Arizona Wildcats 4-2 Overall (2-1 Conference)

This Week’s Score: Washington 36 – Arizona 33

Next Week’s Opponent: Stanford

How did this happen? I still can’t figure out how the Wildcats lost this game. Sure, Mason Foster’s game-changing interception return for a TD may actually have been an incomplete pass (as some angles on replay have shown), but there is no excuse for blowing a 12-point lead with 4:16 left in the 4th quarter.

The final stats from Saturday’s game are painfully in favor of the ‘Cats (UA total yards: 461, UW total yards: 256). But in the end, Sonny Dykes went to the bubble screen play one time too many, and now UA will have to feel the sting of losing yet another winnable game (similar to the Stanford and New Mexico games of the previous two seasons).

As deflating as this loss is for the psyche of the team, there were also obvious positives. QB Nick Foles was tremendous even with the two interceptions (39/53 384 yards 1 TD, 2 INTs). He is clearly the right choice at QB for this offense, as he delivered the ball on time and with zip all night. For the second game in a row, Foles involved a ton of receivers in the offense (nine different players had at least a catch), and David Roberts is really starting to emerge as a big time playmaker.

I was very impressed with the route running of the UA wideouts, particularly Roberts and Terrell Turner. Even without Rob Gronkowski, this receiving unit is capable of lighting up any secondary because of the speed with which the receivers are getting off at the line of scrimmage. I expect big things from the UA passing game as the season progresses.

The running game should have made this offense dangerously balanced against U-Dub, but somehow,  Grigsby, Nwoko, and the rest of the backs were only able to manage a meager 77 yards on the ground. Sonny Dykes has to be disappointed in that total considering the ‘Cats were leading the conference in rushing heading into the UW game.

Defensively, Arizona played pretty well but still managed to give up a ton of points. Jake Locker only passed for 140 yards, but he tossed three TDs, and ran for a huge 56-yard TD on his way to 92 yards rushing. I do not doubt the talent or speed of the Wildcats D, but sometimes that isn’t enough. This unit has to get mentally tougher and prevent the big play.

Next up for UA is a revenge game with Stanford. The ‘Cats recent history with the Cardinal can only be described as painful, making this Saturday’s game at the Old Pueblo a virtual must win.

Arizona Wildcats 2-1 Overall (0-0 Conference)

This Week’s Score: Iowa 27 – Arizona 17

Next Week’s Opponent: @Oregon State

With the exception of USC, no Pac-10 team had a rougher week than the Arizona Wildcats. Early reports in the week were indicating that Rob Gronkowski could potentially be ready to return for the Iowa game. And then news came that he would miss the Iowa game. Not long afterward, he was shut down for the entire season.

As if losing the superstar and heart and soul of the offense wasn’t heartbreaking enough, Matt Scott’s abysmal effort certainly was. Plenty of credit is due to Iowa’s defense; and they do have a great one. But as bad as the 4/14, 50 yards, 0 TD, 1 INT line looks on paper, it doesn’t even do justice to how flustered and uncomfortable Scott looked through the first three quarters.

Matt Scott won the hotly-contested job right before the season began, and it was his to lose; and he lost it. Now the Wildcats will turn to Nick Foles, and there is little room for error; if Foles struggles in the role as well, Arizona will be in for an extremely long season.

On the bright side, Foles did play well in his limited time on Saturday, going 6/11 for 55 yards and a touchdown, the team’s only offensive TD of the day. It was in the closing minutes of a game Iowa already had locked down, but hey, positive is positive.

And while we are looking at the positives, look no further than Nic Grigsby, who has established himself as a star running back in an offense usually focused on passing. Grigsby had a respectable 75 yards on 11 carries (against a defense that was heavily defending the run thanks to Scott’s poor play), and also led the team in catches with three for 14 yards. Before Foles’ game ending touchdown drive, Grigsby was virtually the only player on offense that wasn’t invisible out there.

With Nick Foles taking over as the starter, it will be up to the wide receivers to step up their games. Not that they had much of a chance to make plays on Saturday, but Gronkowski’s absence is painfully apparent on every passing play, and someone is going to have to step up and give Foles a target he can rely on.

All-in-all, I think the defense played well, and simply tired out in the 4th quarter. They were on the field for most of the game, after all. The defensive line did a pretty good job disrupting Ricky Stanzi (especially in the first half), and CB Trevin Wade was a force all game long, capped off by a Pick-6 in the first quarter.

If Nick Foles can get the passing game on track, it would keep defenses honest, and in turn make Nic Grigsby even more of a threat. If he can’t, the Wildcats will have to keep leaning hard on the defense and running game, which isn’t exactly what they are built to do. This week’s matchup against Oregon State will let us know in a hurry whether Foles is ready to handle the heat.

Coach Mike Stoops says that Matt Scott will also play this Saturday, leaving little doubt that all eyes will be on the QB position.

Arizona Wildcats (2-0) vs. Iowa Hawkeyes (2-0)
Saturday, September 19, 12:35 PM PST
Las Vegas Favorite: Iowa -4.0

Sam’s Take (14 – 4):

This will be a great measuring stick for Mike Stoops and the Wildcats, as they head to a very hostile Kinnick Stadium to play the Iowa Hawkeyes. I foresee a low-scoring game between these two teams, as both Arizona and Iowa play sound defense and will look to run the football on offense.

For Arizona, it all starts with RB Nic Grigsby, who has been spectacular through the first two games (2nd in nation with 325 rushing yards, 3 TDs). Grigsby and backup Keola Antolin have become the focal point of Sonny Dykes’ normally pass-happy offense, but that is to be expected while QB Matt Scott continues to progress as a passer.

This may be the game that we find out if Scott is ready for primetime. Unfortunately for the ‘Cats signal caller, a major piece of the offense will not be back this week as TE Rob Gronkowski will miss yet another game. Gronk has been out since the start of the season, and it looked like he was on track to play Saturday, but his back problems seem to be lingering.

Sonny Dykes must be creative with his other offensive options, as Arizona is facing arguably the best defense in the Big Ten. Iowa may have struggled a bit in the opening win over Northern Iowa, but the Haweyes D will certainly present a lot of problems for UA.

Mark Stoops Wildcats defense will also be a handful for Iowa, and I look for a very talented UA secondary to make things extremely difficult for QB Ricky Stanzi. The key for Iowa’s offense will be whether or not they can establish a running game.

In the end I think Nic Grigsby will be the biggest difference maker on the field Saturday, and his stellar play combined with another strong defensive performance by UA should be just enough to secure the win.

Prediction: Arizona 24 – Iowa 20

Arizona Player to Keep an Eye On: CB Trevin Wade - He is starting to emerge as a big-play cornerback who can intercept anything in his area, and I look for him to make an impact this week.

Arizona Player to Keep an Eye On: RBs Brandon Wegher and Adam Robinson - The loss of projected starter Jewel Hampton (out for season with knee injury) opened the door for Wegher and Robinson to emerge, and so far, they have not disappointed. I expect both to see significant time and they will be two major offensive keys this Saturday.

Dave’s Take (14 – 4):

An extremely ugly win that should have been a loss to Northern Iowa in the season opener has dropped the Hawkeyes out of the national spotlight; but this team is still very strong, and even if the general public is willing to ignore this, I’m not.

Equipped with a solid defensive line and one of the best linebacking cores in the country, I believe Iowa will be prepared to slow down Nic Grigsby and Keola Antolin and force Matt Scott to make some big plays to beat them. Is he ready for it?

I’m not sure that he is. Scott hasn’t played poorly in his first two games, but he hasn’t faced a defense nearly as strong as Iowa’s, and he hasn’t taken his game on the road yet, either.

On defense, Arizona showed us plenty in shutting down Central Michigan, and while they weren’t at the top of their game in giving up 17 points to Northern Arizona, I chalk that up to not taking that game all too seriously. Iowa has a decent attack led by QB Ricky Stanzi, but I’m not too worried about the Wildcats’ athletic defense.

I think this one will be a good smash-mouth football game, and yards should be difficult to come by. If Rob Gronkowski had returned for this one and given Matt Scott that safety net, I may have taken the Wildcats, but in a game that will likely come down to who makes less mistakes, I have to take the more experienced quarterback at home to eek out the win.

Prediction: Iowa 17 – Arizona 13

Arizona Wildcats 2-0 Overall (0-0 Conference)

This Week’s Score: Arizona 34 – Northern Arizona 17

Next Week’s Opponent: @Iowa

The Wildcats were not overly impressive in their win over Northern Arizona but it was a workmanlike effort that resulted in a comfortable victory. What amazes me about this team right now is that Sonny Dykes has kept the offense pretty basic to this point and yet the unit still managed to finish with 559 yards of total offense against NAU.

Nic Grigsby had a career high 207 yards rushing, including a 94 yards scramble that was the second longest run in school history. UA finished with an impressive 365 yards on the ground, and if the ‘Cats can continue to get that kind of production it should take the pressure off of Matt Scott and allow for the passing game to get going. Scott had a decent day against the Lumberjacks, finishing 14/20 for 150 yards 1 TD, 1 INT. Nick Foles made his 2009 debut, showing off an impressive arm and finishing with a solid performance (6/8 44 yards 1 TD), but the coaching staff has made it clear that Scott is still the starter.

Defensively, I think CB Trevin Wade is going to make life miserable for Pac-10 teams this year. The ‘Cats secondary is good overall, but Wade seems to be able intercept anything in his area (finished with two picks vs. NAU).

DC Mark Stoops was not happy with the defensive intensity in the game (allowed 17 points and two TD passes), but I think that was a result of playing an inferior opponent.

Now Arizona will make the trip to Iowa City to play the Iowa Hawkeyes. I have not been impressed with Iowa through two games, but UA must still be ready for a battle. Word around Tucson is that TE Rob Gronkowski may be available. If that’s true, it will be a huge boost for the offense and should make it much easier for Scott to navigate the stingy Iowa defense.

Listed below are all of the Pac-10 players who were included on the national lists. The only two awards not listed are the Heisman Trophy and the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award. The Heisman Trophy does not release a preseason watch list, and the Unitas Award, which is handed out to the nation’s best senior college quarterback, had no Pac-10 players on their watch list.

Congratulations to the players named, and good luck taking home the hardware!

Thomas, now with the Jacksonville Jaguars, finished his spectacular UA career with a conference-record 259 receptions, and accounted for 3,231 receiving yards and 22 TDs as a four-year starter.

Although Thomas was the heartbeat of the receiving corps over the last four years, the Wildcats will now move on with a trio of excellent pass-catching playmakers. Arizona’s innovative offensive coordinator Sonny Dykes will have two of the more experienced receivers in the conference at his disposal, as well as the services of America’s best tight end.

Junior Delashaun Dean was last year’s second leading receiver for UA (behind Mike Thomas). Dean finished 2008 with 53 receptions for 593 yards and four touchdowns, capped off by a great performance in the Las Vegas Bowl against BYU.

Delashaun Dean heads to the sideline

Dean totaled seven catches for 88 yards and a score against the Cougars, helping UA win their first bowl game since 1998. For his career, the junior has 90 catches for 1,011 yards and five touchdowns.

At 6-4 202 pounds, Dean possesses excellent size and great hands. He uses his long arms in a similar manner to former USC standout Dwayne Jarrett, catching the ball at its highest point and leaving most defensive backs helpless.

The former two-sport standout at Fairfield High School (CA) uses his basketball instincts and leaping ability very well, which make him especially valuable when he is matched up one on one. He was rated as a 4-star prospect by Scout.com, and recognized as a SuperPrep All-American.

Dean has solid speed (4.5) and can be deceptively good after the catch. Dykes’ playbook features a variety of receiver screens that are designed to put wideouts in space, and Dean should continue to flourish in these schemes as both a pass-catcher and blocker. He will enter the 2009 season as one of the primary targets for the ‘Cats offense.

Joining Dean as a starter at wideout will be senior Terrell Turner. Last season, Turner finished a productive junior campaign with 43 receptions for 580 yards and one touchdown. For his career, Turner has 94 catches for 1,162 yards and five touchdowns. Like Dean, Turner was also a big contributor in the Las Vegas Bowl win over BYU, with four catches for 111 yards (27.8 YPC).

The 6-2 190 pound senior is a superb route-runner, with enough speed and quickness to pile up yards after the catch. He also has some of the best hands on the team, giving Dykes a reliable wideout who can act as the team’s possession receiver. The Garland (TX) native will provide the receiving corps with senior leadership, a role that Mike Thomas occupied last season.

In the spring game, Turner endeared himself to his teammates (half of them at least) by catching the game-winning TD pass from Matt Scott. His clutch reception allowed the White Team to eat a fancy steak dinner later that night, while the Blue Team ate hot dogs and hamburgers. Turner enters fall as a clear starter along with Dean.

Terrell Turner celebrates a touchdown

One young receiver that will try to breakout for the ‘Cats this season is redshirt sophomore William “Bug” Wright. At 5-9 175 pounds, Wright is built similarly to Mike Thomas, and could take on the same role in this year’s offense.

Many around the Old Pueblo believe “Bug” may be utilized in the slot, on reverses, and in the return game the same way that Thomas was used. His only action during 2008 was in the season opener against Idaho where he caught three passes for 42 yards, but he will see the field a lot more in 2009.

Wright’s skill set is unlike any other player on the UA roster. He has game-breaking speed and rare instincts in the open field. Wright has made remarkable progress at wideout since arriving at Arizona. The Tatum (OK) native was a high school QB at Pauls Valley H.S., and had never played receiver until arriving in Tucson.

Wright enters the fall with a great chance to start as the slot receiver for the Wildcats this season, and could become a primary return man as well.

Fellow sophomore Juron Criner will also have a chance to play often this season. As a true freshman, Criner played in all 13 games and started three. He flashed his ability with 7 receptions for 88 yards and one touchdown.

The 6-4 210 pounds Criner has tremendous upside, and possesses the physical tools to be a difference maker for Arizona. He has greatly improved in one season under the UA coaching staff, and could see his playing time increase dramatically in 2009.

The Las Vegas (NV) native was also a very good basketball player at Canyon Spring High School, and could become a factor in the red zone this season. He will compete for time as the primary backup to Terrell Turner.

Tight Ends

Arizona returns arguably the best tight end in all of college football, junior Rob Gronkowski. Gronkowski is one of the favorites for the Mackey Award (Best Tight End in Nation) this season, and is on numerous pre-season All-American lists.

Last season, he finished first on the team with 10 receiving TDs to go along with 47 receptions for 672 yards. In his two-year career, the junior has 75 receptions for 1,197 yards and 16 TDs, making him the school-record holder for career receptions, yards, and TDs by a tight end. He is also the single-game and single-season school record holder for the same categories.

Rob Gronkowski trucks through defenders

At 6-6 265 pounds, Gronkowski is one of the most complete tight ends to come out of the conference in years. He possesses a devastating skill set, with equally great blocking and receiving abilities, as well as remarkable speed for a player his size (4.6).

Gronkowski is a dominant force in the intermediate passing game, with the ability to run past linebackers and shrug off defensive backs. He has become a very good route-runner under Dykes, which was thought to be his only real weakness when he entered college. He was also instrumental in the prolific Arizona running game last season, helping to open holes for Nic Grigsby and Keola Antolin.

The Amherst (NY) native was a high school football star at Woodland Hills High in Pittsburgh (PA). He garnered PrepStar All-American honors, and was given a 4-star rating by Scout and Rivals.com.

He enters 2009 as the focal point of the Arizona passing attack, and one of the biggest stars in the conference.

There will actually be two Gronkowski’s lining up for the Wildcats this season. Senior Chris Gronkowski is the older brother of Rob, and a good player in his own right. The former Maryland transfer will be Arizona’s H-Back this season because of his versatile skill set. Last season, he caught eight passes for 198 yards and three TDs.

On top of being a solid pass-catcher, the 6-2 235 pound senior is a great lead blocker, and will be involved heavily in the running attack this season. He is an intelligent player, and will give the Wildcats an experienced senior leader. The Amherst (NY) native should contribute in a big way this fall.

Other receivers and tight ends competing for time are: junior A.J. Simmons, sophomores Devin Veal and David Douglas, and freshmen Travis Cobb, DeWayne Peace, Terrence Miller, and Jake Baucus.

My Take

You would think that the loss of the conference’s all-time leading receiver would be a lot for Arizona to overcome this year, but the program is doing just fine. In fact, receiver is one of the strongest units on the team and the talent is in place for this group to have a big year even with a new QB.

Dean is more than capable of surpassing his totals from last year, and Turner is as well. I think Wright is the key for the wide receivers this season, and if he turns out to be half as good in the slot as Thomas was last year, the ‘Cats will have another successful passing attack.

There is no doubt in my mind that Rob Gronkowsi is the best tight end in America, and I expect him to prove it all season long. He makes every other player on the Arizona offense better, because the defense must account for him at all times. I would not be surprised to see him win the Mackey Award this year, as long as either Scott or Foles can settle in as the starting QB.

The losses of Willie Tuitama and Mike Thomas may cause a decline in sheer numbers, but expect Sonny Dykes to make great use of these talented pass-catchers in 2009.