This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
It was thought that Utah's 2014 offense would at least differentiate itself somewhat from past iterations.
Dave Christensen's work history, the transfer of Kendal Thompson, the slimming down of the offensive line, the plays installed and honed in spring and August — basically, every possible input — pointed to a faster-paced attack that would hinge on quick decision-making from Utah's quarterbacks.
Utah would jab until an opponent lost balance, and then Utah would strike.
So it was thought, at least.
Only against Idaho State and Fresno State have things played out like that.
Since those tuneups, Utah has averaged just 161 passing yards per game, and while it hasn't been all bad — junior running back Devontae Booker has become a bona fide star — it also hasn't been any better.
Or faster.
This year's Utes, like last year's Utes, average 29 points on 72 plays per game.
Whereas Thompson once described to reporters an offense in which the quarterback would have an array of options on every play, Utah's coaches now seem to have tightened those reins to limit turnovers.
Utah runs, hoping to set up the risk-free pass, and failing that, it runs some more.
"It's all about doing what you have to do to give yourself the best chance, and that's what we're doing," said Kyle Whittingham on Wednesday. "Did I envision it? No, I'm not going to say I envisioned it, but it's kind of how it's evolved toward the end of this year."
Whittingham has repeatedly said there is no one person to blame — that responsibility rests with the coaches, the offensive line's protection, the play of Utah's receivers and the quarterbacks' decision-making.
After Arizona State, Whittingham openly wondered why Utah hadn't dialed up more deep shots against the blitz-happy Sun Devils.
Offensive line coach Jim Harding and wide receivers coach Taylor Stubblefield — both in their first years — have each challenged their groups by assuming large portions of the guilt.
On Tuesday, Stubblefield said his wideouts had 13 to 15 drops over a four-game stretch that "shaped our offense to where it is now."
Were it not for those errors, he said, "We'd be talking about our completion percentage being much higher, we'd be talking about Travis Wilson putting the ball right where it needs to be and who knows? We wouldn't be talking about this."
At quarterback, it is natural to assume that the battle between Wilson and Thompson took its toll on the former, who was Utah's undisputed leader before the discovery of an intracranial artery condition called his career into question last November.
Even as they inserted Thompson into seven games, and started him twice, coaches swore they had faith in Wilson, and Wilson has said all the right things.
But his body language has led many onlookers to feel he lacks confidence.
If that's not true, it is at least the case that Utah's offense has had to readjust frequently between a scrambling lefty and a more conventional righty.
"I don't think inconsistency is really ever spoken of as a good thing," said senior tight end Westlee Tonga. "But as far as the change-ups, we've had some good change-ups, some bad change-ups, and so you just roll with the punches."
The ability is there, said Tonga and senior safety Brian Blechen — who says there are days in practice "where they light us up."
Eleven games into the season, though, we're left taking their word for it. Now, in Boulder, comes one of two remaining chances to prove it.
"We have a lot of things up our sleeve, and we haven't rolled our sleeves up to bear them and show the things that we've got," Tonga said. "It's been really frustrating."
Twitter: @matthew_piper —
Utah at Colorado
P At Folsom Field in Boulder, Colorado
Kickoff • Saturday, 11 a.m.
TV • Pac-12 Network
Radio • 700 AM
Records • Utah 7-4, 4-4; Colorado 2-9, 0-8
Series history • Colorado leads 31-26-3
Last meeting • Utah 24, Colorado 17 (Nov. 30, 2013)
About the Utes • Utah defensive end Hunter Dimick, ranked ninth nationally in sacks with 10, is "50-50," according to head coach Kyle Whittingham. … Fellow defensive end Nate Orchard would tie John Frank's career school sack record with three more sacks. … Junior running back Devontae Booker needs 264 yards to break John White IV's single-season rushing mark.
About the Buffaloes • Sophomore quarterback Sefo Liufau was named the starter earlier this week after temporarily losing the job to backup Jordan Gehrke due to a propensity for turnovers. … Junior wideout Nelson Spruce has caught 101 passes for 1,107 yards and 11 touchdowns — and according to Colorado has been targeted with catchable passes just 111 times, dropping only four (six passes were broken up). —
Utah at Colorado
O Saturday, 11 a.m.
TV • Pac-12 Network