Arizona is in the middle of its second bye week of the season. Sitting at 4-3, it’s perhaps in a little bit better of a position than people thought it would be back in August.
However, the Wildcats are coming off two heartbreaking losses, where they were in positions to go win both of those games. While there have been many highs, there have also been many lows.
Here are five things we’ve learned after seven games this season about Brent Brennan’s football squad:
Run defense issues
It took two and a half games for someone
to score a touchdown on Arizona and six games for someone to score a passing touchdown. The defense has shown the ability to bend but not break throughout the season so far.
As of lately, the run defense has not been able to stand its ground. On average, the defense is only allowing 139.7 yards per game on the ground, which is better than most teams.
However, in the last two games the defense allowed BYU to rush for 258 rushing yards and Houston ran for 232 yards. Both proved to be detrimental for Arizona in the end result.
Brennan does see the run defense as an issue, but more so credits the last two opponents in being very sound in their respective run game execution.
“I think we’ve played two good football teams, for starters,” Brenna said. “Both played a bunch of plus-one run with the quarterback run. It’s a lot different than lining up and handing off to the running back.”
It might be time to start stacking the box against these teams that have success in running the ball and trusting an experienced secondary.
WR room has playmakers
Going into the season, Noah Fifita was going to need a new go-to guy with Tetairoa McMillan going to the NFL. Most were thinking that Chirs Hunter or Kris Hutson were going to be his main two targets.
Both have been able to contribute at one point or another. However, both have had to deal with their fair share of injury management. This has opened the door for guys like Javin Whatley and Tre Spivey to come in and make plays.
Whatley leads the team in receiving yards with 370 yards and Spivey leads the team in touchdown catches with five.
“Tre’s awesome,” said Brennan. “I think he improves every week, he’s someone getting more comfortable in the scheme.”
Along with Whatley and Spivey, Luke Wysong has had a quietly good season. With 249 yards and two touchdowns, he is also a reliable guy for Fifita to find when he needs a play to be made.
Offensive line has improved
It may not have had a clean start to the season, the play of the offensive line has improved in every game this season. Every individual of the offensive line has been able to mesh with one another despite not being the group that started the season.
A big part of that has been the key additions from the transfer portal. Ka’ena Decambra, Ty Buchanan, and Tristian Bounds were all additions in the offseason from the portal.
However, one of the biggest keys to the improvement has been Chubba Maae, who made the transition from defensive lineman to offensive lineman this offseason.
He made his first career start against Kansas State, and it would just so happen to be Arizona’s best rushing game of the season. Ismail Mahdi ran for 190 yards in that game.
“It’s a big jump, transitioning to the (offensive) line in that short period of time,” offensive coordinator Seth Doege said after the Kansas State game. “There’s so much technical fundamental work at that O-line position and the communication, which we require our guys to have a lot because of (Coach) Oglesby’s system, which allows us to have success versus movement, versus everything that can be thrown at you. So for him to come into that room and be able to pick it up and then against K-State, to play at the level that he played at was very impressive. He’s still got lots to prove, but that night … he proved that he belongs.”
If the offensive line can continue playing clean games and now allowing the defense to get to Fifita or the running backs, it will allow Arizona to be in a position to win games down the stretch.
Turnovers and fourth down steps have been best part of defense
On the season, Arizona has forced nine interceptions and four fumbles. It also has eight fourth down stops, so the defense has shown the ability to “steal” possessions from its opponents.
When the defense is not forcing turnovers or getting key fourth down stops, it’s tough sledding for the unit. In the worst two performances of the season, not being able to create turnovers and not getting off the field on fourth down became huge factors in the overall outcome.
Iowa State and Houston both went 2-2 on fourth down against Arizona. Treydan Stukes got the lone turnover in those two games with a late interception against the Cyclones when the game was already out of hand.
Against Houston, there were no turnovers forced. It will be key down the stretch of these final five games that the defense needs to create turnovers and get off the field on fourth downs.
Run game is solid
While the stats may not necessarily show it, Arizona has a good rushing attack. Spearheaded by the three headed monster of Kedrick Reescano, Ismail Mahdi, and Quincy Craig, the run game should be leaned on moving forward.
Each back has their own styles of running the ball. Reescano has more physicality in his runs, Mahdi brings the speed, and Craig is a mix of both physicality and speed.
Craig had the hot hand to start the season, Mahdi has been solid throughout the entire season, and Reescano has come on as of late.
Averaging 142.1 yards per game does not show the ability to run through open holes and break off long yardage plays from Arizona.
The trust for Fifita will always be there, but if the offense can take some of the load off of his shoulders with the run game, then it should.
Another key to a successful run game is equal carries between each of the backs. It will keep each of them fresh and it gives the defense three players to game plan for.
