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SALT LAKE CITY — As a former defensive coordinator and long-time defensive coach, Kyle Whittingham knows a thing or two about how to craft a physically imposing defense.
At Utah, it's always been about the "next man up mentality" on defense, and that hasn't changed in the 16 seasons Whittingham has led the program, even when all but two members from the defensive side of the ball left the program after last season's No. 2 overall defense in the country.
Utah still has the personnel to reload, but there's a lot of inexperience — freshmen and sophomores contending for starting roles. That'll be good for years to come, but it may spell trouble for the 2020 season.
The one saving grace, though, could be Utah's offense.
That's not a common phrase when talking about Utah football. Not because the offense isn't worthy of its own accolades, it's just that the defense has always been loaded and is nearly guaranteed to keep Utah in every game it plays. But Whittingham said Friday that might not be the case in Utah's seven-game schedule that begins on Nov. 7 as it hosts Arizona at Rice-Eccles Stadium.
"The offense is further ahead than the defense," Whittingham said Friday. "It was apparent in the scrimmage last week; it was very apparent in practice yesterday."
Whittingham said that's "to be expected" given Utah's number of returning starters on the offensive side of the ball, even with the team waiting to name starters at quarterback and running back. But given Andy Ludwig's second year with the program as offensive coordinator and the personnel's comfort running his system, Whittingham said there's "a lot of confidence right now on offense."
"Second year under Andy's system — players feel very comfortable, and he's taking it to another level," Whittingham said. "He's expanded upon what he put in last year and built upon the concepts that we had last year. So there's a lot of confidence right now on offense. They're playing faster, the execution level is very good. And we hope it continues because they may need to carry us the first part of the season, or maybe the whole season, we'll find out."
Carry the team the whole season?
With an experienced quarterback in Tyler Huntley and all-time leading rusher in Zack Moss last season, Utah rose to No. 48 in total offense; the offense averaged 429 yards and 32.3 points per game. But that mark put them as the fourth-highest scoring team in the Pac-12; Washington State, Oregon and USC each averaged more points per game last season, to no surprise of anyone who watches the conference.
Entering 2020, Washington State is questionable following Mike Leach's departure, but there's little doubt Oregon and USC will drop off in its scoring ability, though Oregon does have to replace a starting quarterback to lead the offense. Still, Utah would have to execute on a similar level to last season to maintain any credibility of leading a team to victory with a defense that could be working through some issues.
To Ludwig's credit, though, he has a history of improving an offense every season he's been with the program. In his four seasons with Vanderbilt, an SEC program that has a five-year average of 55th best recruiting in the country, Ludwig took a team that ranked 117 out of 128 teams and turned it into the 59th best total offense in four seasons.
In that time, Ludwig took a team that averaged 15.2 points per game and got it to 28.5 points per game — a 13.3-point growth — in four seasons. And while that type of growth is not to be expected from Ludwig in his second year back with Utah, who was already producing an above-average level, there's hope the new "wrinkles" he's adding to last season's offense, mixed with a bevy of talent at wide receiver, will lend itself to another rise in production.
Still, that's a tall task to ask for a team in need of some serious production on the offensive side of the ball. It starts with whoever is named starting quarterback likely after Saturday's second scrimmage of fall camp.
"I would expect we would have a decision after the scrimmage tomorrow, and they are close — two of the three are closer than the third," Whittingham said. "So it's a two-man race — it has been since the end of the scrimmage on Saturday."
Beyond the quarterback, Utah brings back two talented guys at running back in Devin Brumfield and Jordan Wilmore, and freshman Ty Jordan and redshirt freshman Micah Bernard as added depth. At receiver, Utah brings back proven talent in Britain Covey, Solomon Enis, Samson Nacua and Bryan Thompson, in addition to several other up-and-coming receivers. Of the returning receivers, three of the four have been consistently at the top of the team's offense.
But not to be forgotten is an experienced offensive line with depth that will help protect the quarterback, and multi-talented tight ends Brant Kuithe and Cole Fotheringham who have made a name for themselves as viable options in the passing game. Kuithe led the team last season with 602 receiving yards and six touchdowns on 34 receptions.
"This second year he's putting in new routes and specific routes for some of the receivers," Thompson said of his offensive coordinator. "I feel like it's all about personnel with coach Lud. If you don't make those plays you're not getting the ball; that's what I love about coach Lud. If you're making plays: feeding. That's what we've been preaching about this program — feed whoever is getting the ball whoever is eating, whoever's doing good in the game, keep on feeding them the ball, and I feel like that's what coach Lud does a great job with."
So can the offense lead Utah this season? The team has the personnel to at least put up a valiant fight, but it will take a season of at least similar production to 2020 to likely make that possible.
