This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Utah coach Kyle Whittingham has called complaining about injuries "a loser's game," and has cautioned, "nobody feels sorry for you."
If they can't feel sorry for one another this weekend, the No. 24 Utes (4-1, 1-1) and the Wildcats (2-3, 0-2) can at least understand where the other is coming from.
In this battle of walking wounded, kicking off on Saturday night at Rice-Eccles Stadium, someone will walk out a winner. In the softest portion of its Pac-12 schedule, it's critical for Utah to deliver on the "next man up" mantra and get a win at home to maintain its pursuit of first place in the Pac-12 South.
In the past, Rich Rodriguez — 4-0 against the Utes as Arizona head coach — has played spoiler for Utah's ambitions, topping the Utes last year in double overtime in Tucson. Could a beat-up Arizona pose the same threat?
"They've had our number the last four years and we will try and get that corrected," said Whittingham, who is hunting for his 100th career win this weekend. "We have not responded like we need to and that's our challenge this week to beat the Wildcats."
Combined, Utah's injured and Arizona's injured would make a pretty decent team. Receiver Tim Patrick said he expects to play, and so does defensive tackle Lowell Lotulelei. Other Utes such as cornerback Reggie Porter or running back Troy McCormick are up in the air. It's likely Arizona will start true freshman Khalil Tate if back-up Brandon Dawkins can't play through a rib injury.
Said Rodriguez: "We've certainly got some challenges ourselves."
One of the biggest impacts will be felt by a player who isn't suiting up.
The Utes received word of their fourth season-ending injury on Monday, announcing senior center and team captain J.J. Dielman was lost with a lower leg injury. A "tenuous" center position is even more dire with the possibility that junior backup Lo Falemaka won't be healthy on Saturday, putting a hole in the middle of Utah's power run game that had led the team to the No. 4 national ranking in time of possession (36:13 minutes per game).
While sophomore running back Armand Shyne is scheduled to start, a tough question lingers: How many changes will the Utes need to make to block for him? It could mean a start for former walk-on Nick Nowakowski, or the team could make more shifts with seniors Isaac Asiata or Sam Tevi moving to the middle.
The line-of-scrimmage matchup figures to be key to the game, as the Wildcats are giving up 186 yards per game on the ground (No. 83) and have two defensive linemen listed as "out" on the injury report. Whoever plays, Asiata said it's critical that Utah's offense gets on the board early after giving up first-half leads in each of their last four games.
"We need to do what we do and have that backs-to-the-wall feeling the entire game and not be satisfied," he said. "We need to start faster."
Utah has had to come from behind multi-score deficits in each of the last two games, coming up short against Cal. What might keep the Utes from having to do that again is playing sound defense against a prolific rushing attack.
With Dawkins and starting running back Nick Wilson both "questionable," the Wildcats are potentially missing key personnel from the No. 18 rushing offense — 247 yards per game — in the country. Left in the backfield is Tate, a top-10 dual-threat quarterback in the last recruiting class, converted wide receiver Tyrell Johnson and backup rusher Zach Green. Only Johnson has over 100 yards on the ground this season.
Utah, which has ceded nearly 300 rushing yards in three of their past four games against the Wildcats, has been relatively stout in run defense (117 yards per game, No. 2 in Pac-12) so far, but the Wildcats' zone read has always been a slightly special case. Lotulelei's status could play a major role in how the Utes handle it.
That's the game in a nutshell: a mystery, until the Utes and Wildcats take the field.
If the Utes can protect their home field, they'll head to Oregon State next week with a chance to beat up on a North Division bottom-feeder ahead of two tough games against UCLA and No. 5 Washington — all before a much-needed bye. November won't necessarily be easy either, with road trips to Tempe and Boulder to face Arizona State and Colorado, respectively.
But again: There's the "nobody feels sorry for you" thing. Linebacker Kavika Luafatasaga echoed another team sentiment this week when he said that if Utah can't beat Arizona, they won't be blaming injuries, only themselves.
"Everybody's banged up, every team is banged up," he said. "I guess it's just our mentality is next man up, step up and make some plays."
Twitter: @kylegoon —
Arizona at No. 24 Utah
P Rice-Eccles Stadium
Kickoff • 8 p.m.
TV • Fox Sports 1
Radio • ESPN 700 AM
Records • Arizona (2-3, 0-2); Utah (4-0, 1-0)
Series history • Utah leads, 20-19-2
Last meeting • Arizona 37-30, 2OT (2015)
About the Wildcats • Arizona could be starting freshman quarterback Khalil Tate, a 17-year-old, after playing him last week and ending his redshirt season when Brandon Dawkins was injured against UCLA. … On fourth down defense, the Wildcats have been strong, allowing only a 40 percent conversion rate (No. 29 nationally). … Utah leads the overall series, but Arizona has won 16 of the past 20 meetings, including four straight under coach Rich Rodriguez.
About the Utes • Utah has yet to have a running back go for over 100 yards in a game this year, with sophomore Armand Shyne coming within a yard (99 yards, 2 touchdowns) last week against Cal. … While the Utes' offensive line has been made uncertain this week by the loss of J.J. Dielman, the Utes have given up the fewest sacks (6) of any Pac-12 team. … Utah is honoring a new Crimson Club Hall of Fame class this weekend that includes Shannon Bowles (gymnastics), Jim Giottonini (men's swimming), Kathy Kreiner (women's skiing), Pace Mannion (men's basketball), Pat Miller (ski coach), Kim Smith (women's basketball) and the 1994 football team.