2021 Season Thread

[TheCat]

I have actually lost hope. We have fixed a few administration type things. Defense is better than last year but we haven't played the heart of our schedule. The offense is unbelievably bad and it starts with the consistency at QB followed closely by play calling.

[scumdevils86]

Don't forget the D-III talent at o line

[Postmaster]

With a bad OL, shouldn’t you put in more plays where you move the pocket, roll outs, hit quick slants and such?

I also don’t think the portal helps lower end teams. It’s hard to build when guys can leave for greener pastures. It’s not like a lot of 4* guys are going to use portal to come here or any other down trodden program.

[Chicat]

I don't blame Fisch.

I blame the last 2 coaches who couldn't recruit their way out of a wet paper bag. RRod employed multiple drinking buddies who wouldn't even leave Tucson to recruit. Thats death to a program like AZ, which is not exactly sitting in a hotbed of HS football talent.

BTW, I have attended every single UA home game since 1972 (I don't count the 2020 Covid mess) and that is the worst single loss I have ever witnessed. This team simply has a severe lack of talent.

That said I would not be shocked if the UA wins at least 1 game this season. The PAC12 is really, really bad.

Hang tight…

You’re blaming the loss to NAU on a lack of talent, right? Are you of the belief that NAU had a talent advantage over us? Because if so, I’d suggest not drinking at breakfast (although as a Wildcat fan I can understand the compulsion).

[Carcassdragger]

I don't blame Fisch.

I blame the last 2 coaches who couldn't recruit their way out of a wet paper bag. RRod employed multiple drinking buddies who wouldn't even leave Tucson to recruit. Thats death to a program like AZ, which is not exactly sitting in a hotbed of HS football talent.

BTW, I have attended every single UA home game since 1972 (I don't count the 2020 Covid mess) and that is the worst single loss I have ever witnessed. This team simply has a severe lack of talent.

That said I would not be shocked if the UA wins at least 1 game this season. The PAC12 is really, really bad.

Hang tight…

You’re blaming the loss to NAU on a lack of talent, right? Are you of the belief that NAU had a talent advantage over us? Because if so, I’d suggest not drinking at breakfast (although as a Wildcat fan I can understand the compulsion).

In several areas, NAU seems to have more talent than us. O line for one. Overall? Not so sure, but this is a very bad team.

[gronk4heisman]

If NAU has better talent than Arizona, that is 100% on the coaches. Any NAU player that Arizona (or any D1 P5 school) called up and said come play for us Today, they would be here in four hours or less. If an offense is to difficult for any one to understand, then what is the point in that system? We are not an NFL team where you can have guys on your team for decades. Has Fisch ever called plays before this year?

[Chicat]

In several areas, NAU seems to have more talent than us. O line for one.

Sorry, but no.

[Carcassdragger]

In several areas, NAU seems to have more talent than us. O line for one.

Sorry, but no.

Scoreboard.

[Carcassdragger]

If NAU has better talent than Arizona, that is 100% on the coaches. Any NAU player that Arizona (or any D1 P5 school) called up and said come play for us Today, they would be here in four hours or less. If an offense is to difficult for any one to understand, then what is the point in that system? We are not an NFL team where you can have guys on your team for decades. Has Fisch ever called plays before this year?

You can't recruit players on other teams unless they're in the transfer portal.

[gronk4heisman]

If NAU has better talent than Arizona, that is 100% on the coaches. Any NAU player that Arizona (or any D1 P5 school) called up and said come play for us Today, they would be here in four hours or less. If an offense is to difficult for any one to understand, then what is the point in that system? We are not an NFL team where you can have guys on your team for decades. Has Fisch ever called plays before this year?

You can't recruit players on other teams unless they're in the transfer portal.

You don't follow college sports?

[azgreg]

In several areas, NAU seems to have more talent than us. O line for one.

Sorry, but no.

Scoreboard.

Still no.

[Spaceman Spiff]

I don't think NAU has more talent in any area than we do. It just isn't like we have enough talent to execute like **** and still beat NAU.

Now, that's a little shocking, but I think it's accurate. If we don't execute well, there isn't a team on our schedule that won't beat us. I didn't really think NAU could, and I obviously was wrong. Now that we're past them, to have a hope of winning any remaining game, we need vastly superior execution to what we've seen vs SDSU and NAU.

[BBQ wildcat]

In other news, we are now down to #125 in the "top 130" list.

[dmjcat]

I don't blame Fisch.

I blame the last 2 coaches who couldn't recruit their way out of a wet paper bag. RRod employed multiple drinking buddies who wouldn't even leave Tucson to recruit. Thats death to a program like AZ, which is not exactly sitting in a hotbed of HS football talent.

BTW, I have attended every single UA home game since 1972 (I don't count the 2020 Covid mess) and that is the worst single loss I have ever witnessed. This team simply has a severe lack of talent.

That said I would not be shocked if the UA wins at least 1 game this season. The PAC12 is really, really bad.

Hang tight…

You’re blaming the loss to NAU on a lack of talent, right? Are you of the belief that NAU had a talent advantage over us? Because if so, I’d suggest not drinking at breakfast (although as a Wildcat fan I can understand the compulsion).

If you can't see that AZ has a horrendous talent issue then I suggest that you stop drinking for breakfast.........and lunch........and Dinner

[Carcassdragger]

In several areas, NAU seems to have more talent than us. O line for one.

Sorry, but no.

Scoreboard.

Still no.

"National signing day: NAU finalizes 2021 class with five walk-ons, brings total to 26 | Local | azdailysun.com" https://azdailysun.com/sports/local/nat ... f.amp.html

Number 2 class in the FCS.

[dmjcat]

I have actually lost hope. We have fixed a few administration type things. Defense is better than last year but we haven't played the heart of or schedule. The offense is unbelievably bad and it starts with the consistency at QB followed closely by play calling.

What were/re you "hoping" for?? If you were hoping for 6 wins and a bowl I would submit that your hopes are unrealistic. My hope in the short term is that Fisch/Staff can consistently recruit above the 10/11th place in the PAC12 that RRod and Sumlin gave us. I still don't think that most of the fans on this board understand that it will be 2025 before Fischs first recruiting class will be Redshirt Juniors. It takes a long time to rebuild a college football program. Football is not basketball where you can recruit a couple of top 50 HS players and rob another couple of stars via the transfer portal and be instantly competitive.

I am also amazed at the number of posters who believe that we would be winning if we just changed the play calling.

Play calling isn't the issue. Its the lack of talent implementing the play calling.

[Chicat]

I don't blame Fisch.

I blame the last 2 coaches who couldn't recruit their way out of a wet paper bag. RRod employed multiple drinking buddies who wouldn't even leave Tucson to recruit. Thats death to a program like AZ, which is not exactly sitting in a hotbed of HS football talent.

BTW, I have attended every single UA home game since 1972 (I don't count the 2020 Covid mess) and that is the worst single loss I have ever witnessed. This team simply has a severe lack of talent.

That said I would not be shocked if the UA wins at least 1 game this season. The PAC12 is really, really bad.

Hang tight…

You’re blaming the loss to NAU on a lack of talent, right? Are you of the belief that NAU had a talent advantage over us? Because if so, I’d suggest not drinking at breakfast (although as a Wildcat fan I can understand the compulsion).

If you can't see that AZ has a horrendous talent issue then I suggest that you stop drinking for breakfast.........and lunch........and Dinner

Us having bad talent is not a question.

The theory that NAU has BETTER talent is idiotic.

[gronk4heisman]

Again.....Arizona has a lack of talent yes. But Arizona has and always will (like every other P5 school) get better walk ons then NAU's best players. So if we have better talent on paper, then it is a coaching/play calling/motivation issue which is not going to be fixed with recruiting. For reference we scored 65 points against NAU two years ago with more or less the same offensive line but two years older (3 of the 5 starters are still on the team). Again we are speaking specifically about NAU, the team that lost to two other FCS schools before playing us.

[dmjcat]

I don't blame Fisch.

I blame the last 2 coaches who couldn't recruit their way out of a wet paper bag. RRod employed multiple drinking buddies who wouldn't even leave Tucson to recruit. Thats death to a program like AZ, which is not exactly sitting in a hotbed of HS football talent.

BTW, I have attended every single UA home game since 1972 (I don't count the 2020 Covid mess) and that is the worst single loss I have ever witnessed. This team simply has a severe lack of talent.

That said I would not be shocked if the UA wins at least 1 game this season. The PAC12 is really, really bad.

Hang tight…

You’re blaming the loss to NAU on a lack of talent, right? Are you of the belief that NAU had a talent advantage over us? Because if so, I’d suggest not drinking at breakfast (although as a Wildcat fan I can understand the compulsion).

If you can't see that AZ has a horrendous talent issue then I suggest that you stop drinking for breakfast.........and lunch........and Dinner

Us having bad talent is not a question.

The theory that NAU has BETTER talent is idiotic.

No it is not.

Fact: UA's offense could not run the ball on our Defense in fall or spring ball. NAU was able to run the ball on our D. NAU has a better OL.......period. If you can't see (or understand) that then I suggest you take up viewing something other than football.

[azgreg]

In several areas, NAU seems to have more talent than us. O line for one.

Sorry, but no.

Scoreboard.

Still no.

"National signing day: NAU finalizes 2021 class with five walk-ons, brings total to 26 | Local | azdailysun.com" https://azdailysun.com/sports/local/nat ... f.amp.html

Number 2 class in the FCS.

Still no.

[Chicat]

Us having bad talent is not a question.

The theory that NAU has BETTER talent is idiotic.

No it is not.

Fact: UA's offense could not run the ball on our Defense in fall or spring ball. NAU was able to run the ball on our D. NAU has a better OL.......period. If you can't see (or understand) that then I suggest you take up viewing something other than football.

Whatever you say man.

[azgreg]

2021 recruiting rankings per 247 Sports

Arizona 77th 18 recruits 18 3 star avg rating 83.53 class points 158.51
NAU 128th 19 recruits 5 3 star avg rating 81.0 class points 80.92

We didn't lose because we got out talented. Knock off the crazy talk.

[Chicat]

Is this just people trying to give Jedd Lasso a pass on this year?

I’m sure if you asked him he’d say thanks but no thanks. Or at least I hope he would. Lord knows I wouldn’t want fans to excuse my failings by making up fairy tales about NAU having more talent than us.

[gronk4heisman]

Is this just people trying to give Jedd Lasso a pass on this year?

I’m sure if you asked him he’d say thanks but no thanks. Or at least I hope he would. Lord knows I wouldn’t want fans to excuse my failings by making up fairy tales about NAU having more talent than us.

He pretty much leaned into the woe is me, we took over an awful program and we need to recruit to get out of it talk in his press conference. Which is very concerning about how he views football things. If only it could always be the offseason in football, those damn games always get in the way of his fun.

[Postmaster]

Just got an email re: UCLA. 2 tickets and 2 t-shirts for $77.

[TheCat]

They paying you $77? I would hold out for $100 unless they are really nice T Shirts.

[dmjcat]

2021 recruiting rankings per 247 Sports

Arizona 77th 18 recruits 18 3 star avg rating 83.53 class points 158.51
NAU 128th 19 recruits 5 3 star avg rating 81.0 class points 80.92

We didn't lose because we got out talented. Knock off the crazy talk.

Your point is so irrelevant on so many fronts its hard to know where to start:

1) Exactly how many 2021 UA HS recruits started against NAU???
How many 2021 NAU HS recruits started???

Let me know when you figure that out.

If you wanted to solely look at recruit rankings you need to look at 2016,2017,2018, and 2019 (NOT 2021). True freshman rarely start in college football. The 2nd thing you would need to do is adjust the rankings for all of the players who are no longer with the team (The Grant Gunnells of the world). And finally, if you know anything about college football its that recruits star rankings are often meaningless. Remember 5 Star Louis Holmes???? Remember 2 Star Scoobie??? Which turned out to be the better player?

Bottom line, actual on the field performance matters the most. A quick look at the rushing stats tells you all you need to know..........NAU's OL was simply better than the UA's.

[Chicat]

That is a very lonely hill you’re trying to die on, but plant that flag of ignorance dmj and defend it with your life.

[Carcassdragger]

2021 recruiting rankings per 247 Sports

Arizona 77th 18 recruits 18 3 star avg rating 83.53 class points 158.51
NAU 128th 19 recruits 5 3 star avg rating 81.0 class points 80.92

We didn't lose because we got out talented. Knock off the crazy talk.

Your point is so irrelevant on so many fronts its hard to know where to start:

1) Exactly how many 2021 UA HS recruits started against NAU???
How many 2021 NAU HS recruits started???

Let me know when you figure that out.

If you wanted to solely look at recruit rankings you need to look at 2016,2017,2018, and 2019 (NOT 2021). True freshman rarely start in college football. The 2nd thing you would need to do is adjust the rankings for all of the players who are no longer with the team (The Grant Gunnells of the world). And finally, if you know anything about college football its that recruits star rankings are often meaningless. Remember 5 Star Louis Holmes???? Remember 2 Star Scoobie??? Which turned out to be the better player?

Bottom line, actual on the field performance matters the most. A quick look at the rushing stats tells you all you need to know..........NAU's OL was simply better than the UA's.

Some good points here. Certainly not hard to believe NAUs Oline (or just about anybody elses) is better than our own. Guess we'll just stand here in our ignorance...according to those who disagree.

[gronk4heisman]

That same Oline was able to average over 160 yds/pg and 4.5 ypc the last two years and added years of maturity and body development. So there is that story to try and spin as well.

[DrWildcat]

That same Oline was able to average over 160 yds/pg and 4.5 ypc the last two years and added years of maturity and body development. So there is that story to try and spin as well.

Yep, it seems that maybe the scheme doesn't fit our talent level? I guess you could argue that the skill of our RBs has decreased.

Also, the terrible QB play is going to cause issues in the running game as well. I would stack the box against us since we have an inept passing game at the moment.

[UAEebs86]

That same Oline was able to average over 160 yds/pg and 4.5 ypc the last two years and added years of maturity and body development. So there is that story to try and spin as well.

Coach 'em down

[TheCatInTheHat]

Our starting line averages 6-5 315, which isn't small for a college O-line. The second string averages maybe 10 lbs less, which still isn't bad. I'm starting to think they're struggling with the right protections the same way the QBs are struggling and confused by the offense. (I recall Hubie Oliver, who was so awesome under Tony Mason, looking completely lost in his first game under Larry Smith.) But, this was the THIRD game, and at some point, you just have to go out and make plays, even if you're not a well-oiled machine. When you see an NAU D-lineman blowing right past a Pac-12 O-lineman with that deer in the headlights freeze, it makes you go hmmm. If nothing else, tackle the guy so your QB doesn't get killed. I tend to go with the "win every game you can every year" approach. Under that philosophy, you can make a case to do what Tomey did over an off-week in 1989 in consulting with Colorado coaches and installing the I-Bone. But, we also have nothing to lose this year, and you can also make a case for completely writing it off and installing all of your stuff for later. The problem with that is that the previous two coaches used up all the goodwill equity and patience in whatever is left of our fan base.

[azgreg]

2021 recruiting rankings per 247 Sports

Arizona 77th 18 recruits 18 3 star avg rating 83.53 class points 158.51
NAU 128th 19 recruits 5 3 star avg rating 81.0 class points 80.92

We didn't lose because we got out talented. Knock off the crazy talk.

Your point is so irrelevant on so many fronts its hard to know where to start:

1) Exactly how many 2021 UA HS recruits started against NAU???
How many 2021 NAU HS recruits started???

Let me know when you figure that out.

If you wanted to solely look at recruit rankings you need to look at 2016,2017,2018, and 2019 (NOT 2021). True freshman rarely start in college football. The 2nd thing you would need to do is adjust the rankings for all of the players who are no longer with the team (The Grant Gunnells of the world). And finally, if you know anything about college football its that recruits star rankings are often meaningless. Remember 5 Star Louis Holmes???? Remember 2 Star Scoobie??? Which turned out to be the better player?

Bottom line, actual on the field performance matters the most. A quick look at the rushing stats tells you all you need to know..........NAU's OL was simply better than the UA's.

You're a fucking idiot.

2015
AZ 43
NAU 130

2016:
AZ 48
NAU 138

2017:
AZ 45
NAU 140

2018:
AZ 61
NAU NR

2019:
AZ 56
NAU 144

2020:
AZ 59
NAU 139

[azgreg]

[azgreg]

[AzCatFan2]

Stoops took over from Chernobyl Mackovic, and in Stoops' first game in Tucson, we beat NAU 21-3. And despite a complete void of talent after the Macko-disaster, Stoops went 3-9. Anyone think Fisch is going to win a single game this year?

I don't buy the argument we are less talented than NAU. The Jacks got whipped by Sam Houston State and South Dakota. It's not like NAU is a FCS juggernaut. Far from it. The problem we have is poor coaching and poor play calling on offense.

Brown is an upgrade for sure on the D side, but when you have an inept offense, you need to dial back the all-or-nothing blitzes. Because every big play we give up, and every score we give up, the more our offense will have to do. Brown is adjusting and called a better game against NAU. I think on this side of the ball, we'll continue to improve.

But on O? I don't know why people are saying we couldn't run against NAU. We just didn't continue to do what was working. Anderson had 72 yards on 12 carries for a 6.0 average. His best runs were between the tackles. Jalen John did even better between the tackles, with 5 rushes for 37 yards. That's 109 yards on 17 carries from our top two backs. So why did they only have 17 touches between them!!!!! Especially when Plummer threw the ball twice as many times (34 attempts).

Our coaches need to have game awareness too. I'm the last person to enjoy conservative play calling, and Tomey used to drive me nuts. But the man had a plan, followed it, and ended up winning 183 total college football games as a head coach between Hawaii, Arizona, and SJSU. That's 182 more than Fisch has, who is now 1-4 between his interim stint at UCLA and his first three games at Arizona. Up 13, 2:02 before the half, and opponent with no timeouts, Tomey's first play on O would have been a draw up the middle. Fisch? Tried an out, Plummer locked in on Berryhill, NAU defender read it from the snap, pick six, and instead of going into the locker room up two scores, we're only up 6. In this instance, the Tomey philosophy is 100% correct, especially considering our struggle on O, but ability to keep NAU off the scoreboard.

Run the ball twice and get a first down, and you still have about 1:10 on the clock with two timeouts to try and score. Run the ball twice and if you're now looking at 3rd and long, take a knee with the clock under :40, and head into the locker room up 13. The last thing you can do is throw a pick-6. The best way to avoid this is not throw the ball at all. Maybe Fisch will learn this? Maybe not?

When we bought in Fisch, I said at best, it's Stoops 2.0. But 2.0 suggests and upgrade. After three games, we're looking at Stoops -1.0.

[gronk4heisman]

You elaborated my point that the play calling and coaching are the cause of this loss much better then I could. Fisch is clearly not the greatest game planner or play caller, Sumlin ran for 431 yards against NAU with the same OL. Fisch decided to go into the game in which our QB's clearly suck and calls 44 pass plays to just 24 runs?

[UAEebs86]

You elaborated my point that the play calling and coaching are the cause of this loss much better then I could. Fisch is clearly not the greatest game planner or play caller, Sumlin ran for 431 yards against NAU with the same OL. Fisch decided to go into the game in which our QB's clearly suck and calls 44 pass plays to just 24 runs?

It's a bold strategy Cotton

[OSUCat]

Not that it matters, but after the NAU game was there a players only meeting?

[TheCat]

Yep. I think they have the transfer portal rules down now.

[Spaceman Spiff]

Yep. I think they have the transfer portal rules down now.

If any of our players are planning to hit the portal, NAU isn't exactly raising their stock.

[prh]

With the transfer portal, no talent is not an excuse anymore. If you can't convince some kid riding the bench at a top-25 program to come to our campus with guaranteed playing time, then WTF are you doing? Kids transfer when they aren't getting playing time, we should be able to benefit from that. We're not gonna be losing kids to better programs, we don't have those guys anyways.

[Carcassdragger]

With the transfer portal, no talent is not an excuse anymore. If you can't convince some kid riding the bench at a top-25 program to come to our campus with guaranteed playing time, then WTF are you doing? Kids transfer when they aren't getting playing time, we should be able to benefit from that. We're not gonna be losing kids to better programs, we don't have those guys anyways.

You can't recruit kids on other teams. They have to be in the transfer portal.

[Merkin]

You can't recruit kids on other teams. They have to be in the transfer portal.

If you ain't cheatin' you ain't tryin'.

[AzCatFan2]

By the way, mighty Northern Colorado beat NAU tonight 17-10.

[Longhorned]

I don't get this idea that the five interceptions validates Fisch having favored Cruz and Plummer. Decision making is the most coachable thing. Can you imagine McLeod with 3 games under his belt before going to Eugene?

[AV8RCAT]

2021 recruiting rankings per 247 Sports

Arizona 77th 18 recruits 18 3 star avg rating 83.53 class points 158.51
NAU 128th 19 recruits 5 3 star avg rating 81.0 class points 80.92

We didn't lose because we got out talented. Knock off the crazy talk.

Your point is so irrelevant on so many fronts its hard to know where to start:

1) Exactly how many 2021 UA HS recruits started against NAU???
How many 2021 NAU HS recruits started???

Let me know when you figure that out.

If you wanted to solely look at recruit rankings you need to look at 2016,2017,2018, and 2019 (NOT 2021). True freshman rarely start in college football. The 2nd thing you would need to do is adjust the rankings for all of the players who are no longer with the team (The Grant Gunnells of the world). And finally, if you know anything about college football its that recruits star rankings are often meaningless. Remember 5 Star Louis Holmes???? Remember 2 Star Scoobie??? Which turned out to be the better player?

Bottom line, actual on the field performance matters the most. A quick look at the rushing stats tells you all you need to know..........NAU's OL was simply better than the UA's.

Goddamn this is stupid. We clearly have better talent at nearly every position. We played with our heads up our asses. They were well coached and they executed. We did not. As untalented as we are, if we played again this year, they wouldn't beat us. I'm sick of the talent excuse. The difference between 3 and 4 stars isn't always size, strength and speed. It's things that can be developed. I thought Fisch and crew could develop what we have into something competitive at least. After Oregon, maybe he still can.

Bang the blackboard "Compete!, Compete!, Compete!"

[OSUCat]

I don't get this idea that the five interceptions validates Fisch having favored Cruz and Plummer. Decision making is the most coachable thing. Can you imagine McLeod with 3 games under his belt before going to Eugene?

McCloud came in late and knew the playbook less than the other two QBs, clearly has the weakest arm, and kept throwing Ints in practice. This isn’t like the Scott versus Foles situation.

I completely understand why fisch went Cruze -Plumber - McCloud. In hindsight, we wish that McCloud played the first three games (I have no doubt McCloud beats NAU) but you didn’t hear one person come out of the open fall camp and say it should have been McCloud.even the scrimmage didn’t look good.

[TheCatInTheHat]

Recorded the game, so I wouldn't have to sit through Motor Mouth Rod Gilmore and to watch it in fast forward. We played a highly ranked team on the road when a number of P5 teams got blown out under similar circumstances yesterday (run it up in the name of NCAA sportsmanship for the dear old CFP.) So, we covered a hellacious point spread, battled in the trenches, and won some statistical battles. But, we once again dug ourselves a hole with a bad start and didn't play 60 minutes. Saying "other than the five critical interceptions, we played pretty good", sounds a lot like "other than that, how did you like the play, Mrs. Lincoln?" Still a long way to go with all the mistakes. McCloud seems like a better option with his running ability, but I still think they need to rein him in on the passing. And I still can't fathom how the o-line could suddenly seem to find a better level of effort. Maybe they're just better at run blocking than pass blocking. So, now a week off to try and shore things up and then see what we can do against a decent UCLA team which hosts ASU this week.