The University of Utah football team’s identity has been largely forged in the trenches during Kyle Whittingham’s coaching tenure. The vaunted “O-block,” Utah’s collection of massive beings working in unison to unleash coordinated violence on opposing defenses, has provided a foundation for a smash-mouth offensive attack highlighted by a productive running attack that has produced a 1,000-yard rusher in seven of the past 10 seasons (three consecutive seasons).
However, the Utes lost four starters to the NFL as well as another to graduation who stepped into a starting role due to injury midway through last season. Those losses coupled with the shift to a pass-oriented attack under first-year offensive coordinator Troy Taylor have created doubt about whether the traditionally strong offensive line could become a weakness this season.