Utah Utes 'ready to play some physical football' against Arizona Wildcats

Arizona got an unofficial taste of the Big 12 nearly two weeks ago, when the Wildcats were routed 31-7 by Kansas State in Manhattan.

Since the contest was a previously scheduled nonconference game, the setback isn’t a blemish on Arizona’s conference record. Arizona’s (2-1) matchup with 10th-ranked Utah (4-0) on Saturday in Salt Lake City is the Wildcats’ official Big 12 opener — and it could be the toughest game all season for the UA; the Wildcats open league play against the preseason conference favorites.

Utah reporter Porter Larsen of ESPN 700 in Salt Lake City joined “Spears and Ali” on ESPN Tucson this week to preview the Utes. Here are five questions from that interview:

What’s your assessment of Utah through four games this season?

A: “It’s all the things you’re used to from a football team and then there’s one big question: what’s going on at the quarterback position with Cam Rising? Isaac Wilson has stepped in and played well, but it’s obvious the ceiling Utah wants to reach will be met with Cam Rising under center.

“The rest is looking pretty good. The offensive line is a young unit. No seniors on that offensive line, but they started to open things up for (running back) Micah Bernard. Defensively, they’re Top 10 in the country in a lot of categories, including third-down (stops) and time of possession. It’s exactly what you guys have become accustomed to seeing with a Kyle Whittingham team.

“The big question is, do we see Cam Rising on Saturday?”

Do you think Rising will suit up on Saturday or with the bye next week, will the Utes test Wilson and have Rising fully healthy for the rest of the season?

A: “The bye week is the only reason I have pause with Cam playing. If they want to try and get to the bye week and push off Cam’s return until after that, that is a possibility.

“I’m honestly surprised Cam didn’t play on Saturday. It wasn’t a situation where the injury was too bad and Cam couldn’t go, it was a situation where they split reps during the week and expected Cam to give it a go on Saturday. When he went out there and warmed up, he didn’t have a great grip on the ball. I think the hot weather in Stillwater played into that. It was sweaty and loose and Cam tried to grip the ball with the glove, which is something he’s never done before. They decided literally right before kickoff that Isaac was going to get the nod.

“I wouldn’t be surprised — in fact, I promise you — that Kyle Whittingham will continue that charade until Saturday. Whether or not Cam plays, we’ll be questioning it until Saturday. I’d be surprised if Cam doesn’t play this week, but I wouldn’t be shocked, if that makes sense.”

Has Wilson shown any similarities to his older brother, Zach Wilson, the Denver Broncos backup quarterback and former BYU star?

A: “There are some similarities. You see the arm talent and the ad-lib stuff in the pocket, where Zach was really talented at BYU at making stuff happen off-schedule. Isaac is still so fresh and early in this playbook. We’re not seeing all of what Isaac Wilson can do. It’s very limited.

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“He’s only been here since the spring and the kid just turned 18. I do see some similarities with his arm talent and athleticism, but there’s also a difference in pace of play. He seems to be a little slower and less frenetic, which is a good thing for Isaac, especially in (Utah offensive coordinator) Andy Ludwig’s offense. He just has to get a year or so under his belt in this offense, because it has so many intricacies and wrinkles that are tough to really get a hold of.”

What’s been the most impressive part of Utah’s defense this season?

A: “They’re stopping the run and making teams one-dimensional. They’re Top 20 in the country in stopping the run — top in the Big 12. Third-down defense has been really good. In fact, they’re seventh in the country on third-down (stops), which as you guys, if you get off the field and give your offense more chances at points, that’s a good recipe.

“Their third-down conversions on defense is Top 10 in the country and that parlays into what Kyle Whittingham wants to do more than anything on the field, which is control the ball. ... Especially with a freshman at quarterback, that’s what they want to do. The defense, it’s what you’re used to seeing from a Utah defense.

“They’re stout against the run, they have pretty good defensive backs on the back end, but they’re still trying to find out exactly who they are and what they are.

“There’s been some shuffling along the defensive front even though they have six or seven guys they feel comfortable with. The linebacker position, they’ve dealt with some injuries there. Karene Reid, their starting linebacker, has been in and out of the lineup and is questionable going into Saturday.

“Defensively, they’ve been stout and strong, but have had some question marks with availability and they’re trying to get to that elite level they know they can play at.”

Utah is 34-3 at home since 2018. Why do you think the Utes have been so dominant at Rice-Eccles Stadium?

A: “And Arizona gets it at night, which is the first night home game of the year — and the first night game at Rice-Eccles in a long time. It’s going to be a raucous atmosphere. It’s not a rivalry game or we’re welcoming BYU, although there is some history between Arizona and Utah.

“Besides all of that, Utah is going to be up for this game, because of the environment. It’s the ‘black out’ game and they’re really, really good at home. They have 85 straight sellouts and have one of the best home records in the country if you go back to 2018; only about two or three losses on the slate since then.

“This is a team, when at home, is a different animal. That’s especially true on the defensive side of the football. I think that’s what you’ll see on Saturday: a raucous atmosphere and a defense ready to play some physical football, and they’ll need to against (Arizona quarterback) Noah Fifita, (wide receiver) Tetairoa McMillan and a very explosive offense.

“You guys will be in for a fun environment and what should be a fun football game.”