Tulsa vs. Utah
Monday, November 23, 2009
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Utah Offense vs. Tulsa Defense Utah's ground game was inconsistent at best earlier in the season and there's a reason. Though QB Brett Ratliff has good athletic ability for his size, he is a better passer than he is a runner, so options and quarterback keepers weren't as effective. Utah is nothing if not creative, and it did a good job of adjusting the offense to mask Ratliff's weakness as a runner by lining DB Eric Weddle up at quarterback in certain situations. Weddle is quick, reads his blocks fairly well and is strong enough to pick up yards after contact. As a result, Tulsa's linebackers will have to hesitate to see whether Weddle holds onto the ball or hands it off and plays with great discipline when the Utes run the option when he is in the game. In other words, Weddle lining up at quarterback should force the Golden Hurricanes to react rather than attack, and that should give Utah a considerable advantage. The reason is the strength of Tulsa's run defense is clearly the ability of its four linebackers to get to the football. MLB Nelson Coleman is a tackling machine and WLB Nick Bunting is relentless in pursuit. However, the linebackers can take too long to shed blocks, and forcing them to pause should make it easier for blockers to get into position. It's also worth noting that Weddle has completed two of the four passes he's thrown this year -- including one that went for a touchdown -- so Utah can put the ball in the air when he comes into the game. That said, RB Darryl Poston should be able to help keep the Utes out of a lot of situations with pass-heavy tendencies, even when Weddle isn't in the game. Poston's longest run this year has gone for just 18 yards, but he has good vision and runs hard between the tackles. He should regularly pick up 3-to-4 yards per carry against a Hurricane defense that has given up more than 4 yards per carry this year.
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