Vs Miss St discussion.

[tgrumpy2]

I think JDL is immensely talented but I've come to the conclusion that the interceptions are part of his DNA. He is what he is but. I do think we'll ride his arm and legs to a bowl game this year. MSS may have won the game but they went home and licked their wounds on this win. Our O line and D line both stood up to them and in many cases mauled them. I forgot, how many 4th and extremely shorts did we hold them on?

[TheCatInTheHat]

They brought back 19 starters from the team that beat us, in our house, by 22 points. Going toe to toe with them, losing -- in overtime -- by 7, in their house, after us having 5 TOs, gives me a lot of hope/confidence for the rest of the season. It really shows how far this team has come.

And we had a few people out, or otherwise sub-par/unable to start. While we hung in over the course of the game on the lines, didn't wear down, and made the big comeback, if it was a boxing match, MSU clearly won the first quarter. In Q1, MSU gashed us for rushes of: 21, 15, 14, 8, 8, 5, 5, along with some shorter gains. We "ran" for 2, 2, and 1. So, couldn't run, pure pass, lots of pressure, and the result was 3 picks by JDL and a deep hole to fight out of. But, we did, and as Lev pointed out, the difference between last year's blowout in Tucson, and this year's OT in cowbell land is obvious. I'll note that MSU probably isn't as good with their new blah offense, but their defense is, and they've got the huge experienced O-line and big backs. JDL obviously needs to quit forcing into double coverage in the middle of the field, as any 8th-grade QB knows. But, he also had to complete a few risky passes under duress to open up the running game, which eventually happened. So, now we'd better have automatic win night against a UTEP team that lost at a Northwestern team 38-7, which previously lost at Rutgers 24-7. After that, it's up to Stanford. We have a chance to start out 3-1/1-0, and it's been a long time since we were in that situation.

[Postmaster]

He is what he is. I think he's good enough to get us to 6-6 and a minor bowl and I'd be happy with that at this point.

I hope he moves on next year (a shot at the pros or transfer somewhere else) so we can get Merkin and Ari back

Are they boycotting because of JDL?

[Postmaster]

This game was the epitome of “what if?”

What if only 2 INT?
What if Tmac stayed in bounds?
What if JDL runs for 15 yards instead of 14.75?
What if Jedd goes for it on 4th late in game?
What if we could run for a yard?
What if Cowling can catch that ball in OT?

[UAEebs86]

He is what he is. I think he's good enough to get us to 6-6 and a minor bowl and I'd be happy with that at this point.

I hope he moves on next year (a shot at the pros or transfer somewhere else) so we can get Merkin and Ari back

Are they boycotting because of JDL?

Yes. Merk said he'd be back after football season. Ari won't be posting about football this season.

[Catintheheat]

I enjoy watching this team play. If the Cats can clean up their mistakes, and the defense is healthy. I don't see a team on the schedule that we can't beat. That is if we take care of the ball, and don't beat ourselves.

[dmjcat]

Tracking Arizona Wildcats’ snap counts and PFF grades at Mississippi State
By Ezra Amacher Sep 10, 2023, 10:57am PDT

arizona-wildcats-snap-counts-and-pff-grades-mississippi-state-pac-12-sec

The Arizona Wildcats played 76 offensive snaps and 59 defensive snaps in their loss to Mississippi State. Here is how much each player played along with their Pro Football Focus grades.

RT Jonah Savaiinaea, 76 (70.7)
LG Wendell Moe, 76 (54.8)
C Josh Baker, 76 (47.9)
QB Jayden de Laura, 76 (84.4)
LT Joseph Borjon, 76 (59.4)
LT Jordan Morgan, 76 (64.8)
WR Tetairoa McMillan, 75 (69.7)
WR Jacob Cowing, 74 (56.8)
TE Tanner McLachlan, 72 (59.1)
WR Montana Lemonious-Craig, 62 (57.2)
RB Michael Wiley, 56 (62.7)
RB Jonah Coleman, 14 (60.6)
TE Roberto Miranda, 10 (71.0)
RB Rayshon Luke, 7 (65.4)
WR Malachi Riley, 4 (55.9)
TE Keyan Burnett, 3 (57.9)
WR AJ Jones, 2 (58.2)
RB D.J. Williams, 1 (56.3)
Defense
LB Jacob Manu, 59 (47.0)
CB Ephesians Prysock, 59 (67.0)
CB Tacario Davis, 59 (64.6)
S Isaiah Taylor, 51 (60.8)
DE Isaiah Ward, 47 (58.5)
DL Taylor Upshaw, 47 (40.3)
DT Bill Norton, 42 (59.5)
S Dalton Johnson, 41 (60.0)
CB DJ Warnell Jr., 37 (68.9)
DT Tyler Manoa, 32 (61.3)
LB Justin Flowe, 27 (49.9)
LB Daniel Heimuli, 26 (46.5)
S Gunner Maldonado, 25 (41.8)
DT Tiaolii Savea, 23 (46.3)
CB Martell Irby, 23 (61.1)
DT Ta’ita’i Uiagalelei, 14 (55.3)
DL Russell Davis II, 12 (35.9)
DT Jacob Kongaika, 11 (58.5)
DT Sio Nofoagatoto’a, 11 (72.0)
S Genesis Smith, 2 (62.1)
CB Charles Yates Jr., 1 (60.0)

[ProfessorFate]

Tracking Arizona Wildcats’ snap counts and PFF grades at Mississippi State
By Ezra Amacher Sep 10, 2023, 10:57am PDT

arizona-wildcats-snap-counts-and-pff-grades-mississippi-state-pac-12-sec

The Arizona Wildcats played 76 offensive snaps and 59 defensive snaps in their loss to Mississippi State. Here is how much each player played along with their Pro Football Focus grades.

RT Jonah Savaiinaea, 76 (70.7)
LG Wendell Moe, 76 (54.8)
C Josh Baker, 76 (47.9)
QB Jayden de Laura, 76 (84.4)
LT Joseph Borjon, 76 (59.4)
LT Jordan Morgan, 76 (64.8)
WR Tetairoa McMillan, 75 (69.7)
WR Jacob Cowing, 74 (56.8)
TE Tanner McLachlan, 72 (59.1)
WR Montana Lemonious-Craig, 62 (57.2)
RB Michael Wiley, 56 (62.7)
RB Jonah Coleman, 14 (60.6)
TE Roberto Miranda, 10 (71.0)
RB Rayshon Luke, 7 (65.4)
WR Malachi Riley, 4 (55.9)
TE Keyan Burnett, 3 (57.9)
WR AJ Jones, 2 (58.2)
RB D.J. Williams, 1 (56.3)
Defense
LB Jacob Manu, 59 (47.0)
CB Ephesians Prysock, 59 (67.0)
CB Tacario Davis, 59 (64.6)
S Isaiah Taylor, 51 (60.8)
DE Isaiah Ward, 47 (58.5)
DL Taylor Upshaw, 47 (40.3)
DT Bill Norton, 42 (59.5)
S Dalton Johnson, 41 (60.0)
CB DJ Warnell Jr., 37 (68.9)
DT Tyler Manoa, 32 (61.3)
LB Justin Flowe, 27 (49.9)
LB Daniel Heimuli, 26 (46.5)
S Gunner Maldonado, 25 (41.8)
DT Tiaolii Savea, 23 (46.3)
CB Martell Irby, 23 (61.1)
DT Ta’ita’i Uiagalelei, 14 (55.3)
DL Russell Davis II, 12 (35.9)
DT Jacob Kongaika, 11 (58.5)
DT Sio Nofoagatoto’a, 11 (72.0)
S Genesis Smith, 2 (62.1)
CB Charles Yates Jr., 1 (60.0)

Thanks for posting these.

I don't know what their grading criteria is, but they have Manu and Flowe with 2 of the lowest grades on D, and they combined to lead our team with 24 tackles (3 for a loss) and a sack. Results should account for something.

One thing that is evident, though - Maldonado fails both the eye test and the grading system. It's a mystery how he gets so much playing time considering we have other options.

[dmjcat]

He is what he is. I think he's good enough to get us to 6-6 and a minor bowl and I'd be happy with that at this point.

I hope he moves on next year (a shot at the pros or transfer somewhere else) so we can get Merkin and Ari back

Curious, who do you see the UA beating to get to 6-6??

I had the Cats with 5 wins preaseason with wins over NAU/UTEP/Stanford/Colorado/asu.

At this point I have crossed off Colorado as a win. If we assume wins over UTEP/Stanford/scum that leaves us with 4 wins.

Which of the following 2 schools do you believe we are beating?

Washington
USC
Oregon State
Washington State
UCLA
Utah

We likely won't be favored in any of these games.
I think our best chance at a 5th win is UCLA, but the road gets much tougher after that.

[KillerKlown]

Tracking Arizona Wildcats’ snap counts and PFF grades at Mississippi State
By Ezra Amacher Sep 10, 2023, 10:57am PDT

arizona-wildcats-snap-counts-and-pff-grades-mississippi-state-pac-12-sec

The Arizona Wildcats played 76 offensive snaps and 59 defensive snaps in their loss to Mississippi State. Here is how much each player played along with their Pro Football Focus grades.

RT Jonah Savaiinaea, 76 (70.7)
LG Wendell Moe, 76 (54.8)
C Josh Baker, 76 (47.9)
QB Jayden de Laura, 76 (84.4)
LT Joseph Borjon, 76 (59.4)
LT Jordan Morgan, 76 (64.8)
WR Tetairoa McMillan, 75 (69.7)
WR Jacob Cowing, 74 (56.8)
TE Tanner McLachlan, 72 (59.1)
WR Montana Lemonious-Craig, 62 (57.2)
RB Michael Wiley, 56 (62.7)
RB Jonah Coleman, 14 (60.6)
TE Roberto Miranda, 10 (71.0)
RB Rayshon Luke, 7 (65.4)
WR Malachi Riley, 4 (55.9)
TE Keyan Burnett, 3 (57.9)
WR AJ Jones, 2 (58.2)
RB D.J. Williams, 1 (56.3)
Defense
LB Jacob Manu, 59 (47.0)
CB Ephesians Prysock, 59 (67.0)
CB Tacario Davis, 59 (64.6)
S Isaiah Taylor, 51 (60.8)
DE Isaiah Ward, 47 (58.5)
DL Taylor Upshaw, 47 (40.3)
DT Bill Norton, 42 (59.5)
S Dalton Johnson, 41 (60.0)
CB DJ Warnell Jr., 37 (68.9)
DT Tyler Manoa, 32 (61.3)
LB Justin Flowe, 27 (49.9)
LB Daniel Heimuli, 26 (46.5)
S Gunner Maldonado, 25 (41.8)
DT Tiaolii Savea, 23 (46.3)
CB Martell Irby, 23 (61.1)
DT Ta’ita’i Uiagalelei, 14 (55.3)
DL Russell Davis II, 12 (35.9)
DT Jacob Kongaika, 11 (58.5)
DT Sio Nofoagatoto’a, 11 (72.0)
S Genesis Smith, 2 (62.1)
CB Charles Yates Jr., 1 (60.0)

Thanks for posting these.

I don't know what their grading criteria is, but they have Manu and Flowe with 2 of the lowest grades on D, and they combined to lead our team with 24 tackles (3 for a loss) and a sack. Results should account for something.

One thing that is evident, though - Maldonado fails both the eye test and the grading system. It's a mystery how he gets so much playing time considering we have other options.

Maldonado is only good on a down hill hit if the guy with the ball is going straight at him. If the guy with the ball is even slightly running at an angle he completely bluffs. He's always going for a big hit which hurts us more often than not.

[EastCoastCat]

This game was the epitome of “what if?”

What if only 2 INT?
What if Tmac stayed in bounds?
What if JDL runs for 15 yards instead of 14.75?
What if Jedd goes for it on 4th late in game?
What if we could run for a yard?
What if Cowling can catch that ball in OT?

You missed the OT missed tackle on second and long that led to the MSU score.

[PHXCATS]

This game was the epitome of “what if?”

What if only 2 INT?
What if Tmac stayed in bounds?
What if JDL runs for 15 yards instead of 14.75?
What if Jedd goes for it on 4th late in game?
What if we could run for a yard?
What if Cowling can catch that ball in OT?

You missed the OT missed tackle on second and long that led to the MSU score.

So frustrating. Could have hit him in the chest easily and instead when for their legs

[KillerKlown]

This game was the epitome of “what if?”

What if only 2 INT?
What if Tmac stayed in bounds?
What if JDL runs for 15 yards instead of 14.75?
What if Jedd goes for it on 4th late in game?
What if we could run for a yard?
What if Cowling can catch that ball in OT?

You missed the OT missed tackle on second and long that led to the MSU score.

So frustrating. Could have hit him in the chest easily and instead when for their legs

*3rd & long

[pc in NM]

Mississippi State stinks!

LSU is blowing them out in Starkville.

[Fishclamps]

We probably had a chance of doing the same if we had bothered to hold onto the ball in the 1st quarter

[PHXCATS]

We probably had a chance of doing the same if we had bothered to hold onto the ball in the 1st quarter

Agree. I wish they would be able to play again next week

[RichardCranium]

We softened them up