Utah: Not just your average road game

Jason Beauchamp

Thursday, Sept. 4, 2008 | 10:44 a.m.

The Utah State game on Saturday went well. The team as a whole, we could have done even better, but we proved to ourselves that we can be a strong team on offense and defense. The biggest changes are from the first game to the second game, so we're expecting a big improvement this weekend. It was a good first game. They had a lot of strengths, and we were ready for it. Like I said last week, they were worthy opponents, and it was a great jump start to the season.

Going into this week in Utah, all we can think about is preparation. We prepared for Utah State and we had the athletes and our scheme -- it was our scheme that made the difference in us winning. And it's going to be the same this week.

Utah traditionally is a big game. One thing we've been talking about all week is if we want to be a threat in the Mountain West -- at the top of the Mountain West -- it goes through Utah in Salt Lake City. Teams like Utah, BYU -- top-ranked Mountain West teams -- they really hold the key to what the rest of the season will be like.

Not only does it matter that coach Sanford is from Utah and they have close ties with the coaches, but it includes the players. We have close ties because it's a lot of the same schools that recruit us. We have a lot of guys from Utah who have a lot riding on this game.

On offense, they've got their quarterback and it seems like they've got everyone healthy. Matt Asiata, their running back, he's a big, powerful back. He reminds me a lot of our running back, Frank "The Tank" Summers. He runs hard.

Like I said earlier, schemes and preparation will be the differences between a win and a loss. It's whichever team carries out its plan right. They know what we're doing now, because the first game is out there. We both have film and we both have tape. We know what each team is doing, but the difference is how we play that.

Another thing -- not too many people know this -- is if we win in Salt Lake City this year, it'll be the first time on the road ever. I think last year was the first time we even beat Utah at home in almost 10 to 15 years. This one's huge. They're going to have the support, and what we'll have are big aspirations for this year, and we know how big this game is. We're not looking past this game. We're not looking at Arizona State up next. All we're focusing on is this game right here because we know how big of a game it is and that the leaders need to have a big game. If there's a time to do it, this is the game it needs to come out in.

Utah's defense is said to have two of the best defensive ends in the Mountain West. They fly around. It'll be a challenge this week to see how the offense is able to play off them. But I think we have a very powerful offensive line and a quarterback who gets better every day. We have very experienced receivers and a running back who was a big, big threat last year. Frank made a huge difference in the game last year, and I don't think they were ready for that.

Really, we won 27-0, and it was Beau Bell. They didn't know how to prepare for Frank. Since Beau's off to the League, we've got a bunch of players ready to step up to the plate and make plays.

We're really excited. I know coach Sanford's really excited, and I know the whole coaching staff is excited, because on Labor Day, we were laboring. It was work. I actually think I saw half the team up there watching film, getting ready for the Utah game -- and that's a good sign. I think everyone really understands how important this game is.

We've started practicing on Sundays now, and Mondays are optional, so it says a lot for that many people to be there. It's really an NFL-style practice schedule we're doing now.

What really stood out to me last weekend about Utah, more than the fact they played Michigan, was that it was in their house. It shows how bad they wanted that game at Michigan, and that they have the athletes to do it. Quarterback Brian Johnson, I think he really made the difference in that game. Their team is very happy to have him back making plays. He's a quarterback who can run, he can throw; he's experienced. But one thing about him is he's had a lot of injuries. And I think this week, as far as the defense, pressure from the defensive line, blitzing, will create a problem for him -- not just getting there, but having him scramble. He did a great job with that in Michigan, and they're going to be feeling great.

I think it just sets a stage, really. We're treating this game like it's the Super Bowl.

Tune in next week for more in-depth, week-by-week analysis from me. I'll be here every week, and I love the support in having you check out my blog.