Utah Defense · 2020–2025
Utah Defense Scouting
What offenses run — and how well they succeed — when they face Utah. Run/pass allowed, EPA by down, 3rd down conversion rates, red zone patterns.
2026 DC: Colton Swan
Swan ran linebackers in Scalley's system from 2019–2025. Data shown reflects Scalley's historical scheme as the best available proxy for 2026.
Defensive Overview
4,391 plays tracked
negative = good for Utah
plays that gained positive EPA
Key Situations
3rd & Long
80% pass
217 plays · 31% success
3rd & Short
66% run
195 plays · 57% success
Red Zone
49% run
238 plays · 41% success
Goal Line
62% run
242 plays · 50% success
When Opp Trailing
58% pass
1,692 plays · 39% success
2-Min Drill
59% pass
646 plays · 39% success
After Big Gain
49% run
495 plays
After Sack
60% pass
171 plays
Attack Vectors — What Actually Works
Situations where opposing offenses generate positive EPA against Utah — ranked by impact
CONVERT 3RD & SHORT (1–3)
57% success rate
+0.563 EPA
57% of 3rd & Short (1–3) plays against Utah generated positive EPA — above the 40% baseline that signals a winnable situation.
TARGET 3RD DOWN
+0.483 EPA
34% success rate
Utah gives up +0.483 EPA/play on 3RD down with a 34% opponent success rate — their most exploitable down situation.
EXPLOIT GOAL LINE
+0.466 EPA
62% run / 38% pass
Offenses gain +0.466 EPA/play in Goal Line. Run 62% / pass 38% — both generate offense against Utah here.
TARGET 4TH DOWN
+0.396 EPA
49% success rate
Utah gives up +0.396 EPA/play on 4TH down with a 49% opponent success rate — their most exploitable down situation.
What Offenses Do Against Utah
Balanced attack
46% run / 54% pass over 4,391 plays — keeps defenses honest with a near-even split.
3rd & Long: throws it
80% pass — 25pp more pass-oriented than the 54% career average (217 plays).
Goal Line: runs it
62% run — 17pp run-heavier than the 46% career average (242 plays).
Run/Pass Allowed — By Down
What offenses choose to do on each down against Utah · SR = success rate
EPA Allowed — By Down
Negative EPA = Utah stops the offense. Positive = offense gains an edge.
3rd Down by Distance
Red Zone & Field Zones
Game Script — How Play-Calling Shifts by Score
Run% and Pass% as the score differential changes — left = winning big, right = losing big
Drive Opener — First Play by Zone
How Offenses Have Changed Their Attack
Season-by-season shift in run/pass balance and EPA allowed against Utah's defense (2020–2025)
EPA / play