This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
As Arizona began the second half without its starting quarterback and with minor injuries to its best receivers, the universe seemed to be pushing things into Utah's favor.
If Arizona was to beat the Utes, it would have to be with the run. Easy enough for the home team, right?
Allow the Wildcats to retort: Nick Wilson burst up the middle and didn't stop on a 75-yard touchdown run — an almost unthinkable event for a team that bills itself as a run-stopping unit.
Saturday's 42-10 loss painted a different picture of Utah's defense, one that was struggling to fight through blocks and make tackles on Arizona's playmakers. In almost every game this year, Utah has been able to lean on its defense to keep things competitive.
Not this time.
Senior safety Brian Blechen looked worn out on the postgame podium, a smear of eyeblack giving the impression that his face was as bruised as his pride.
"We made it easy on them by blowing a coverage or missing a gap," he said. " That just gives them confidence, and that helps them get rolling. There were times where we were shooting ourselves in the foot."
There's something to the idea that Arizona runs as well as anyone against the Utes: For three straight years, the Rich Rodriguez-led Wildcats have had a 200-yard rusher in three wins. This time, the Wildcats fell only two yards short of 300 or more yards on the ground for the third straight year. It wasn't limited to Wilson, as Anu Solomon also had 44 yards and his first rushing touchdown in the half before he was hurt.
Blechen said the defense was spread out, creased in ways they're unused to being creased. Even before things broke open in the fourth quarter as Wilson ran for 75-yard and 19-yard touchdowns virtually unopposed, Utah was scrambling to stop the run.
"I think they've done a good job trying to figure out a way to exploit a weakness that we have," he said. "They just come to play against us."
Kyle Whittingham denied the weakness against the run had anything to do with Gionni Paul being out for the year: "No excuses, no factor," he said dismissively.
But it did appear Utah could have used some sideline-to-sideline presence, as the Wildcats sped past them time after time. Maybe health — several defenders are known to be dinged up, though Utah hasn't commented on it officially — is a problem.
Either way, it's a concern, as Utah's defense is predicated on the ability to stop the run. It won't be a fun hunt for answers as the Utes prepare for Colorado.
"They're real good on offense," Whittingham said. "But we didn't play very well on defense either."
Twitter: @kylegoon —
Carried away
Utah's run-stopping struggles against Arizona
• Nick Wilson has 218 yards, 3 touchdowns
• Arizona has 298 yards as a team on the ground
• The Wildcats average 6.3 yards per carry on the rush