Before the Utah Utes opened fall camp, Utah coach Kyle Whittingham called his 2008 team potentially his best ever, at least judging by the names he saw on the roster. How those players came together and formed a team would decide if his belief was correct.

Well, halfway through the season, we now have a better idea of what kind of team he has.

The Utes are 6-0 for the first time under Whittingham and have done everything they've needed to do to repeat the 2004 team's BCS-busting ways.

Utah opened the season with a win over Michigan, avenged 2007's loss to UNLV and improved its record against BCS opponents to 10-3 since 2004 with Thursday's last-second win over Oregon State.

That victory marked the last nonconference game for the Utes, who start the second-half of the season Saturday at Wyoming.

What is to like about the Utes? What is not to like? What potential do they have?

We'll tell you, as we grade the Utes at the halfway mark.

Offense: B-

By far this is the most difficult area to grade. At times the Utes look horrible, at other times they look unstoppable. The Utes are averaging 38.3 points, up from 26.2 in 2007, but the way the Utes disappear at times in games is perplexing. The biggest issue is turnovers, of which the Utes have lost 13 this season.

The Utes have also squandered prime opportunities too, unable to take advantage of good field position created by Utah's defense. Too many times the Utes are calling for kicker Louie Sakoda to complete drives after failing to find the end zone. He has had three or more field goals in four of Utah's wins. Of Utah's 30 trips into the red zone this season, the Utes have scored touchdowns 21 times. That number isn't a really bad percentage nor is it a great one. But with a team that features as many offensive weapons as the Utes have, it's natural to expect more.

What we like: Johnson is staying healthy. His ability to do that was questioned after a season-ending knee injury at the end of 2005, then his shoulder injury that limited him in 2007. The Utes aren't running him as much as they did in 2005, but so far he has been durable and hasn't shied away from taking hits.

The running back tandem of Darrell Mack and Matt Asiata is working as well as the Utes could have hoped. They're getting virtually equal carries with Asiata rushing 71 times for 373 yards and Mack rushing 77 times for 363 yards and neither is making a fuss about splitting carries.

What we don't like: The Utes need more big plays from the receivers. David Reed has a 47-yard touchdown catch but there needs to be more, especially from Brent Casteel who in 2006 was Utah's top big-play threat. Thursday's game against Oregon State, when he had five catches for 105 yards, is more like it.

It would also be nice if Johnson got the OK to run more like he did against Oregon State. He can keep defenses honest if he is a running threat.

Defense: A

After an impressive 2007 season, defense was expected to be the strong point for the Utes and the defenders have done nothing to disappoint.

In 2007 the secondary looked vulnerable and it wasn't. This season the defensive line seemed suspect and true to defensive coordinator Gary Andersen's ways, it hasn't been faulty.

Paul Kruger is becoming a beast of a defensive end, averaging almost a sack a game.

Utah's defense has bailed out the offense time and time again, and still is only giving up 21 points despite some difficult situations it has faced thanks to offensive turnovers.

What we like: The way Utah's defense has risen to the challenge in a variety of ways, whether it was playing at Michigan and not really knowing what to expect out of coach Rich Rodriguez's new plan, staying disciplined against Air Force or smothering UNLV's Frank Summers. Holding Oregon State to three and out at the end of Thursday's game made the comeback possible.

What we don't like: This is getting picky, but the secondary could pick it up a little. Sean Smith's tackling still is a little suspect and sometimes he goes for the ball too much rather than defending the play.

Oregon State, which had 313 passing yards, exposed some weaknesses in Utah's coverage, particularly with the play-action.

Special teams: C

If we graded only kicker Louie Sakoda, he'd have to be an A+, but we're talking special teams here, and that has provided mixed results.

Sakoda has been typically steady, making one field goal after another with the exception of two long misses at Air Force in which he also had a strong wind going against him.

Ben Vroman has been just as steady on kickoffs.

The return game was suspect earlier, but the Utes have found consistency with David Reed returning kicks and Terrell Cole returning punts.

What we like: Utah's kicking game. Between Vroman and Sakoda the Utes have it covered.

What we don't like: Reed is a good kickoff returner and showed it with a 79-yard return against Oregon State. He is capable of giving the Utes great field position. But the Utes still need to find more of a threat on punt returns. Right now the Utes seem like they're just happy getting by, rather than finding a real returning threat.

The Utes haven't allowed a return for a touchdown, but they aren't creating turnovers or threatening to block kicks or punts either, and have done a poor job of pinning opponents when they get chances like they failed to do against Oregon State.

Intangibles: A

Utah has shown that it is capable of lifting its play in the crucial minutes, and that is the biggest reason for the undefeated record. The Utes had the game-winning drive at Air Force then scored 11 points in the final three minutes against Oregon State. The Utes don't let rowdy atmospheres or pressure situations bother them and that kind of mental toughness separates the great teams from the good ones.