1 team is all passing, other is all harassing
Often when a Pac-12 coach starts talking about an upcoming matchup, the squads are so similar that it’s difficult to figure out whether he’s referring to his own team or the opponent.
This is one of those weeks in Berkeley.
“Our style is a lot different than theirs,” Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham said. “We played really good defense against them last year, and they had a pretty good quarterback, just like this season. In fact, he was the best quarterback in the nation last season based on the draft.
“We are not a hurry-up team. We shorten the game a little bit by huddling and running the football, but we still need to play solid defense and keep points off the board — similar to what we did last year and we’ll try again this year.”
The Utes forced No. 1 overall pick Jared Goff into five interceptions during their 30-24 victory featured on ESPN Gameday last season.
They’ll try to do something similar this season as they face the country’s top passhappy offense with a stout defense that is rooted in a solid front and an experienced defensive backfield.
If last year’s meeting wasn’t enough to create momentum heading into Saturday, the teams’ games last weekend ended in starkly contrasting fashions.
Cal (2-2, 0-1) was in control at Arizona State before throwing two interceptions in the game’s final 6½ minutes and giving up 31 fourth-quarter points in a 51-41 comefrom-ahead loss.
Utah (4-0, 1-0) marched 93 yards in just more than five minutes, including two fourth-down conversions, to snatch a 31-27 comeback win against USC.
The Utes are what has come to be expected from a Whittingham squad. They’re big, physical guys who play hard, and they’re complemented by explosive receivers, a three-headed running attack and one of the conference’s best defenses.
The Bears are what has come to be expected from a Sonny Dykes squad. They’ve got talented skill players and a scheme that racks up passing yards and points at record rates.
Cal quarterback Davis Webb leads the nation in passing yards (1,387) and passing touchdowns (18), and receiver Chad Hansen tops the country with 12.5 receptions per game and is second at 164.0 receiving yards per game.
Utah is tied for fourth in the nation in takeaways (six fumble recoveries and five interceptions). The Utes are third in the nation with 4.25 sacks per game.
“They do a great job pushing the pocket when they rush the passer,” Dykes said. “They’ve got some big, physical guys who push the pocket, and they’ve got some speed guys on the edge who really do a good job of getting upfield fast. They have a lot of experience on the back end. I think that’s the thing that really stands out: just the number of returners they have on the back end.
“It’s a lot of guys who have played a lot of football, and that usually means you’re going to have a good football team. They do.”
Cal’s injury-depleted defense will have to deal with a Utah offense that a nice quarterback-receiver combo in Troy Williams and Tim Patrick, but is ultimately committed to the run. The Utes lead the Pac-12 in time of possession at 34 minutes, 37 seconds per game.
Bears defensive coordinator Art Kaufman called Utah “probably the best OL we’ve seen this year” and praised its trio of running backs. “They’ve got some power, but their thing is suddenness. Their change of direction is outstanding.”
Cal is last in the Pac-12 in rushing defense, allowing 263.5 yards per game — 65.3 yards more than 11th-place Arizona.
“They’re comfortable that their offensive line is going to be able to knock people off the ball when they need to,” Kaufman said. “Those guys work together, they’re athletic and they’re strong.”