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The last four games do not fit with the lore of Utah's defense.

Specifically, that Utah's man coverage can be exploited on occasion, but that only a masochist would run into the teeth of its ever-talented, always hard-nosed front seven.

For four consecutive seasons, Utah's run defense has finished 23rd or better in rushing yards allowed per game. This year, they're 66th, and most of the damage has been done since Nov. 1.

Arizona State: 239 yards.

Oregon: 269 yards.

Stanford: 190 yards.

Arizona: 298 yards.

It's not enough to say those are good teams: Prior to that stretch, Utah had conceded just 112 yards per game. Something is amiss.

At Monday's news conference, head coach Kyle Whittingham chalked up Utah's struggles against the Wildcats to missed assignments.

"The tackling was OK," he said. "It wasn't great, it wasn't horrible. There wasn't an abundance of missed tackles, we were just in the wrong spots and not reading our keys correctly in the front seven."

Defensive tackle Clint Shepard said the tape shows that the defensive line has done its job holding its gaps. He said he didn't want to blame others, but the insinuation is that Utah's linebackers and safeties — both groups depleted by injuries this season — are the ones who've been lost.

Whatever it is, Shepard said, it's a puzzle that they're determined to piece together.

"We have an edge this week, definitely," he said. "Our defense takes stuff like that real personal."

"Committee" doesn't go far enough to describe Colorado's rushing attack: Call it a running back by full legislative assembly. Four Buffalo backs have totaled 361 or more yards, and none have more than 398.

Five-foot-seven senior Tony Jones is the likely starter, but fellow speedsters Phillip Lindsay and Michael Adkins II (battling a knee injury) have gotten significant carries, as has 6-foot, 230-pound sophomore bruiser Christian Powell.

Perhaps fortunately for the Utes, while the Buffs have threats from east to west and north to south, the team's rushing attack has been trending downhill.

Colorado's ground game has averaged a respectable 158 yards on the season, but just 94 against Arizona and 121 against Oregon.

Of course, it will help if Utah's offense can put Colorado on its back foot, as those two did.

Blowout blues

Utah lost by one point to Washington State and three points to Arizona State — then by 24 to Oregon and 32 to Arizona.

Which hurt more?

Whittingham said the loss to the Wildcats was the worst of the season for him, personally.

They didn't play with their usual passion, he said.

Senior tight end Westlee Tonga feels the narrow losses are easier to reconcile.

"It was told to me before that the majority of games are lost, not won, in college football," he said. "And Saturday was a game that we, for sure, we lost. We didn't do well enough in really any facet of the game. So yeah, it stings a little bit knowing that you didn't put your best foot forward, whereas in those close games, you know that you were in it. Regardless of the mistakes you made, you felt like you overcame some adversity in order to get in the game."

Dimick in doubt

Whittingham said Tuesday that chances are "50-50" that defensive end Hunter Dimick can play against Colorado after leaving the game against Arizona with an undisclosed injury.

The sophomore ranks ninth in the nation in sacks, with 10, and ranks sixth on the team in tackles, with 52.

Shepard said he has no idea what's ailing Dimick, but that "in my opinion, I think Hunter is our best defensive lineman."

That's high praise when you consider that Utah has another defensive lineman, senior captain Nate Orchard, who leads the nation in sacks and is generating buzz as a potential first-round NFL Draft pick.

Senior Bowl-bound

Orchard, free safety Eric Rowe and wideout Dres Anderson will take part in the Jan. 24 Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala. — although Whittingham guessed Monday that the latter will just go for interviews.

Utah has 17 seniors and others, like junior running back Devontae Booker and left tackle Jeremiah Poutasi, who naturally are beginning to think about whether they will play at the next level.

But Tonga said not to worry, there's no danger of it being a distraction.

"It's all ball," he said. "It's all football. If you work toward anything in football, it's not exactly taking your eyes off the prize to continue to want to play. You just focus on the next task at hand. … If you play your best, good things happen. If you don't play your best, good things don't happen."

Twitter: @matthew_piper —

Utah at Colorado

P Saturday, 11 a.m.

TV • Pac-12 Network