August 11, 2025 • 37 mins
Brice and Bianucci discuss BYU and Utah Fall Camp, MLB, NFL news, and more!
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:07):
Jannucci ESPN O Fat tell them the price of Bianucci
podcast wherever you get your podcast today.
Speaker 2 (00:18):
Where Bryce and Bianucci on a Monday morning, live from
our downtown Salt Lake City studios.
Speaker 3 (00:29):
Jordan Bianucci, Bryce under the weather. We wish him well.
Martin Kelly our friend filling in light very late notice
this morning. Appreciate Martin behind the glass talking some Major
League baseball. In the last segment. In this segment, we're
going to get into Utah football with our friend J. T.
Speaker 4 (00:48):
Wister.
Speaker 3 (00:49):
Still first, I want to look at that. We're jumping
out to the text line. We have a text coming
in the Red Sox. We're talking about the Socks. The
Red Sox are twenty six and fifteen since they trade
to Devors to the Giants. By the way, this is
the fourth best record in the league during that span.
We are talking Brewers, Blue Jays and Miami Marlins. They've
(01:10):
been actually fantastic. I didn't bring up the Marlins in
the last segment because they've fallen off little bit in
this last series, but they coming into the weekend were
right there in the wild card. I believe they're six
out right now. But listen to this. This is our
text message coming in. The Red Sox have done something
since they have not since nineteen seventy eight. They have
(01:31):
finished the first half of the season on a ten
game winning streak, which started on the fourth of July.
That was the beginning of this horse historic run for
the Red Sox. From the fourth of July to August fourth,
they went twenty and six with a big League best
two point seven zero earned run average. It was the
first time since seventy eight that a Socks team has
(01:52):
won twenty plus games with an ERA of two point
seven zero or lower during a twenty six game span.
I have good news and I have bad news for
Red Sox fans. That's phenomenal. And the Red Sox are
playing their best baseball when they need to be playing it,
coming down the stretch. I was not born in nineteen
(02:15):
seventy eight, but I do know what happened in nineteen
seventy eight. Do you remember what happened in nineteen seventy
eight to the poor Boston Red Sox market?
Speaker 5 (02:24):
Oh, I must say a World Series loss? Is this
the one that they lost to the Cardinals.
Speaker 3 (02:31):
No, it's a good play. You know you're thinking of
sixty seven. It was a good guess, No, it was
much worse. Nineteen seventy eight was the Bucky Dent here.
Nineteen seventy eight, they played a played one game, they
blew a huge they blew a lead in the division,
and I mean they had it and they blew a
lead in the division to the Yankees. Played a one
game playoff at Fenway, and Bucky Dent, who's a light
(02:54):
hitting short stuff for the Yankees, hit a homer over
the over the monster, and the Thanks came back and
beat the Red Sox. It was nineteen seventy That is
as great as stat as that is, and as the
Red Sox fans are going, that's fantastic. What year is that?
Seventy eight? Bleep? That's what the Red Sox fans are
that did not end?
Speaker 5 (03:14):
Well.
Speaker 4 (03:14):
What's worse seventy eight or eighty six?
Speaker 3 (03:17):
Oh, that's a good eighty six is worse? Have you
that's a great question. Eighty six is worse because it
was game six the world. That's the if you don't know,
that's the Buckner year.
Speaker 5 (03:25):
I've watched both documentaries, so I've watched it from both perspectives.
It's really really interesting.
Speaker 3 (03:30):
What you if you have the time. This is really
getting into it. But if you gotta go on YouTube
and you have to watch the ninth inning of Game
six of the nineteen eighty six World Series, you you
can't watch just the highlights if you go back and
watch it the entire like that bottom of the ninth
where the Mets are down, what they're only three runs?
Speaker 4 (03:52):
Yeah in the ninth for to one.
Speaker 3 (03:54):
Yeah. The the collapse of the Red Sox in that
game doesn't hit you unless you watch the entire thing.
The game was over, it was there were two outs
and the bases were empty. The Red Sox were went
out away from a World Series up, Like what you said,
three runs it. Watching the highlights does not convey what
(04:17):
a collapse and how horrible eighty six was.
Speaker 5 (04:19):
No way you can describe how bad it is is
watching Clemmens in the dugout after he shaved his face
after he thought it'd be on television, and just watching
his whole entire face, go, oh crap.
Speaker 3 (04:31):
You're absolutely yeah, that's a great No, it's a great pool.
He was the starter in that game. You went and
showered and shaved because you thought I'm gonna win the
World Series I'm gonna be on TV and no. Watching
that thing in real time, you realize you're right, just
not even the Red Sox collapse. Just how improbable it
all was. It all came with two outs. It all
(04:52):
came with two outs. It's just anybody, Yeah, so I'd go, Yeah,
eighty six is worse than seventy eight for the Red Sox,
but both both bad. Let's get into last week. We
had J. T. Wistercil on the show and he was
breaking down all the storylines, including the wide receiver battle
up at the University of Utah, Jason Beck, Devin demp here,
everything going on with the Utes.
Speaker 4 (05:13):
Here was j T.
Speaker 3 (05:14):
Wistrasil on this program.
Speaker 6 (05:16):
And the fan hotline, and well, we will welcome in
our first guest of the morning. It is our friend
from Lockdown Utes who joins us all the time right
here on this program.
Speaker 7 (05:25):
J T.
Speaker 4 (05:25):
Wistercil is right here with us. JT. Good to hear
from you, my friend.
Speaker 7 (05:30):
It's going to be with you guys as always. And
crazy to think we are just twenty five days away
from Week one of college football. Can't wait to get
the season underway.
Speaker 6 (05:40):
We're getting after it, especially with UCLA in that night
game coming up on the schedule for Utah. Let's start here.
JT Fall camp is underway. We heard from the coaches,
We heard from Kyle Whittingham. What are the top headlines,
the biggest takeaways you've seen so far in the first
(06:00):
week of Utah fall camp to this point.
Speaker 7 (06:04):
I thought it was really encouraging to hear Devin Dampierre,
Utah starting quarterback, talk about how good Tobias Merriweather already looks.
For those unfamiliar Tobias Meyriweather is a transfer receiver that
Utah got in the spring portal from cal before that
was a high recruit at Notre Dame. So far in
his college career, he has not been able to put
it all together. Whether that dude mostly injuries, but I
(06:24):
will also say there were some inconsistencies at Notre Dame
and then injuries derailing his year last year with the
Golden Bears. But he's back, he's healthy, and he's getting
up to speed quickly. It was really encouraging to hear
how much Devin Dampier is a fan of him. We're
talking about a six y five, two hundred pound receiver,
so it has all the makings to be a number
one receiver for p fourteen and not and like a
(06:46):
really good number receiver. I'll just talk about the typical,
like Utah number one receiver, but this is a Utah
team that really needs guys to emerge on the outside path.
Catcher and probably defensive line are the biggest questions this
team has right now, and the fact that Merriweather was
turning a lot of ahad is a really encouraging sign.
Devin Dampier as well as Utah's wide receiver coach Mike A.
Simon's both talked about too how locked in Merriweather has been.
(07:08):
You can include Larry Simmons and this as well to
the Southern mistransfer who a lot of people at Big
twelve media days, there wasn't buzz around him, a lot
of people are mentioning his name. Were locked in all summer.
Those were guys who were consistently obviously at every lift,
but they were going to every throwing session as well too.
Mike Simon's talked about I saw those guys getting next
to working on the field before fall camp even got
underway the other night, So I think it's really encouraging
(07:30):
that Tobias Merroweather has a chance to hit the ground running.
Utah has had some misses with some transfer receivers in
the past, but some of the early sides of encouragement
amount around Merriweather I think are very encouraging in a
group that being Utah's wide receiver and just pass catching corps.
As a full that lacks proven kammodities, Meriweather could end
up being the top guy there.
Speaker 8 (07:51):
Yeah, JT a lot of change on the offense, obviously,
Jason Beck coming in, whole new offensive coaching staff, a
whole new system for that offense. We heard from Winningham
that it's going to be a no huddle, but a
slower tempo, not a normal tempo of no huddle offense.
What are your thoughts about that and how successful do
you think this will be for Utah this year?
Speaker 7 (08:13):
I like that idea just when I hear it, because
what is Utah's strength their offensive line. I want to
be careful with how uptempo I go to not tire
up the big guys, because those guys are the best
part of this team. I don't want to tire Kale
blown with Spencer Funnel. Those guys are in great shape.
But if you're just going nastall package is basically where
you're just like every single play like just getting up
(08:34):
there as quick as you can. You're risk wearing those
guys out. So I like that Utah wants to keep
defenses on their heels, but not go too fast. I mean,
I love one thing we've seen them for a while
over college football. These teams will get to the ball,
get on the ball quickly, and the quarterback will do
his clap, but they won't snap the ball so they
can give the defense. The defense will show their hands
and then the offense then can get the signals and
the play call in and then provide a counter and
(08:56):
just something that's going to lead to an optimal game.
This is this offense in Jason becks Camp. I feel
like it's in very good hands. I mean, we're talking
about an offense that fourth best in the country in
the yards per game basis. Devin dan Pierre had a
miraculous season last year too, so I do think this
Utah offense is headed in the right direction. I know
Dan Pierce ended up his touchdown the interception ratio was
twelve to twelve, but he also did rush for nineteen touchdowns.
(09:18):
So he had nearly twenty more touchdowns than he still
did interception. So a dynamic QB back there, and I
just feel like this offense is heading in the right direction.
But I do like the idea of going getting on
the ball quickly, no huddle. But you don't want to
wear out the strength of your team, which is going
to be this run game. Instead, you want to wear
the opposition down. And I do feel like Utah, with
all five starters returning up front, is in a really
(09:40):
strong position to do that.
Speaker 6 (09:42):
One thing I loved about Day one of fall camp
was way Shaun Parker saying that he wants to run
for over a thousand yards this year. I look at
Jason Beck's offense in the past and a season ago
they averaged about thirty eight rushing attempts per season, and
if you take a look at it, excuse me, per game.
If you take a look at some of the like
(10:03):
JJ McCarthy's Michigan Wolverines a couple of years ago when
they won the National championship, we always think of them
as a run heavy team. Play Corham in the backfield there,
he got a lot of touches. Its close to forty
attempts per game that they ran the football. What do
you think that the split is going to be. How
often do you think they're going to run the football
(10:23):
in Jason Beck's offense? And do you think way Shaun
Parker is going to get a lot more touches than
maybe pass attempts for one Devin.
Speaker 7 (10:29):
Dampier, I think it'll be close. I won't say that
at the end because what I just mentioned with Devin Dampierre,
I mean, he wrote Devin Dampier rush for a thousand
yard last year, he loved Devin dam Pierre led the
country in yards per carry according to Pro Football Focus.
He and John Mattier in the new Oklahoma quarterback they led
the country and forced miss tackles. So you don't want
to take the ball a dam Peer's hands too much.
(10:50):
But when I say that, I'm not just saying because oh,
you want them to fill constantly. No, you want to
have a quarterback designed run game. Also, I think the
reauption game could be massive in this Utah team. And
you look at what Dampier can do. The quarterback run
game was big for him last year. But I do
think I think we saw a lot have two thousand
yard rushers this season. I think the ratio run to pass,
I think it'll be sixty forty. I could definitely see
it being more fifty five forty five, but I would
(11:14):
be very surprised if it was fifty to fifty from
pass to run because yes, like I mentioned, I think
Devin Dampier is a good passer, but he did still
throw those twelve picks last year, and I think he
is improving getting better. It's only a true sophomore last year,
so junior year now, I don't think he's gonna throw
twelve picks this year, but it could very well happen
as he's playing better defenses throughout the season, while granted
(11:35):
having a better supporting cast as well. I might add,
but yeah, I just think you're going to want the
ball in Devin Dampierre's hands a lot. But at the
same time, the strength of your team is that offensive
line in the run game, So I do think you
are going to see this team really just try to
pound it down the opposition to throw it. I mean,
when you have guys like Spencer Fonnald Caleb Lomu. Even
though I have some questions about the interior offensive line,
(11:55):
you got guys like Jared kump to know a tong
guy and Michael Mulkapisi. They've all played a lot of football.
Still clearly the best offensive line in the Big twelve
and I think clearly a top ten offensive line in
the country. And Pyle Whittingham, we know one thing that
draws him absolutely nuts are turnovers. What's the best way
to not turn the ball over is just consistently run
the ball. Also, some of the best defense could be
a great offense, long methodical drives because you were just
(12:17):
consistently gashing teams over and over again for those three
to five yard chunks on the ground. And was Shawn
Parker's the guy. It's a true freshman. Last year at
Washington State rush for over seven hundred yards. This is
a true freshman. I don't think he's going to get
even better in his sophomore year. I love his mindset.
I do think he's clearly RB one for this team.
Kyle Whittingham even said he thinks that way. Shawn has
a chance to do it too. I think Utah will
(12:39):
lean on Wyshaan a lot. And Nakawhi Rodgers is the back.
Was the number two back at New Mexico last year,
So I think that he is going to end up
being that number two back again. But I think way
Shawn Parker is going to get a lot of carries.
I just think Utah's run defense is going to be
very difficult to stop. There are some good defenses in
the Big Twelve, but honestly, I look at this conference
and I say the strength is the quarterbacks of it.
I don't think the run defenses are to the caliber.
(13:01):
Maybe an SEC I would say has a better run
defense caliber from top to bottom. So I do feel
like Utah is gonna have a lot of success running
the ball this season, and I think it's just going
to be a devastating run game that helps Utah bouts
back in the Big Twelve, something I feel like they're
really set up to do. I think they will be
a top four team in this conference. I think they
have a great chance to reach the Conference Tadle game.
Speaker 8 (13:22):
Kat I want to ask you about Isaac Wilson No
coming off the year he had last year, getting hurt
everything like that, He's got a similar I see a
similar play style on him as Devin dan Pierre and
being in Jason Bek's offensive scheme is it going to
benefit Isaac by sitting behind Devin and just learning how
this offense works and how he plays and how he
(13:43):
can adjust to that style.
Speaker 7 (13:45):
Honestly, I think it just benefits Isaac to sit because
he should have taken the red shirt last year, so
I think this year can kind of act as a
red shirt sit back, continue to kind of take and
learn everything. Sometimes it helps to play as a freshman.
I think back to Spencer final who is not an
amazing left tackle year, but he had that experience helped
him blossom into a really strong right tackle. But when
you're not ready and you're thrust onto the field in
(14:06):
your freshman year, it can really just damper your development.
And I think that's what we saw with Isaac Wilson
last year. So I do think it will really help
him to be able to sit back. He's not the
same athlete that Devan Dampiers at the quarterback position, but
I do believe he is still as a very high
upside as a thrower. I'm very intrigued, but he's going
to be the backup quarterback. There's a lot of people
that really like Bird Fickland the true freshman. He was
(14:27):
an early enrollie in the spring, so him and Isaac
Wilson were getting the majority of the reps back and forth.
I'm very curious to see who wins that job. I
also still won't rule out Nate Johnson. Utah very interestingly
updated their roster Nate Johnson listed as an athlete. Most
guys come to Utah and recruiting wise, it will say athlete,
then you have them pick up position. I think it's
very interesting that Nate Johnson is listed as an athlete.
I still expect to see some of Nate Johnson as QB.
(14:50):
Just can't forget how dynamic he is as an athlete too.
But yeah, I'm very curious too it we see if Isaac.
I hope it's not a ton unless the game is
out of reach, because I just as we've talked about
a little bit now right, Devin Dampier, I think has
a chance to be a transcendent quarterback. I think he
has the ceiling to be a top I think he
could be a top ten quarterback in the country. There
are already people that haven't listed there, and when you
look at that skill set, you want him on the
(15:11):
field as much as possible. I think he's clearly QB
one for this team, and then Wilson is battling for
the backup spot. I think it would benefit him to
take this year as a red shirt, be able to
rest and develop. But I do think that what Jason
Beck has just brought to Utah's offense as a whole.
It was clear to even talking to players at the
Big twelve media day. It's been a very welcome injection
of just the energy the creativity that he's brought. I
(15:31):
feel like everyone on the offensive side will benefit from
that Wilson being among them. And I know he had
that great throw in fall camp the other day as
everyone buzz him, but I think it is best for
him to sit back this year and learn and then
hopefully someday in the future he can be a guy
for the Utah youth. But with how last season went,
I feel like it is best for Wilson to sit back.
Speaker 4 (15:50):
That throw and catch was insane for Isaac Willis.
Speaker 7 (15:54):
I think Larry Simmons, the guy who thought it is
going to end up having the bigger season of those
guys too. But it was an incredible throw from wilt left.
We were a year removed from him being a four stars.
Not like Isaac Wilson doesn't know how to play quarterback right.
It was just he wasn't ready. It was not a
great offensive fit. So I still I'm not ready to
funt on Isaac Wilson, but I just don't know if
this is the year I think it'd be good for
(16:15):
him to rest.
Speaker 3 (16:16):
J T.
Speaker 6 (16:16):
Wisterstill is here with us, the host of Lockdown Utesah
on Bryson bia Ucci on one of three nine to
ninety eight three ESPN the fan jat One thing that
Jordan and I and Zach and I have discussed in
this offseason leading up to the year, I'm taking a
look at the numbers from last year BYU and Utah
had the top two defenses in the entire Big Twelve.
(16:37):
Really incredible in terms of points per game, touchdowns allowed,
all the stats across the board BYU and Utah were
on the top two teams.
Speaker 4 (16:46):
But on the offensive side is a little bit different
of a story.
Speaker 6 (16:48):
The interesting thing to me is that Utah came in
around fourteenth or so in a lot of different categories,
mostly points scored per game and overall points in the
Big Twelve conference. Well BYU, you would have thought they
were a little bit higher, but they were actually outside
of the top five. They came in at number six
with thirty one point two points per game. Just scoring
(17:09):
four hundred and five points on the season. Utah averaged
about twenty three point six points per game throughout the season.
Speaker 4 (17:16):
My question to you is, with such a great.
Speaker 6 (17:18):
Defense and BYU having an eleven win season last year
and being outside of the top five in offensive offensive ability,
where does Utah need to find themselves in terms of
in the Big Twelve and for them to have a
double digit win season. Do they need to be inside
the top five of offense or do you think they
(17:40):
can get somewhere between six and ten and still have
a double digit win season.
Speaker 7 (17:45):
Double digit win season, They're probably gonna have to be
in the top five in order to do that because
of the offenses in this conference. Baylor could have one
of the best offenses in the country. I mean the
quarterbacks in the Big Twelve this year, it's another really
strong year. Sam Love at ASU, Right techil or Kansas
Kansas State. I would stayed all with returning quarterbacks that
have a chance to have really monster seasons, and a
(18:06):
lot of those teams, Utah we'll see as well too,
So that's why I'm interested to see if both with
BYU and a Utah and repeat is one and two
in the conference. I think that's not likely. Think both
will be a top five defense. But I see both
those units taking a step back in part because of
what they each lost and also in part of the
teams they'll be playing. But I do think if Utah
wants to get the tenants, I think you have to
be in the top five. Because I also just mentioned I
(18:28):
do think that defense, you had teams to twenty points
per game last year, you lost nine key contributors. I
don't see how Utah matches that. I think that defense
takes a slight step back, but thankfully for the offense,
I think they make a massive lead forward. I think
this is an offense that is in that twenty twenty
eight to thirty points per game range, and I lean
more towards that thirty plus points per game range. When
this Utah team has had their starting quarterback available, and
(18:50):
yes it was a different offensive coordinator, Andy Ludwig, but
the results have been devastating for the opposition. And I
think that's what Utah will get back to this season
with Devin dan Pier, with Wayshan Parker, with that offensive line,
with receivers that you need to do just enough because
teams will have to pack the box to stop this
Utah run game. And I do think Jason Beck is
(19:11):
ready to lead this Utah offense into the most explosive
era that it has seen in a very long time.
When you look at the success he had at New Mexico,
when you look at a dynamic player like Devin Dampier,
who has a chance to be one of the most
entertaining players in college football. He was sacked five only
five times last year and he played three basically P
(19:31):
four teams who were including Washington State with Arizona and Alburn.
There are quarterbacks when they're a group of five and
they play P four teams, they get sacked five times
in one game. That's how dynamic and elusive Devon Dampier is.
And now I was playing behind an even better offensive line.
I think he is going to be able to stay
up a lot, and I think this Ucha offense is
going to be moving the chains a lot. I have
high expectations for this Utah offense. I do think there'll
(19:53):
be a top I think Utah's offense and defense will
be in the top five of the Big Twelve this year.
A big part of that being the coaching too, when
you look at what more and Scalley can do on
that side of the ball. Even if you ask some
questions about who's going to Steve a on the offensive line,
But with the offenses that are in the Big Twelve,
it will be tough for Utah to have a top
five offense, but I believe they will because of that
offensive line, because of the coordinator, some of those star
(20:15):
players we just mentioned too. I think things are trending
up for Utah and you're seeing that in the national
media as well. Utah starting to earn some love about Hey,
no one's talking about Utah and people are starting to
come around on this team. The Big Twelve is wild
every single season, and I think Utah could be one
of those teams that surprises people from who are doing
their Big Twelve predictions and are expecting the same teams
(20:36):
the top last year to be there again, because if
history is for showing us anything in the Big Twelve,
it's as completely unpredictable.
Speaker 6 (20:42):
All right, last thing for you and we'll get you
out of here on this one. Let's take a look
at the Big Twelve as a whole. Do you believe
the Big Twelve is going to have one or two
teams that are going to be by far and away
the best two teams in the conference, maybe one or
two losses, or do you think it's going to be
a three loss champion By the end this upcoming season,
we're gonna have nine teams all buying for the top spot.
Speaker 7 (21:05):
I think it's a really good question. I think that
it's going to be very similar to last year. I
think we will have I think, unfortunately the Big Twelve
only gets one in because I do think this conference
is going to beat up on itself. I would love
it if two teams could survive the gauntlet of the
schedule and you get to eleven to one teams in
the title game basically, and then you can hopefully get
(21:26):
both of them in. But I think it's much more
likely that a team suffers multiple losses. I mean, let's
just take Utah's schedule right. In order for Utah to
set themselves up to if they didn't win the conference
getting the playoff, they'd have to go eleven and one
and Utah has to go to UCLA to start the season, right,
But who else do you get? You get Texas Tech,
you get ASU, you get Baylor, and you end the
season with Baylor, Kansas Kansas State. Like that, that's a
(21:47):
gauntlet just down the stretch there too. That's not mentioning
going directly to your rival BYU, which I think BYU
does take a step back this season, but that's till
they're a really good team and a top ten team
in this conference. And this ivalry is always an incredibly
close game too, So to me, it's gonna be very
hard for any of these teams. There's just not many
that get a break in their schedule where I'm like, oh,
(22:08):
you miss these contenders, because there are legitimately six to
eight teams I really like in this conference that I
think have a chance to win it. Maybe even ten
teams that could win at this upcoming season, and we
all know last year no one would have said about it.
Are of those dates they and they wound up winning
it too, So that shows you the potential and chances
for upsets too. But yeah, I think right now the
(22:29):
Big twelve only gets one in. I think it will
be a very similar thing with there are multiple tie
breakers and scenarios that we're gonna have four to maybe
even six teams. I'll need for US six would be
a lot, but four teams going into the final week
of the regular season with a chance to make the
Big Twelfth title game. I think we're gonna have a
lot of multi loss teams, and unfortunately, I do think
the Big Twelve only gets one in because of just
(22:49):
how competitive this league is, but I'd love to see
two teams get in. It's just gonna be hard to
have an eleven and one team in a conference like this,
and hopefully those teams can live up to their end
of the bargain because Drinker schedule maybe would allow a
two loss non conference champion Big Twelve team to get
into the College Football playoffs, but we know that's really
(23:09):
difficult to do with the SEC and the Big Ten
usually getting a lot of those spots. But this conference
is wide open. It's going to be an incredible year
and I can't wait to see how it's all going
to play out. And we'll see if you talk and
be one of those teams that's in it at the
end of the year. In the Big Twelve, sevele game discussion.
Speaker 6 (23:23):
Just twenty five days, eight hours, twenty minutes and now
twenty two seconds away from kickoffs for Utah and UCLA.
Speaker 4 (23:32):
JT.
Speaker 6 (23:33):
Before we let you go, let everybody know where they
can find all of your work and follow you on X.
Speaker 7 (23:39):
Yeah, you guys can head over to my X account
which is locked on you so on my personal one
at J two witch or so locked on. He's coming
at you Monday through Friday. Starting to do double episode
a day, just trying to get everyone ready for the season.
Lots to talk about, lots of discuss and always great
coming on with you guys as well. Thank you very much, Bryce.
Speaker 6 (23:56):
Man, we're in the two a days unlocked on utes.
I love it, JC, take care my friend.
Speaker 3 (24:02):
That was JD. Westercill last week with Bryce. Good stuff
there from JT on Utah fault Camp. I'll ask you this, Martin.
I'll give you my take first. How many teams will
the Big twelve get into the playoff this year?
Speaker 5 (24:16):
I'm gonna be bold. I'm gonna be really bold with
this one. With even the twelve teams I think they
get too.
Speaker 3 (24:24):
Do you really? I see? I would go Yeah, I'd
go with JT. I'd go one. I think one still,
I think one. I don't think I think.
Speaker 5 (24:31):
It will be Arizona State and Utah. I think regardless
because I think those two are my favorite to make
it to the Big Twelve title game. I think regardless,
they should take both of those teams because real quick,
I'll let you finish out because we got to go.
But if the College Football Committee is going to make
excuses on why they should allow Clemson n SMU into
(24:55):
the College Rewell Playoffs even though that was the ACC
title game, you had the winner and the loser in there,
they should make the same case for the Big Twelve.
Considering I think the Big Twelve is better than the
ACC from top to bottom. There's more competition, more storylines
to go through the Big Twelve than the ACC. I
think if you're gonna put that out there, the winner
and the loser make the playoffs again. They did that
(25:17):
with the Big Ten Ohio State and Penn State. You
should do that for the Big Twelve.
Speaker 3 (25:21):
Yeah, but they're not. That's the problem is if they
did it for the Big twin, it's not gonna happen
for the Big Twelve. It should the ACC well, you know,
shouldn't and will it happen or different questions. The ACC
is one thing. I think the probably the thing with
the ACC is you're right, it's name. It's more its
name brand. It's it's Big twelve doesn't have a name
brand like Miami or or Clemson. So I would go one.
(25:46):
But look, I think you need two one lost teams
basically to get to win, and that I agree Utah
could be it. Arizona State. I still Arizona State as
good as everyone says they're gonna be. You'll whs cam Scattaboo.
I just don't know how I can be so high
on Arizona's state right now that that worries me. I mean,
(26:10):
but yet people keep picking them to win the conference.
So we will see what happens in the Big twelve.
We're just, yeah, what do we nineteen days twenty days away.
Speaker 5 (26:20):
From nine eighteen days, eighteen.
Speaker 3 (26:22):
Days away from kickoff for BUYU and Utah late August
Memorial Day or Labor Day weekend coming up later this month,
keep it right here. We'll obviously have all your coverage
of fall camp and that first week of college football
coming up at the end of August. We'll take a
break come back with more Bryson Bianucci. It's Jordan Bianucian
(26:44):
and Martin Kelly buying the Glass on one of three
nine ninety eight three.
Speaker 1 (26:48):
Bryson bia Ucci on one O three nine and ninety
eight three. ESPN the Fan. Download the Bryce and Biannucci
podcast wherever you get your podcast today.
Speaker 3 (27:35):
Bryce and Bianucci on a Monday morning, about ninety one.
As we're getting ready to wrap up a Monday edition
of bryceon Bianucci. Hopefully Bryce will be back with us
tomorrow under the weather. Appreciate Martin Kelly filling in behind
the glass. Jordan Bianucci with you on a beautiful August
(27:55):
day in our downtown outside our downtown Salt Lake City Studios.
We've talked a lot of fall camp, talked a lot
of Big League baseball and a little NFL preseason as well.
We started off the show with the question, if you
were buying stock in BYU football or Utah football, that's
(28:16):
long term. You're you're buying stock in one of those programs.
Which one's gonna pay off? I don't know, three years,
five years, ten years down the road.
Speaker 4 (28:24):
What would you go with?
Speaker 3 (28:25):
And I look, Martin went BYU. He likes what they
did last year, likes the recruiting class that's coming in.
I still went Utah Football buy a hair because I
think that by look BYU, there's a lot of recency
bias with both of these teams. Utah has been terrible
the last two years. I think you can attribute almost
(28:47):
all of that to injuries and not having a quarterback.
Now not I said almost all of it. Some of
it is just playing poor planning, no backup plan from
your from your coaching staff, which is inexcusable. But yeah,
look they have a quarterback. Last year, they are a
(29:07):
contender in the Big Twelve. They just are. They lost
five games by one score or less. That that's you know,
that's actually quite incredible when you think about how bad
the quarterback play was last year for Utah. So I
think there's some recency bias with both these teams. I
lean Utah because I think Morgan Scalley's going to be
(29:29):
a great coach, and I think that it's easier to
get athletes to Utah than it is to bau obviously,
just I mean, you saw the Jake Rhetz office. Is
the you know, exhibit A. It's hard to get a
non LDS athlete to BYU top guys, I mean top recruits.
(29:51):
But it's close, man, it is close. And this year
I think, look, I think never before more more so
than now, does year to year your success or your
you know, not success lack of success? Does it inform
and does it affect how you do the next season?
(30:13):
Not only with recruits but with transfers, but also with donors.
I think you have a bad year. Donors are a
whole lot less enthusiastic to open the pocketbook and give
cash to that program. Look at BYU football after that
first year in the Big twelve when they were not great.
(30:35):
Don't get me wrong, they had money. Donors were given
money to the program, but it was a whole lot
harder than it is right now. It just was. And
if you're arguing that Utah football donors have the same
amount of enthusiasm and are as willing to give loads
of money to that program right now, just as you know,
as much money as they were in the Pac twelve
(30:56):
days and when they were going to the Rose Bowl.
It seemed like, you know, last every every year those
last two years in the Pac twelve, I believe wasn't
I'm not, I'm not buying it. There's no way that
they're giving on the same level or at least with
the same enthusiasm that it's as easy to get that
cash from them as it was then. And that's more
(31:16):
important than ever now as teams with the most money
are gonna win period. In college football, that's where we are.
You're gonna have conferences like the Big Twelve, mainly the
Big Twelve that are that are more wide open. But
when we're talking winning big time like national championships, it's
gonna be the teams with the most money every year
(31:38):
basically that are gonna win. I just it just is.
There's the parody argument that somehow we're going now now
everybody's got a chance to win in culture. I have
no idea. I've heard a few people make that argument.
I don't understand that argument. The best teams with the
most money the most. They should say, the teams with
the most money are going to buy the best players
(31:59):
and they are going to win at the highest levels.
The good news for Utah and BYU is the Big Twelve.
You have pretty much as much money as most of
these other schools, and you're going to compete for a
conference championship, I think pretty regularly, if not for a
national championship. I don't think you're competing for a national championship,
but you yeah, you can compete for a conference championship
(32:23):
year in and year out. Tomorrow on the program tune in,
well you will give you more updates from BYU Fall Camp.
Gets you some sound as well as from some updates
from Utah fall Camp. I mean, look, the biggest storylines
we're looking at wide receivers at Utah fall camp. How
does Devin dan Pierre Look, it's a little interesting with
(32:47):
UTUH is they're thrown into the fire right away. Not
that UCLA is a world beater, but it's not Portland State.
With BYU, you ease in a little bit. That's the
good news. If you're BYU with the new quarterback Utah Man,
you're you're in it come late August at in Pasadena against.
Speaker 1 (33:04):
U C l A.
Speaker 3 (33:05):
So we'll could follow that closely. Some interesting stuff this
past weekend in the media. Look, Martin and I kind
of went over this. What do you take from this?
I don't know, but apparently the wide receiving core looked
pretty good for Utah and that's that's big news because
that cupboard was bare, uh coming into this season. You
(33:26):
lost some dudes, And to be honest with Utah has
never had a phenomenal receiving corps. They've made it work
and they have they've had good tight ends. But that's
one question mark I'm looking at, and listen, we're not
going to have an answer to that question for a
long time. So we'll discuss that and keep that on
the docket, and we'll keep talking some baseball pennant races
(33:51):
coming down to the wire here in the dog days
of summer, some good series at the beginning of this week,
we'll take a final break, come back and wrap it up.
On the other side, it's Bryson Bianucci on one O
three nine and ninety eight three.
Speaker 1 (34:06):
Essent Bia Nucci on one O three nine and ninety
eight three, ESPN The Pan Download The Price and Bianucci
podcast wherever you get your podcast.
Speaker 9 (34:16):
Today, Rising Banucci on a Monday morning, Jordan ban Ucci
(35:00):
holding it down well, Bryce is under the weather. Appreciate
Martin Kelly filling in behind the glass as we wind
things down on a Monday, on a beautiful Monday here in.
Speaker 3 (35:12):
Salt Lake City. As we get this week started. We
are heading into the teeth of the sporting calendar. Football, baseball,
maybe geez weekend the late November. We're gonna get some hockey,
gonna get some basketball, but mostly football and baseball right now.
Good stuff. Still preparing for or still covering fall camp
(35:34):
for by U and Utah Tomorrow on the show, we
have some yeah, some NFL stuff we got to get to,
and then more b y U and Utah fall camp, like,
we'll see what we can make of it. We'll get
some sound from b YU see if we can we
can read the tea leaves a little bit and see
(35:57):
who that's an arting quarterback is going to be. It
sure sounds like it's McKay Hillstead right now. I'm interested
to see if YU waits how long they wait to
name him. I would be surprised if they name one
name a starting quarterback anytime soon, even if internally they
know who it's gonna be. I think more than likely
they just you know, play it close to this like
(36:20):
they have and then I bet would not be shocked,
honestly to uh if we don't find out who that
starter is until they walked out there for that first
drive against Portland State would not be shocked. Something that'd
have to ask tomorrow, assuming Bryce is back, is that,
(36:41):
are you surprised Bear Bachmeyer is the number two guy
and that he's looked apparently as good as he has looked,
and that the playbook is complicated as it is has
not seemed to be.
Speaker 4 (36:52):
An issue for him.
Speaker 3 (36:53):
Are you Are you surprised about that? And are you
surprised that apparently the wide receiving corra but you taught,
looks pretty solid. Now again, both those things, are they true?
I don't know. We haven't been able to see them
with our own eyes. And what are they you know,
are they gonna come out and say that both, you know,
the quarterbacks and the wide receiving course, they look terrible. No,
(37:15):
probably not, But that's it look according to what we
can glean from not seeing them, from insights whatever, I
don't know, both those position groups look okay. By the way,
A little side note before we take off. Pennsylvania listen
to this won the Little League Softball World Series. They
(37:36):
won five games, with the last four being shutouts. Their pitcher,
Reagan Bills, did not allow an earned run and thirty
shutout innings, throwing every pitch for Pennsylvania. That's a little
sporting note to leave you with on this Monday morning.
We'll be back tomorrow seven to ten. Bryce and Bianoucci
on one oh three, nine and ninety eight three ESP.
Jannucci ESPN O Fat tell them the price of Bianucci
podcast wherever you get your podcast today.
Speaker 2 (00:18):
Where Bryce and Bianucci on a Monday morning, live from
our downtown Salt Lake City studios.
Speaker 3 (00:29):
Jordan Bianucci, Bryce under the weather. We wish him well.
Martin Kelly our friend filling in light very late notice
this morning. Appreciate Martin behind the glass talking some Major
League baseball. In the last segment. In this segment, we're
going to get into Utah football with our friend J. T.
Speaker 4 (00:48):
Wister.
Speaker 3 (00:49):
Still first, I want to look at that. We're jumping
out to the text line. We have a text coming
in the Red Sox. We're talking about the Socks. The
Red Sox are twenty six and fifteen since they trade
to Devors to the Giants. By the way, this is
the fourth best record in the league during that span.
We are talking Brewers, Blue Jays and Miami Marlins. They've
(01:10):
been actually fantastic. I didn't bring up the Marlins in
the last segment because they've fallen off little bit in
this last series, but they coming into the weekend were
right there in the wild card. I believe they're six
out right now. But listen to this. This is our
text message coming in. The Red Sox have done something
since they have not since nineteen seventy eight. They have
(01:31):
finished the first half of the season on a ten
game winning streak, which started on the fourth of July.
That was the beginning of this horse historic run for
the Red Sox. From the fourth of July to August fourth,
they went twenty and six with a big League best
two point seven zero earned run average. It was the
first time since seventy eight that a Socks team has
(01:52):
won twenty plus games with an ERA of two point
seven zero or lower during a twenty six game span.
I have good news and I have bad news for
Red Sox fans. That's phenomenal. And the Red Sox are
playing their best baseball when they need to be playing it,
coming down the stretch. I was not born in nineteen
(02:15):
seventy eight, but I do know what happened in nineteen
seventy eight. Do you remember what happened in nineteen seventy
eight to the poor Boston Red Sox market?
Speaker 5 (02:24):
Oh, I must say a World Series loss? Is this
the one that they lost to the Cardinals.
Speaker 3 (02:31):
No, it's a good play. You know you're thinking of
sixty seven. It was a good guess, No, it was
much worse. Nineteen seventy eight was the Bucky Dent here.
Nineteen seventy eight, they played a played one game, they
blew a huge they blew a lead in the division,
and I mean they had it and they blew a
lead in the division to the Yankees. Played a one
game playoff at Fenway, and Bucky Dent, who's a light
(02:54):
hitting short stuff for the Yankees, hit a homer over
the over the monster, and the Thanks came back and
beat the Red Sox. It was nineteen seventy That is
as great as stat as that is, and as the
Red Sox fans are going, that's fantastic. What year is that?
Seventy eight? Bleep? That's what the Red Sox fans are
that did not end?
Speaker 5 (03:14):
Well.
Speaker 4 (03:14):
What's worse seventy eight or eighty six?
Speaker 3 (03:17):
Oh, that's a good eighty six is worse? Have you
that's a great question. Eighty six is worse because it
was game six the world. That's the if you don't know,
that's the Buckner year.
Speaker 5 (03:25):
I've watched both documentaries, so I've watched it from both perspectives.
It's really really interesting.
Speaker 3 (03:30):
What you if you have the time. This is really
getting into it. But if you gotta go on YouTube
and you have to watch the ninth inning of Game
six of the nineteen eighty six World Series, you you
can't watch just the highlights if you go back and
watch it the entire like that bottom of the ninth
where the Mets are down, what they're only three runs?
Speaker 4 (03:52):
Yeah in the ninth for to one.
Speaker 3 (03:54):
Yeah. The the collapse of the Red Sox in that
game doesn't hit you unless you watch the entire thing.
The game was over, it was there were two outs
and the bases were empty. The Red Sox were went
out away from a World Series up, Like what you said,
three runs it. Watching the highlights does not convey what
(04:17):
a collapse and how horrible eighty six was.
Speaker 5 (04:19):
No way you can describe how bad it is is
watching Clemmens in the dugout after he shaved his face
after he thought it'd be on television, and just watching
his whole entire face, go, oh crap.
Speaker 3 (04:31):
You're absolutely yeah, that's a great No, it's a great pool.
He was the starter in that game. You went and
showered and shaved because you thought I'm gonna win the
World Series I'm gonna be on TV and no. Watching
that thing in real time, you realize you're right, just
not even the Red Sox collapse. Just how improbable it
all was. It all came with two outs. It all
(04:52):
came with two outs. It's just anybody, Yeah, so I'd go, Yeah,
eighty six is worse than seventy eight for the Red Sox,
but both both bad. Let's get into last week. We
had J. T. Wistercil on the show and he was
breaking down all the storylines, including the wide receiver battle
up at the University of Utah, Jason Beck, Devin demp here,
everything going on with the Utes.
Speaker 4 (05:13):
Here was j T.
Speaker 3 (05:14):
Wistrasil on this program.
Speaker 6 (05:16):
And the fan hotline, and well, we will welcome in
our first guest of the morning. It is our friend
from Lockdown Utes who joins us all the time right
here on this program.
Speaker 7 (05:25):
J T.
Speaker 4 (05:25):
Wistercil is right here with us. JT. Good to hear
from you, my friend.
Speaker 7 (05:30):
It's going to be with you guys as always. And
crazy to think we are just twenty five days away
from Week one of college football. Can't wait to get
the season underway.
Speaker 6 (05:40):
We're getting after it, especially with UCLA in that night
game coming up on the schedule for Utah. Let's start here.
JT Fall camp is underway. We heard from the coaches,
We heard from Kyle Whittingham. What are the top headlines,
the biggest takeaways you've seen so far in the first
(06:00):
week of Utah fall camp to this point.
Speaker 7 (06:04):
I thought it was really encouraging to hear Devin Dampierre,
Utah starting quarterback, talk about how good Tobias Merriweather already looks.
For those unfamiliar Tobias Meyriweather is a transfer receiver that
Utah got in the spring portal from cal before that
was a high recruit at Notre Dame. So far in
his college career, he has not been able to put
it all together. Whether that dude mostly injuries, but I
(06:24):
will also say there were some inconsistencies at Notre Dame
and then injuries derailing his year last year with the
Golden Bears. But he's back, he's healthy, and he's getting
up to speed quickly. It was really encouraging to hear
how much Devin Dampier is a fan of him. We're
talking about a six y five, two hundred pound receiver,
so it has all the makings to be a number
one receiver for p fourteen and not and like a
(06:46):
really good number receiver. I'll just talk about the typical,
like Utah number one receiver, but this is a Utah
team that really needs guys to emerge on the outside path.
Catcher and probably defensive line are the biggest questions this
team has right now, and the fact that Merriweather was
turning a lot of ahad is a really encouraging sign.
Devin Dampier as well as Utah's wide receiver coach Mike A.
Simon's both talked about too how locked in Merriweather has been.
(07:08):
You can include Larry Simmons and this as well to
the Southern mistransfer who a lot of people at Big
twelve media days, there wasn't buzz around him, a lot
of people are mentioning his name. Were locked in all summer.
Those were guys who were consistently obviously at every lift,
but they were going to every throwing session as well too.
Mike Simon's talked about I saw those guys getting next
to working on the field before fall camp even got
underway the other night, So I think it's really encouraging
(07:30):
that Tobias Merroweather has a chance to hit the ground running.
Utah has had some misses with some transfer receivers in
the past, but some of the early sides of encouragement
amount around Merriweather I think are very encouraging in a
group that being Utah's wide receiver and just pass catching corps.
As a full that lacks proven kammodities, Meriweather could end
up being the top guy there.
Speaker 8 (07:51):
Yeah, JT a lot of change on the offense, obviously,
Jason Beck coming in, whole new offensive coaching staff, a
whole new system for that offense. We heard from Winningham
that it's going to be a no huddle, but a
slower tempo, not a normal tempo of no huddle offense.
What are your thoughts about that and how successful do
you think this will be for Utah this year?
Speaker 7 (08:13):
I like that idea just when I hear it, because
what is Utah's strength their offensive line. I want to
be careful with how uptempo I go to not tire
up the big guys, because those guys are the best
part of this team. I don't want to tire Kale
blown with Spencer Funnel. Those guys are in great shape.
But if you're just going nastall package is basically where
you're just like every single play like just getting up
(08:34):
there as quick as you can. You're risk wearing those
guys out. So I like that Utah wants to keep
defenses on their heels, but not go too fast. I mean,
I love one thing we've seen them for a while
over college football. These teams will get to the ball,
get on the ball quickly, and the quarterback will do
his clap, but they won't snap the ball so they
can give the defense. The defense will show their hands
and then the offense then can get the signals and
the play call in and then provide a counter and
(08:56):
just something that's going to lead to an optimal game.
This is this offense in Jason becks Camp. I feel
like it's in very good hands. I mean, we're talking
about an offense that fourth best in the country in
the yards per game basis. Devin dan Pierre had a
miraculous season last year too, so I do think this
Utah offense is headed in the right direction. I know
Dan Pierce ended up his touchdown the interception ratio was
twelve to twelve, but he also did rush for nineteen touchdowns.
(09:18):
So he had nearly twenty more touchdowns than he still
did interception. So a dynamic QB back there, and I
just feel like this offense is heading in the right direction.
But I do like the idea of going getting on
the ball quickly, no huddle. But you don't want to
wear out the strength of your team, which is going
to be this run game. Instead, you want to wear
the opposition down. And I do feel like Utah, with
all five starters returning up front, is in a really
(09:40):
strong position to do that.
Speaker 6 (09:42):
One thing I loved about Day one of fall camp
was way Shaun Parker saying that he wants to run
for over a thousand yards this year. I look at
Jason Beck's offense in the past and a season ago
they averaged about thirty eight rushing attempts per season, and
if you take a look at it, excuse me, per game.
If you take a look at some of the like
(10:03):
JJ McCarthy's Michigan Wolverines a couple of years ago when
they won the National championship, we always think of them
as a run heavy team. Play Corham in the backfield there,
he got a lot of touches. Its close to forty
attempts per game that they ran the football. What do
you think that the split is going to be. How
often do you think they're going to run the football
(10:23):
in Jason Beck's offense? And do you think way Shaun
Parker is going to get a lot more touches than
maybe pass attempts for one Devin.
Speaker 7 (10:29):
Dampier, I think it'll be close. I won't say that
at the end because what I just mentioned with Devin Dampierre,
I mean, he wrote Devin Dampier rush for a thousand
yard last year, he loved Devin dam Pierre led the
country in yards per carry according to Pro Football Focus.
He and John Mattier in the new Oklahoma quarterback they led
the country and forced miss tackles. So you don't want
to take the ball a dam Peer's hands too much.
(10:50):
But when I say that, I'm not just saying because oh,
you want them to fill constantly. No, you want to
have a quarterback designed run game. Also, I think the
reauption game could be massive in this Utah team. And
you look at what Dampier can do. The quarterback run
game was big for him last year. But I do
think I think we saw a lot have two thousand
yard rushers this season. I think the ratio run to pass,
I think it'll be sixty forty. I could definitely see
it being more fifty five forty five, but I would
(11:14):
be very surprised if it was fifty to fifty from
pass to run because yes, like I mentioned, I think
Devin Dampier is a good passer, but he did still
throw those twelve picks last year, and I think he
is improving getting better. It's only a true sophomore last year,
so junior year now, I don't think he's gonna throw
twelve picks this year, but it could very well happen
as he's playing better defenses throughout the season, while granted
(11:35):
having a better supporting cast as well. I might add,
but yeah, I just think you're going to want the
ball in Devin Dampierre's hands a lot. But at the
same time, the strength of your team is that offensive
line in the run game, So I do think you
are going to see this team really just try to
pound it down the opposition to throw it. I mean,
when you have guys like Spencer Fonnald Caleb Lomu. Even
though I have some questions about the interior offensive line,
(11:55):
you got guys like Jared kump to know a tong
guy and Michael Mulkapisi. They've all played a lot of football.
Still clearly the best offensive line in the Big twelve
and I think clearly a top ten offensive line in
the country. And Pyle Whittingham, we know one thing that
draws him absolutely nuts are turnovers. What's the best way
to not turn the ball over is just consistently run
the ball. Also, some of the best defense could be
a great offense, long methodical drives because you were just
(12:17):
consistently gashing teams over and over again for those three
to five yard chunks on the ground. And was Shawn
Parker's the guy. It's a true freshman. Last year at
Washington State rush for over seven hundred yards. This is
a true freshman. I don't think he's going to get
even better in his sophomore year. I love his mindset.
I do think he's clearly RB one for this team.
Kyle Whittingham even said he thinks that way. Shawn has
a chance to do it too. I think Utah will
(12:39):
lean on Wyshaan a lot. And Nakawhi Rodgers is the back.
Was the number two back at New Mexico last year,
So I think that he is going to end up
being that number two back again. But I think way
Shawn Parker is going to get a lot of carries.
I just think Utah's run defense is going to be
very difficult to stop. There are some good defenses in
the Big Twelve, but honestly, I look at this conference
and I say the strength is the quarterbacks of it.
I don't think the run defenses are to the caliber.
(13:01):
Maybe an SEC I would say has a better run
defense caliber from top to bottom. So I do feel
like Utah is gonna have a lot of success running
the ball this season, and I think it's just going
to be a devastating run game that helps Utah bouts
back in the Big Twelve, something I feel like they're
really set up to do. I think they will be
a top four team in this conference. I think they
have a great chance to reach the Conference Tadle game.
Speaker 8 (13:22):
Kat I want to ask you about Isaac Wilson No
coming off the year he had last year, getting hurt
everything like that, He's got a similar I see a
similar play style on him as Devin dan Pierre and
being in Jason Bek's offensive scheme is it going to
benefit Isaac by sitting behind Devin and just learning how
this offense works and how he plays and how he
(13:43):
can adjust to that style.
Speaker 7 (13:45):
Honestly, I think it just benefits Isaac to sit because
he should have taken the red shirt last year, so
I think this year can kind of act as a
red shirt sit back, continue to kind of take and
learn everything. Sometimes it helps to play as a freshman.
I think back to Spencer final who is not an
amazing left tackle year, but he had that experience helped
him blossom into a really strong right tackle. But when
you're not ready and you're thrust onto the field in
(14:06):
your freshman year, it can really just damper your development.
And I think that's what we saw with Isaac Wilson
last year. So I do think it will really help
him to be able to sit back. He's not the
same athlete that Devan Dampiers at the quarterback position, but
I do believe he is still as a very high
upside as a thrower. I'm very intrigued, but he's going
to be the backup quarterback. There's a lot of people
that really like Bird Fickland the true freshman. He was
(14:27):
an early enrollie in the spring, so him and Isaac
Wilson were getting the majority of the reps back and forth.
I'm very curious to see who wins that job. I
also still won't rule out Nate Johnson. Utah very interestingly
updated their roster Nate Johnson listed as an athlete. Most
guys come to Utah and recruiting wise, it will say athlete,
then you have them pick up position. I think it's
very interesting that Nate Johnson is listed as an athlete.
I still expect to see some of Nate Johnson as QB.
(14:50):
Just can't forget how dynamic he is as an athlete too.
But yeah, I'm very curious too it we see if Isaac.
I hope it's not a ton unless the game is
out of reach, because I just as we've talked about
a little bit now right, Devin Dampier, I think has
a chance to be a transcendent quarterback. I think he
has the ceiling to be a top I think he
could be a top ten quarterback in the country. There
are already people that haven't listed there, and when you
look at that skill set, you want him on the
(15:11):
field as much as possible. I think he's clearly QB
one for this team, and then Wilson is battling for
the backup spot. I think it would benefit him to
take this year as a red shirt, be able to
rest and develop. But I do think that what Jason
Beck has just brought to Utah's offense as a whole.
It was clear to even talking to players at the
Big twelve media day. It's been a very welcome injection
of just the energy the creativity that he's brought. I
(15:31):
feel like everyone on the offensive side will benefit from
that Wilson being among them. And I know he had
that great throw in fall camp the other day as
everyone buzz him, but I think it is best for
him to sit back this year and learn and then
hopefully someday in the future he can be a guy
for the Utah youth. But with how last season went,
I feel like it is best for Wilson to sit back.
Speaker 4 (15:50):
That throw and catch was insane for Isaac Willis.
Speaker 7 (15:54):
I think Larry Simmons, the guy who thought it is
going to end up having the bigger season of those
guys too. But it was an incredible throw from wilt left.
We were a year removed from him being a four stars.
Not like Isaac Wilson doesn't know how to play quarterback right.
It was just he wasn't ready. It was not a
great offensive fit. So I still I'm not ready to
funt on Isaac Wilson, but I just don't know if
this is the year I think it'd be good for
(16:15):
him to rest.
Speaker 3 (16:16):
J T.
Speaker 6 (16:16):
Wisterstill is here with us, the host of Lockdown Utesah
on Bryson bia Ucci on one of three nine to
ninety eight three ESPN the fan jat One thing that
Jordan and I and Zach and I have discussed in
this offseason leading up to the year, I'm taking a
look at the numbers from last year BYU and Utah
had the top two defenses in the entire Big Twelve.
(16:37):
Really incredible in terms of points per game, touchdowns allowed,
all the stats across the board BYU and Utah were
on the top two teams.
Speaker 4 (16:46):
But on the offensive side is a little bit different
of a story.
Speaker 6 (16:48):
The interesting thing to me is that Utah came in
around fourteenth or so in a lot of different categories,
mostly points scored per game and overall points in the
Big Twelve conference. Well BYU, you would have thought they
were a little bit higher, but they were actually outside
of the top five. They came in at number six
with thirty one point two points per game. Just scoring
(17:09):
four hundred and five points on the season. Utah averaged
about twenty three point six points per game throughout the season.
Speaker 4 (17:16):
My question to you is, with such a great.
Speaker 6 (17:18):
Defense and BYU having an eleven win season last year
and being outside of the top five in offensive offensive ability,
where does Utah need to find themselves in terms of
in the Big Twelve and for them to have a
double digit win season. Do they need to be inside
the top five of offense or do you think they
(17:40):
can get somewhere between six and ten and still have
a double digit win season.
Speaker 7 (17:45):
Double digit win season, They're probably gonna have to be
in the top five in order to do that because
of the offenses in this conference. Baylor could have one
of the best offenses in the country. I mean the
quarterbacks in the Big Twelve this year, it's another really
strong year. Sam Love at ASU, Right techil or Kansas
Kansas State. I would stayed all with returning quarterbacks that
have a chance to have really monster seasons, and a
(18:06):
lot of those teams, Utah we'll see as well too,
So that's why I'm interested to see if both with
BYU and a Utah and repeat is one and two
in the conference. I think that's not likely. Think both
will be a top five defense. But I see both
those units taking a step back in part because of
what they each lost and also in part of the
teams they'll be playing. But I do think if Utah
wants to get the tenants, I think you have to
be in the top five. Because I also just mentioned I
(18:28):
do think that defense, you had teams to twenty points
per game last year, you lost nine key contributors. I
don't see how Utah matches that. I think that defense
takes a slight step back, but thankfully for the offense,
I think they make a massive lead forward. I think
this is an offense that is in that twenty twenty
eight to thirty points per game range, and I lean
more towards that thirty plus points per game range. When
this Utah team has had their starting quarterback available, and
(18:50):
yes it was a different offensive coordinator, Andy Ludwig, but
the results have been devastating for the opposition. And I
think that's what Utah will get back to this season
with Devin dan Pier, with Wayshan Parker, with that offensive line,
with receivers that you need to do just enough because
teams will have to pack the box to stop this
Utah run game. And I do think Jason Beck is
(19:11):
ready to lead this Utah offense into the most explosive
era that it has seen in a very long time.
When you look at the success he had at New Mexico,
when you look at a dynamic player like Devin Dampier,
who has a chance to be one of the most
entertaining players in college football. He was sacked five only
five times last year and he played three basically P
(19:31):
four teams who were including Washington State with Arizona and Alburn.
There are quarterbacks when they're a group of five and
they play P four teams, they get sacked five times
in one game. That's how dynamic and elusive Devon Dampier is.
And now I was playing behind an even better offensive line.
I think he is going to be able to stay
up a lot, and I think this Ucha offense is
going to be moving the chains a lot. I have
high expectations for this Utah offense. I do think there'll
(19:53):
be a top I think Utah's offense and defense will
be in the top five of the Big Twelve this year.
A big part of that being the coaching too, when
you look at what more and Scalley can do on
that side of the ball. Even if you ask some
questions about who's going to Steve a on the offensive line,
But with the offenses that are in the Big Twelve,
it will be tough for Utah to have a top
five offense, but I believe they will because of that
offensive line, because of the coordinator, some of those star
(20:15):
players we just mentioned too. I think things are trending
up for Utah and you're seeing that in the national
media as well. Utah starting to earn some love about Hey,
no one's talking about Utah and people are starting to
come around on this team. The Big Twelve is wild
every single season, and I think Utah could be one
of those teams that surprises people from who are doing
their Big Twelve predictions and are expecting the same teams
(20:36):
the top last year to be there again, because if
history is for showing us anything in the Big Twelve,
it's as completely unpredictable.
Speaker 6 (20:42):
All right, last thing for you and we'll get you
out of here on this one. Let's take a look
at the Big Twelve as a whole. Do you believe
the Big Twelve is going to have one or two
teams that are going to be by far and away
the best two teams in the conference, maybe one or
two losses, or do you think it's going to be
a three loss champion By the end this upcoming season,
we're gonna have nine teams all buying for the top spot.
Speaker 7 (21:05):
I think it's a really good question. I think that
it's going to be very similar to last year. I
think we will have I think, unfortunately the Big Twelve
only gets one in because I do think this conference
is going to beat up on itself. I would love
it if two teams could survive the gauntlet of the
schedule and you get to eleven to one teams in
the title game basically, and then you can hopefully get
(21:26):
both of them in. But I think it's much more
likely that a team suffers multiple losses. I mean, let's
just take Utah's schedule right. In order for Utah to
set themselves up to if they didn't win the conference
getting the playoff, they'd have to go eleven and one
and Utah has to go to UCLA to start the season, right,
But who else do you get? You get Texas Tech,
you get ASU, you get Baylor, and you end the
season with Baylor, Kansas Kansas State. Like that, that's a
(21:47):
gauntlet just down the stretch there too. That's not mentioning
going directly to your rival BYU, which I think BYU
does take a step back this season, but that's till
they're a really good team and a top ten team
in this conference. And this ivalry is always an incredibly
close game too, So to me, it's gonna be very
hard for any of these teams. There's just not many
that get a break in their schedule where I'm like, oh,
(22:08):
you miss these contenders, because there are legitimately six to
eight teams I really like in this conference that I
think have a chance to win it. Maybe even ten
teams that could win at this upcoming season, and we
all know last year no one would have said about it.
Are of those dates they and they wound up winning
it too, So that shows you the potential and chances
for upsets too. But yeah, I think right now the
(22:29):
Big twelve only gets one in. I think it will
be a very similar thing with there are multiple tie
breakers and scenarios that we're gonna have four to maybe
even six teams. I'll need for US six would be
a lot, but four teams going into the final week
of the regular season with a chance to make the
Big Twelfth title game. I think we're gonna have a
lot of multi loss teams, and unfortunately, I do think
the Big Twelve only gets one in because of just
(22:49):
how competitive this league is, but I'd love to see
two teams get in. It's just gonna be hard to
have an eleven and one team in a conference like this,
and hopefully those teams can live up to their end
of the bargain because Drinker schedule maybe would allow a
two loss non conference champion Big Twelve team to get
into the College Football playoffs, but we know that's really
(23:09):
difficult to do with the SEC and the Big Ten
usually getting a lot of those spots. But this conference
is wide open. It's going to be an incredible year
and I can't wait to see how it's all going
to play out. And we'll see if you talk and
be one of those teams that's in it at the
end of the year. In the Big Twelve, sevele game discussion.
Speaker 6 (23:23):
Just twenty five days, eight hours, twenty minutes and now
twenty two seconds away from kickoffs for Utah and UCLA.
Speaker 4 (23:32):
JT.
Speaker 6 (23:33):
Before we let you go, let everybody know where they
can find all of your work and follow you on X.
Speaker 7 (23:39):
Yeah, you guys can head over to my X account
which is locked on you so on my personal one
at J two witch or so locked on. He's coming
at you Monday through Friday. Starting to do double episode
a day, just trying to get everyone ready for the season.
Lots to talk about, lots of discuss and always great
coming on with you guys as well. Thank you very much, Bryce.
Speaker 6 (23:56):
Man, we're in the two a days unlocked on utes.
I love it, JC, take care my friend.
Speaker 3 (24:02):
That was JD. Westercill last week with Bryce. Good stuff
there from JT on Utah fault Camp. I'll ask you this, Martin.
I'll give you my take first. How many teams will
the Big twelve get into the playoff this year?
Speaker 5 (24:16):
I'm gonna be bold. I'm gonna be really bold with
this one. With even the twelve teams I think they
get too.
Speaker 3 (24:24):
Do you really? I see? I would go Yeah, I'd
go with JT. I'd go one. I think one still,
I think one. I don't think I think.
Speaker 5 (24:31):
It will be Arizona State and Utah. I think regardless
because I think those two are my favorite to make
it to the Big Twelve title game. I think regardless,
they should take both of those teams because real quick,
I'll let you finish out because we got to go.
But if the College Football Committee is going to make
excuses on why they should allow Clemson n SMU into
(24:55):
the College Rewell Playoffs even though that was the ACC
title game, you had the winner and the loser in there,
they should make the same case for the Big Twelve.
Considering I think the Big Twelve is better than the
ACC from top to bottom. There's more competition, more storylines
to go through the Big Twelve than the ACC. I
think if you're gonna put that out there, the winner
and the loser make the playoffs again. They did that
(25:17):
with the Big Ten Ohio State and Penn State. You
should do that for the Big Twelve.
Speaker 3 (25:21):
Yeah, but they're not. That's the problem is if they
did it for the Big twin, it's not gonna happen
for the Big Twelve. It should the ACC well, you know,
shouldn't and will it happen or different questions. The ACC
is one thing. I think the probably the thing with
the ACC is you're right, it's name. It's more its
name brand. It's it's Big twelve doesn't have a name
brand like Miami or or Clemson. So I would go one.
(25:46):
But look, I think you need two one lost teams
basically to get to win, and that I agree Utah
could be it. Arizona State. I still Arizona State as
good as everyone says they're gonna be. You'll whs cam Scattaboo.
I just don't know how I can be so high
on Arizona's state right now that that worries me. I mean,
(26:10):
but yet people keep picking them to win the conference.
So we will see what happens in the Big twelve.
We're just, yeah, what do we nineteen days twenty days away.
Speaker 5 (26:20):
From nine eighteen days, eighteen.
Speaker 3 (26:22):
Days away from kickoff for BUYU and Utah late August
Memorial Day or Labor Day weekend coming up later this month,
keep it right here. We'll obviously have all your coverage
of fall camp and that first week of college football
coming up at the end of August. We'll take a
break come back with more Bryson Bianucci. It's Jordan Bianucian
(26:44):
and Martin Kelly buying the Glass on one of three
nine ninety eight three.
Speaker 1 (26:48):
Bryson bia Ucci on one O three nine and ninety
eight three. ESPN the Fan. Download the Bryce and Biannucci
podcast wherever you get your podcast today.
Speaker 3 (27:35):
Bryce and Bianucci on a Monday morning, about ninety one.
As we're getting ready to wrap up a Monday edition
of bryceon Bianucci. Hopefully Bryce will be back with us
tomorrow under the weather. Appreciate Martin Kelly filling in behind
the glass. Jordan Bianucci with you on a beautiful August
(27:55):
day in our downtown outside our downtown Salt Lake City Studios.
We've talked a lot of fall camp, talked a lot
of Big League baseball and a little NFL preseason as well.
We started off the show with the question, if you
were buying stock in BYU football or Utah football, that's
(28:16):
long term. You're you're buying stock in one of those programs.
Which one's gonna pay off? I don't know, three years,
five years, ten years down the road.
Speaker 4 (28:24):
What would you go with?
Speaker 3 (28:25):
And I look, Martin went BYU. He likes what they
did last year, likes the recruiting class that's coming in.
I still went Utah Football buy a hair because I
think that by look BYU, there's a lot of recency
bias with both of these teams. Utah has been terrible
the last two years. I think you can attribute almost
(28:47):
all of that to injuries and not having a quarterback.
Now not I said almost all of it. Some of
it is just playing poor planning, no backup plan from
your from your coaching staff, which is inexcusable. But yeah,
look they have a quarterback. Last year, they are a
(29:07):
contender in the Big Twelve. They just are. They lost
five games by one score or less. That that's you know,
that's actually quite incredible when you think about how bad
the quarterback play was last year for Utah. So I
think there's some recency bias with both these teams. I
lean Utah because I think Morgan Scalley's going to be
(29:29):
a great coach, and I think that it's easier to
get athletes to Utah than it is to bau obviously,
just I mean, you saw the Jake Rhetz office. Is
the you know, exhibit A. It's hard to get a
non LDS athlete to BYU top guys, I mean top recruits.
(29:51):
But it's close, man, it is close. And this year
I think, look, I think never before more more so
than now, does year to year your success or your
you know, not success lack of success? Does it inform
and does it affect how you do the next season?
(30:13):
Not only with recruits but with transfers, but also with donors.
I think you have a bad year. Donors are a
whole lot less enthusiastic to open the pocketbook and give
cash to that program. Look at BYU football after that
first year in the Big twelve when they were not great.
(30:35):
Don't get me wrong, they had money. Donors were given
money to the program, but it was a whole lot
harder than it is right now. It just was. And
if you're arguing that Utah football donors have the same
amount of enthusiasm and are as willing to give loads
of money to that program right now, just as you know,
as much money as they were in the Pac twelve
(30:56):
days and when they were going to the Rose Bowl.
It seemed like, you know, last every every year those
last two years in the Pac twelve, I believe wasn't
I'm not, I'm not buying it. There's no way that
they're giving on the same level or at least with
the same enthusiasm that it's as easy to get that
cash from them as it was then. And that's more
(31:16):
important than ever now as teams with the most money
are gonna win period. In college football, that's where we are.
You're gonna have conferences like the Big Twelve, mainly the
Big Twelve that are that are more wide open. But
when we're talking winning big time like national championships, it's
gonna be the teams with the most money every year
(31:38):
basically that are gonna win. I just it just is.
There's the parody argument that somehow we're going now now
everybody's got a chance to win in culture. I have
no idea. I've heard a few people make that argument.
I don't understand that argument. The best teams with the
most money the most. They should say, the teams with
the most money are going to buy the best players
(31:59):
and they are going to win at the highest levels.
The good news for Utah and BYU is the Big Twelve.
You have pretty much as much money as most of
these other schools, and you're going to compete for a
conference championship, I think pretty regularly, if not for a
national championship. I don't think you're competing for a national championship,
but you yeah, you can compete for a conference championship
(32:23):
year in and year out. Tomorrow on the program tune in,
well you will give you more updates from BYU Fall Camp.
Gets you some sound as well as from some updates
from Utah fall Camp. I mean, look, the biggest storylines
we're looking at wide receivers at Utah fall camp. How
does Devin dan Pierre Look, it's a little interesting with
(32:47):
UTUH is they're thrown into the fire right away. Not
that UCLA is a world beater, but it's not Portland State.
With BYU, you ease in a little bit. That's the
good news. If you're BYU with the new quarterback Utah Man,
you're you're in it come late August at in Pasadena against.
Speaker 1 (33:04):
U C l A.
Speaker 3 (33:05):
So we'll could follow that closely. Some interesting stuff this
past weekend in the media. Look, Martin and I kind
of went over this. What do you take from this?
I don't know, but apparently the wide receiving core looked
pretty good for Utah and that's that's big news because
that cupboard was bare, uh coming into this season. You
(33:26):
lost some dudes, And to be honest with Utah has
never had a phenomenal receiving corps. They've made it work
and they have they've had good tight ends. But that's
one question mark I'm looking at, and listen, we're not
going to have an answer to that question for a
long time. So we'll discuss that and keep that on
the docket, and we'll keep talking some baseball pennant races
(33:51):
coming down to the wire here in the dog days
of summer, some good series at the beginning of this week,
we'll take a final break, come back and wrap it up.
On the other side, it's Bryson Bianucci on one O
three nine and ninety eight three.
Speaker 1 (34:06):
Essent Bia Nucci on one O three nine and ninety
eight three, ESPN The Pan Download The Price and Bianucci
podcast wherever you get your podcast.
Speaker 9 (34:16):
Today, Rising Banucci on a Monday morning, Jordan ban Ucci
(35:00):
holding it down well, Bryce is under the weather. Appreciate
Martin Kelly filling in behind the glass as we wind
things down on a Monday, on a beautiful Monday here in.
Speaker 3 (35:12):
Salt Lake City. As we get this week started. We
are heading into the teeth of the sporting calendar. Football, baseball,
maybe geez weekend the late November. We're gonna get some hockey,
gonna get some basketball, but mostly football and baseball right now.
Good stuff. Still preparing for or still covering fall camp
(35:34):
for by U and Utah Tomorrow on the show, we
have some yeah, some NFL stuff we got to get to,
and then more b y U and Utah fall camp, like,
we'll see what we can make of it. We'll get
some sound from b YU see if we can we
can read the tea leaves a little bit and see
(35:57):
who that's an arting quarterback is going to be. It
sure sounds like it's McKay Hillstead right now. I'm interested
to see if YU waits how long they wait to
name him. I would be surprised if they name one
name a starting quarterback anytime soon, even if internally they
know who it's gonna be. I think more than likely
they just you know, play it close to this like
(36:20):
they have and then I bet would not be shocked,
honestly to uh if we don't find out who that
starter is until they walked out there for that first
drive against Portland State would not be shocked. Something that'd
have to ask tomorrow, assuming Bryce is back, is that,
(36:41):
are you surprised Bear Bachmeyer is the number two guy
and that he's looked apparently as good as he has looked,
and that the playbook is complicated as it is has
not seemed to be.
Speaker 4 (36:52):
An issue for him.
Speaker 3 (36:53):
Are you Are you surprised about that? And are you
surprised that apparently the wide receiving corra but you taught,
looks pretty solid. Now again, both those things, are they true?
I don't know. We haven't been able to see them
with our own eyes. And what are they you know,
are they gonna come out and say that both, you know,
the quarterbacks and the wide receiving course, they look terrible. No,
(37:15):
probably not, But that's it look according to what we
can glean from not seeing them, from insights whatever, I
don't know, both those position groups look okay. By the way,
A little side note before we take off. Pennsylvania listen
to this won the Little League Softball World Series. They
(37:36):
won five games, with the last four being shutouts. Their pitcher,
Reagan Bills, did not allow an earned run and thirty
shutout innings, throwing every pitch for Pennsylvania. That's a little
sporting note to leave you with on this Monday morning.
We'll be back tomorrow seven to ten. Bryce and Bianoucci
on one oh three, nine and ninety eight three ESP.
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