Utah Football: What’s to Blame for Red Zone Woes?

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In recent weeks, the Utah offensive has undergone a kind of metamorphosis.

With Cam Rising as the starting quarterback, the Utes have been productive, balanced and dynamic.

Even in Utah’s loss to Oregon State last Saturday, the offense scored 34 points, racked up 450 attacking yards and recorded 28 first downs.

But there was a glaring weakness.

“One thing we didn’t do well in attack was production in the red zone. We’ve entered the red zone eight times and only managed four touchdowns, ”said coach Kyle Whittingham. “We need two more. Six out of eight is a good percentage. It was really our disappearance in attack, the red zone.

Of course, one could argue that the offense has still done enough to win OSU and the defense has not resisted.

But this is another story.

“It was the biggest offensive disappointment of the game, it was our production in the red zone,” said tight ends coach Freddie Whittingham. “We were stopped twice inside the 5 yard line. Really, that was the difference in the game for us. It’s disappointing. It comes down to execution. This is what we need to focus on. Whenever we have these opportunities, put the ball in the end zone and get six points. “

The point is, the Utes need to improve in the red zone.

With 37 trips to the red zone this season, the Utes have 28 red zone scores – 11 rushing touchdowns, 12 passing touchdowns and five field goals. The percentage is 75.7%, ranking Utah No. 110 nationally in red zone violations.

This weakness is corrected in training, say coaches and players.

“We just need to run. We understand it takes 11 guys in every game, ”said tight end Brant Kuithe. “It doesn’t matter if it’s a pass or a race, you just need to know each of our missions and do our best for it. “

“In the red zone, because everything is a smaller space, an error is magnified,” said wide receiver Britain Covey. “If you look back on four or five of our red zone games, whether it’s open roads or a hole that should have been filled, there’s only one person who commits a error that spoils her. It is what it is. This strengthens your work in the red zone.

The Utes say playing in the red zone isn’t the problem.

Kyle Whittingham has said he wants to see more physique inside the red zone, especially inside the 5-yard line.

Her brother agreed.

“You still have to believe that if you’re over there on the 3-yard line and you come in, you should be able to throw the ball. Use your physique to make them jump off the line and create creases for your back. They have to run violently and get the ball across the goal line, “said Freddie Whittingham.” At the same time, you can’t be so predictable that’s all you’re doing there. You’ve seen us. throw the ball and we had some good games.

“One thing or another, whether it’s two guys taking up the same space or a throw, we just didn’t execute. This is the main problem. In the red zone, you have to execute the game plan. You absolutely have to be physical. This is where it probably matters more than any other because you have 11 guys in the box.

Covey said in the red zone things are very different from what they were in the 1920s.

“On the playing field, you can get away with a lot of things. Cam is so dynamic. If a lineman misses a block on the playing field, you have room to run and shake things up, ”he said. “In the red zone, it’s not like that. I thought the play call was in the red zone. He is just a person who would miss his mission. You can’t afford that in the red zone because it’s all so condensed. “

Wide receiver Theo Howard has said red zone efficiency is a goal this week.

“The object of the game is to score as many points as possible,” he said. “So when we get there, we have to capitalize on those opportunities. We have to put it in the end zone every time we go down there. “

The Oregon State defense deserves to stop the Utes from scoring more touchdowns last weekend, Rising said.

“You have to give them props. They did a great job, especially in the second half. They put us in these situations and they stopped us in these fourth down situations. We just have to finish in the red zone. Once there, our # 1 goal is to get him in the end zone. “

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