Bill Connelly's 2015 Preview of UTEP

[MuskogeeHogFan]

Sounds as if they had problems last year with defending against good run blocking teams, injuries hurt them a great deal, but they learned how to put significant pressure on opposing QB's as the season wore on, despite not having highly recruited talent at their disposal.

UTEP, like Arkansas, seems to prefer a slower pace of play on offense, playing conservatively and patiently (but consistently) waiting for opposing defenses to make mistakes. But this year, they have a new QB who will be starting with the loss of Texas transfer, Jameill Showers and the loss of the only three receivers/tight ends to catch more than six passes last year.

Connelly does his usual good job of summarizing the strengths and weaknesses of teams in this article.

In head coach Sean Kugler's second year in El Paso, he took into battle a team that had a couple of good running backs, a single receiver, and decent defensive speed. He figured out how to go 7-6. Against teams that were more athletic and/or deeper, the Miners played to their strengths, slowed the pace to a crawl, and prepared to take advantage of mistakes.

It was the formula Paul Rhoads used to pull upsets and go to three bowls in four years at Iowa State. It can keep you in a lot of games and set the table for upsets or near-upsets -- UTEP lost to Texas Tech by just four points (which seemed more impressive at the time) and narrowly lost at Western Kentucky. It also gets you blown out from time to time.

UTEP's cautious, opportunistic style resulted in a winning Conference USA record, the program's second bowl bid in nine seasons, and four rather non-competitive losses. If opponents didn't make enough mistakes, the Miners couldn't create opportunities on their own.

http://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2015/3/25/8277669/utep-football-2015-preview-schedule-roster

[stevec]

They were completely outclassed by Kansas State last year.  There's no reason this game should be a legitimate contest. 

[MuskogeeHogFan]

I think they will attempt to utilize their smaller size but increased quickness to shoot gaps and disrupt our line blocking, some of which we saw last year vs. Ole Miss and Missouri. They may also use this to attempt to create pressure on BA on obvious passing downs. Their only real opportunity on defense is to create pressure through running stunts and games on our O-Line and then the question is, with smaller players and less talented depth, how successful can they be and how long can they last playing against much bigger and more physically imposing players?

[Mulberry Squeezins]

I think they will attempt to utilize their smaller size but increased quickness to shoot gaps and disrupt our line blocking, some of which we saw last year vs. Ole Miss and Missouri. They may also use this to attempt to create pressure on BA on obvious passing downs. Their only real opportunity on defense is to create pressure through running stunts and games on our O-Line and then the question is, with smaller players and less talented depth, how successful can they be and how long can they last playing against much bigger and more physically imposing players?

Could be a good test for our new LT

[bigdogbitting]

Would bet that UTEP is watch game film from Missouri and N Illinois to work blitz schemes against our pass blocking. Dont forget they run blitz alot too.

[MuskogeeHogFan]

Could be a good test for our new LT

Could be a good test for all of our O-Line since they attempt to bring pressure from several directions to off-set their inability to line up and play hard nosed run defense.

[SamBuckhart]

All except for one guy, they are pretty light in the britches on DL. This could get real ugly.

[Hognspace]

Could be a good test for all of our O-Line since they attempt to bring pressure from several directions to off-set their inability to line up and play hard nosed run defense.

Great point.  The O-line has been retooled a bit with the kirkland and skipper move.  A good blitzing D will provide a solid first workout for this team and provide plenty of teaching film for moving forward.

[MuskogeeHogFan]

All except for one guy, they are pretty light in the britches on DL. This could get real ugly.

This should get ugly real quick.

[DeltaBoy]

I expect them not to score in the first half with out some error on our part.  44-6 Hogs.  BA sits out the 4th Quarter as Austin leads the Hogs on a 9 minute drive to tack on the final score.

[MuskogeeHogFan]

This article gives you better insight into what to expect from UTEP in terms of defensive pressure on our offense. Bielema said today in his presser that we would probably see them apply more pressure in terms of multiple blitz packages, both pass and run, than we would normally see in our conference. A classic case of the lesser team going all out to create disruption and confusion on our offense.

They are probably going to "sell out" because they have nothing to lose in doing so.

[razorbackkid]

I think they will attempt to utilize their smaller size but increased quickness to shoot gaps and disrupt our line blocking, some of which we saw last year vs. Ole Miss and Missouri. They may also use this to attempt to create pressure on BA on obvious passing downs. Their only real opportunity on defense is to create pressure through running stunts and games on our O-Line and then the question is, with smaller players and less talented depth, how successful can they be and how long can they last playing against much bigger and more physically imposing players?

56-6 after 45 minutes.  :razorback:

Not what the UTEP crowd wants to hear.

[LA Football fan]

High risk, high reward defense.  If successful, they blow up our running plays in the backfield, creating 2nd or 3rd and long situations, where again, they can gamble and try to blow up the passing game by getting someone in BA's face. 

Along with that though, comes the chance for multiple big plays for our offense.  Our o-line jams up a stunt and frees up a running lane and AC could be off to the house.  Don't get to BA and we could have a WR running wide open in the secondary.   We just have to make sure when their stunts are successful that we don't put the ball on the ground or throw an interception.  We should wear them down over time and really start busting some big plays in the second half. 

[MuskogeeHogFan]

High risk, high reward defense.  If successful, they blow up our running plays in the backfield, creating 2nd or 3rd and long situations, where again, they can gamble and try to blow up the passing game by getting someone in BA's face. 

Along with that though, comes the chance for multiple big plays for our offense.  Our o-line jams up a stunt and frees up a running lane and AC could be off to the house.  Don't get to BA and we could have a WR running wide open in the secondary.   We just have to make sure when their stunts are successful that we don't put the ball on the ground or throw an interception.  We should wear them down over time and really start busting some big plays in the second half. 

All of that is possible and if you listened to the Arkansas Week Presser by UTEP's coach, you'll notice that he is stressing to his players the need to play all-out until the final whistle and compete the entire game. May not be possible, but they will come into RRS wanting to play inspired, to play the giant killer, and the only possible way they have of doing that is applying pressure, counting on s making mistakes and taking advantage of those mistakes.

They are over-matched and they know that but that is exactly why I expect to see them taking chances that they might not take otherwise. They are going to dial up pressure on defense and their offense might try to use a lot of mis-direction and play action passes, maybe flooding zones and hoping that we make a mistake.