This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2013, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
The little things add up big.
For Utah's defensive ends, dealing with USU quarterback Chuckie Keeton can be a bit tricky. The plan is to pressure Keeton and make him as uncomfortable as possible. Executing that is another issue to deal with.
Senior end Trevor Reilly spoke of that in the video above. The options aren't that appealing. You can't just all-out blitz Keeton because he's so good on his feet. If he breaks contain, he can run for a long gain. Indeed, Keeton's scramble last year up in Logan set up what proved to be the winning touchdown when the Aggies defeated the Utes 27-20. That came when Keeton broke contain and there was no backside help to prevent his jaunt down the sideline.
Hang back, however, and Keeton has the ability to hurt people with his arm. It's strong, it's accurate and it sets up big plays. From a defensive end perspective, Reilly provided a unique look into how one approaches trying to defend one of the better dual-threat quarterbacks in the country.
In two days, we'll all find out how it's worked out.
Tony Jones