Utah | 2024

[Aston]

past reports: (2018) End of the Wynn Era?, (2020) Draft Results, (2020) Bees Report, (2021) Utah Herald, (2022) Bumbling Bees, (2023) Ulmanac

2024 | Utah Bees

A second straight bowl appearance and a second straight bowl loss in Utah, now followed by the most...interesting? intriguing? let's say "important"... in Bees history.

The franchise stands at the edge of a precipice, halfway 'twixt 'young' and 'old.' What kind of direction defines the next few years of Utah bees history has really yet to be seen. It's wide open.

Holdouts and Renovations

This was an offseason of contract extensions in Utah:

QB Randy Boone
QB Patrick Whalen
WR Hunter Vandersommen
TE Billy Ballard
DE Junior Bello
ILB Dan Harper
CB Quinn Robinette
CB Chuck Horton
CB Mitchell Prescott
S Brent Driscoll

But at the end of it all, it's the one that didn't get done that ends up as the headliner. Several attempts to extend defensive end Robbie Kerr during early FA failed, and now he's one of two holdouts on the Utah team as camp draws near. Franchised left tackle Bruce Roberts joins him, but the team is holding firm here and has no plans to extend the 13-year player.

Late FA comes with a measure of good news for the Bees, however, with news that stadium renovation plans have gone through successfully. More seats, and especially more luxury boxes, are going to be added to the Bees' kicks. Which fulfills a line from last year's inaugural report...

<small>
Note: sometime in the next few years, a stadium renovation could be up for discussion. Not sure when the finances will allow, but we'd sure like some more seats in those stands...</small>

Free Agency & The Draft

Mindful of the coming series of renegotiation battles, Utah ducked entirely out of Early FA this year. In 2023, the Bees didn't retain anybody signed during FA1. In 2024, the Bees didn't sign anyone in FA1 above the minimum contract/bonus allowed.

You know it's bad when the headliner of the FA class is 3rd-year, 22/35 quarterback Pat Cooley.

In the draft, Utah traded away all five of its top 64 picks, and also parted way with one of its longest-standing veterans, inside linebacker Howard Cote. There has never been such little influx of talent in any Utah offseason, ever.

<small>Utah's 2024 Draft Stock: 1.31, 1.32, 2.25, 2.26, 2.31, 3.31, 4.23, 4.31, 5.27, 5.31, 6.8, 6.31, 7.14, 7.31
</small>

[Aston]

The 2024 Bees Draft

We like to make six to ten draft selections every year, and this year we ended up right on target at 7.

Without a doubt, this is my favorite draft class ever. We feel there is a lot of potential in this group. If the top guys have as good camps as we suspect they are capable of, it'll be a heist of a haul, especially given the low investment.

3.11 - S J.B. Bynaker - 11/36, 9%
The #4 safety position in Utah is wide open. Bynaker joins a three-man battle for that position, along with a pair of year-2 guys. If our gut is right here, and our gut says the scout (VO) is as wrong as he could possibly be, then J.B's going to be a starter some day.

4.09 - T Rich Ansell - 12/36, 5%
Ansell is one our scouts loved, and the kind of offensive lineman we haven't taken in a while. He's another Tyrus Hutton, or Michael Huffman, we hope. Certainly our scouts think so (VU).

5.09 - RB Ryan Green - 26/38, 31%
Green is an up-the-middle, bruiser back. He has solid enough running skills and easily makes the team with a positive camp and climbing ST bar. We got him at U, and it's a great chance for us to get the backfield younger.

5.31 - LB Doug Alfred - 14/26, 30%
We like Alfred nonetheless as an all-around linebacker with great set-the-edge size in a 3-4. We see him as a solid pass-rusher with useful coverage skills and run-stopping that we can work with at Strongside. Again, improving special teams abilities will be a big factor. Got U here.

6.31 - DE Marvin Lyons - 15/22, 34%
In the 6th round, we dip into the DE pool for an undersized VU prospect with a mean streak and a nasty hit stick. Going to need some kind of fantastic amazing camp to make this team, but it wouldn't hurt to get a younger DE in those ranks.

7.14 - TE Ty Knight - 17/37, 37%
The only draft pick we took blind (no interview). If his receiving skills are well-rounded and decent enough, he has a great chance at supplanting Mitch Johnson as TE#3. If not, we like Johnson a lot anyways. Very happy to get that potential option from the 7th round.

7.31 - WR Geoff Leinaweaver - 13/20, 26%
At this point we're just thinking of "who's the guy we'll have to compete for the most if they make it into free agency." Leinaweaver has pretty uncommon big-play ability and figures to be another legitimate deep threat who *has* to improve somewhere else (although we got AS).

[Aston]

2024 Rookie UDFA Class

The cutdown to 70 is in, and now the '24 class of undrafteds are about to be revealed. We're counting on this group more than in previous years, given our current lack of a top of the draft class.

WR Ronnie Grandon - 12/33, 36%
We stayed away from him in the draft with all those nasty zero-looking bars, but at 12/33, we figured he must have had something in there other than big play and the RR/ST pair. It looks like he does, a tiny bit, so he'll have a shot to show something in camp.

WR Sedrick Woodruff - 18/31, 34%
Almost didn't sign this guy in favor of Grandon, but I'm glad I found a way to get both. Woodruff looks like he has some real potential, even of making the final roster. Although, I admit, that would be tough. Another decent big-play guy who needs a strong camp. Our receiving corps is deep and talented, which doesn't make things easier for these two.

LT James Vaughan - 8/32, 8%
Long-term development project who reminds me of current backup tackle Gene Sinclair, who has come a long way since arriving on the roster 15/29. They are eerily similar, so if Vaughan progresses the same way, I'll be wanting to keep him around.

P Buddy Lorenz - 48/70, 38%
Definite dropper, but so was Compton last year. He will need to really prove it in the hangtime and directional department (his low intel gives him a shot there) to make it here. If he does, we're golden for many years. This should be a great preseason battle. Compton, despite his low directional bar, was one of the top punters in the league in % inside the 20.

2024 veteran additions

MLB Hardy Eicholz - 13 - 49/49
Late FA addition. A veteran to add a layer of insurance for star SLB Norbert Slaten (coming off injury) as well as a replacement for Cote's role here. ST value is a further bonus. Our only addition in Late FA from the veteran ranks.

NT Billy Johns - 6 - 40/40
G Bernard Gonzalez - 5 - 36/41
Former Utah Bees developmental prospect retreads. Welcome back guyz, we need you in case things go wrong. These are the decently young creeper types that I would want compensation for, but everyone will just wait for me to cut them ;)

QB Pat Cooley - 3 - 22/35
OK, I'm very happy about landing this guy. He of the +5 rookie camp. Another young, creeping backup for Randy Boone. Plus, he has formations (13) and he's 5'11, so he'll fit right in with 5'11 Roderick Sikkenga and 5'11 Patrick Whalen.

WR Adrian Gardner - 2 - 15/23
Moderate big-play guy, pretty much in the same boat as all our other moderate big-play young prospects (Grandon, Woodruff, Leinaweaver). What could set him apart is a strong, climbing ST bar.

SLB Donnell Christensen - 5- 47/48
Came via trade from Boston. The lack of zone skills presents a serious flaw in his game, but he's otherwise a very strong run-stopping linebacker. Definite insurance for Slaten here, as well as a top interior backup option should Harper or Conant go down.

Barring last minute changes, we're set for the TC 70.

[Aston]

2024 Bees Camp

Let's have a look at those rookies!

Draft Class
3.11 - S J.B. Bynaker - 11/36->16/41 (+5/+5)
4.09 - T Rich Ansell - 12/36->15/39 (+3/+3)
5.09 - RB Ryan Green - 26/38->29/40 (+2/+2)
5.31 - LB Doug Alfred - 14/26->17/29 (+3/+3)
6.31 - DE Marvin Lyons - 15/22->18/26 (+3/+4)
7.14 - TE Ty Knight - 17/37->20/37 (+3/+0)
7.31 - WR Geoff Leinaweaver - 13/20->15/22 (+2/+2)

UDFA Class
T James Vaughan - 8/32->11/36 (+3/+4)
WR Sedrick Woodruff - 18/31->20/32 (+2/+1)
WR Ronnie Grandon - 12/33->14/33 (+2/+0)
P Buddy Lorenz - 48/70->47/64 (-1/-6)

Overall, nothing either spectacular or shocking in this camp. Couple of downers, but a big huge "phew" on that safety and a very nice-looking backup tackle situation. We're pretty happy to come out of the draft with a couple of useful, possibly long-term additions to the team after picking where we did.

[Ozias]

The 12 million dollar punter flames out in TC.

His bars still suggest otherwise though.

Looks like you've had a great camp Nutah.

[Aston]

Yeah, my punter last year went -4, but he still made his way to 63/63 now. I'm not too worried, the negative camp was expected. Just a question of how far he's going to develop and what kind of bars he will have.

[Guest]

Looks like a very strong draft to me. Any time you can get all positives, that's big. Especially when you're starting in the 3rd round, that's how to to do it.

[Aston]

Yeah, love the positives. Too bad the starting point was so low for a buncha them, though. Still looks like a lot of cut bait late, par for the course here in Utah. It's just a good thing this class has a "big fish" - the safety, I hope - since every class needs one.

The Preseason Cutdown
1. QB Pat Cooley (3)
2. WR Adrian Gardner (2)
3. WR Ronnie Grandon (R)
4. TE Mitch Johnson (5)
5. OG Cedric Rodgers (3)* - traded to Gainesville
6. DE Marvin Lyons (R)
7. NT Billy Johns (6)
8. FS Don Latimer (2)
9. P Buddy Lorenz (R)* - traded to Gainesville
10. K Anthony Irwin (2)
11. LB Donnell Christensen* - traded to Gainesville

There's 11 guys here from our training camp 70, which is one extra. Christensen is a guy who had made the cuts but with the trade, we've got one spot open for the preseason, should injury strike. Probably won't be filled otherwise.

lose-lose or win-win?
The big one is the Rodgers trade, which has the potential to be lose-lose. You know it's bad when the trade offer comes in with the line "Against my better judgment,...." Rodgers is a stud guard, but a first, even years down the line, isn't ideal for what you give up for one.

And for us, he had locked up the guard position for a solid ten years, solving our succession plan problem with Huffman and granting us a good path for cohesion down the road. That's the kind of good situation you enjoy, not give up.

It could still turn into a win-win, though. Gainesville has apparently acquired every player in the league and, with their mighty army of WRs, should be a fairly lethal and complete team for years to come. Those firsts are going to be low and they're going to do damage. This is a concrete positive for their talent for many seasons.

Utah, meanwhile, has only one first next year and the addition of an extra 1st in 2027 will give them the flexibility to deal away one of their own future firsts in this next draft, to either pick up the first round pick we skipped on this year, or make a big move up in round one. Eh, this is all too wishy-washy and uncertain for my tastes, but value-wise it was probably at the peak of his tradability, and if there's one position on a football team where we can stomach having some second-rate players chugging along, it's guard.

[ryan503]

Well if anything you got some backups that can fit you roster with all the picks you have coming in the next two years

[Aston]

Can or can't?

Bello watch
DE Junior Bello came out of training camp 53/53 at light orange development, with a fair amount of green. In two games he's climbed to 55/55, still with green in that PD bar, and and at dark orange development. Early star of the preseason here.

Far more legit than I ever gave him credit for. Man am I glad I took this guy - I shopped that late 3rd for offers when it came up, wasn't totally stoked about him, and was going to trade him if I took a first round DE this year. Heck Bello is almost as good.

I need to start drafting more guys like him, the kind I look at and don't really care for. They seem to turn out great.

[Aston]

SPOTLIGHT: Bees Head Coach Sam Conlan

It's been a good start to the Utah tenure of newly-hired head coach Sam Conlan. I had forgotten about my head coach change until I saw all those penalties being called against me against Phoenix, but the man is hopefully going to prove worth the hire. Already, we've seen stronger playcalling on offense than the departed Mike Tarr ever offered. And his energy and leadership has been key for a squad that's suffered extremely deflating finishes recently.

The Bees are off to a 2-0 start, albeit against opponents that were hampered without key players (for different reasons - injury and paperwork errors). Utah has been able to enjoy a peaceful easing into the season as a result, while the rust and the kinks get ironed out.

We're ramping up and poised to have a very tough middle stretch (WAS-DEN-PHO stand out) and an even more brutal finish (MOR-OHV-GAI-DEN-CLB). This is perhaps as difficult a schedule as we've played in several seasons.

Weakside 'backer Carlos Melnick

Melnick first burst on the scene in 2021, when he was the spark that re-ignited a flagging pass rush under the then-thought-declining Ian Subramanian (who went on to produce 14.5 sacks for Columbus in 2023). He racked up sacks at a blistering pace, and went on to show it was no fluke by notching an impressive 12.1 PR% the next season as a fulltime starter.

In 2023, he took a step back - potentially due to some better pass rush presence up front? - but so far, he's back with a vengeance in 2024.

In just two games, Melnick stands at 14.0 PR%, with 7 hurries, 6 knockdowns, and 4.5 sacks (all league-leading). That's already almost half of his sack count through 16 games last year.

We got a bit of freebie facing O'Sullivan rather than DeJesus, but it still looks awesome! Melnick has more individual hurries through two games than six teams, and more individual sacks than 18 of the league's 32 teams.

Once again, he looks like the star of the show on this Utah D.

[Aston]

Down goes Tyrus Hutton! The first draft pick I made by hand in any league, eleven seasons ago here in the OSFL. A stalwart starter for every season of his career. Suffered a V. Severe ACL tear late last season, and now a torn patellar (v. severe) early in this one. This time he's listed as out for 24 weeks.

I expect it's the end for ol' Hutton. It's a good thing, then, we waited on offering him an extension (he's in the last year of his deal). Sad, sad, he's been so very good on the line this year. Not only starting, but backing up every conceivable position.

The theme of the year has been: two good games, two struggling games on offense. A decent defensive performance so far, but not outstanding. Need more pressure. We made it to 5-0 in the opening sequence, and we're going to have some big tests here on out.

[Guest]

You did better than my first pick, who was mired in mediocrity, didn't always start, and was traded away this season.

[Aston]

Wait, which one was that?

My actual first pick, I missed :( I got some autopicked NT who wasn't too bad, but was nothing special. So I don't tend to count him, but I should ;)

[Guest]

Wait, which one was that?

My actual first pick, I missed :( I got some autopicked NT who wasn't too bad, but was nothing special. So I don't tend to count him, but I should ;)

I took Grant Giefeke at like 11th overall, despite better receivers being available. I didn't know much about drafting back then. :)