stadium.
"I'm glad USC did that, so we know what to expect," Utah linebacker Stevenson Sylvester said. "He is little but he has great patience for a freshman running back. We have to stay in our blocks. They got out of position and he slipped past them every time."
Oregon State has other offensive threats. Quarterback Lyle Moevao is second in the Pac-10 in total offense (260.3), receiver James Rodgers is fourth in all-purpose yardage (148.8) and receiver Shane Morales is third averaging 79.8 yards.
The Utes know about those guys too, but their first priority is finding an answer for 'the Quiz' Rodgers, who leads the conference averaging 112.3 yards.
"This guy is a special guy," Utah defensive coordinator Gary Andersen said. "He has very good speed, goes low and is so strong. I saw two runs of his where he dragged defenders into the end zone. He is one of those guys where you think you have stopped him on first down, and it's still second-and-seven."
His plays haven't left an impression only on those who have the task of stopping him, but also his coach who still is discovering how talented he is. Against Penn State when he ran for 99 yards and two touchdowns in Oregon State's 45-17 loss, Rodgers was one of the few players who played loose and carefree, Oregon State coach Mike Riley said. The way he threaded through USC's defense revealed more of his raw talent.
"We're learning more about this team as we go along, and to see him make those cuts, it gives us a pretty good idea of who he is," Riley said. He must like what he is learning, since he reiterated he has no problem giving the back 30-plus carries.
How can Utah have success in an area where the Trojans, thought to be so mighty, failed so miserably?
The answer is easy, at least in theory, the Utes say.
"You have to stay disciplined," defender Greg Newman said. "The SC linemen were coming out of their gaps and he'd fake one gap and go into another. You have to stay disciplined and when you get an opportunity to make a tackle, you have to make a tackle."
The Utes proved they have the kind of discipline they speak of against Air Force, holding its running attack to 53 yards rushing, 300 below its season average and its lowest total since 1980.
That performance helped the Utes maintain their spot near the top of the national rankings in defense where they are fifth in rushing defense (60.2) and fifth in total defense (231.4).
The same philosophies that have helped the Utes all season will help them Thursday, Newman said. As long as the Utes stay disciplined and swarm to the ball he believes they'll prevail.
"Obviously we are going to have to stop this kid in order to win the football game," he said. "We are going to have to contain him. He's going to make some plays, but we'll do our best to get them into some long yardage situations."
