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LOS ANGELES, CA -- With a national audience tuning in to see the newly formed Pac-12, the Utes fought to the bitter end, making their first step at showing critics that Utah has the potential to compete against BCS teams.
Although the end result was a 17-14 loss to the USC Trojans, the Utes showed a willingness to fight, despite several failed attempts in the fourth quarter to put some points on the board. But consistency, especially for the offense, will continue to be a major struggle for the Utes as they make their way through a tough Pac-12 schedule.
Quarterback: C+
Entering Saturday's game, many had doubts about Wynn's mental toughness, particularly going against the Trojans at home. But as the game unfolded it wasn't only his mental toughness that was called into question as Wynn struggled with the passing game. Wynn completed only half of his passes, going 23-of-46 for 238 yards.
Much of Wynn's passing success came as a result of DeVonte Christopher's tireless effort to pull down the ball. But in other moments, Wynn struggled to connect with his receivers, particularly when any amount of pressure was put on him.
With a fast defensive line putting pressure on Wynn, he looked rushed and appeared to panic in third-down situations. Utah fans will expect more from their junior quarterback in the upcoming weeks.
Running Backs/Full Backs: C
After his great performance last week against Montana State, John White struggled in the run game against USC in the first half. The Trojans held White to zero yards on nine carries before finally putting together successful running plays near the end of the first half.
After leaving the game because of an injury, White returned to end the game with 56 yards on 20 carries. Harvey Langi, who replaced White, only had one carry for no yards.
Wide Receiver/Tight End: A
Utah's offensive game is mostly the result of the playmaking skills of DeVonte Christopher and Dres Anderson. Both players made great catches to keep the offense moving. Christopher and Anderson combined for 213 passing yards, making up the bulk of Utah's total yards.
Also making a big impact was Reggie Dunn on a 51-yard reverse, setting Utah up on the Trojans' 1 yard line for the eventual Utes touchdown in the third quarter.
Offensive Line: B
Overall, the offensive line gave Jordan Wynn the protection he needed. There were moments that were questionable, but against a tough Trojans team, the offensive line held up well. White was also given breathing room for some open gaps. However, penalties were a major factor in stifling the momentum of the Utes offense.
Overall Offense: B-
The Utes' offense couldn't capitalize on the momentum they would build up. There were moments when the offense seemed to be clicking, but it never continued into the next drive. Consistency is a major area of focus needing to be improved upon for the Utes offense to compete against Pac- 12 teams.
Defensive Line: B+
Consistency was an issue for the defensive line Saturday. In the first half of the game, USC created huge gaps, allowing the Trojans' running game to explode. Little could be done to contain USC's Marc Tyler who rushed for 113 yards.
However in the second half, the defense improved, putting pressure on USC quarterback Matt Barkley and stopping the run game. In the fourth quarter alone, Utah's defense stepped up and made great stops to force USC to punt three times.
Linebackers: B
Utah linebackers did a pretty good job of getting their hands on the ball. In the first half alone, there were almost three interceptions with a few pass deflections. Brian Blechen forced a fumble in the third quarter that was recovered by Conroy Black to set the Utes up for their second touchdown.
Defensive Backs: B+
For most of the first half, Utah's secondary gave USC too much room, leaving Trojan receivers with a five yard barrier. USC's Barkley took advantage of the early coverage, connecting for big gains.
But there were some positive aspect to the secondary's defense. In the second half, the Utes really put the pressure on Robert Woods, making it harder for him to get the outside pass. Woods still manage a productive night, but could have had more opportunities if it wasn't for Utah's defense.
Additionally, Ryan Lacy intercepted a pass by Matt Barkley at Utah's 15 yard line, momentarily shifting the games momentum.
Overall Defense: B+
Utah's defense fared well against a tough Pac-12 team, but there needs to be some definite improvement to make the next step, particularly closing the gap on receivers and tightening the gaps allowed.
Special Teams: A-
Although it was a blocked field goal that ultimately lost the game for the Utes, there really wasn't any issues in special teams. Rushing a kick with the clock ticking is not an ideal situation for a kicker to go up against. Overall, Utah's special teams did well.
Overall Team: B
Utah certainly has issues to work out before becoming a contender for a national championship, particularly with the offense. But there are positive signs that keep the Utes moving forward. Consistency will continue to be a major focus for this program as they make the transition into the Pac-12. Utah must learn from games like Saturday's to take their program to the next level.
*Email: jfurlong@ksl.com*Twitter: @JFurKSL
