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Logan • Utah State coach Matt Wells raised his hand in front of his face. He positioned his thumb and index finger less than an inch apart. He squinted through the tiny opening at a group of reporters.
"The difference between good and great in this league is about this much," Wells said. "… The little things are what makes a good team great."
Utah State was good last year, but not great.
The Aggies started 4-2 overall and 3-0 in the Mountain West Conference. After a 52-26 thrashing of Boise State, they controlled the Mountain Division championship race but let it slip away.
Utah State lost five of its final seven games, including a 23-21 defeat to Akron in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, which ended the season in appropriately frustrating fashion.
"Everybody wants to see what we'll do after [going] 6-7," junior quarterback Kent Myers said. "We're mad about that and we're coming back, ready to go."
"We're hungry and we're ready," senior nose guard Travis Seefeldt said. "I'm excited to see us play."
Wells, too.
"This team has a chip on its shoulder," he said. "They have something to prove. They have an edge."
Utah State's hope of winning the division and earning a spot in the conference's championship game depends on a number of factors.
Junior Kent Myers must emerge as a top quarterback, after playing effectively out of the bullpen in each of his first two seasons.
"I've been working hard for this and I'm doing what I've dreamed of," he said. "If I come out here and take care of what I can do without worrying about everything else, I think everything will play out."
The Aggies also need good health for running back Devante Mays and the players who form a versatile, experienced offensive line.
It's the Year of the Running Back in the Mountain West, but Wells says Mays belongs in a headline-making group that includes San Diego State's Donnel Pumphrey, Wyoming's Brian Hill, Boise State's Jeremy McNichols and Nevada's James Butler.
"I like my kid," Wells said. "He's strong. It's hard for the first guy to bring him down. He's doing a better job of catching the ball out of the backfield, too."
Despite some injuries issues last season, Mays rushed for 966 yards and nine touchdowns. He averaged 5.9 yards per carry — more than Pumphrey, Hill, McNichols or Butler.
Another strength for Utah State is the secondary, where senior safety Devin Centers, junior cornerback Jalen Davis and BYU transfer Dallin Leavitt should enable an inexperienced group of linebackers learn as they go early in the season.
"The leaders in the back end have played a lot of football here," Wells said. "They have played a lot of successful football, individually and as a group. I like our group. We are pretty talented and versatile."
Like its linebackers, Utah State's wide receivers haven't played much. Senior Andrew Rodriguez has made nine starts in his career — far more than anyone else in the group.
Still, Myers is comfortable with his wideouts.
"… Everyone can catch the ball," he said. "You're playing D-I football; you've caught the ball before. [But] what do you do with the ball in your hands? Are you breaking the tackle, making people miss? All of them have that ability."
Twitter: @sluhm —
The Aggies will succeed if ...
They play up to their potential on offense. Quarterback Kent Myers and running back Devante Mays will operate behind a versatile offensive line, led by seniors Austin Albrecht, right, Austin Stephens and Jake Simonich. An effective running game will take the pressure off a defense that returns only three starters.
The Aggies won't succeed if ...
They struggle on offense because of injuries or inexperience at wide receiver. That could make controlling the football more difficult and possibly expose the defense, which lost linebackers Nick Vigil and Kyler Fackrell to the NFL. The field-goal kicking must also be consistent than last season.
The bottom line
The Aggies appear capable of contending in the Mountain West Conference, but they must find play-makers capable of turning close games in their favor. That component was missing last year, when Utah State finished 2-4 in games decided in the fourth quarter. Myers, left, and Mays, above, staying healthy is a key.
Depth chart
Offense
WR • Kennedy Williams, Sr., 5-6, 160; Rayshad Lewis, Fr., 5-10, 165
WR • Andrew Rodriguez, Sr., 5-9, 185; Ron'Quavian Tarver, So., 6-3, 210
LT • Austin Albrecht, Sr., 6-5, 300; Cody Boyer, So., 6-5, 285.
LG • Jude Hockel, Sr., 6-4, 290; Brandon Taukeiaho, Jr., 6-2, 305
C • Austin Stephens, Sr., 6-3, 315; Demytrick Ali'ifua, Fr., 6-3, 305
RG • Jake Simonich, Sr., 6-5, 305; KJ Uluave, So., 6-4, 300
RT • Preston Brooksby, Jr., 6-5, 295; Sean Taylor, Jr., 6-5, 310
TE • Wyatt Houston, Sr., 6-4, 255; Dax Raymond, So., 6-5, 245
WR • Braelon Roberts, Jr., 6-3, 205; Zach Van Leeuwen, So., 6-0, 185
RB • Devonte Mays, Sr., 5-11, 230; Tonny Lindsey, Jr., 5-9, 195
QB • Kent Myers, Jr., 6-0, 200; Damion Hobbs, Jr., 6-1, 225
Defense
DE • Ian Togiai, Jr., 6-2, 280; Edmund Faimalo, Sr., 6-2, 280
NG • Travis Seefeldt, Sr. 6-1, 305; Christopher 'Unga, Fr., 6-0, 295
DE • Ricky Ali'ifua, Sr., 6-2, 280; Siua Taufa, Sr., 6-0, 280
OLB • Brock Carmen, Sr., 6-3, 230; Logan Lee, Fr., 6-3, 245
ILB • Leki Uasike, Sr., 5-9, 230; Anthony Williams, Sr., 6-1, 245
ILB • Alex Huerta, Jr., 6-3, 240; Chase Christiansen, So., 6-1, 235
OLB • Derek Larsen, So., 6-3, 240; Justus Te'i, Fr., 6-2, 225
CB • Jalen Davis, Jr., 5-10, 185; Wesley Bailey, Jr., 6-1, 195
S • Dallin Leavitt, Jr., 5-10, 200; Gaje Ferguson, So., 6-0, 200
FS • Devin Centers, Sr., 5-9, 200; Jontrell Rocquemore, So., 6-1, 210
CB • Daniel Gray, Sr., 5-10, 185; Cameron Haney, Fr., 5-11, 180
SPECIAL TEAMS
P • Aaron Dalton, So., 6-4, 220; Jake Thompson, Sr., 6-0, 220
PK • Brock Warren, Sr., 6-2, 175 or Jake Thompson, Sr., 6-0, 220
LS • Emmett Odegard, Jr., 6-1, 220; Brandon Pada, Fr., 5-11, 220
PR • Andrew Rodriguez, Sr, 5-9, 185; Jalen Davis, Jr., 5-10, 185
KR • Kennedy Williams, Sr., 5-6, 160; Jalen Davis, Jr., 5-10, 185
Schedule analysis
Sept. 1 vs. Weber State, 6 p.m. • Aggies have won 13 of 14 games in the series.
Sept. 10 at USC, noon • In 2013, the Trojans escaped with a 17-14 win.
Sept. 16 vs. Arkansas State, 7 p.m. • Red Wolves have played in five straight bowls.
Sept. 24 vs. Air Force, TBA • Big game: Conference opener for both teams.
Oct. 1 at Boise State, TBA • Broncos out to avenge 52-26 loss last season.
Oct. 8 at Colorado State, 8 p.m. • Rams went 7-6 in coach Mike Bobo's first year.
Oct. 22 vs. Fresno State, 8:30 p.m. • 'Dogs allowed 38.1 points per game last season.
Oct. 28 vs. San Diego State, 6 p.m. • Handed Utah State its worst loss (48-14) in 2015
Nov. 5 at Wyoming, TBA • USU has won four in a row vs. the Cowboys.
Nov. 12 vs. New Mexico, TBA • Lobos come off first bowl season since 2007.
Nov. 19 at Nevada, TBA • Utah State makes first trip to Reno in six years.
Nov. 26 at BYU, TBA • In-state rivals meet for the 86th time since 1922.