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LOGAN — Utah State football has an identity issue.
Anyone who watched the first three games of the season — or just saw the score of the latest game — could jump to that conclusion.
The offense, which last year was nearly unstoppable in spurts, looks like a once delicious scoop of Aggie Blue Mint ice cream that's been left out in the sun far too long. The sideline, which last year had the energy of a fraternity house during rush week, has been rather melancholy.
Last year's team opened the season with a Power Five win and a 3-0 record; this year's team is 1-2 with an FCS loss.
Probably time to quit alluding to last year's 11-3 record and conference championship as a basis for why the Aggies should be better. The preseason hype from inside and outside the program — guilty as charged — was largely a result of last season's success. It has not done any favors for a team with 10 new starters this season.
Similar to how the 2021 team left its one-win 2020 Aggies back in quarantine, the 2022 version needs to leave the 2021 Aggies back in the trophy case and create its own identity.
"I thought we'd be a better football team, but Week 3, here we are," head coach Blake Anderson said after the Weber State loss. "This is where we're at. We lost some really, really good players; we lost some phenomenal leaders.
"We're searching for ourselves, we're searching for consistency, we're searching for leadership — you name it, in every phase of the game. We have not played a good football game yet, and it shows."
Junior college transfer receiver Terrell Vaughn added: "Just got to find new leaders to help us. Energy has gotta get picked up, too."
The good news for the Aggies is, that despite being near the bottom of FBS in ESPN's SP+ rankings (96th), the team's main goal of winning the Mountain West Conference has not been spoiled yet.
Losing Northern Utah bragging rights to Weber State is unfortunate for the program, but if this is what rock bottom looks like, better to come in September than midway through conference play. Now entering a bye week, Utah State has ample time to find itself before conference play starts when UNLV comes to town on Sept. 24.
And it starts at the top.
Anderson, who angered the fan base in his comments that some people showed their "true colors" by booing quarterback Logan Bonner — fans insist they were booing the coaching staff for sending out Bonner, which is essentially the same thing — took the first step in smoothing things over by going on "The Hans and Scotty Show" on The Zone Tuesday afternoon.
"I do expect to have a fan base like we have, (for them) to be as passionate, as loud, as frenzied and as crazy as they are when things are going well," Anderson said. "We don't win last year's championship without our fan base. ... I know that (passion) comes with frustration when things don't go well; I expect it. I've been booed as a coach and criticized as a coach, I completely understand that.
"I responded to a question about booing a player. I have never in my 30 years of coaching and in my time as a player been part of players being booed. Not only did I have a player specifically, and maybe others, being booed, there were grown men hanging over the rails that were verbally attacking players on the sideline during the second half.
"I responded to that question as a father does for his kids. These are my kids, they are my family, they've been sent here under my care. I will take all the boos, criticism and all the hateful things. If they're not happy with play-calling or the job I'm doing, I will take all that."
Anderson does not apologize for defending his players, especially if there were verbal attacks from fans beyond the boos. He also managed to describe his perspective of the situation without re-insulting the fans — even complimenting them — while taking responsibility.
It was the first step in changing the tone.
Also taking responsibility for the team's failures was Bonner, who went on the same radio show on Monday afternoon and said: "This is a great time for the bye week. I think that we've got some stuff to figure out, and I think that's what we're doing.
"I understand (the booing). They weren't happy about how we were playing and we weren't either. I get where they're coming from. And, yeah, it hurts, but it doesn't really affect me; I can't let it affect me, I've gotta do my job. ... We've got to play better, and that's point blank period."
Bonner being willing to speak on the radio two days after throwing three interceptions and getting booed speaks to his character. He's devoted to the team, for better or worse.
That's leadership.
Will the team follow?
Early indications suggest they intend to. The word from practice this week, which, as always, lacked media availability, is there has been an improved shift in mentality. On Tuesday, several coaches and players tweeted a Utah State graphic with the same message: "All in."
ALL IN!!!!! pic.twitter.com/aHs5TDUNGE
— Calvin Tyler Jr ⁶𓅓 (@BlessedAthleteC) September 13, 2022
That "all in" statement needs to translate onto the playing field, though — particularly on offense.
The Aggies lost 2021 All-American receiver Deven Thompkins, as well as big play targets Derek Wright and Brandon Bowling, and are now struggling on offense. Utah State is 108th in total offense, averaging 4.39 yards a play and 320.3 yards per game. It's a far cry from 2021 when the team finished 33rd in total offense, with 5.9 yards per play and 448.6 yards per game.
It's clear the team does not have the same personnel to replicate its success from last season via the fast-paced air raid, especially considering starting slot receiver Kyle Van Leeuwen is now out for the season with a knee injury, per his Instagram.
The Aggies need to identify other ways to move the ball. Do they utilize the tight ends more? Run the ball more efficiently? Get better production out of Bonner or switch him out for Cooper Legas if he can't perform? Hope for breakout performances from unproven receivers such as freshman Ny Ny Davis?
These are crucial questions for a team that prior to the season believed it had the talent to compete in the conference again. After the Weber State loss, everything is on the table.
"This was an embarrassing loss," Anderson told The Zone. "One of the worst of my career, maybe the worst, when I think of being a player and a coach.
"We need to look through the entire roster and see anybody who might add value on the field, and we're trying to do that. Just like we need to do the same thing as coaches: What are we doing on a day-to-day to help add value to this team?
Utah State has a week and a half before its next game. If the team wants to salvage the season, it better begin to find itself within that time frame.
