Bear Down Wildcats

Kickoff is 7:45 pm on ESPN.

Keep the train runnin'.

Ronald Jones got hurt toward the end of their game last night, but I didn't hear any updates last night and can't find any this morning. He got his legs tucked under when getting tackled, so something with his ankles or knees. Curious his status, as that would be a huge impact on the game.

Tate will play it off as any other game buts its not. He wants it bad. Going to be a nutt cutter.

Win and we have a 2 game lead over USC with 3 games to go. Beat the Oregon schools and we can lock it up should ASSU drop another

This will be a true test. See if we are ready for the big time.

azcat49 wrote:Tate will play it off as any other game buts its not. He wants it bad. Going to be a nutt cutter.

Win and we have a 2 game lead over USC with 3 games to go. Beat the Oregon schools and we can lock it up should ASSU drop another

Exactly. K-Thrill will have all his family & friends present for this one, huge stage to showcase his skills.

I'm storming the wall after we win!

Tate and Taylor, two So Cal products that are highly respected. Both will have great games. We will win out and play in the Fiesta Bowl against TCU or Oklahoma or maybe the other great story of the season, Iowa St

Arizona has Khalil Tate. Arizona wins.

Arizona leads Pac12 in:
Kick Return yds
INTs
Pass Yds /completion
Rushing offense
Scoring offense
Total Offense
Our QB has been sacked the fewest times in the conference. We've giving up 5 sacks on the year.
Opponent penalties. Which is an amazing stat
2nd best pass efficiency
2nd best turnover margin +6
2nd best red zone defense

6-2 is the only real stat that matters.

Trojans are going to be the most physical team Cats have played so far this season.

Student body left, student body right. Ram down the throat of our undersized line Jones, who has killed us the past two seasons. Then, if our D manages to stop that, have Darnold pass over us or run around us.

I believe Notre Dame caught SC on a bad day. Trojans have a real chance to establish their ball-control offense on us like a Mack truck and rule the day with it, especially if the defense targets Tate (refs have not been protecting us with that call).

I think our only chance is if Yates can force Darnold to make some rushed throws and win the INT battle--like we have every win save Colorado. Having the secondary lay back past the sticks and not pinch in will lead to a very long day.

Honestly, I'm OK if Arizona drops this one, as long as Tate and the rest of our playmakers get out of L.A. injury-free. One late hit or a big ugly rolls on top of Tate's bent-back leg after a tackle, and we're SOL.

Tate will have over 500 yards of total offense. He is going to break 3 long runs and throw 2 TD passes.

ESPN game but a nearly midnight eastern kickoff so still no exposure for Tate

1045 but yeah that sucks for a marquee matchup

9 point underdog. I would have guess it would be more like 7.

USC is mid 60-70 range in pass and run defense.

In comparison, WSU was top 10 or 15 in rush defense before playing Arizona (Now WSU 42), top ten pass defense and UCLA pass defense is top 20. And WSU and UCLA have better scoring offense.

Line is open at Wynn and Stations at 8.5 and it has moved to 8. If the sharps like us you can bet this might move higher with the typical blue blood program money flowing in (thus the sharps getting the best line in their eye)

They will try and run it right at us and make us load the box and then throw over us. Going to be Important to play from The lead

I bought my tickets today!!

The wsu line moved from -3 to +1 from Friday night til Saturday. I'd expect this line to go down a little too.

I am a Trojan fan, just stopping by to see what you are saying about the game.

To prh, Rojo didn't get hurt in the game. That was a Freshman running back named Vavae Malepeai. Initial reports from Helton are that his injury isn't serious, but Helton is always overly optimistic. We are hoping to get more info on Tuesday.

Looking forward to watching a good game. There is a lot of talk about Tate on the We Are SC board, so also looking forward to seeing him play.

Welcome. No doubt you guys have the better talent (what else is new?). This team with Tate at the helm is special. Enjoy watching him because in RR's offense he can go 80 with his legs or drop a dime over the top.

Bummed its so late as I would love to see the east coast viewer see Tate drop 500 yards on the Trojans Going to be a tough game but hey, we are AZ football so we know hard knocks

seb wrote:I am a Trojan fan, just stopping by to see what you are saying about the game.

To prh, Rojo didn't get hurt in the game. That was a Freshman running back named Vavae Malepeai. Initial reports from Helton are that his injury isn't serious, but Helton is always overly optimistic. We are hoping to get more info on Tuesday.

Looking forward to watching a good game. There is a lot of talk about Tate on the We Are SC board, so also looking forward to seeing him play.

Welcome. If you guys don't run the ball every single play you should leave Helton at eh airport. You know how to leave a coach at the airport right?

This all sets up for Tate having his great homecoming but this might be the game where he comes back down to earth. Arizona’s defense couldn’t stop a 45 year old fat man right now. That’s going to be a glaring problem.

chiefzona wrote:This all sets up for Tate having his great homecoming but this might be the game where he comes back down to earth. Arizona’s defense couldn’t stop a 45 year old fat man right now. That’s going to be a glaring problem.

Actually I think they can stop a 45year old fat man. They can't seem to get pressure on a quarterback. That indeed can be a glaring problem come Saturday.

UofAlum05 wrote:I bought my tickets today!!

God damn Disney on Ice and my daughters "Frozen" addiction is keeping me from making the drive...

The things we do for our kids.

UofAlum05 wrote:I bought my tickets today!!

Got my tickets as well. Can't wait.

Edit: Does the Coliseum sell beer for SC games? Only times being there I was working

It's a 3 hour drive for me, so that is just way to late. Thanks a lot Larry Scott.

Merkin wrote:It's a 3 hour drive for me, so that is just way to late. Thanks a lot Larry Scott.

Should the PAC 12 not have games on ESPN?

Want to go to another network for a lot less money?

PHXCATS wrote:

Merkin wrote:It's a 3 hour drive for me, so that is just way to late. Thanks a lot Larry Scott.

Should the PAC 12 not have games on ESPN?

Want to go to another network for a lot less money?

Stop trolling.

ESPN had the first choice for the games this week and rightfully picked this one. This is a compliment to RR and Tate and the defense and recognition for the last four weeks and how big of a matchup this is, one of the best in a weekend full of great games.

It is a compliment to U of A

I'm skeptical we have a chance, but USC has had turnover issues, and when we create TO's, we do well.

I wouldn't go so far as saying we're favorites, but we have a real shot. That's nice to say.

ASUHATER! wrote:ESPN game but a nearly midnight eastern kickoff so still no exposure for Tate

Late game for sure. Being an ESPN West prime-time game, sure college gameday will showcase Tate in promoting the game. Tate is headed towards an ESPN segment feature at some point. He's young and a "out of nowhere" story that helps the likes of ESPN make money. Plus, so far Tate not allowing them to ignore him statistically.

I can't help it but when I think of UofA @ USC a score of like 42 -14 Trojans immediately fills my head. Hoping that vision is of an old Cats team.

I don't have a good feeling about this game but I'm excited to watch and hope these Cats prove me wrong again.

Alieberman wrote:I can't help it but when I think of UofA @ USC a score of like 42 -14 Trojans immediately fills my head. Hoping that vision is of an old Cats team.

I don't have a good feeling about this game but I'm excited to watch and hope these Cats prove me wrong again.

Likewise!

Alieberman wrote:I can't help it but when I think of UofA @ USC a score of like 42 -14 Trojans immediately fills my head. Hoping that vision is of an old Cats team.

I don't have a good feeling about this game but I'm excited to watch and hope these Cats prove me wrong again.

Rich Rod's tenure vs USC: won by 3, lost by 7, lost by 2, lost by 8, and lost by 34.

scumdevils86 wrote:

PHXCATS wrote:

Merkin wrote:It's a 3 hour drive for me, so that is just way to late. Thanks a lot Larry Scott.

Should the PAC 12 not have games on ESPN?

Want to go to another network for a lot less money?

Stop trolling.

Have you set an alert somewhere that an alarm goes off every time PHX posts?

OSUCat wrote:USC is mid 60-70 range in pass and run defense.

In comparison, WSU was top 10 or 15 in rush defense before playing Arizona (Now WSU 42), top ten pass defense and UCLA pass defense is top 20. And WSU and UCLA have better scoring offense.

Wazzu's D-Line was very active and athletic, and it was an issue for a while on our line. I haven't seen SC much this year and don't know if they are more traditional or as athletic as Wazzu.

Wazzu selling out to stop Tate really opened up the field for JJ's big runs, and some nice passes down field. Damned if you do, damned if you don't from an opposing D's standpoint.

wyo-cat wrote:

scumdevils86 wrote:

PHXCATS wrote:

Merkin wrote:It's a 3 hour drive for me, so that is just way to late. Thanks a lot Larry Scott.

Should the PAC 12 not have games on ESPN?

Want to go to another network for a lot less money?

Stop trolling.

Have you set an alert somewhere that an alarm goes off every time PHX posts?

No? I click new posts...and look at the threads with new posts in them. Just like all of you.

Key to the game will be the WRs ability to get open one on one. Think there will be a good amount of attention paid to the running backs and Tate running after the last four weeks but especially last week. Tate can hit the open man, we have seen that, but the WRs have to get open against a talented USC secondary on Saturday.

On defense gotta keep up the turnovers on SD. SD has been responsible for 14 turnovers. Take care of the ball and make SD give it to U of A 2 or 3 times U of A has a very good shot at it.

As a long-suffering Cats fan, my guts usually tell me that when our hopes are up and the national spotlight hits we will faceplant. This time feels different.

waysouthcat wrote:As a long-suffering Cats fan, my guts usually tell me that when our hopes are up and the national spotlight hits we will faceplant. This time feels different.

Yes, but the telltale sign of an incoming Arizona faceplant is usually when you start to believe this time is different and we'll actually break through this time.

I don't think we win this one. But what a difference from before the season, when I think all of us had this inked in as a sure loss. I just hope all our players come out of it unhurt.

Spaceman Spiff wrote:

waysouthcat wrote:As a long-suffering Cats fan, my guts usually tell me that when our hopes are up and the national spotlight hits we will faceplant. This time feels different.

Yes, but the telltale sign of an incoming Arizona faceplant is usually when you start to believe this time is different and we'll actually break through this time.

2014 vs UCLA comes to mind.

azgreg wrote:

Spaceman Spiff wrote:

waysouthcat wrote:As a long-suffering Cats fan, my guts usually tell me that when our hopes are up and the national spotlight hits we will faceplant. This time feels different.

Yes, but the telltale sign of an incoming Arizona faceplant is usually when you start to believe this time is different and we'll actually break through this time.

2014 vs UCLA comes to mind.

Thanks for the (bad) memories.

BBQ wildcat wrote:I don't think we win this one. But what a difference from before the season, when I think all of us had this inked in as a sure loss. I just hope all our players come out of it unhurt.

I've gotten to this mindset:

This season is already basically a success barring a collapse. I want to see us win the games we should and develop all the young guys for next year.

I think that makes us competitive against SC, but I've started to care more about the overall direction as well as the individual result. Winning this year is great, and we're doing well there. Knock off OSU and ASU and I'd be super happy with this year. Develop the kids for a better setup next year and that's all I need.

Goddammit, I've been through too many of these seasons. I was at the UCLA game in 1998 when our best ever shot at undefeated glory and a Rose Bowl went down. The PAC is vulnerable this year, and we may not see another chance to take it for a while. Fuck it, I want it all now.

Too bad the rose bowl isn't an option even if we win out

scumdevils86 wrote:Too bad the rose bowl isn't an option even if we win out

Final four if we win out. Big IF, by the way.

A 13-2 team led by Tate and 9-0 with Tate. We're in.

wyo-cat wrote:

scumdevils86 wrote:Too bad the rose bowl isn't an option even if we win out

Final four if we win out. Big IF, by the way.

A 13-2 team led by Tate and 9-0 with Tate. We're in.

If we win out we'd be 11-2, not 13-2. 13-2 would imply national champions.

wyo-cat wrote:

scumdevils86 wrote:Too bad the rose bowl isn't an option even if we win out

Final four if we win out. Big IF, by the way.

A 13-2 team led by Tate and 9-0 with Tate. We're in.

The only team with a shot at the playoffs from the PAC is Washington, and that ain't happening.

Tate's reads were so much better vs WSU. They are also a good defense, and were shooting a superior D line and just about everyone else into the gaps. We adjusted, threw over the top, threw a couple of screens (something we haven't done with Tate much) to stretch the field horizontally, and forced them out of that 9 box. As soon as they loosened, Tate ate them alive. The first long JJ TD run...Tate put his hands up like a half second after the handoff because he saw it. He knew it was 6. He continued to throw accurate deep balls (one drop, one perfect defense), and we showed it more to get WSU off our ass up front. Still..WSU was content to let him keep trying...they were going to stack the box and crush us.

I love that our coaching staff made some adjustments, got WSU to come out of shape a little bit (to use a soccer term), but didn't completely try to become a different team because of match up. We kept running the read option, because that is our offense. We threw the screen, ran an end around, threw quick to the outside, threw deep, got Tate on the run and threw over the top...the coaching staff reacted to what they were seeing from WSU, changed the size of the field, hit them wide and downfield enough to put it in the conversation, then kept coming back to the read option. This created two realities...one, we continued to have the option of going over the top on them because we didn't abandon our base offense. If we had said "too many in the box...THROW EVERY DOWN", they would have adjusted too and we would have been chasing them. And two, once we hit them a few times with change ups, but kept coming back to the read, they had to decide...do we stick with OUR game plan, or keep getting hit with deep balls and tight ends running alone down the seam? They chose to try to do both...which we all know means you do neither. In time, we were both running all over the field and throwing the ball all over the field. Because the most important truth of all of this is...

...no one can defend both. Khalil Tate knows it. Rich Rod knows it. The WSU D staff now knows it. By staying with our offense and exploiting them when they got ridiculous with their box, but continuing to run our stuff, we forced them to account for both, and we stayed in rhythm. We dictated the game. We forced their adjustments. We made small ones, but they were simple...stretch wide and upfield, get them out of the box, or at least...and this is what ended up happening...in the box but not feet-committed to the run. The LBs that were crushing the gaps early were hesitating a second. They had to after watching a TE with 7.3 speed run past them wide open for a TD pass. They were "in the box", but no longer committed to crushing the read. Subtle, but in sports at this speed, it only takes that one stalled moment for JJ or KT to be in the end zone.