EUGENE, Ore. — Where did that playbook come from? That offense?
And while we’re in the neighborhood, whatever happened to that Duck Dynasty?
Saturday at Autzen Stadium, the Utes looked as shockingly diverse as they were predictably mediocre in their first three games, embarrassing No. 13 Oregon, 62-20.
So this explains a lot of things. For instance, Utah’s sorry offensive numbers through the first three games of the season.
They were hiding their best stuff in their gym bags.
Jim Harbaugh and Michigan didn’t convince them to go past page 10 in their playbook. Utah State couldn’t make them go beyond the basics. Fresno State was strictly a maintenance outing.
No wonder the Utah coaching staff obsesses over conference games and takes non-conference affairs with measured enthusiasm.
They keep their secrets for bigger days.
Note to Southern Utah, next year’s first opponent: Don’t expect anything fancy. The Utes will not be tricky.
That wasn’t the case Saturday. They came on like a Vegas act: big backdrop and lots of showy moves. The high points included a halfback pass from the Oregon 25 for a touchdown; a fake punt that resulted in a 33-yard gain; a pair of third-quarter fourth-down conversions; and fancy-schmantziest of all, a full-on punt deception. On that play, Utah’s Britain Covey pretended to field an Oregon punt.
Everybody took the bait.
Meanwhile, Boobie Hobbs caught the real punt and went 69 yards for a touchdown. The touchdown put Utah up 55-13.
Some of Oregon’s players are still searching for him.
So where have the Utes been keeping this firepower since, oh, 2004?
More good news for the Utes is the defense and special teams didn’t take the night off. They held the Ducks to 13 points and 234 yards through three quarters, when the outcome was long decided. They also had two interceptions and recovered a forced fumble. This against a team ranked ninth in total offense and scoring.
The early game played out a lot like Utah imagined — but couldn’t have hoped for. Midway through the second quarter they found themselves up 20-6. Travis Wilson was actually throwing fairly deep and loping his way for serious gains. He hit an open Britain Covey on a 26-yard touchdown for a 13-6 lead. Shortly after he completed a scoring pass to Kenneth Scott.
In other words, Wilson was as efficient as he gets — and far too good for Oregon. It’s true Oregon came back, scoring two minutes later, but that’s when the Utes really started looking, well, ducky.
Wilson took a keeper 60 yards, to the Oregon 6. Caleb Repp, a previously unknown tight end — playing a heretofore unnoticed position — scored twice.
Utah, not Oregon, showed all the innovation and style. At halftime the Utes had 294 offensive yards — not far from their average for an entire game, before Saturday. Which naturally raised the question: Where have they been keeping this? Utah entered the game 11th in the conference in total offense.
They finished the game looking as undeniable as the flu season.
Through the first three games the Utes were as flashy as warm milk. But clearly they were holding back, even in the face of serious opponents like Utah State and Michigan.
“We lack explosiveness,” said co-offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick, earlier this week. “We need to make more big plays, but man, we’re getting a lot of first downs, moving the chains, taking care of the ball, doing a lot of really good things. We’ve just got to find a way to get a lot of chunk plays.”
These were closer to real estate plays.
By the time everyone at Autzen Stadium except the maintenance crew had left– sometime in the early fourth quarter – it had become clear the Utes have learned several things. For example, how to win at Oregon. They haven’t done that since 1994. They similarly have discovered how to pace themselves. Through three games they seemed to be going through the motions.
This time they were involved from start to end. How often does Oregon need to accept mercy points? Those came on a touchdown while the Ute reserves were on the field.
One can only wonder if the Utes have anything more they’re hiding.
Email: rock@desnews.com; Twitter: @therockmonster; Blog: Rockmonster Unplugged