5 keys for the Utes vs. Idaho State


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SALT LAKE CITY — Are you ready for some football?

The wait is almost over as the 2014 season is right around the corner as Utah hosts Idaho State Thursday night in Rice-Eccles Stadium.

This game is a classic bout of David vs. Goliath — the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) vs. the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), the Pac-12 vs. the Big Sky, the haves vs. the have nots.

Sure, it would be easy for Utah to overlook Idaho State. But Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham was quick to point out that his team won't let that happen, and that they have plenty of respect for Idaho State.

"We treat every opponent with respect. Every year, you hear of an FCS team pulling an upset. It's not that uncommon. You better be ready to play well and execute and do all those things."

Here are five keys for the Utes as they get ready to take on the Bengals:

Keys to the Game: Utes ======================

1\. Establish the tempo on offense ---------------------------------

The Utes enter the 2014 season with their seventh offensive coordinator in seven seasons. Can you name them all? So much change could cause some confusion, but luckily for Utah, the schemes installed by Dave Christensen during spring and fall camp are very similar to the ones that were already up on the hill. It would be nice, however, for the Utes to establish its offensive identity early on and be able to execute with the high tempo that we've been able to witness in practice. Since Utah's playmakers won't be getting much playing time Thursday, it would be ideal for the Utes to sprint out of the gate for their starters to get a feel for the game before watching the rest from the sidelines.

2. Solidify the defensive line

One of the few position battles remaining through fall camp is one of the defensive tackle positions. Junior Viliseni Fauonuku is the only one who has locked down a starting job, while junior Clint Shepard, senior Sese Ianu and true freshman Lowell Lotulelei are all vying for the other spot. Thursday's performance will go a long way to decide which of the players will lead the depth chart next week when the Utes face Fresno State.

3. No fly zone

Utah had three interceptions for the entire 2013 season, and one of those was by defensive end Trevor Reilly in Utah's last game vs. Colorado. With a pass-happy team like Idaho State, it would be ideal for Utah to get off on the right foot when it comes to forcing turnovers. With safety Brian Blechen back and healthy, I see no reason why Utah can't easily surpass its interception total from 2013, and perhaps even triple it for the season.

4. Minimize penalties

Your first day back on the job after a long hiatus can be rough sometimes. Football, like anything else, can become habitual, and it will be important for the Utes to play clean football in key Pac-12 conference games down the road. So why not start the journey on the right foot and minimize penalties (turnovers too) and keep the offense on the field. Trying to work out the kinks on 3rd and 4 is a heckuva lot easier than trying to do it on 3rd and 17, regardless of the opponent.

5. Mass subs early and often

Sure, Idaho State isn't the most exciting opponent to have entered through the south endzone locker rooms of Rice-Eccles Stadium. But the opponent does provide you with an opportunity to work out some kinks and establish some depth by allowing younger players to get in-game experience, which could prove valuable down the road.

Robert Jackson is the cross platform sports and weather producer for ksl.com and KSL-TV. He has covered the Utes for KSL since 2008. You can catch him and co-host Brian Swinney Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7-9 p.m. on the Ute Sports Report 1320 KFAN.

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