This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2015, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
A quarter of the way through the season, Utah is halfway to another bowl game.
Alternatively: A quarter of the way through the season, Utah has yet to resolve concerns about its downfield passing game, its push at the line of scrimmage and, a real head-scratcher, its lack of sacks.
There's always something, of course — for every team.
Pac-12 South heavyweight USC was dealt an early conference loss by visiting Stanford on Saturday, while UCLA survived BYU by the skin of its teeth. Arizona and Arizona State have had their share of early season eyebrow-raisers, too.
But as Utah concluded its nonconference schedule with a ninth consecutive nonconference win, the numbers likely began to bear some truths.
And some of them may be discomforting.
Kyle Whittingham felt his offense was "OK" against Fresno State, totaling 380 total yards, but just 159 yards through the air. Utah's season average, at 167, is 107th in the nation.
"We've got to get more chunk yards in the throw game," he said.
Unlike the prior week, when Travis Wilson left the game against Utah State with a shoulder sprain, Utah's lack of big plays can't be attributed to conservative play-calling.
Senior Kendal Thompson found junior tight end Siale Fakailoatonga across the middle for what might've been a long touchdown connection if Fakailoatonga's own feet hadn't gotten in his way.
Senior Kenneth Scott also drew two pass interference calls on two throws downfield, and redshirt freshman Chase Hansen would've had his first career touchdown pass on a flea flicker to Scott — echoes of Wilson's first career touchdown pass against Utah State in 2012 — had Hansen not been pressured and overshot him.
But while Whittingham felt Thompson "held down the fort," he'd hoped for more, and he was displeased with a red zone interception and a fumbled exchange between Thompson and Joe Williams.
Wilson made the trip to Fresno, and his shoulder sprain is thought to be at low risk for further damage. If it's just a matter of playing through pain, expect him to start next Saturday in Eugene.
Meanwhile, running back Devontae Booker sits 19th in the nation in rushing yards after a slow start against the Wolverines, and his full repertoire was on display against the Bulldogs — spinning around, leaping over and running through would-be tacklers.
And boding well for the Utes are their offensive efficiencies. Through three games, the Utes have turned it over just four times, half as much as their opponents, and they're converting 48 percent of third downs and 86 percent of fourth downs.
They're also not doing their opponents many favors, averaging just four penalties for 36 yards, both top-10 in the nation.
Utah's special teams — rated by ESPN through the first half of last season to be among the best in recent memory — "finally came alive" on Saturday, Whittingham said.
Junior corner Cory Butler-Byrd returned a kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown, freshman wideout Britain Covey followed with a 77-yard punt return score, senior Ray Guy Award winner Tom Hackett twice pinned the Bulldogs inside their own 10, and junior Lou Groza Award semifinalist Andy Phillips hit his only field goal attempt, from 33 yards.
Yet it remains somewhat hard to believe that the 2014 Utes recorded the second-highest single-season sack total since the NCAA began keeping track, at 55.
Only 13 teams have fewer sacks through three games than Utah's three.
Yes, Utah was without junior end Hunter Dimick, who failed to travel due to an undisclosed lower leg injury. And junior Kylie Fitts' strip sack of Chason Virgil keyed their early success. But the Utes went from seven sacks against Fresno State in 2014 to one in 2015.
Also disconcerting for the defense was Fresno State's fourth-quarter rally for 21 points after Virgil was injured and sophomore Zack Greenlee went 6-for-10 for 144 yards and three touchdowns.
Junior defensive tackle Stevie Tu'ikolovatu, who scored his first career touchdown on a 37-yard fumble return, said it was a matter of focus.
"I think we were sleeping a bit on them, and that's something we need to fix," he said.
They can't sleep on Oregon, the national runners-up, Whittingham said.
"We've got to play better than we have in the previous three games."
But, hand-wringing aside, There's one more thing we know about the 2015 Utes.
They're undefeated.
Twitter: @matthew_piper —
No. 18 Utah at No. 13 Oregon
P Saturday, 6:30 p.m. MDT
TV • TBD