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| Monday, August 13 Updated: August 14, 9:37 AM ET Utah, McBride need fast start this season By Ed Graney Special to ESPN.com |
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Utah Utes 2000 record: 4-7 (3-4). Coach: Ron McBride (12th season, 75-53). Starters returning: 7 offense, 4 defense, 2 kickers. Outlook: Utah entered last season as a favorite to win the conference title, a team that was supposedly deep enough and fast enough and strong enough to stand alone on top. It lost six of its first eight games. New faces are everywhere, beginning with four assistant coaches. McBride not only brought in fresh ideas, he scratched a traditional one-back offense for a two-back power run game. Adam Tate -- assuming he takes care of business in the classroom -- is a load at 6-1, 230 pounds. A playmaker must emerge to replace departed wideout Steve Smith, but all-conference tackle Doug Kaufusi anchors the offensive front. Defensively, the Utes have two of the league's best in linebacker Jason Kaufusi and lineman Garrett Smith, but key losses at cornerback could spell trouble. Utah -- at one point 1-of-11 on field goals last season -- can only get better on special teams. Keep an eye on: Sophomore quarterback Lance Rice. The two-quarterback system of Darnell Arceneaux and T.D. Croshaw failed last season -- Arceneaux was usually hurt and Croshaw wasn't any good. Now, Rice will hope three starts to end last season and an entire spring practice of work is enough to make a difference. "He has proven some already to being a very intelligent decision-maker," McBride said. "He has confidence that when he is behind center, something good is going to happen." Key game: At Air Force (Sept. 15). Utah has a chance to begin conference play 3-0, but it must start here. The Falcons are Utah's only MWC date in a four-game stretch to begin the season and won 23-14 in Salt Lake City last year. New Mexico (Sept. 29) is Utah's second league game and Wyoming (Oct. 20) its third. Confidence and momentum can do wonders for a team picked to finish sixth, and Utah is good enough defensively to win all three games. It's a good year if... Utah finishes no worse than 6-5. It won't be easy, considering Rice is so unproven and there is no telling how the kicking game might fare. The whispers about McBride's job status are growing louder, despite the fact he has just two losing seasons (1990 and 2000). But expectations didn't come close to being met last season and off-field disciplinary problems haven't sat well with some administrators. Utah -- and McBride -- can't afford another slow start. Ed Graney covers college football for the San Diego Union Tribune. |
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