Opponent Profile: UTEP
by Peter Bean on Sep 5, 2008 10:51 PM CDT
in Football
23 comments
Irony: When everything in your life is going well you have no free time; conversely, when you're in a horrible rut you've got all the time in the world. Which is why we all look forward to that one time in life when the curse is broken... retirement.
Better late than never: A few words on UTEP.
2007 Season Cap
2007 Record: 4-8 (2-6 - Conference USA)
2007 Home Record: 3-3
2007 vs Winning: 2-5
2007 vs. Ranked: 0-1
2007 Bowl: N/A
Last year vs TX: N/A
All-Time vs. TX: 0-2
2007 Key Stats
OFFENSE
Yards/Play, Offense: 5.9 (#23, nationally)
Scoring Offense/Game: 33.6 (26)
Rush Yards/Att: 4.26 (45)
Pass Yards/Att: 7.5 (27)
3rd Downs Conv-Att: 70-174-40.2% (53)
Red Zone Scores-Chances: 38/44 (31 TD / 7 FG)
Turnovers lost: 20 (22)
DEFENSE
Yards/Play Defense: 6.2 (105)
Scoring Defense/Game 37.1 (113)
Rush Yards/Att: 4.84 (99)
Pass Yards/Att: 7.7 (97)
3rd Downs Conv-Att: 91-186-48.9% (114)
Red Zone Scores-Chances: 55-66 (42 TD / 13 FG)
Turnovers gained: 29 (20)
Turnover margin: +18 (3)
SPECIAL TEAMS
Yards/Punt Return, FAU: 13.6 (14)
Yards/Punt Return, Opponent: 7.9 (47)
Yards/Kickoff Return, FAU: 20.4 (82)
Yards/Kickoff Return, Opponent: 21.9 (73)
FG Att-Made: 17-20
Personnel
Returning Starters: 12 (5 offense, 7 defense)
Best Player, Offense: Trevor Vittatoe, QB (224-407-55%, 3101 yards, 25-7 TD-INT as rFR)
Best Wide Receiver: Jeff Moturi (65 rec, 891 yards, 13.7 avg, 13 TD)
Best Running Back: Terrell Jackson (Injured in last year's opener; PrepStar All-American in HS went to Oregon before transfer)
Best Player, Defense: Adam Vincent, LB (75 tackles in '07)
Best D-Lineman: Andre Jones?
Best Linebacker: Vincent
Best DB: Cornelius Brown (46 tackles, 4 INT, 9 PBU)
Sleeper: Vernon Frazier, RB (Those who watch UTEP closely sense a breakout if opportunity is given)
2008 To Date
8/28 L 17-42 at Buffao
Box Score
Recap
PB Commentary & Prediction
Heading into this season, quarterback Trevor Vittatoe's memorable redshirt freshman season was enough to regard UTEP's offense as 'respectable,' though the situation looked bleak again on defense. Now, after the Miners' humiliating season-opening loss to Buffalo in which the offense scored just 17 points and Vittatoe threw 3 interceptions, what little hope existed UTEP might hang with the Longhorns in some kind of wild, West Texas night game shootout seems especially fantastical.
To be fair, the Bulls have played increasingly better football under rising star Turner Gill, but the Miners were so thoroughly dominated on the stat sheet there's simply no imaginable scenario in which they can compete with Texas even for a half. Consider:
- Buffalo finished with 263 yards rushing on 5.3 yards per attempt
- Bulls quarterback Drew Willy completed 10 of his 16 passes for 4 touchdowns and 0 interceptions, picking up 13.8 yards per attempt, double last season's average of 6.8.
- UTEP tailback Terrell Jackson was limited to 67 yards rushing on 18 carries (3.7 ypc), which looks good next to the 13 yards on 6 carries by other UTEP rushers. And that doesn't count Vittatoe's 13 yards lost on 2 sacks.
On and on we could go, but there's no point: If this is UTEP's Super Bowl, Saturday night is going to resemble Pasadena '93.
PB'S PREDICTION: TEXAS 51 UTEP 6
Who you got? Guess the exact score and win a BON t-shirt.
0 recs |
23 comments
|
Email
Print
Comments
52-23
They’ll score on us at least a little, as we’re on the road at their Super Bowl and our safeties are still freshman, believe it or not.
by Horn Brain on Sep 6, 2008 3:05 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
I think we'll see UTEP trick plays sometime in the first three series.
Trick plays will do no good later, but early they can be a boost.
So, the first few series will be setting them up. I don’t think they’ll have the time to execute them, but I gave them a touchdown benefit of the doubt. If not, playing against the youngsters late the game should get the a score.
by whills on Sep 6, 2008 12:01 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
59-17
Their offense seems like it can score if our secondary gives it a chance, but nor more than 17.
by HornPossessed on Sep 6, 2008 4:52 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
66-10
Offense- Malcolm Williams steps up with a long touchdown in the first half, and Fozzy breaks a long one (30+) for a TD in his first debut. OL continues to dominate.
Defensive side of the ball- The front four will wreak havoc. LB’s and Secondary will step up their game and show great improvement from week one to week two.
Ok, so what if I am a glass is half full kind of guy.
by Longhorn in MO on Sep 6, 2008 9:59 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
49-17
I think their QB had a bad game last week. Can we really count on him to turn the ball over again 3 times? At the same time, are we going to be gift wrapped two turnovers like last week with FAU? I think both teams sort of regress to the mean, so to speak. They run a gimmick defense in the secondary, which may be the wrench thrown in our offensive gears. That being said, Texas should still be able to win comfortably going away in the 2nd half.
by owenh on Sep 6, 2008 10:36 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
59-15
And we’ll be lucky to be in bed by 1am.
by BigTexBD on Sep 6, 2008 12:14 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
59 - 6
Should be over by half and backups get a lot of work in the second half. Harris get first TD passing on first drive or one rushing late on a broken play.
by Bevoboy94 on Sep 6, 2008 1:00 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
ok guys
i’m gonna sound like a utep homer because i grew up in el paso…this is actually the only time i can remember where i’d be ok with texas actually losing a game. i know that isn’t going to happen but utep does have a crazy crowd and early reports from el paso via cell phone have every already completely shitfaced and raring to scream. the miners are exponentially tougher in the sun bowl….they will score more than one td in this game. sadly…their sieve of a defense will allow more than one td every 5 or so minutes. so with that being said. 66-21…possibly 28. when utep does score it won’t be on the ground unless it’s a punch in (doubtful with their o-line) after a long pass. utep will score quickly if they do giving the horns plenty of time w/ the ball to demolish them in any way they choose.
go miners! futility says what!
by mattw on Sep 6, 2008 5:29 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
one more thing.
at least 2 of the interceptions last week for vittatoe were tips…one of them after hitting a utep receiver squarely in the chest.
by mattw on Sep 6, 2008 5:32 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
56-21
I still don’t have a BON t-shirt.
by billyzane on Sep 6, 2008 5:57 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Certain photos copyright © 2009 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
