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| | Monday, September 6 | |||||
| 1998 Record: 7-4 (5-3) | 1998 statistics | 1999 schedule Head coach: Ron McBride Returning starters: 15 (offense 8, defense 5) Outlook A run at the inaugural Mountain West title is not out of the question with the offensive firepower in Salt Lake City. The defense is also a strong point. That may be what distinguishes the Utes from a crowd of contenders that can score, but fail to stop people. If the quarterback position remains consistent and healthy, and the defensive line develops, check back with this team in December, it may be headed to a postseason party. Offense Air Force could get a run for its money as the best running team in the Mountain West from Utah. With question marks at quarterback and wide receiver, expect the Utes to rely on Mike Anderson and Omar Bacon to carry the offensive load. The duo could each rush for 1,000 yards. Last year, Anderson led the WAC with 1,173 yards and Bacon added 718. Four starters are back along the line, led by guard Sam White and tackle Josh Cochran. Mammoth 270-pound tight end Andy Kassotis sprained his right knee in summer two-a-days and could miss as much as the first month of the season. The question at QB comes from Darnell Arceneaux's inability to stay healthy. Hand and shoulder injuries have cut into his playing time over the last two seasons. But as a starter over that span, he's 6-0. He missed spring practice because of surgery. The backup spot is up for grabs. Arceneaux will have to find new receiving targets. Daniel Jones and Jerome Anderson are gone, taking their combined 99 catches and 1,467 yards with them. The leading returing receiver is Donny Utu, who caught 34 balls for 389 yards in '98. Boo Bendinger had a good spring. It's a good sign if: Arceneaux can spend more time under center than on the trainer's table.It's a bad sign if: Utah's shaky passing game can't achieve the balance it had with the running game like last year. Defense As individual units last year, the Ute defense shined. It was ninth in the country against the run and 18th against the pass. So how come that added up to 39th overall? That's the mystery needed to be solved by the five returning starters. Tops in the unit are linebacker Kautai Olevao and end John Frank. Olevao, a 6-2, 240-pound junior, moved from rover to his true position of "stud" linebacker. Frank could have an even bigger impact on the defense if Andy Bowers emerges as the other end. Watch out for 6-5, 298-pound nose guard Maake Kemoeatu, who coach Ron McBride describes as "a real specimen." Two new starters need to be broken in at linebacker next to Olevao. Howard Christianson, who missed all of last season with an elbow injury, looked strong in the spring. The secondary has just one spot to fill, free safety. Last year's free safety, Kimball Christianson, moved over to strong safety to replace Robert Love. Both returning cornerbacks need to improve their cover skills, however. That chemistry could improve with the brother tandem of Andre (cornerback) and Patrick Dyson (safety). They're the younger brothers of former Ute wideout Kevin Dyson, a first-round pick in the 1997 NFL draft. It's a good sign if: All that optimism shown by McBride about the defensive line becomes reality.It's a bad sign if: Minor injuries which have kept Olevao and Frank on the sideline for some of fall practice continue to dog the Utes' big guns. Special Teams Kicker Ryan Kaneshiro and punter Chris Hunter return for another season. Kaneshiro connected on 8 of 13 field goals last year and Hunter averaged 41.4 yards per punt. The Dyson brothers will likely handle kick return duties. -- Greg Collins |
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