Utah football: Utes' defense concentrates on stopping run

The pride of Utah's defense in recent seasons has been its ability to stop the run. Utah's defenders have smothered good running teams with a physical line and have made would-be all-conference players look like they didn't belong at the Division I level with their inability to gain yards on the Utes.

This season, Utah's defenders are getting a dose of humility.

In 2008, BYU was the only team able to get 200-plus yards on the Utes, gaining 214 yards on the ground in its loss to the Utes.

This year, Utah State (221) and Oregon (217) already have surpassed that mark, and the Utes rank just 78th nationally against the run.

Worse than the statistics was Utah's inability to stop the run against the Ducks

even when they knew it was coming.

Oregon ran the ball 51 times for 217 yards.

"I could see them using the same play over and over again and it's frustrating not to be able to stop that play," linebacker Mike Wright said.

While Louisville has thrown more than rushed in its first two games, averaging 154.5 yards on the ground and 244 yards passing, the Utes know the Cardinals will take advantage of a weak run defense if allowed.

"They'll load it up and hit you in the mouth," linebacker Stevenson Sylvester said.

Oregon only attempted 16 passes, completing just four, in its win over the Utes.

Utah's defensive woes are a mixture of things, Wright said.

Oregon was a good team and he

gave the Ducks credit for their play, but also said the Utes didn't get enough pressure on the quarterback and didn't play with the aggressiveness that was so evident among Utah's defenders in 2008.

"We have to come with a different mentality that we are a hard-nose, hitting team, and if they are going to try and run on us we'll stop them," he said.

Strong safety Joe Dale leads the Utes with 21 tackles this season while Wright is second with 17.

With apologies to Dale, teams never consider it a good thing when safeties lead in tackles. The Utes have just four sacks, which is an indication to Wright the defense has more issues than simply stopping the run.

"We are used to making big plays and forcing the issue and putting some pressure on the QB and that isn't something we've been able to do," he said. "At times we can get some pressure and get him to make quick throws but we have to make sacks. Whether that is from more pressure from the linebackers, or safeties or blitzes, either way we have to get more pressure on the QBs and force them to make bad decisions."

Utah defensive coordinator Kalani Sitake said he isn't as concerned about the Utes' run defense as he is the big plays the Utes have allowed, but said the Utes are going through some "growing pains" too as they replace talented guys like Paul Kruger, Brice McCain and Sean Smith.

"Growing pains are something you go through, unfortunately it's a lot more hurtful this year than it has been in the past," he said.

lwodraska@sltrib.com