Utah Utes 2013 Season in Review.

Whether or not to declare the 2013 season a success depends on your expectations were for the season, it also depends on how you define success.  There was a time, back in the 1980s, when a victory over BYU meant a successful season, even if there were only one or two other victories.  It meant another chance to rub your BYU-fan neighbor's nose in it for another year.  Sooner or later, victories over the Cougars and just being in the PAC-12 will no longer be enough, and that is the way that it should be.

Offense
It has been said that the Utes are a healthy, consistent quarterback away from success.  With a healthy Travis Wilson, the Utes were 4-2.  With problems at quarterback, the Utes were 1-5.  While it remains to be seen if Wilson will be healthy next year, the Utes were just a couple of plays from beginning the season 6-0, and a possible national ranking.  The offense was scoring plenty of points as well.  A more consistent running game and better protection of the quarterback may have led to a more successful season.

Grade: B+

Defense
The Utah defense was not as good as they should have been.  As I just said, the Utes were only a pair of plays away from beginning 6-0.  It's really hard to blame losses to Oregon State and UCLA on the offense.  The Utes were close to finishing 11-1, and the defense is why.  There were some good games, some good plays, but there were plenty of defensive breakdowns as well.

Grade: C

Special Teams:
Converting someone from the ski team into your full-time kicker?

Grade: A

Best game of the year:
Stanford

Worst game of the year:
USC

Offensive Player of the Year:
Travis Wilson

Defensive Player of the Year:
Trevor Reilly

Special Teams Player of the Year:
Andy Phillips