News Article: Sugar Bowl preview: Alabama can’t overlook dangerous Utah team

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Sugar Bowl preview: Alabama can’t overlook dangerous Utah team
By Jess Nicholas
TideFans.com Editor-in-Chief
Dec. 22, 2008

You’ve probably heard it all already: Utah, a Mountain West team, can’t compete with SEC juggernaut Alabama. Utah is just “Florida Lite.” The Utes will be exposed as soon as the ball is kicked off.

Someone call Oklahoma and get their thoughts on Boise State.

The reality is that Utah is a very, very good football team. The Utes are something that Alabama no longer is – undefeated – and Utah didn’t exactly play a poor schedule along the way. Utah beat Michigan, Air Force, Oregon State, Colorado State, TCU and BYU this year and, perhaps more importantly, got better as the season went along.

Alabama, meanwhile, comes into this game smarting from a loss to Florida in the SEC Championship Game, meaning this matchup marks the first time Alabama has had to deal with bouncing back from a loss since the end of the 2007 season, which was marked by an inability to do just this. Will Alabama be able to muster the heart necessary to rebound from the loss? That is, quite possibly, the key question in this game, over and above what the matchups reveal.

OFFENSE

Utah’s offensive system isn’t a carbon copy of Florida’s spread-option attack, but it shares enough common elements that Alabama’s pre-Florida preparation should carry over well here. The chief difference is that Utah doesn’t have a Tim Tebow at quarterback – the Utes’ quarterback is 6’1”, 205 – and the secondary difference is that Utah’s running backs are all the size of Florida’s Kestahn Moore or larger. Utah does not employ any scatbacks at the tailback position. Like Florida, the offensive line is a veteran unit. The Utes ranked 41st in both rushing and passing offense in 2008, 15th in scoring offense and 31st in total offense. Alabama will counter with its hybrid pro-style attack, and hopes to have a bit more success against Utah than it did against Florida. A smaller Utah defensive front seven should help that happen.

QUARTERBACKS
Senior Brian Johnson is the straw that stirs the Utah drink, and he’s had an excellent final year. Johnson sustained a shoulder injury in 2007 that slowed him, and after his return, didn’t seem to have quite the same potential he had pre-injury. But he was still one of the MWC’s best quarterbacks in 2008, going 241-for-353 (68.3%) for 2,636 yards, 24 touchdowns and 9 interceptions. He also rushed 104 times for 143 yards (1.4 avg., which includes sack yardage taken out) and 1 touchdown, which covered 56 yards. So even if he isn’t the same player as he was pre-injury, he’s still a very good quarterback. His backup may actually see some action in this game regardless of the score. Corbin Louks played in nine games in 2008, going 4-of-7 (57.1%) for 104 yards, but also finishing as the team’s third-leading rusher, carrying the ball 27 times for 218 yards (8.1 avg.) and 3 touchdowns. A total of five other Utes also threw at least one pass, including the placekicker (twice) and starting tailback Darrell Mack, meaning a Boise-like trick play or two from Utah should be expected. Alabama counters with John Parker Wilson, who is trying to bounce back from a poor fourth quarter against Florida, but otherwise this year has been fairly solid. Wilson won’t have as much of the game in his hands as Johnson will, but will have to make 10-15 key plays for Alabama to win, regardless. Greg McElroy is a bigger passing threat off the bench than Louks is for Utah, but won’t play unless Wilson gets hurt or the game gets out of hand. Both units are strong, but Johnson has had a better year overall and is more involved in the play-to-play course of the game than Wilson is for Alabama. Advantage: Utah

RUNNING BACKS
Utah primarily uses a two-headed attack at running back, much like Alabama. For the Utes, senior Darrell Mack (119 carries, 533 yards, 4.5 avg., 3 TD) and junior Matt Asiata (133 carries, 678 yards, 5.1 avg., 11 TD) are virtually interchangeable. They’ve each also thrown four passes between them, with Asiata picking up two touchdowns on the year. Both are around six feet tall and run in the 220-230 range, meaning they’ve got the size to be good in traffic and between the tackles. Eddie Wide and Ray Stowers offer depth, and several Utah receivers are a threat to get the ball in the running game, most notably Brent Casteel and Jereme Brooks. Asiata and Mack together, however, have fewer yards than Alabama’s starter, Glen Coffee (220 carries, 1,347 yards, 6.1 avg., 10 TD). Alabama also adds Mark Ingram (135 carries, 702 yards, 5.2 avg., 12 TD) to the mix. Third-down back Roy Upchurch will miss the game, so either Terry Grant or Jeramie Griffin could get some playing time. Utah uses no fullback; Alabama will use Baron Huber in the role sporadically. Utah’s running backs are good at their jobs – Mack ran for 1,204 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2007 – but Alabama is deeper here and has better athletes. Advantage: Alabama

WIDE RECEIVERS
Five Ute receivers have caught 23 or more passes for 286 or more yards. It’s a deep unit with a good mix of size, speed and receivers who play different roles. Big Freddie Brown, who is 6’4”, 215 and caught 65 passes for 775 yards (11.9 avg.) and 7 touchdowns this year, starts next to another tall senior, Bradon Godfrey (50 catches, 481 yards, 9.6 avg., 3 TD). While they are mostly possession receivers, speed players Brent Casteel (42 catches, 547 yards, 13.0 avg., 3 TD) and David Reed (23 catches, 369 yards, 16.0 avg., 5 TD) create matchup problems. Five-foot-seven mighty-mite Jereme Brooks (26 catches, 286 yards, 11.0 avg., 1 TD) is a return specialist who is dangerous on screens. Tight ends Chris Joppru and Colt Sampson are used more as blockers than receivers, but 5 of Sampson’s 10 catches this year have gone for touchdowns when the team is deep in the red zone. Alabama counters with Julio Jones (51 catches, 847 yards, 16.6 avg., 4 TD), who will be the best receiver on either team in this game, but the rest of the unit is a bit more suspect. Aside from the fine tight end duo of Nick Walker, who will be looking for his 30th catch of the year in this game, and Travis McCall, Alabama has struggled to find a good rotation elsewhere. Nikita Stover seems to have transplanted Mike McCoy as starter at flanker, and Darius Hanks has begun to emerge as the team’s go-to slot receiver. Earl Alexander, Brad Smelley and Marquis Maze provide depth, along with B.J. Scott and Preston Dial. But the most interesting name to watch for Alabama will be Colin Peek, who will be playing his first game of the year against Utah. Peek, who was required to miss the regular season as per transfer rules, had a solid performance as a receiver during the A-Day spring game and, had he been eligible this fall, would have challenged Walker for a starting job. While that will be interesting to watch, and Jones’ presence gives Alabama the best single weapon on the field, Utah has more overall depth at this position and more weapons among its top group. Advantage: Utah

OFFENSIVE LINE
Both teams will field veteran lines. Utah’s tackle combination of Zane Beadles and Dustin Hensel are experienced seniors, and Hensel is a big guy (6’7”, 310) even by SEC standards. Guards Caleb Schlauderaff and Robert Conley are decent, but Conley is a bit on the small side. All four were returning starters heading into 2008; the fifth, sophomore center Zane Taylor, has come along nicely. Utah has built excellent depth into its line, as several second-teamers have played in most every game. Corey Seiuli will rotate with the guards, while Walter Watts and Tony Bergstrom man the reserve tackle positions and Tyler Williams the second-team center position. The spread-option system allows Utah to cover some shortcomings in straight-up pass protection, but the Utes were still just 63rd nationally and 8th in the MWC in sacks allowed – by far their worst offensive stat. Alabama counters with Antoine Caldwell and Marlon Davis playing their final game in crimson at center and right guard, respectively, and left tackle Andre Smith seems to be a lock to head out early to the NFL Draft. Left guard Mike Johnson and right tackle Drew Davis round out the first unit. Depth is provided by John Michael Boswell and Taylor Pharr at the tackle slots, Brian Motley and David Ross at guard and William Vlachos at center. As run blockers, Alabama is better; as pass blockers, Alabama is much better. Utah’s line would be effective even in the SEC, but Alabama’s is one of the top units in the country. Advantage: Alabama

DEFENSE

Just as Utah’s offense resembled the Florida offense, the defense is built much like the Florida defense. It’s a 4-3 look, but one of the linebacker slots operates as a rover, so the end result is a hybrid 4-3/4-2-5 not unlike Alabama’s defenses under Carl Torbush in 2001-2002. The problem coming into the season for Utah was experience in the front seven, but Utah has managed to put up better numbers than in 2007, when the Utes struggled against the run but were tough against the pass. Utah finished the regular season ranked 14th in rushing defense, 40th in pass defense (but 22nd in pass efficiency defense), 12th in scoring defense and 18th in total defense. Alabama counters with one of the stingiest units in the country and one of the better units the Crimson Tide has ever fielded – and for a school known for its defense above all else, that’s quite a compliment. Alabama is hardly vulnerable at all against the run (4th nationally) and ranks better against the pass than Utah. Alabama is 3rd in total defense at the moment. The Tide employs a 3-4 over/under scheme but frequently goes to a 4-2-5 or 3-3-5 nickel look.

DEFENSIVE LINE
Even though Utah has been good against the run, the front four is a bit suspect. The ends, however, are not part of the problem. Koa Misi and Paul Kruger both have decent size, especially for a 4-3 look, and both are good against both the run and the pass. Both rank among the team’s top five tacklers, which is an oddity for defensive ends. The issue is at the tackle positions, where the lack of size is hugely a factor. Starting nose tackle Derrick Shelby, for instance, is smaller than either Misi or Kruger. He’s just 6’3”, 250 and it’s not a case of him being some kind of extraordinary talent. In 12 games, he recorded just 8 solo tackles. Starting next to him is Greg Newman, who has far better stats but is still smallish (6’3”, 265) for a defensive tackle in Division-IA. The backups, curiously enough, are both 290 or up. Aaron Tonga spells Shelby, while massive freshman Sealver Siliga, who checks in at 6’4”, 330, backs up Newman. Alabama should be able to exploit this arrangement. Alabama counters with Terrence Cody in the middle flanked by Brandon Deaderick and senior Bobby Greenwood on the outside. Josh Chapman and Marcel Dareus help bolster the middle, while Luther Davis, Milton Talbert and Lorenzo Washington provide depth outside. Suffice to say that Alabama has the edge in all phases – even pass rushing, where the Tide’s mediocre ranking of 61st in sacks still bests Utah’s ranking of 72nd. Advantage: Alabama

LINEBACKERS
Size really isn’t an issue for this group; starters Stevenson Sylvester, Mike Wright and Nai Fotu are all in the 6’2”, 230 range. Having said that, they don’t particularly do much. It’s interesting how Utah can put up such good team defensive numbers without getting much from any one individual. Fotu is the most dangerous of the three, but the least consistent. Sylvester and Wright are the team’s top two tacklers, but aren’t particularly active in pass defense. Sylvester plays the hybrid linebacker/rover position. The backups, Mo Neal, Chaz Walker and Kepa Gaison, are a little undersized, but do play more than Alabama’s second-teamers. Alabama’s starting unit – Brandon Fanney and Cory Reamer outside and Rolando McClain and Dont’a Hightower inside – are far bigger and better playmakers than Utah, but the Utes hold the depth advantage. Alabama might use Prince Hall at times inside, and Eryk Anders will be used in obvious pass rushing situations, but other than that, the starters will go the whole game. Utah’s backers do perform solidly, however, particularly against the run, so Alabama will have to account for them. But Alabama is just better all the way across. Advantage: Alabama

DEFENSIVE BACKS
Although pass defense is Utah’s worst defensive category statistically, part of the issue is the Utes have faced more passing teams. The Utes have given up more raw pass numbers, but the efficiency defense rating of 22nd shows that Utah doesn’t yield a lot of big plays. The veteran makeup of the group makes it little surprise. Brice McCain and Sean Smith start at the corners, while Joe Dale and Robert Johnson start at the safeties. All have intercepted passes this year, but it is Smith who is the most feared. He has picked off 5 passes for 151 yards in returns and added 8 passes broken up over the season. McCain is a senior; the other three are juniors. The rest of the secondary is also made up of veterans, including backup corners R.J. Stanford and Justin Jones and reserve seniors Deshawn Richard and R.J. Rice. Freshman Brandon Burton adds some youth. If this group played in the SEC, it would be one of the top units. Alabama counters with Javier Arenas, Kareem Jackson and Marquis Johnson at cornerback and Rashad Johnson, Justin Woodall and Ali Sharrief at safety. The performance of these two groups is about equal, but it is Rashad Johnson’s skills as defensive quarterback – not to mention his ballhawking skills – that give Alabama the slightest of edges here. It is unlikely that either offense will find much success against either secondary. Advantage: Alabama

SPECIAL TEAMS
Utah placekicker Louie Sakoda won first-team all-American honors. He was 21-of-23 on field goal attempts in 2008 and a perfect 52-of-52 on points-after. Sakoda also handles the punting, and averages 41.7 yards per kick there. The Utes are good on kickoff returns (31st nationally), but don’t return punts particularly well (92nd). Punt coverage is good, and Sakoda doesn’t give opposing returners much of a chance with his high kicks. Alabama counters with placekicker Leigh Tiffin, who has closed the season strongly, and punter P.J. Fitzgerald, who is acceptable. Javier Arenas gives Alabama a better punt returner, but the Tide continues to be vexed on kickoff returns. With the return game a push, the matchup comes down to the kicking situation, and Utah holds a clear edge there. Advantage: Utah

OVERALL

Alabama leads in five categories, Utah in three. Alabama’s advantage at defensive back, however, is pretty small. The Tide wins both line matchups, especially the matchup of Tide OL against Ute DL.

And that’s probably where this game will turn. Since Utah’s offense lacks both the explosiveness of Florida’s, along with the obvious absence of a Tim Tebow-type at quarterback, so the Utes will need multiple shots at Alabama to score points. But Alabama should be able to stay on the field offensively more easily against Utah, and the cascade effect of that success will probably limit Utah’s shots.

And then there’s the matter of the Alabama defense. Florida wasn’t able to run the ball consistently without Tebow factored into the equation, so if Alabama can deal with the bigger (albeit it slower) Utah running backs, it’s unlikely the Utes will be able to keep up.

Make no mistake, Utah is a good team, and is good enough to beat Alabama if the Crimson Tide hasn’t yet put the Florida loss behind it. Were the Utes in the SEC West, they would likely have been the division’s second-place team.

Expect trick plays, and expect Utah to have the emotional edge. But Alabama should simply be good enough to win the game.

Alabama 28
Utah 17