Weekend Preview Week 3: Utah Faces Defensive Test

September 17, 2022 Eric Jensen CFB, Nfl, Uncategorized 0

Each week Eric Jensen breaks down the week ahead in football in the weekend preview. The weekend preview covers all three major FBS teams in Utah and some NFL action, plus random musings. Enjoy the weekend preview. 

Utah

After demolishing an FCS team last week the Utes take on San Diego State, a team hyped up to be a potential Pac-12 replacement. The unfortunate truth is this though, this is a Mountain West team, they are Mountain West caliber. I love the Mountain West but they would not help in making the Pac-12 more watchable and competitive as a national brand.

Conference realignment take now out of the way we can look at the simple fact of this game, Utah has the better team. While this isn’t SUU, the Utes should be expected to win this game and win this game handily. No excuses, Utah should take care of business here.

One thing to really keep an eye on, the runningback usage for Utah. Kyle Whittingham said in his presser this week that Tavion Thomas will see the same workload despite issues with fumbling.

This is just a wild answer from a coach that hates turnovers more than any other coach in college football, it also shows you what kind of bind this coaching staff is in with Thomas. He’s an NFL-caliber runner that tilts the field in the Utes direction in almost every aspect but the facts are the facts, he has a massive turnover problem.

How the coaching staff deals with that dilemma will be fascinating throughout this season.

Meanwhile, the question will persist for Utah fans, will the wideouts get more involved? To that I say, does it actually matter? Really? Does it actually matter?

The Utes have one of the most dominant offensive line units in the Pac-12, a deep backfield with four playmakers who can tout the ball on the ground and catch out of the backfield and the best tight end duo in the nation. Those are the weapons, those are the guys that at the end of the day are going to win you a football game. Oh, and forgot to mention they have a top 2 QB in the conference that might be an NFL draft pick.

The concern over the wide receivers is ridiculous at this point, the Utes can win without them. If they each give you two 100 yard games a piece, you are going to be absolutely fine. In the wise words of Aaron Rodgers as far as the wide receiving core goes, R-E-L-A-X.

Defensively, can the pass rush show out again, if the Utes can get three or more sacks this weekend, all concerns surrounding the defensive line and pass rush should be gone.

Utah almost always starts slow, they get San Diego State and ASU as a primer for a solid Oregon State team in week 5. Things are going to be just fine for the Utes, the key is improving week in and week out, and be playing your best football by USC.

BYU

BYU insiders seem to believe no Puka Nacua or Gunner Romney for this game. What this game comes down to for me, as is the case for most games the teams are evenly matched roster wise, whose got the guy at QB.

I do not believe Bo Nix is him. I just do not, he is the anti him if anything, he is a bad QB. Jaren Hall is a good QB, this is a huge game for Hall.

Early game, nationally televised, the type of game where if he balls out he’s a national name and a guy in real NFL draft discourse the rest of the season. Chris Brooks should also be a big part of the game plan for BYU, the Cougar’s offensive line should be able to dominate up front and BYU should be able to move the ball.

If BYU gets this win they need to be put in the conversation for the college football playoff. The Cougars are a program that at this point in the Kalani Sitake era should be expected to win big games on the road. A culture has been established, BYU know what this game means and they will be ready.

I feel very confident that BYU will show up and get a win in Eugene. If they don’t it’s a massive step backward for a program on track to be a nationally viable brand that is considered one of the best teams in College Football year in and year out.

The pass rush success is a one week sample size, it would be ideal if the Cougars could once again post four or more sacks. Continuing on with the weekend preview.

NFL

A brief note on the Monday night doubleheader: these are the two best games of the weekend in my mind in the NFL. I am deeply interested to see if the Bills can defensively dominate a Titans team that will be coached up coming off a loss. Mike Vrabel teams hardly ever lose two straight, that only happened two times last year. This is a big test for the Bills and how dominant they can be this season. Meanwhile, can Kirk Cousins win in primetime? Until I see that I do not fully buy in on the amount of Vikings hype going around on Twitter right now.

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Bears-Packers: Listen I have no analysis for this game. The Bears played in a monsoon and Greenbay played with an entirely new offensive core. I include this game because it fascinates me, despite having no proven passing weapons outside of Robert Tonyan can Aaron Rodgers continue to dominate the Bears? How does Justin Fields look against a Packers defensive Luke Getsy (former Packers QB coach) knows the tendencies of? Just a lot of unanswered questions in this one.

Dolphins-Ravens: I do not buy Tua. Just that simple. He threw five passes over 20 air yards last week, and he missed two of them. The Dolphin’s offense is a game managing QB’s dream, check it off underneath and let the playmakers make plays. This game will be about Lamar Jackson though, who quietly dominated through the air in week 1. That and the Ravens defense, which I still believe is the best in the NFL. A good early season test for both these teams.

Commanders-Lions: I love games like this. Games that no one really looks toward. These are sneaky two of the most intriguing teams in the NFL though. The sad reality is Carson Wentz is the best QB the Commanders have had since Kirk Cousins. Wentz has some nice weapons around him, Jahan Dotson looks like a dude who could be the real deal and it seems as though Curtis Samuel is sort of Scott Turner spirit animal, when he’s playing well the offense plays well, not to mention one of the best wide outs in the league Terry McLaurin. The Commanders are full of intrigue, meanwhile, the Lions can no longer just be a scrappy team that loses by three each week. This is a great defensive test for both teams, we will know a lot more about both once this thing goes final. I love weird/bad football games and this is one I will be dialed into on Sunday.

Weekend Preview Broncos

Please, dear God, do not lose to the Texans at home. That’s all. All my analysis for this game. Justin Simmons is on IR, that sucks. Please for the love of all things holy do not lose to the Texans in Russell Wilson’s home opener, literally all I ask.