Story Created:
Nov 29, 2009
Story Updated:
Nov 29, 2009
Ute Football
Maybe Max Hall was at least partially right in his post game comments, “(The Utes) didn’t deserve to win!”
Sure the Ute offense scored 17 fourth quarter points and tied up the game in the final minute to send it into overtime.
Sure the Ute defense held Hall and the Cougar offense scoreless for the final 25 minutes of regulation.
Not to mention the career night by Ute kicker Joe Phillips, who booted 5 field goals including a kick in overtime and a kick to send it to overtime.
But, too many mistake from players and coaches in the first three quarters proved to be the demise of Utah desire to win once again in Provo.
Coaching decision? Sure. Look at the decision of the Utes have quarterback Jordan Wynn, who was struggling early, throw the ball on a 3rd and 24 with under a minute left in the half. The decision to not run the ball and the clock, results in a Wynn interception that the Cougars turned into 3 points with four seconds on the clock.
I know what you are thinking, those points didn’t matter. Did they?
How about the penalties? The Utes were flagged 12 times for 113-yards. This included 5 person foul penalties worth 15-yards a pop. These penalties gave BYU first downs, good field position, as well as killed Utah drives.
Kyle Whittingham after the game said that he would have to look at the film to see what the officials saw on some of the penalties. While some may have been questionable, it’s hard to argue players pushing, shoving, or down right driving an opposing player to the ground seconds after the whistle was blown.
Then there is the inability of the Utah offense to finish off the drive.
The Utes were 3 for 3 tonight in the red zone, but only once was 6 points the result. Take those drives and top them off with the other drives that died just outside the red zone and you left a lot of points out on the field.
This week on “Locked on Sports”, David using his numbers pointed out a trend in the Utah game plan that seems to hint at a lack of trust in Jordan Wynn in the red zone. That same trend was very prevalent tonight. Each time the Utes found themselves in the red zone, the Utes would run out Shaky Smithson and the wildcat formation for 1 or 2 plays, then on a 3rd down put Wynn back in. And not in a position to succeed.
Where is the trust in the freshman quarterback whose hands you’ve put the reigns of your team in?
To the coaches defense, the once thought to be unflappable Jordan Wynn, did look like the moment had got to him in the second and third quarters. Wynn began the game 6 for 6 in the first quarter and ended the game 21 of 41.
This is a loss that will haunt the Utes players and coaches, not just because of the opportunity to win, but the availability of a win for the Utes if they just did a few things more.
