Game #1 vs UTSA Roadrunners discussion thread

[Main Event]

Pretty damn excited for this.

#ThrowItToSamajie

[azgreg]

[azgreg]

If anyone is interested the Larry Coker radio show is tonight at 7:00 San Antonio time. Might be interesting to hear what Coker says about our Cats.

http://www.ticket760.com/onair/larry-coker-show-56775

[ASUHATER!]

Sucks to lose ippolito and not have Johnson or griffey for the game but overall we're pretty darn healthy going into the season

[Sage&Silver]

Sucks to lose ippolito and not have Johnson or griffey for the game but overall we're pretty darn healthy going into the season

Agreed.

Bright side, assuming these foot injuries are minor; having two play makers forced to sit out until October-ish could work out down the road. Fresh legs.

[ANGCatFan]

[ANGCatFan]

AZDS - UTSA vs. Arizona: Five UTSA players you should know.

[azgreg]

AZDS - UTSA vs. Arizona: Five UTSA players you should know.

5 players? That would be all the returning starters.

[azgreg]

[azgreg]

RR just announced that the Cats will be wearing red lids, blue jerseys, and red pants.

[ANGCatFan]

Huge fan of these cartoons!

Five off-the-beaten-path storylines of Arizona Wildcats’ season opener vs. UTSA

[ANGCatFan]

Tony Ellison has switched his number from 29 to 9 fwiw.

[azgreg]

Time for that game thread POM.

[azpenguin]

Sucks to lose ippolito and not have Johnson or griffey for the game but overall we're pretty darn healthy going into the season

Agreed.

Bright side, assuming these foot injuries are minor; having two play makers forced to sit out until October-ish could work out down the road. Fresh legs.

I'd hope so. The one thing that makes me nervous is that foot injuries have a tendency to linger.

[scumdevils86]

section 15 row 31 checking in!

dunno if we still do that...

[ANGCatFan]

section 15 row 31 checking in!

dunno if we still do that...

We do once POM puts up a game thread at Official Football Game Threads.

[Merkin]

Sucks to lose ippolito and not have Johnson or griffey for the game but overall we're pretty darn healthy going into the season

Agreed.

Bright side, assuming these foot injuries are minor; having two play makers forced to sit out until October-ish could work out down the road. Fresh legs.

I'd hope so. The one thing that makes me nervous is that foot injuries have a tendency to linger.

Not sure how a player can stay in in-game shape with a bad wheel.

[azpenguin]

RR has been pretty good about managing those things. Guys who aren't in game shape tend to see limited snaps as they ease back into the season. This year is gonna require him to be a witch managing injuries, though.

[ANGCatFan]

Shane Dale from the ABC station in Phoenix.

Here are three questions and a prediction for UA’s season opener at Arizona Stadium.

1. How will the new O-line look?

Not only are the Wildcats replacing three starters from last season’s offensive line, but one of this year’s presumed starters, center Carter Wood, will miss the season after suffering a career-ending foot injury during training camp. Will incoming starters such as Chandler native Zach Hemmila and Cal transfer Freddie Tagaloa give sophomore quarterback Anu Solomon time to throw and sophomore tailback Nick Wilson room to run Thursday?

2. Who will step up at wide receiver?

The Wildcats have one of the best receiving corps in the country, but on Thursday, they’ll be without two of their top contributors from last season -- junior Trey Griffey and sophomore Tyrell Johnson -- due to injury. Will last year’s top two UA receivers, juniors Cayleb Jones and Samajie Grant, along with junior Nate Phillips and senior David Richards, do enough to compensate for the Cats’ pair of absences?

3. Will Scooby start strong?

Junior linebacker Scooby Wright III complied a number of national awards last season, and earlier this week, a national college football writer called him the best player in the country. Suffice it to say that big things are expected this year from the former two-star recruit, especially with fellow starting linebacker Cody Ippolito suffering a season-ending ACL tear last week. Has the hype gotten to Scooby’s head, or will he open the season with that familiar chip on his shoulder that came from being undervalued coming out of high school?

Prediction:

The Roadrunners went just 4-8 last season, and they return just five starters from that team. Last year’s game in San Antonio was much closer than it should have been. If this one is close, it should be a major cause for concern for the Cats. But don’t expect that to happen. Look for Anu, Scooby & Co. to roll in Tucson.

Wildcats 45, Roadrunners 17

I think question number 2 is a miss. Our starting 4 receivers did not change because of Johnson and Griffey being out. Tomorrow does give a chance for Brown, Ellison, Jackson, Haden, and Mendivil to show they belong in the receiver rotation, but I'm much more concerned about our pass protection than our pass catchers tomorrow.

Scooby is interesting to outsiders because he is now a national name and the face of our team, but worrying about how he is going to do is pointless. Scooby will be great and will be pissed when the coaches try and pull him off the field. The question is will he get better support this year? Is the front six going to raise their game to try and match Scooby's motor and intensity.

[azgreg]

[ANGCatFan]

If the game goes as expected, tomorrow will be an all play and lots of players will get a chance to prove they belong in the rotation when P12 play starts and we beat ucla. One of the players I am really looking forward to seeing tomorrow is Johnny Jackson. He is back at receiver and could solidify time in the rotation tomorrow. Here is an interview with Jackson by Brad Allis of WSR.

[PHXCATS]

Think with the two disappointments to end the year the Cats come out big and strong. Like the Cats to cover and give up nothing on d. Cats cover withh the under

[ANGCatFan]

Here is the latest story I could find on the Roadrunners from the San Antonio paper.

In a late change, transfer Austin Pratt has moved in from right guard to play center, while Will Cavanaugh moved from center back to right guard.

“He’s done a great job,” Bogenschutz said. “Will Cavanaugh was (the center) for awhile, and those two guys battled it out. We like Will at right guard and we like Austin at center.

I knew the center was new, but I didn't realize the changed their minds on the position late in camp. Should be some opportunities to take advantage of the inside of their line.

[azgreg]

[Bruins01]

Huh. Didn't know UA has a receiver named Johnny Jackson. UCLA has a cornerback named Johnny Johnson.

[Sid]

I'm thinking Kern will make a significant impact.

Should be a lot of fun, can't wait!

[ANGCatFan]

Jason Bartel, AZDS, is back with another season of 3 Keys. Last year it was based on music groups and their songs this year it is based on the movies of famous actresses or actors from the area of the team we are playing.

For UTSA the actress is Michelle Rodriguez and her movies,

1. Fast and Furious

2. S.W.A.T

3. Blue Crush

Bartel obviously doesn't know that many of us are visual learners and need a reminder of who Michelle is like this,

or this.

[ANGCatFan]

Glenn Howell and David Kelley preview the game for Ch 11. They mention that according to AG's research, if Sammy Morrison starts tonight he is only the 3rd true Freshman to start on defense for the Wildcats. The other 2 are Tedy Bruschi and Scooby Wright.

[azgreg]

that's pretty good company.

[UAEebs86]

Start the season or start a game? I find it hard to believe that before 2013 only one freshman in the history of Arizona football started a game on defense.

[ANGCatFan]

The only 3 that started the first game of the season.

Cason and Fontenot started most games for Stoops, but not the first.

[azgreg]

No. 22 Wildcats leery of rebuilding Roadrunners

http://www.foxsports.com/arizona/story/ ... tly-090215

[azgreg]

The only 3 that started the first game of the season.

Cason and Fontenot started most games for Stoops, but not the first.

Glenn Howell and David Kelley preview the game for Ch 11. They mention that according to AG's research, if Sammy Morrison starts tonight he is only the 3rd true Freshman to start on defense for the Wildcats. The other 2 are Tedy Bruschi and Scooby Wright.

Gimino has a different version of that.

http://www.tucsonnewsnow.com/story/2995 ... prediction

[ANGCatFan]

I pulled my information from the official site from the 2004 participations report. That said, I trust Gimino's records more than I trust the official site since they can't even give us accurate weights.

Here is the 2004 participation report:


Now that I post this looks like they screwed up the starts for the first game since nobody is showing as a starter including Mike Bell and Darrell Brooks.

In summary - trust Gimino.

[Merkin]

No. 22 Wildcats leery of rebuilding Roadrunners

http://www.foxsports.com/arizona/story/ ... tly-090215

I don't think any team is overlooked anymore. No one wants to be Appalachia State v. Michigan.

[ChooChooCat]

Rumors going around that Samajie Grant and Tellas Jones are suspended for tonight.