Bye drawn at great time for USU
Heading into a crucial measuring-stick game against Colorado State from the Mountain West Conference, the Utah State football team is statistically among some of the best in the Football Bowl Subdivision and Western Athletic Conference.
One notable statistic for the Aggies is the 333.5 yards per game the team is averaging. USU finished the 2010 season averaging just under 169 yards on the ground, per game.
The return of junior running back Robert Turbin, who is averaging 125 yards running per game, has helped out quite a bit. Turbin is leading the WAC and is 11th in the FBS for rushing.
Junior running back Kerwynn Williams and senior running back Michael Smith have made the Aggie backfield very difficult for opposing defenses to contain.
“It’s pretty nice to take a three, four, five or six-yard gain and all of a sudden it can turn into a 30 (or) 40-yard gain,” USU head coach Gary Andersen said. “Big play potential is available for us on the offensive side of the ball — is there for us basically on every snap.”
The Aggies have also battled in the trenches in their first two games, and Andersen said he notices the difference.
“I don’t know if the offensive line or the coaches would use the word ‘dominating,’ but they’ve been productive,” Andersen said. “Our backs compliment the offensive line, our tight ends complement the offensive line, and they help each other and really complement each other and work well together.
USU is also first in the WAC and fifth in the nation in total offense, averaging just over 541 yards per game. Furthermore, the Ags are first in the WAC and ninth in the nation in scoring, with 46 points per game.
Although much of the focus for USU’s offense has targeted the running game, the wide receivers continue to be a vital part of the offensive success.
“I think we take a lot of pride. I mean we’re not going to take the credit that the O-line gets and deserves,” senior wide receiver Eric Moats said. “But we love blocking down field; we love getting physical.”
“We take credit in it but I think in all our offensive plays we take credit in executing. Coach Baldwin always says ‘Eleven players, one heartbeat,'” Moats added. “It takes all the players to execute, you gotta cut your guy off, and if you do there is a chance we can score a touchdown.”
Utah State is also among WAC and FBS leaders in defense.
The Aggies lead the WAC and take sixth in the nation for rushing defense, because they are allowing only 62 yards per game. USU also leads the WAC and is 24th in the nation in total defense, at 288 yards per game.
The Aggies are also second in the WAC and 22nd in the nation in sacks, averaging three per game.
USU football places big emphasis on putting pressure on CSU quarterback Pete Thomas, who has been protected thus far.
“Coach Fairchild does a nice job of protecting those offensive weapons that he has, and protecting the quarterback — not allowing people to get to him. Whether that means throwing it quick; or the screen game helps with that, and the draw game helps with that — then getting max protection and taking those deep shots when they want to,” Andersen said. “We’ll do some different things to get a pass rush. It’s going to be a big part of this game. Winning one-on-one, individual battles in pass blocking is the only way you’re going to get sacks against Colorado State.”
Senior linebacker Bobby Wagner, who is first in the WAC and tied for 26th in the FBS in tackles, with 10 per game, will be a key cog in the Aggie pass rush, along with fellow senior linebacker Kyle Gallagher, who is seventh in the conference and tied for 71st in the country in tackles, with 8.5 stops per outing.
– ty.d.hus@aggiemail.usu.edu