One game out of 1st place in a nasty nasty division is not too bad. 9 wins in 2014 is an obvious step forward from 5 wins in 2013. Are you aware that the Ute win total increased by 4 games? It doesn't sound like it from your post.

Whit has said repeatedly that the 2015 team is his strongest team since entering the PAC12. I hope he is right. ARod is a step up from DC with very little change in scheme or terminology. Pease is a step up from Sitake with ZERO change in scheme or terminology. They return 16 or 17 starters.

Is the logic behind the Utes improvement last year and the expected improvement this year getting easier to understand yet?

I will say this, based on fall camp - either the Utes defense is greatly improved or the offense will take a step back. In practice, most of the plays were blown dead after less than 3 seconds because the 2 ends were about to simultaneously hit Travis. Travis didn't have anyone open anyway. The oline returns 4 guys and supposedly the oline will be as good as last year. If that is true, this should be the best Ute defense in team history by a sizable margin.