NIU should expect no shortage of firepower from Utah

DEKALB - A spread offense doesn't mean a pass-first offense.

When Utah heads to Huskie Stadium - becoming the first Pac-12 team to play in DeKalb and just the second to face the Huskies - the Utes spread things out. But they still like to run.

The Utes' 268 rushing yards last week in a 41-10 home win against Weber State was top in their conference and 25th in the nation.

"They want to run the football, it just looks different from Iowa, in the gun with a lot of (receiver-heavy) personnel groupings," NIU coach Rod Carey said. "And they have the quarterback who's pretty good too."

NIU junior defensive tackle Marcus Kelly said it will be a very different look from what the Huskies saw in Iowa in a 33-7 loss to the Hawkeyes in a game they trailed 3-0 in the third quarter.

"Iowa last week, you're in a phone booth," Kelly said. "They've got two tight ends, two fullbacks, everyone is right there. This is more spread out ... two, three, four receivers, tight ends. It's different but they still want to throw the ball. They're not spreading you out to throw it. They want to run the ball first."

Junior Zack Moss led the Utes (1-0) with 16 carries for 150 yards and a score. Quarterback Tyler Huntley, a dual threat last year with an average of 16.8 carries per game and 537 total rushing yards, ran seven times for 1 yard. He did complete 61.5 percent of his passes for 253 yards, four scores and one interception.

"Tyler Huntley has got a great ability to run the football and we aren't just going to take that away, but I think what you did see is Tyler stay out of harms way on Thursday night," Utah coach Ty Whittingham said. "I think he did a nice job of avoiding those direct shots and getting down. I think that is what the key will be. You can't run him 25 times, but if he runs it 15 times a game and is smart with his decisions in terms of ending the play, I think that will be just fine."

Huntley spread the ball pretty evenly last week, with his four touchdowns going to four different receivers. Britain Covey was the leading receiver (7 catches, 79 yards) and didn't snag a touchdown but second leading receiver Siaosi Mariner (6-73) did.

The Huskies had success running against Iowa, at least early. Running backs Jordan Nettles (13-75), Tre Harbison (6-41) and Marcus Jones (5-23) averaged a combined 5.8 yards per carry.

"They are good. One kid went for about 75 yards," Whittingham said. "They have a different look this year because last year they deployed multiple tight ends and (starter Mitchell Brinkman) got injured in camp. So the personnel groupings are quite a bit different than they were last year. But the running back ran hard, he was tough."

Carey said situations dictated getting away from the run, even early in a close game. Penalties, sacks and other losses put the Huskies is pass situations, he said.

"We had it going and then it stalled is what I think really happened," Carey said. "We were moving the ball at will, backs averaging 6, 5, and 4 yards per carry. We had it moving. But we had a couple drops after the blocked punt that were crucial, and had a penalty and a sack and some mental errors. I don't think it was a matter of getting the offense moving - I think it was the matter of it stopped when it was moving."

Albert Smalls had an interception for the Huskies in the loss last week as the defense kept Iowa in check until they stayed out on the field for too long, Carey said.

Smalls said the defense is still very confident and Kelly agreed, adding that confidence isn't likely to wain from game to game.

"Our confidence is always going to be there," Kelly said. "It's important to flush last week's game. We have to move on to next week, get ready for the next game. ... I don't think the confidence will fall of from that. If it does, the season comes so fast that could be an issue. We're aware of that."

Utah will be just the second Pac-12 opponent the Huskies have faced. NIU lost 67-28 at Oregon State in 1996.

Last week, Carey said facing Iowa means facing a lot of familiar faces, as it is anytime a MAC school plays a Big 10 school, given the overlap in geography between the two conferences.

This time around, he said, it's the opposite - he doesn't really know much about the Utes heading into the game.

"So it's super exciting Utah's coming in," Carey said. "It's a great program. But I'm a little hesitant cause I don't know a ton about them. But that's exciting too. You just go out and play and let it all hang loose. So that certainly adds to the excitement."

Carey said he was hoping for a big crowd Saturday.

"When this place is packed, it's as good a home-field advantage as I've been around in the country," Carey said. "I know it's only 23, 24,000 max, but it's loud, it's on top of you - we have a good atmosphere. ... For it to be packed Saturday would be a big plus."

Whittingham said big crowd or small crowd doesn't really matter.

"The players tune out the opposing crowd regardless of where you are at," he said, "so that is just something that I don't think will be a big factor."

Utah at Northern Illinois

When: 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Huskie Stadium, DeKalb

TV: ESPN News

Radio: WLBK 1360-AM

Series history: First meeting

Fast fact: The Utes are the first Pac-12 team to play at Huskie Stadium, and just the second Pac-12 team to face the Huskies - the other being Oregon State in 1996, a 67-28 loss.

Prediction: Utah 31, NIU 21