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The University of Utah Athletics
2000 Utah Football Outlook
6/9/2000 12:00 AM | Football
June 9, 2000
SALT LAKE CITY - Ute football coach Ron McBride is a little on edge these days. And he wants to stay that way.
"Last season ended in such a positive manner, what with going to a bowl game and winning it, that it would be easy to get complacent or overconfident," frets McBride. "We need to find a way to keep that edge. We need to ask more of our players than ever before."
Asking more of a team that went 9-3, tied for a share of the Mountain West Conference title and won the Las Vegas Bowl might seem like a hard line approach. But given Utah's 2000 schedule, its toughest ever, McBride is probably taking the right tack.
The Utes kick off their 2000 campaign with three straight games against Pacific-10 opponents, beginning with a September 2 home game against Arizona in Rice-Eccles Stadium. The next week, they'll play at Cal, followed by a home game against Washington State. Ready for a breather? Don't be. After finishing their "Pac-10 schedule," the Utes begin Mountain West Conference play against perennial power Air Force.
"Our schedule is very tough up front. There is absolutely no breathing room," says McBride. "We open with three Pac-10 teams who feel like they cannot afford to lose to us. Then we have Air Force, which is one of the toughest teams there is to prepare for, and a traditional rivalry game with Utah State. That's five straight tough games before we have a bye."
McBride concedes that the schedule has its advantages, too. "Our foundation is very solid and we should to be able to compete with anyone on our schedule. We're looking forward to this schedule because it gives us a chance to make a statement about our program," he says.
Despite the hoopla surrounding the first of a long series of great non-conference schedules, McBride prefers to center his attention on the annual conference slate. "The bottom line is winning the league," says McBride. "The non-conference schedule is important for the rankings, but our goals remain unchanged: We want to win the Mountain West Conference outright and go to a major bowl."
The 2000 Utes appear to have a legitimate shot at reaching those goals, and not just on paper. With the exception of running back, where the top two players from last season were lost to graduation, returning starters are the rule.
Here's a look at the team Utah will field in its quest for the 2000 MWC Championship.
QUARTERBACKS
The quarterback situation is the best it's been in McBride's 18 total years as a Ute coach (10 as head coach). "In all the years I've been here, this is the first time I've been happy with all five quarterbacks," says McBride. "We've never had this kind of quality depth here before."
The depth begins, oddly enough, with the "starter," which remains two people after spring ball. Neither Darnell Arceneaux nor T.D. Croshaw managed to wrest the position away in spring ball. While they are both game-tested, proven winners and seniors, the comparisons end there for the most part.
Arceneaux (6-1, 188), who is 11-2 as a starter during three injury-plagued years, is a scrambler and playmaker. Croshaw (6-1, 182), 3-1 as a starter, is a heady player and good drop back passer who performed slightly better than Arceneaux in the spring. Will a full-time starter be named before Utah's season opener against Arizona? For now, McBride isn't saying.
"It will work itself out in the fall, but we may not even name a starter," says McBride. "Not knowing which guy will play can create problems for the opposing team since T.D. and Darnell are such different quarterbacks in terms of style and strengths. I don't have a problem with either guy starting*they can both win games."
With one starter always serving as a backup, McBride has the luxury of bringing some youngsters along slowly.
"Joel Gines, Lance Rice and (incoming freshman) Brett Elliott are the future of this program. We will get them reps in practice and, by the time they play in a game, they'll have had two or three spring seasons under their belts," says McBride.
Gines (6-1, 205, So.) and Rice (6-1, 191, Fr.) performed well in spring drills and the latter was sensational in the final scrimmage. Elliott (6-3, 210, Fr.), who will join the team in the fall, is considered a real catch for Utah.
An upperclassmen McBride likes is senior third-string QB Tony Alvarez. "Tony is playing his best ball since he got here. He has a quick release and throws deep very well."
OFFENSIVE LINE
Not only does McBride love his offensive line, he thinks some NFL teams will covet it as well. "Ed Ta'amu, Doug Kaufusi and Jordan Gross will probably all play after they leave here," says McBride of his starting left guard and two tackles.
That trio is part of veteran line fortified by returning starters. At center, Steve McKane (6-0, 270, Sr.) is a second-year starter coming off his first healthy spring as a Ute. At right guard, Sam White (6-3, 288, Sr.) will start for a fourth year. White, a second-team all-WAC pick as a sophomore in 1998, is the O line's emotional leader and one of the toughest players on the team. Michael Richardson (6-2, 268, Jr.) can play every position on the line, although he is slated to start at tight end.
"The offensive line is going to be a really solid position for us," asserts McBride. "Those guys had a really good spring. We have great athleticism on the line, especially with Eddie (Ta'amu) and Mike Richardson."
Ta'amu (6-1, 308, Sr.), a transplant from the defensive line, spent half of last year learning his new position. He didn't need to learn strength, size and speed, though. "He is the strongest guy on the team, pound for pound, and has just unbelievable athletic ability for the position," says McBride of his only "rookie" lineman.
McBride has similar feelings for Gross (6-5, 302), who won a starting spot at the end of his freshman year. "Jordan might be the best guy of the bunch. He has NFL potential right now."
Two newcomers who could contribute immediately are junior college transfers Phil Blackmon (6-6, 305) and Talo Tavale (6-4, 295).
TIGHT ENDS
Even to McBride, who relates to the tight ends, nine makes for a tight end-heavy roster. Not to worry, he says. "We frequently bring guys in as athletes and start them out at tight end. Some of them will move. Luther Elliss (a former Ute All-America defensive lineman) was recruited as a tight end. It took us half a practice to switch him," laughs McBride.
One who might get switched, depending on Utah's injury situation, is starter Michael Richardson (6-2, 268, Jr.), who can also play every other position on the offensive line. Full-time tight ends are Matt Nickel (6-6, 257, Sr.), Scott Price (6-3, 241, Jr.) and Tony Dickamore (6-1, 251, Jr.). Andy Kassotis (6-2, 267, Sr.) will challenge for the starting job if the NCAA grants him an additional medical hardship year.
In Utah's one-back scheme, the tight end frequently does more blocking than receiving against defenses that crowd the line of scrimmage. However, that might change when first-year sophomore Ben Allison plays. "Ben is the first tight end we've recruited that can really run. Teams won't be able to cover him with a linebacker," says McBride.
Freshmen Jason Kaufusi and Matt Hansen are coming off Mormon church missions and also will (at least initially) work out with the tight ends.
RUNNING BACKS
No other position is more uncertain than running back, where first-team all-leaguer Mike Anderson and his talented backup Omar Bacon took 90 percent of the hand-offs for the past two years. The three previous years belonged to the rushing duo of the Chris Fuamatu-Ma'afala and Juan Johnson. In his tenure, "name" running back duos have been a McBride trademark.
"In the 10 years I've been here, we've always had two proven quality running backs," says McBride. "That's why running back is probably my biggest concern this year. We think we have guys who can do the job, but we need to see them in a game."
One sure to get game experience fast is sophomore D'Shaun Crockett (5-7, 190), who won the starting position in the spring."We think D'Shaun could be something special. He hits the hole very fast, and if he gets open, he can take it all the way. He reminds me of (former Ute star) Carl Monroe" says McBride.
Crockett's main competition may come from the juco ranks. If Dameon Hunter (5-11, 230) and Adam Tate (6-1, 230) become academically eligible, they may make an immediate impact on the position.
"There were three running backs that everybody felt were the best JC runners out there and we got two of them" says McBride of Hunter and Tate. "We really need at least one of those guys to come in and be the kind of player we think he is."
Returners Thomas Fortune (6-3, 220, Jr.) and Nick Morgan (6-0, 220, Sr.) are also in the mix and they have NCAA experience on their side.
"You need four or five good running backs," states McBride. "You can't be just average or good at that position. You have to be great."
WIDE RECEIVERS
Utah's wide receivers are always good, but the 2000 class is simply loaded. Starting wideouts Steve Smith and Cliff Russell may be the two best receivers in the conference. Smith, an All-America candidate, is one of the most electrifying players ever to play at Utah. Russell, with his 4.25 speed in the 40, is the fastest player in 20 years at the U.
"Stevonne (Smith) is in a class by himself. He's got it all: He's fast, aggressive, mentally and physically tough, catches balls in a crowd and makes plays," says McBride. "Cliff is the fastest guy I can ever remember having around here. He has 4.25 speed and he's tall. He's not some little guy who has jets."
The talent level doesn't drop off much after Smith and Russell. Back from the injured list is senior Chris Christensen, Utah's top receiver last year until he broke his leg in game three. He lost his spot to Russell, but will move to slot back, giving Utah a dynamite triple threat.
"Chris has played every receiver position and we'll use him wherever we need him. We love how he plays," says McBride.
Backups Philippe Wells and Johnny Lundy have plenty of potential but need to work on their consistency, and walk-on Josh Lyman impressed in spring ball. Dennis Smith, who played tight end in the spring, will move to slot back. "Dennis is a big target with good hands who can catch the ball inside and break tackles," says McBride. Courtney Richins, back off an injury, will make things crowded at the slot. Newcomers James Neslen and Justin Walterscheid add depth at wide receiver.
LINEBACKERS
Utah's linebacker situation can be summarized in two words: Kautai Olevao. His situation might best be described as "two legs."
"Kautai took every rep last year and he did it basically on one leg," marvels McBride. "His knee was hurt all year and he was still good enough to be an all-league linebacker. With two legs, I see him playing like he did two years ago, when he was a dominant player in the league."
Olevao missed most of spring ball following knee surgery, but is expected to be at full speed come fall, when he will again start at "stud" linebacker.
Fellow senior Wes Tufaga has started at middle linebacker for the last two years but will move to rover for his final season. Utah frequently works out of its nickel package, which means Tufaga may split his time between rover and "mac" linebacker. In Utah's normal 4-3 set, sophomore Sheldon Deckart, a special teams stalwart last year, will make the jump to defensive starter in the middle.
Other than returner Matt Ward and transfer Stan Moleni, who will both play behind Olevao on the left side, backups are a question mark. McBride anticipates incoming freshman Zach Tune and walk-on CR Dwinnel to vie for backup roles in the middle. At rover, walk-on Jeremy Lyman backed up Tufaga in the spring.
"We think we'll have three to four backups coming in, but we have some flexibility because we play a lot of nickel coverage, where we have four proven players for two inside spots," says McBride.
DEFENSIVE LINE
Last year, teams tried to design plays away from "open" end John Frank, the Mountain West Conference's Defensive Player of the Year. They'll wish they had that option against Utah's tackles this fall. Nose guard Ma'ake Kemoeatu (6-5, 309, Sr.) and right tackle Garrett Smith (6-3, 281, So.) form a nasty combination of brute strength and speed.
"Ma'ake gives us unbelievable power and Garrett has speed and is one of those guys who never quits. He plays every down," says McBride, who also likes their backups: Lauvale Sape (6-1, 268, Jr.) and Ed Johnson (6-4, 293, Sr.).
Another known commodity and returning starter, Andy Bowers (6-5, 279, Sr.), will man the "five technique" end. His backup is up-and-comer Josh Savage (6-4, 262), a redshirt freshman. "I like Bowers because he is strong, experienced and athletic," says McBride.
That experience is lacking at open end, where Marcus Jones (6-1, 236, So.) and Dylan Bird (6-3, 233, So.) waged a spirited battle in the spring. "We like something about both of those guys," says McBride. "We like Marcus's speed and Dylan's ability to close."
McBride hints that Bowers could play some downs at open end, with Kemoeatu moving to the five technique and Sape filling in at nose guard. "We have some flexibility there," he says.
SECONDARY
Spring time brought shuffling to the defensive backfield, thanks in a large part to redshirt freshman Arnold Parker. The former Nevada player of the year switched from linebacker to strong safety and set off a domino effect.
"Arnold has all the characteristics of a great safety: height, weight, speed and quickness," says defensive coordinator and position coach Kyle Whittingham. "If he continues to develop and make the transition to his new position, Arnold is going to be a star in this program."
Parker's emergence allowed Whittingham to move Jason Potter back to free safety, where he led the team in tackles last year. Senior Patrick Dyson, slated to play free safety, in turn moved to nickel back. Things could get jumbled again in the fall, when senior Kimball Christianson is expected to rejoin the team after taking the spring off to study for the medical school entrance exam. Christianson has started since his freshman year, playing both free and strong safety.
Less volatile are the corners, which should again be solid, even with the loss of second-team all leaguer Jay Hill to graduation. Senior Andre Dyson has developed into one of the best cornerbacks in the league, if not the nation, and improves every year.
"Andre has great closing speed, very quick feet and really understands the routes people run," notes McBride. "If you run a hitch on him, seven out of 10 times he'll pick it off. He'll see a route and know when to jump it and when to back off. Andre can play man and he knows he can close if he gives some cushion to the receiver."
Jeff Ray came out of spring as the starter at right corner. A good cover man, McBride says all Ray lacks is the confidence that comes with playing time. His playing time, however, might be affected by the arrival of junior college All-American Yohance Scott.
"Yohance can really run," says McBride. He's a great looking kid who is in great condition and we felt ecstatic that we were able to get him. We like all four of the (secondary) guys we recruited. Quincy Watkins, Cody Weight and Bo Nagahi are three other really good recruits."
The first two are JC transfers, while Nagahi is a freshman out of Salt Lake City. Weight and Nagahi are suited to play either safety or corner.
KICKERS
While experience is spotty in the overall kicking game, special teams coach Sean McNabb has players to go around. He has two place kickers with starting experience, but must replace his punter of the last four years, Chris Hunter.
Senior Golden Whetman, owner of a booming leg, is heir apparent to both the starting place kicking and punting jobs. Whetman handled all the kickoffs last year and opened the year as the starting place kicker. He has not punted at the NCAA level, but was an All-America junior college punter.
Junior Ryan Kaneshiro, Utah's starting field goal/PAT kicker as a freshman, has improved the weaknesses of his game (distance) and is a viable alternative should Whetman struggle. Kaneshiro has also displayed a knack for short yardage punting situations.
Freshman Justin Hamblin, a left footed kicker, will back up Whetman punting and is battling for the No. 2 kicking slot with Kaneshiro.
SPECIAL TEAMS
The strength of Utah's special teams is its returners, who can flat out fly. Steve Smith, the first-team all-MWC specialist last year, led the MWC and ranked fifth in the nation in punt returns. Smith, who returned three punts for touchdowns, is also an outstanding kick returner.
Second to return punts is Courtney Richins, who was leading the MWC in punt return average last year before a season-ending injury gave Smith his opportunity. The No. 1 kick return team is Smith and Patrick Dyson.
"We have a bunch of great returners," says McBride. "Steve Smith is one of the best in the country and we have five or six other very exciting returners. Bo Nagahi had like seven or eight touchdowns last year in high school."
Newcomers should make the rest of Utah's special teams solid, as well. "We have a lot of athletic guys coming in who will be a part of our special teams," says McBride. On paper, we look pretty good."
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