Utah football: Injuries force Utes to adjust offense

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Less than two weeks ago Utah coach Kyle Whittingham stood in front of members of the media and anxiously talked about the return of Brian Johnson, a new exciting running back in Matt Asiata and an offense that would be similar to 2005's - one that ranked 12th in the nation in total offense.

Well, so much for those expectations. Instead, the 43,000-plus people who will attend Utah's home opener against Air Force on Saturday will see a team debuting a new look, one that became necessary after the injuries to Johnson and Asiata.

"Major changes," was Utah coach Kyle Whittingham's answer to what the Utes will show Saturday.

Until Johnson returns, the Utes' offense will resemble something closer to the one led by Brett Ratliff last year, Whittingham said.

That offense was hampered by a poor running game that ranked 54th out of 115 Division I-A teams, a trend that wasn't improved in the opener when Utah managed just 0.6 yards a carry. Maybe it was the injury to Asiata, the talent of Oregon State's defense or the tentativeness of Ray Stowers in his first collegiate start that led to the lack of productivity.

Whatever it was, the Utes know that area needs to be a strength - particularly now with Tommy Grady at quarterback instead of Johnson, who extensively used the option.

"If you can't run the football, then it's going to be difficult on offense and without the option element, the running game has got to be efficient to take pressure off the quarterback," Whittingham said. "Whoever is the most efficient back and is getting it done will get the most carries."

Stowers got his first start against the Beavers and rushed 11 times for 26 yards. He will split rushing duties with Darrell Mack and Darryl Poston, Whittingham said.

Stowers graded his own performance against Oregon State as less than satisfactory and believes he can produce bigger gains against the Falcons.

"It had been a long time since I'd started, but you can't look back and dwell on games like that," he said. "We know we have to come out with a strong running game to protect Tommy and establish that before we do anything else. We've been working hard this week and we'll be ready."

What if the running game isn't there and the Utes have to rely on Grady, who is finally getting his first collegiate start?

Grady speaks with confidence - "I've been doing this my whole life," he has said several times this week - but didn't have much success against Oregon State. He completed nine of 24 passes for 59 yards. The offense all but stalled in the second half, converting just five first downs, managing only 62 yards of total offense and crossing midfield just once - by a yard.

This week he has the benefit of knowing he is going to play and he has had a week's worth of practice with an offense that is catered more to his drop-back style.

"We're sliding the playbook to fit Tommy Grady," said offensive coordinator Andy Ludwig. "All the plays have been in since fall camp, we're just going to focus on those plays."

Ludwig knows fans' impatience with the offense will grow if there is another poor showing by the Utes. Is he feeling pressure, especially now that he has had to revise Utah's gameplan?

"All you can do is work the drill," he said. "That is what I do every week. Football is a process of getting better every practice, every week through the course of a season. Obviously, we've got a lot to get better."

lwodraska@sltrib.com