Bear Down Wildcats

I think we are going to like the Anu era

Great opening game!

Front page in his first start

Will own all the freshman records

Can we start by spelling his name right?

UAEebs86 wrote:Can we start by spelling his name right?

Let's pretend we didn't see that.

Alieberman wrote:

UAEebs86 wrote:Can we start by spelling his name right?

Let's pretend we didn't see that.

Now we're cooking with gas. The kid looks solid, and he hasn't completed his first game here. He's spreading it around like a pro, which is good given our weapons.

UAEebs86 wrote:Can we start by spelling his name right?

They can't even say it right, it's not: Ah Noo

And he can punt too!

Really impressed with his feel for the game and execution. He's not a blur, but he has great feet and escapability in the pocket.

NYCat wrote:

Congrats!

I'm trying to determine if my man crush can start this early.

Just unlv, and next week will be far far tougher but I like what I see!

ASUHATER! wrote:Just unlv, and next week will be far far tougher but I like what I see!

Far, far tougher? Please...

What Coker had accomplished in a short period of time is quite impressive, but they played their first game ever the year before Rich Rod was hired. Talk about a bare cupboard. Yes, they won 7 games last year.... Look who they beat - and lost to.

If we cannot handle UTSA, their place or not, than we will be in for a long season.

Lots to like from the performance tonight, but our secondary concerns me greatly. Given all the talk about exceptional QB play in the PAC, we better score a lot of points - because the UNLV QB was garbage.

Good news is we might be able to... Our receiving core looks as good as advertised, and our running game looks like it should at least be respectable. Solomon will only get better...

Breaking a Freshman record your first game says it all. I'm giddy thinking what he'll be like as a senior.

Harvey Specter wrote:

ASUHATER! wrote:Just unlv, and next week will be far far tougher but I like what I see!

Far, far tougher? Please...

What Coker had accomplished in a short period of time is quite impressive, but they played their first game ever the year before Rich Rod was hired. Talk about a bare cupboard. Yes, they won 7 games last year.... Look who they beat - and lost to.

If we cannot handle UTSA, their place or not, than we will be in for a long season.

Lots to like from the performance tonight, but our secondary concerns me greatly. Given all the talk about exceptional QB play in the PAC, we better score a lot of points - because the UNLV QB was garbage.

Good news is we might be able to... Our receiving core looks as good as advertised, and our running game looks like it should at least be respectable. Solomon will only get better...

they went on the road to a houston team that was supposedly better than them (in houston's stadium grand opening) and beat them 27-7 and shut down their prolific offense. you're crazy if you don't see that the game in san antonio is going to be really really tough. like it might be our toughest game outside of oregon, ucla, asu and usc.

Harvey Specter wrote:

ASUHATER! wrote:Just unlv, and next week will be far far tougher but I like what I see!

Far, far tougher? Please...

What Coker had accomplished in a short period of time is quite impressive, but they played their first game ever the year before Rich Rod was hired. Talk about a bare cupboard. Yes, they won 7 games last year.... Look who they beat - and lost to.

If we cannot handle UTSA, their place or not, than we will be in for a long season.

Lots to like from the performance tonight, but our secondary concerns me greatly. Given all the talk about exceptional QB play in the PAC, we better score a lot of points - because the UNLV QB was garbage.

Good news is we might be able to... Our receiving core looks as good as advertised, and our running game looks like it should at least be respectable. Solomon will only get better...

I know how concern u are for next week when we play UTSA at there place. But I don't think they will be a threat thou. I mean yea, they beat a good Houston team but that because of there defense. RR and JC will look at there game and prepare both side for this game. I not sweating on this game being tough at all. What we saw tonight should give us an indication of what Arizona offense is going up against there Defense. Same can be say for UTSA Defense going up against our Offense. Where not Houston. Were going to beat them.

Impressed with the kid. He ran the offense, he made plays, and even with the great numbers he put up, he left 3 TDs out there with those early misses. He runs the ball well enough to keep defenses honest, and he's got some freaking targets to throw to.

AZCatGirl wrote:Breaking a Freshman record your first game says it all. I'm giddy thinking what he'll be like as a senior.

Same here. So nice to have a 4 year guy. And no Homer Smith to do a Ortege Jenkins on him.

Was Smith a true FR or a RS FR when he set the prior record? Does make a difference having a year in the system.

He should have had PAC 12 POW, but I'll settle for Athlon Sports National Freshman of the Week!

National Freshman of the Week: Anu Solomon, Arizona

During the spring and preseason, Arizona had one of the most compelling quarterback battles in the country. The Wildcats had transfers and little separation.

Until Friday. Redshirt freshman Anu Solomon completed 25-of-44 passes for 425 yards with four touchdowns. Solomon also rushed for 50 yards on eight carries in a 58-13 rout of UNLV.

Solomon led an Arizona offense that shattered a 45-year-old school record for total offense. Arizona’s 787 yards of offense Friday was 98 more than the previous record against New Mexico in 1969, - See more at: http://athlonsports.com/college-footbal ... isooJ.dpuf

Here is hoping this is a 4 year epic career and thread!

Pac-12 QB Power Rankings: Week 1

http://espn.go.com/blog/pac12/post/_/id ... ngs-week-1

4 Anu Solomon, Arizona

What a debut for the redshirt freshman, who shook off early jitters to put up huge numbers. While UNLV isn't fearsome, it is an FBS team that played in a bowl game a year ago. Solomon, making his first start after winning a tight QB competition that wasn't resolved until the final days of camp, completed 25 of 44 passes for 425 yards -- 9.7 yards per completion -- with four touchdowns and no interceptions. He also rushed eight times for 50 yards. His performance ranked 21st in the nation in Total QBR.

How the hell did he not win PAC-12 offensive player of the week?

What else could he have done?

Alieberman wrote:How the hell did he not win PAC-12 offensive player of the week?

What else could he have done?

I haven't looked around the site yet, but who did win the Offensive POW?

MountainCat wrote:

Alieberman wrote:How the hell did he not win PAC-12 offensive player of the week?

What else could he have done?

I haven't looked around the site yet, but who did win the Offensive POW?

Kessler . . . who didn't have as many yards throwing or rushing, had the same number of touchdowns throwing, and whose team didn't put up as many yards or points.

But you know . . . USC.

USC Cody Kessler:

Media votes POW. Kessler had 25 of 37 394yds passing 4 TD's.
28 yds rushing and 1 TD

That's what happens when you play on Friday night. All is forgotten by the next day.

Alieberman wrote:How the hell did he not win PAC-12 offensive player of the week?

What else could he have done?

Completion percentage wasn't great.

Had these in another thread, but I'm putting them here so we can always remember what Anu was like in his first game as a Wildcat.

1st TD pass to Nate Phillips


2nd TD pass to Samajie Grant


Yes, Anu can run


3rd TD pass to Davonte' Neal


4th TD pass to Austin Hill

Tucson good.

Interview on tonights Pac-12 football weekly on Pac-12 network.

On now for the eastern time viewing.

Face of the program...book it.

charisma and telegenicity.

Says he dunked on Shabazz one time in HS.

azgreg wrote:Tucson good.

Vegas good

CalStateTempe wrote:Interview on tonights Pac-12 football weekly on Pac-12 network.

On now for the eastern time viewing.

Do you think that they'll have it up on their site at some point?

Now I understand what all the hype was about. The kid is mature beyond his years. Worst thing that can happen with this offense is a QB who turns the ball over. Anu missed a few throws, but none that were in jeopardy of an INT. Only one with a little excitement was the one Jones bobbled up into the air and the defender almost came up with it, but that was Jones taking his eye of the ball not Solomon throwing a bad pass.

Hard to ever improve on his first game, but don't be surprised if we see more and more 600+ total yard games. And he is only a RS freshman. Wow!

Go Cats!!

He threw two passes that were anywhere close to where a DB might have been able to get to it. Key word is might; it's not like he was gift wrapping them. Most throws were safe from the defense. He's got guys who will take anything in the area and take it before a defender can get to it. Just think out to 2016 - Solomon and Wilson in the backfield with experience...

I get a feeling not many people will post here tonight, but I wanted too.

He clearly was nervous, but zero turnovers in a hostile environment was why we pulled through. UTSA's qb should be a good example of how not making big mistakes matters too. He has room for growth, but just managing the game counts for something good.

Anu got his first road game under his belt, and didn't make any TO's. Cats got win and now he can move on and grow from here.

He played well, easily could've had two or three TDs. UTSA made two decent plays knocking the ball out of our receivers hands in the end zone.

Coaches lost a lot of confidence in the second half.

NYCat wrote:

Coaches lost a lot of confidence in the second half.

I chose to think of it as playing the hot hand.

As others mentioned, zero turnovers is huge. I thought taking that safety was big. If his heart was pounding as hard as the announcers thought it was, I could see him trying to make a throw there and getting picked off deep in our territory. If that happens, we lose. No doubt in my mind. But he made the smart play, and managed the game to the best of his ability.

2-0

Doesn't always have to be pretty.

Chicat wrote: As others mentioned, zero turnovers is huge...and managed the game to the best of his ability.

Kinda reminds me of the types of comments we'd hear last year regarding QB play.

PieceOfMeat wrote:

Chicat wrote: As others mentioned, zero turnovers is huge...and managed the game to the best of his ability.

Kinda reminds me of the types of comments we'd hear last year regarding QB play.

Yeah, Denker did play like a freshman at times.

Something was amiss. Receivers or him or both. Third downs were rough, except for handoffs to Wilson. Pretty sweet that a freshman RB carried the load in his first road game.

Solomon may never throw a pick, because when he misses it's out of play. Survive. Advance. Live and learn. And various other cliches.

PieceOfMeat wrote:

Chicat wrote: As others mentioned, zero turnovers is huge...and managed the game to the best of his ability.

Kinda reminds me of the types of comments we'd hear last year regarding QB play.

Except Denker's ceiling was game management. AS can and will get better and better as the season goes on. Through the first two games, Denker went 17/34, for 168 yards and 1 TD to 0 INT. He ran the ball 30 times for 134 yards and 3 TD's.

Anu, against better teams (certainly UTSA was/is better than NAU or UNLV of last year), went 42/76, for 656 yards, 5 TD's, and 0 INT. Ran the ball 16 times for 61 yards, 0 TD's.

BJ managed 302 yards of total offense in his first two games, and 4 TD's.

Anu managed 717 yards ad 5 TD's against better competition.

No competition, AS performed better to this point in the season. Denker crapped the bed against Washington, it'll be interesting to see what happens with Solomon and his 1st PAC start vs. Cal...

qwertyus wrote:

PieceOfMeat wrote:

Chicat wrote: As others mentioned, zero turnovers is huge...and managed the game to the best of his ability.

Kinda reminds me of the types of comments we'd hear last year regarding QB play.

Except Denker's ceiling was game management. AS can and will get better and better as the season goes on. Through the first two games, Denker went 17/34, for 168 yards and 1 TD to 0 INT. He ran the ball 30 times for 134 yards and 3 TD's.

Anu, against better teams (certainly UTSA was/is better than NAU or UNLV of last year), went 42/76, for 656 yards, 5 TD's, and 0 INT. Ran the ball 16 times for 61 yards, 0 TD's.

BJ managed 302 yards of total offense in his first two games, and 4 TD's.

Anu managed 717 yards ad 5 TD's against better competition.

No competition, AS performed better to this point in the season. Denker crapped the bed against Washington, it'll be interesting to see what happens with Solomon and his 1st PAC start vs. Cal...

He'll be fine.

I'll still take Anu vs UTSA over the train wreck of DenkerBall.

I don't think this has been brought up yet, but I think some of his shaky play can be contributed to getting absolutely rocked in that helmet to helmet hit in the first quarter. You add that element to a first road start against a team like UTSA and I think that's what we saw after the first quarter. He'll learn from this and it's always good to walk away from those learning opportunities with a win.

TuiTouchdown wrote:I don't think this has been brought up yet, but I think some of his shaky play can be contributed to getting absolutely rocked in that helmet to helmet hit in the first quarter. You add that element to a first road start against a team like UTSA and I think that's what we saw after the first quarter. He'll learn from this and it's always good to walk away from those learning opportunities with a win.

He took a couple of big hits that were certified bell-ringers. I thought the refs let UTSA get away with roughing Anu a few times. Hope there are no lingering effects.

Yes he was hit a few times but I don't think he was Tuitama'd.

He should be fine for the next time.

I think what this game showed more than anything is that this team will go as far as Solomon can take them. He missed some throws last night that would have turned this squeaker of a game into a boat race. If he hits throws reliably, choo choo mutha******s.

This game is something that RichRod is probably glad he has right now. It's in the win column, but his guys had to play in some very uncomfortable situations. The game film they've gotten from this is a big gift this early in the season. They know exactly what they need to work on and they've got two extra days before Nevada. I was of the opinion even before the season started that Cal isn't going to be as bad as people think, so this kind of film and the practice that Solomon can get is a very very good thing.

On another note - I was ok with him taking the safety. Maybe he may have had time to throw it away but he wasn't turned to where he could throw where he wanted and I'd rather have him step out of the end zone than give UTSA a chance to pick the ball off; this was the kind of thing they were feasting on Houston on as far as causing them to throw picks. Plus, looking back, the safety turned out very well for Arizona.

Even though some criticized me in the In Game thread, I thought taking the safety was a good play. As was noted, intentional grounding in the endzone is a safety anyway, so what's the harm in throwing it out of bounds and who cares if they make the call?

But Anu had 4 orange jerseys right in his face. They could have batted the ball up, Solomon could have fumbled, Solomon could have tried to force a pass, and even if was able to throw it away with penalty, that would have still left Riggleman with only 12 yards to punt the ball instead of 15. That could had led to a block, or at best a very short field for UTSA. With a safety Skowron was able to kick off from the 20 making a much longer field for UTSA.

Some call it a freshman mistake, I say it was a heads up play.