Utah Inside Slant
by Sports Xchange
? "What we have to remember is the last time we beat a big opponent, we didn't play so well the next week," fourth-year coach Kyle Whittingham told the Salt Lake Tribune. "We have to come back and get ready for Rice-Eccles Stadium next week."
? The Utes have plenty of work ahead, despite their impressive victory in Ann Arbor, Mich. They struggled offensively in the second half. A blocked punt and a fumble on offense nearly allowed the Wolverines to come back from a 25-10 deficit. A missed two-point conversion allowed Utah to escape with a 25-23 victory.
? Utah also committed 15 penalties for 137 yards and had a blocked extra point. It will look to shore up its first-week deficiencies against UNLV (1-0), a 27-17 winner over Utah State last week that will look to win its first two games for the first time since 1999.
? If Rebels QB Omar Clayton makes the natural improvements from the first to the second game of the season, he has the weapons to put pressure on Utah. Wide receivers Casey Flair and Ryan Wolfe could find seams and help the Rebels move the ball on Utah.
? The Utes, however, can make a statement on their readiness to duplicate their 2004 dream season with their performance against the Rebels. That team, coached by Urban Meyer, never came out flat. Whittingham's teams have suffered bouts of inconsistency.
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