SALT LAKE CITY — Everyone is entitled to their own set of opinions regarding the University of Utah football team, which is 4-1 overall and 1-1 in the Big 12 as it moves through its first open week.
You have yours, I have mine, and to pass some time with no game this week, I am going to offer mine.
Here are five things I think I know about the Utes, who are off until an Oct. 11 matchup against 25th-ranked Arizona State at Rice-Eccles Stadium (8:15 p.m. MDT, ESPN).
I think Utah's offense can get away with what it has
I have absolutely been one of those people who believes that for Utah to get where it wants to go, it needs more of a passing attack. Specifically, the Utes need to have more of a downfield, big-play threat, which has yet to materialize this fall.
After watching five Utah games, four of which they completely dominated — albeit mostly against overmatched competition — I am starting to change my tune here a bit.
To be clear, yes, it would be advantageous if the Utes could hit some more big-play stuff, but what they have done on offense to this point has been plenty effective. If it continues to be plenty effective, there's no reason to get all hot and bothered about what isn't happening.
Brass tacks: If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
The Utes are currently second in the Big 12 and 13th nationally in rushing (242.6 yards per game). They effectively control the clock, Devon Dampier has been mostly solid (more on that below), and the pieces at Jason Beck's disposal have been adaptable.
Is it a problem that Ryan Davis has a team-leading 36 catches, but no other wide receiver has more than six?
I used to think so. I'm not so sure it is anymore. For now, until another Big 12 team pushes Utah's offense around, I'm saying it's not.
I think Devon Dampier has mostly been as advertised
Much was made in the offseason about Dampier's arrival from New Mexico alongside Beck, who was his offensive coordinator for two seasons with the Lobos.
Through five games, Dampier has completed 72.5% of his passes for 1,027 yards and 11 touchdowns against just three interceptions. He has been relatively mistake-free, which was not always the case at New Mexico. Although the Texas Tech game was a step backward, he followed that up by going 21-of-26 for 237 yards and four touchdown passes at West Virginia.
The RPO stuff is working. He has made throws when he's had to make throws, and, as expected, he has proven capable as a runner, both on designed keepers and if the pocket collapses.
Dampier has been what Utah thought it was getting, especially with Beck calling plays for him.
I think we'll learn what we need to know Oct. 11
I spent a lot of time in the most recent Utah football mailbag this week talking about the resume to this point, who the Utes have played, and how good we think they are through five games.
Utah has not only beat, but bludgeoned exactly who they should; but the loss to Texas Tech offered some pause as to what the ceiling might be.
I think we're going to find out what we need to know about this Utah team on Oct. 11 when Arizona State visits Rice-Eccles Stadium.
The Sun Devils look different than a year ago, specifically with Cam Skattebo off to the NFL, but quarterback Sam Leavitt is a proven commodity, wide receiver Jordyn Tyson looks like a legitimate Blietnikoff Award contender, and 17 starters returned from last season's Big 12 champion.
More to the point, Arizona State is 2-0 in the Big 12, having chaotic, 27-24 games at Baylor and against TCU. Good, capable teams tend to win those types of games.
If Utah wins that game, everything is on the table. If Utah loses that game, you have to start recalibrating what this season can ultimately produce.
I think the Utes' pass defense needs to be better
Raw numbers will tell you that Utah's defense has been very good against the pass.
The Utes rank fourth in the Big 12 and 19th nationally in passing yards allowed at 159.6 yards per game.
Yeah, well, here's the thing.
UCLA, Cal Poly, Wyoming, and West Virginia offered no resistance. Texas Tech, though, has the nation's No. 1 passing offense (368.5 yards per game), and it ran roughshod on the Utes' secondary.
Within that, backup quarterback Will Hammond went 13-of-16 for 169 yards and two touchdowns in relief of the injured Behren Morton, and the Red Raiders ended the day with seven completions of at least 18 yards.
Now, I know what you're thinking.
"Josh, Texas Tech is the best passing attack Utah will see this season. The Utes won't give up that many passing yards again."
Sure, maybe not, but the baseline has been set for what happens when a competent passing attack goes up against Utah.
As of now, the Utes still have to play at least three teams that rank in the top 35 nationally in passing offense, including No. 3 Baylor (349.4 yards per game) on Nov. 15 in Waco.
Until Utah plays some more defense, this is a thing.
I think depth at safety is going to be a problem
Coinciding with the issue of its pass defense, Utah's depth at safety has now become an issue.
Rabbit Evans was already out for the season. Jackson Bennee, a sophomore safety who moonlights at wide receiver, was banged up at West Virginia, but is expected to be fine. Nate Ritchie suffered what is believed to be a more serious leg injury against the Mountaineers. His day ended in a full leg brace and on crutches.
With Utah on an open week, head coach Kyle Whittingham did not conduct his normal weekly press conference, and is not expected to address the local media until Monday morning.
"Reserve judgment until we get final medical evaluations," Whittingham said Saturday evening after Utah's 48-14 win over West Virginia. "I don't want to say something now that maybe isn't accurate."
You never want to assume anything, but for the purposes of this exercise, if Ritchie's injury is long term, Utah likely has to get true freshman Nate Tilmon ready to play significant game reps.
Also, just a thought here, but if Ritchie is out, does Utah at least scale back whatever offensive reps it had earmarked for Bennee?
