Bear Down Wildcats

Since we have a game time I guess it's Ok to start discussion this game.

What: Arizona @ Utah
When: Saturday, November 7th, 2:00 PM MST
Where: Rice-Eccles Stadium, Salt Lake City, Utah
TV: ESPNU
Utah leads the series 23-19-2 winning the last 4

No clue when it comes to picking games this year. Just know that we'll lose.

Think the Utes were a 2 TD favorite.

Doubt I will turn on Sling TV for this.

Utah by 20+

I like the cats with 14 points. Utah needs to replace its whole secondary and 8 starters on defense. I think we keep it respectable and cover that line

Utah loses QB Tyler Huntley and RB Zack Moss, but it's all about Whittingham's system and their Samoan connection. If somebody can get him the ball, TE Grant Kuithe may be the best in the league. Senior Jake Bentley may be in line to be the Ute QB. Diminutive WR Britain Covey is also a dangerous kick returner, and they'll have their usual massive O-line. On defense, Viane Moala and Mika Tafua lead the D-line, with Devin Lloyd as their top linebacker, and CB Clark Phillips their top d-back.

From the Star's story today, it sounds like for us, OLB Jalen Harris will be joined by either of two redshirt freshmen: Kwabena Watson, or Eddie Siaumau-Sanitoa. And ILB Anthony Pandy will be joined by either of true freshman Derick Mourning, or the somewhat undersized sophomore Derrion Clark. Whoever doesn't start will pretty much be the bench, as the rest are "project" freshmen or walk-ons. At one point, Issaiah Johnson was mentioned as a possibility there, so that may be one option. And we'll see if and when Jabar Triplett can play at all this year after the torn hamstring. We should have a decent O-line and offense in general, and we'll see how the defense and special teams look.

https://tucson.com/sports/arizonawildca" target="_blank ... a2107.html

Utah 50-0

Last year, Utah had by far their best team since entering the Pac-12. That team averaged 32 ppg, and they put up 35 on us. This year, they're rebuilding somewhat, with a new QB and RB and replacing 8 defensive starters. Meanwhile, Arizona returns the guy who should have been the QB all year in 2019 with most of his offensive tools returning, but with a new defensive coaching staff and a new defense that's an unknown quantity for the opposition. They've taken a hit at LB (courtesy of the Pac-12's dithering), but added some big D-linemen. Vegas makes it a 14-point game. As far as an over/under, it's two unranked teams playing their first game of the season against a conference opponent, which wouldn't seem to indicate a wild scoring affair. The most rational scoring prediction I've seen is 35-21.

Don't expect a win but I at least hope to see some positive signs.

That's exactly where I'm at. Meanwhile, the weather in SLC should be sunny and in the high 60s/low 70s...through Friday. Then on Saturday, it's supposed to be cold and rainy, and on Sunday, cold and snowy. Situation normal for the Arizona Wildcats.

TheCatInTheHat wrote:That's exactly where I'm at. Meanwhile, the weather in SLC should be sunny and in the high 60s/low 70s...through Friday. Then on Saturday, it's supposed to be cold and rainy, and on Sunday, cold and snowy. Situation normal for the Arizona Wildcats.

Weather.com has rain in the 40s with snow later in the day.

I really like our stable of backs and a very accurate QB in this type of weather. Hopefully, the Oline can create some space and buy a little time for Grant. This could be a very interesting game, I’m excited!

Yep says about 40-45 with a 50-60% chance of rain during the game.

The last time we played them there in the rain we ran them off the field.

That feels like such a long time ago. We've sucked so hard since.

Yeah, we have. My hope is that Mazzone/Gunnell can click a little bit against a rebuilding Ute defense that returns only 3 starters and isn't quite up to Dudley Do-Right's normal standards. (And yes, I AM jealous.) Also, since they've got a new backfield, that our slightly beefed-up D-line can prevent them from just pounding away between the tackles and they miss on a few targets. If we have any chance, it'll be by a narrow margin, so our kicking game needs to work, and that's been problematic for us recently. If there's an intangible, it's to whatever extent there's any buzz on the team that they have to show some improvement this year for Sumlin to survive. Don't know that it's a case of any affection as much as self-interest. If you're playing, you fit into what Sumlin's doing; but if he's fired, you might not. I wouldn't put two cents on us on the road as a two TD dog and in bad weather, but I'm just looking at it like a doctor looking at a sick patient and seeing if I can identify any improvement in condition.

Poor Jayden Michell tore his ACL. Kid has had a tough go snd is now out for this year.

I think we need to run the ball effectively to have any shot. We know Utah is going to pound the ball and try for big plays in play action. If we try to play fast on offense and either have a few quick, 3 and outs or even quick scores, our D will be gassed late in the game. But if we play a little ball control, and play Utah's game, maybe we have a puncher's chance if we get a few good bounces/turnovers? Unlikely, but stranger things have happened.

Well the way Sumlin was talking today it seems Joiner is iffy for non med reasons

Frank Brown Jr out for a few weeks with MCL issues.


https://www.azdesertswarm.com/football/ ... Wz4G40zfmk" target="_blank

Another bummer. I think all these guys get another year so we might as well play then and see what they have. Was especially excited about Brown but of course any excitement we have about our cats is usually squashed. Get well kid

Can we please get through one god damn camp without injuries please? Jesus Christ!

Game notes: https://s3.amazonaws.com/sidearm.sites/ ... t_Utah.pdf" target="_blank

Utah depth chart: https://s3.amazonaws.com/sidearm.sites/ ... zona_4.pdf" target="_blank

Joiner got suspended for well. He’s suspended. Won’t be playing. MacCauley is out.

Thanks chief. What did Joiner get suspended for?

Thanks Chief. Always good to see you coming back after essentially saying you're too good for message boards.

Anyway, I assume it is for weed?

Depth chart is out: https://s3.amazonaws.com/sidearm.sites/ ... s_Utah.pdf" target="_blank

azgreg wrote:Depth chart is out: https://s3.amazonaws.com/sidearm.sites/ ... s_Utah.pdf" target="_blank

What's with all the OR's by the QBs? Think the first OR should be after RhettRod.

azgreg wrote:

Thats the deepest, most talented defensive line we have fielded in a number of years. Pity we don't replace our starting Frosh LB with Trevon Mason in a 4 man front.

I think Rhoads said something to the effect that he was hired to install his 3-4 defense, and that's what he intended to do, rather than work around the available talent. We'll see how that goes. To me, there were a couple of surprises on this depth chart. Considering our problems at LB, I guess it's not that earth-shaking, but having a true freshman in Derick Mourning earning a starting nod is still noteworthy. On the other side of the ball, another true freshman, Ma'jon Wright, beat out some other experienced and fairly talented WRs to make the two-deep. I assume those two have both had some pretty enthusiastic phone calls back home recently.

I do like the size up front though.

Actually, I think we'll get a fair number of eyeballs for our season openers. The only national game that jumps out at me is Clemson (without Trevor Lawrence) at Notre Dame on the upset alert.

10:00 AM FoX: ASU at USC
1:30 PM ESPN2: Arizona at Utah
5:00 PM ESPN2: UCLA at Colorado
5:30 PM ABC: Stanford at Oregon
8:30 PM FS1: Washington St at Oregon St
8:30 PM ESPN: Washington at California

Time and channel change. The game is now at 1:30 p.m. MST on ESPN2.

Yeah...supposedly juggling from the cancellation of Wisconsin/Purdue.

Game is cancelled cause of Covid.

We are still undefeated!

Since it wasn’t cancelled because of us, I consider this a win.

1-0!!!

2 games cancelled and the first week hasn't even started yet.

So glad the Pac 12 rushed out this season...

Technical win

AZCatGirl wrote: ↑Fri Nov 06, 2020 11:17 pm 2 games cancelled and the first week hasn't even started yet.

So glad the Pac 12 rushed out this season...

$$$$

As UArizona beat writer Michael Lev has tweeted out on more than one occasion, if the league had started earlier (they wasted two weeks after having rapid testing deployed), they'd have more options for makeup games. As it is, it sounds like the final game of the season, which was initially tabbed as a crossover game against the team with the corresponding record in the other division, will likely be used for makeup games. I know how much Larry Scott loves us, so he'd no doubt take great delight in taking away a nice warm winnable home game and sending us to the frozen tundra of Salt Lake City for a road game on December 19.