Utah poised for potential air attack from UCLA

Utes must stay disciplined against multitude of Bruins weapons

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL/GAME BREAKDOWN

Scouting the pass defense: This will be an interesting matchup for the Utes defense as UCLA isn’t a massive threat throwing the ball, but they do have playmakers in the passing game at running back, wide receiver and tight end.

Running back Demetric Felton leads the Bruins in catches (39) and receiving yards (471) while wide receiver Kyle Phillips leads UCLA in touchdowns with five. Tight end Devin Asiasi is a matchup nightmare at 6-foot-5, 280-pounds while freshman wide receiver Chase Cota is a savvy route runner and leads the team with 16.4 yards per catch.

“They’re fast. (Kyle Phillips), he’s very quick, he can do it all. He’s their third-down catch guy. (Chase Cota) is a big body he can run, he can do it all,” said Utah safety Terrell Burgess. “(Demetric Felton), he plays running back and receiver, he’s fast. They’ve got a good receiver corps, so I think it’s going to be a nice battle this weekend.”

This is a group that can give fits to Utah’s pass defense if the Utes decide to load the box to stop UCLA running back Joshua Kelley. During their three-game winning streak, the Bruins have been showcasing a blend of rushing and passing, with each helping the other.

It’ll be interesting to see if defensive coordinator Morgan Scalley decides to load the box and play man-up, forcing UCLA quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson to beat them. My guess is that Scalley will play UCLA straight up and get creative with when and where he blitzes Thompson-Robinson, forcing the quarterback to get rid of the ball faster than he’d like.

“He’s a guy who can really extend the play,” Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham said of Thompson-Robinson. “He makes things happen, he’s dynamic and he’s making good decisions throwing the ball.”

But to properly defend UCLA’s standouts, Scalley can rely on safety Julian Blackmon and cornerback Jaylon Johnson. Combined, they have five interceptions and 12 pass break-ups, while playing a physical brand of football that has become the staple of Utah’s defense this past decade.

With Burgess playing near the line of scrimmage as a spy on Thompson-Robinson in case he runs with the ball, Blackmon will be the key to stopping UCLA through the air.

Listed at 6-foot-1, 204-pounds, Blackmon, who gives up 75 pounds to Asiasi, plays much bigger and more physical than he looks. He will often find himself matched up with Asiasi or Felton when UCLA goes with an empty backfield. Blackmon will have to find a way to prevent these two from moving the chains because that’ll be the biggest matchup to watch in the secondary.

That’s because Johnson and Javelin K. Guidry have been sensational at locking up wide receivers all season. Those two will find themselves matched up with Phillips and Cota often, and both have the size and speed to run and out-muscle the Bruins receivers, who on film do not look as if they play well with contact.

While not the biggest matchup of the game, don’t be surprised if the battle between the Utah secondary and UCLA’s myriad of pass-catchers decides the outcome of the game.