Playing a winless New Mexico team with a big showdown against TCU ahead might make it tempting for the Utes to look past the Lobos, but they insist that won't happen.
Utah coach Kyle Whittingham said all he has to do is make his team watch itself to realize it can't afford looking past anyone.
"It's more fixing what is wrong with us," he said. "We have to focus on our deficiencies, our third downs and red zone are right at the top of the list so regardless of who we play this week we have things we have to fix. This team is doing a great job for a long time now of not overlooking anybody or getting full of themselves and I'm confident we can do that this week."
Helping the Utes keep their focus is they haven't really blown out an opponent, center Zane Taylor said.
"It definitely is kind of unnerving coming away with so many close victories," he said. "It's definitely putting a lot of stress on me, and my wife. Like I said a long time ago, we haven't had a big solid win we can be happy about. The good thing is close have lots of learning opportunities so we have been improving every week."
Limit to variety
Several players have now taken snaps out of the wildcat formation, which was known as the "Asiata package" until running back Matt Asiata suffered a season-ending knee injury.
Against Wyoming, both Luke Matthews and DeVonte Christopher giving
the Utes some new looks with Matthews rushing twice for 14 yards and Christopher throwing an 8-yard pass.
The variety is good although Whittingham said he didn't want to go "overboard with it."
"We're trying to put people in position to make plays," he said. "DeVonte had a feel for that throwing the ball. It expands what the defense has to defend."
Utah coach Kyle Whittingham said all he has to do is make his team watch itself to realize it can't afford looking past anyone.
"It's more fixing what is wrong with us," he said. "We have to focus on our deficiencies, our third downs and red zone are right at the top of the list so regardless of who we play this week we have things we have to fix. This team is doing a great job for a long time now of not overlooking anybody or getting full of themselves and I'm confident we can do that this week."
Helping the Utes keep their focus is they haven't really blown out an opponent, center Zane Taylor said.
"It definitely is kind of unnerving coming away with so many close victories," he said. "It's definitely putting a lot of stress on me, and my wife. Like I said a long time ago, we haven't had a big solid win we can be happy about. The good thing is close have lots of learning opportunities so we have been improving every week."
Limit to variety
Several players have now taken snaps out of the wildcat formation, which was known as the "Asiata package" until running back Matt Asiata suffered a season-ending knee injury.
Against Wyoming, both Luke Matthews and DeVonte Christopher giving
the Utes some new looks with Matthews rushing twice for 14 yards and Christopher throwing an 8-yard pass.
The variety is good although Whittingham said he didn't want to go "overboard with it."
"We're trying to put people in position to make plays," he said. "DeVonte had a feel for that throwing the ball. It expands what the defense has to defend."
