Utah Utes: True freshman QB no more of a Wynn-ing combination than Terrance Cain

November 3, 5:19 PMUtah Sports ExaminerBrian Shaw

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Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham has alot to think about before his No. 14 Utah Utes square off against TCU and BYU with two quarterbacks relatively new to his system in 2009. (AP/Archive)

According to every media outlet in the Beehive State, the insertion of Utah freshman quarterback Jordan Wynn--who in hindsight looks every bit his 18 years--was a breakthrough, watershed moment in Utah sports.
Every headline had some connotation to Wynn being the reason for the Utes winning 22-10 on Saturday, October 31, though it had more to do with Utah’s defense.With Wynn, it was as if the seas had parted, and out, into the brisk autumn night at Rice-Eccles Stadium, walked this messiah, a knight in shining Under Armour wearing No. 3, holding upon his strong shoulders a strong, proud team that faltered under its predecessor, Terrance Cain.
Frankly, nothing could be further from the truth. In all actuality, Cain went 10-for-13 for 121 yards before he was replaced by Wynn at the half. Wynn, on the other hand, was 9-of-14 for 82 yards and one touchdown.
Not exactly a huge difference, if you ask me. Going strictly by numbers Cain’s completion percentage is better. If you wanna argue touchdowns, fine, but the fact of the matter is that Cain has done a yeoman's job helping get the Utes to 7-1 overall.
The reason for the change, to some, was that Wynn is more of a pocket passer and represented a different look that teams, such as Wyoming, a team vastly improved under Dave Christensen (sorry, “Cowboy” Joe Glenn), had seen.
Honestly, no Utah opponent had seen anyone besides Cain--unless you count the numerous times running backs and wide receivers lined up in the Wildcat formation, but that’s beside the point here.
What is the point is Ute offensive coordinator Dave Schramm--who coincidentally recruited Wynn to Utah--was sent down to the field for a reason, and that was to mentor the fresh frosh.
Everyone can say it was because Schramm was demoted to a field view and ex-turncoat Aaron Roderick turned Ute offensive staffer was promoted to the press box, but that’s not necessarily the case.
What is the case is head coach Kyle Whittingham, in advance of the Utes’ two biggest games of the year, at TCU and at BYU, felt it was time for a change and wanted to give opposing defenses--such as ones on the Frogs and Cougars sides of the ball--something else to think about.
Thus, enter the freshman Wynn, who does not have the running ability of Cain, but yet possesses a cannon arm that can and will make throws into the corners of end zones and so reintroduces the Utah fan to something it hasn’t seen in awhile, and that’s the fade route.
Finally. As much as everyone liked watching the slant route, bubble screen and Wildcat being shoved down one’s throat as though it were the only things on the Utah football menu, it gets old after a while.
Also, teams begin to figure it out, especially when your No. 1 rusher and Wildcat maestro, Matt Asiata, is nowhere in the picture.
That said, did we really see anything new from Wynn? Going down the field, yes. We saw the Wyoming defense stretched vertically instead of horizontally. Wynn sparked a 19-point rally to lead the Utes to victory.
Next week versus New Mexico, it’s likely both will see some action, as Whittingham will do what was worked for other coaches this season, platooning his QB’s to give defenses different looks. Who knows? It might even work.
On one hand, Cain will be raising Cain with his improvisational ability and managerial skills, and raise havoc with dictation machines in post-game conversations. Wynn will make throws when necessary and provide that Alex Smith-like ability to prepare, along with sporting his month-old pubes/facial hair. At the end of the day, both guys want the job.
Honestly, both signal callers will come in handy in the next few weeks, when Utah’s No. 14 BCS ranking will receive stiff tests on the road, hopeful that its defense will keep them in the games ahead and just enough for either quarterback to finish the job.
Either way, nobody will know who the Utes' starting quarterback is until Saturday, when an announcement is expected to be made just hours before the game.