2021 Season Thread

Longhorned · Post by **Longhorned** » Sun Sep 26, 2021 11:02 am

Speaking of ASU, that's how I know I'm more optimistic. I can see cause for hope that this team will improve enough to beat them.

Spaceman Spiff · Post by **Spaceman Spiff** » Mon Sep 27, 2021 7:13 am

Longhorned wrote: ↑Sun Sep 26, 2021 11:02 am Speaking of ASU, that's how I know I'm more optimistic. I can see cause for hope that this team will improve enough to beat them.

Optimism around Arizona football is the sign of an impending collapse.

I didn't watch vs Oregon, but moral victories would be more tolerable if they correlated to actual victories against teams we should beat or at least be competitive with. It seems like we got ready for BYU and Oregon and played competitively. Then, against SDSU and NAU, we weren't ready when one game was winnable and the other should have been an easy W.

84Cat · Post by **84Cat** » Mon Sep 27, 2021 8:54 am

I'm not looking at it as a moral victory as much as seeing improvement in key aspects of the game. We also found a qb that can move the ball. He just needs to learn when to throw the ball and when to get rid of it so as to cut down on the int's. It's still definitely a work in progress

Merkin · Post by **Merkin** » Mon Sep 27, 2021 9:12 am

McCloud only had 2 picks all last season against some pretty impressive teams. He knows how to take care of the ball and will settle down.

UAEebs86 · Post by **UAEebs86** » Tue Sep 28, 2021 11:08 am

Who has eligibility left?

Spaceman Spiff · Post by **Spaceman Spiff** » Tue Sep 28, 2021 11:13 am

UAEebs86 wrote: ↑Tue Sep 28, 2021 11:08 am Who has eligibility left?

I have a year left. So if they're looking for a 40 year old who is a solid locker room presence, pulls a calf when he tries to sprint and hasn't played football since high school, I could be their guy.

Chicat · Post by **Chicat** » Tue Sep 28, 2021 11:20 am

How are you at being a tackling dummy? With all that money we are paying to Sumlin and Miller, we can’t afford the inanimate kind any more.

TheCatInTheHat · Post by **TheCatInTheHat** » Tue Sep 28, 2021 11:59 am

When I saw that, I kind of wondered about the optics. You'd think they'd do it during the off-season, unless they really think they'll find another special teams guy or they're suddenly short on the scout team. But I did get a chuckle out of it. You can make some comparisons between 2021 Arizona and the 1976 Philadelphia Eagles in the film Invincible. Couldn't help but think of Dick Vermeil's open try-outs. "Gonna be a Wildcat, Baby!"

Merkin · Post by **Merkin** » Tue Sep 28, 2021 12:06 pm

Reminds me of the Rob Evans years at ASU. They had open tryouts for their basketball program.

Heck, just head down to the rec center. See all kinds of good players.

U.P. Zona Fan · Post by **U.P. Zona Fan** » Tue Sep 28, 2021 6:38 pm

Spaceman Spiff wrote: ↑Tue Sep 28, 2021 11:13 am
UAEebs86 wrote: ↑Tue Sep 28, 2021 11:08 am Who has eligibility left?

I have a year left. So if they're looking for a 40 year old who is a solid locker room presence, pulls a calf when he tries to sprint and hasn't played football since high school, I could be their guy.

Used mine up swimming, plus I weigh like 130 pounds now so I'm not much of a challenge to move.

Postmaster · Post by **Postmaster** » Tue Sep 28, 2021 8:53 pm

Did you ever see the episode of King of Queens where Doug tries out for a semi pro team?
Didn’t end well for Doug.

Surprised the coaches have time to run tryouts.

TheCatInTheHat · Post by **TheCatInTheHat** » Tue Sep 28, 2021 9:44 pm

With all due respect to social media giant Jared Tevis, maybe everybody's "always" held walk-on tryouts in the fall. The issue is that it was never blasted out like a marketing campaign, which is not a good look for anyone with any common sense, and pointing that out is the exact opposite as "dumb as rocks." In this case, feel free to use the associative power to determine exactly who. most deserves to share company with rocks.

azgreg · Post by **azgreg** » Wed Sep 29, 2021 5:19 am

Postmaster wrote: ↑Tue Sep 28, 2021 8:53 pm Did you ever see the episode of King of Queens where Doug tries out for a semi pro team?
Didn’t end well for Doug.

Surprised the coaches have time to run tryouts.

All schools hold tryouts. Some in the spring some during the season. Arkansas had one after the 2nd week.

Chicat · Post by **Chicat** » Wed Sep 29, 2021 7:48 am

ASU fans are trolling us about walk-on tryouts, conveniently forgetting that their coaching staff just held them as well, and that they’re a bunch of cheating douchebags who had to spread Covid all over the place to recruit a bunch of kids who just decommitted.

Spaceman Spiff · Post by **Spaceman Spiff** » Wed Sep 29, 2021 3:41 pm

Chicat wrote: ↑Wed Sep 29, 2021 7:48 am ASU fans are trolling us about walk-on tryouts, conveniently forgetting that their coaching staff just held them as well, and that they’re a bunch of cheating douchebags who had to spread Covid all over the place to recruit a bunch of kids who just decommitted.

Yeah...I mean the bottom line is we're going to be easy to mock for whatever as long as we keep losing. My friend texts me "It's Personal" every time something embarassing happens, and as long as you keep losing, what can you do?

Carcassdragger · Post by **Carcassdragger** » Wed Sep 29, 2021 4:11 pm

Spaceman Spiff wrote: ↑Wed Sep 29, 2021 3:41 pm
Chicat wrote: ↑Wed Sep 29, 2021 7:48 am ASU fans are trolling us about walk-on tryouts, conveniently forgetting that their coaching staff just held them as well, and that they’re a bunch of cheating douchebags who had to spread Covid all over the place to recruit a bunch of kids who just decommitted.
Yeah...I mean the bottom line is we're going to be easy to mock for whatever as long as we keep losing. My friend texts me "It's Personal" every time something embarassing happens, and as long as you keep losing, what can you do?

Every time something embarassing happens? Man, that's alot of texts.

Chicat · Post by **Chicat** » Wed Sep 29, 2021 5:04 pm

Carcassdragger wrote: ↑Wed Sep 29, 2021 4:11 pm
Spaceman Spiff wrote: ↑Wed Sep 29, 2021 3:41 pm
Chicat wrote: ↑Wed Sep 29, 2021 7:48 am ASU fans are trolling us about walk-on tryouts, conveniently forgetting that their coaching staff just held them as well, and that they’re a bunch of cheating douchebags who had to spread Covid all over the place to recruit a bunch of kids who just decommitted.
Yeah...I mean the bottom line is we're going to be easy to mock for whatever as long as we keep losing. My friend texts me "It's Personal" every time something embarassing happens, and as long as you keep losing, what can you do?

Every time something embarassing happens? Man, that's alot of texts.

Hopefully he has an unlimited plan.

azgreg · Post by **azgreg** » Mon Oct 04, 2021 12:05 pm

azgreg · Post by **azgreg** » Tue Oct 05, 2021 4:58 pm

gronk4heisman · Post by **gronk4heisman** » Tue Oct 05, 2021 5:03 pm

azgreg wrote: ↑Mon Oct 04, 2021 12:05 pm

First, why was it not so from the start of the season? Second, why make the change before a white out?

azgreg · Post by **azgreg** » Tue Oct 05, 2021 5:12 pm

gronk4heisman wrote: ↑Tue Oct 05, 2021 5:03 pm
azgreg wrote: ↑Mon Oct 04, 2021 12:05 pm

First, why was it not so from the start of the season? Second, why make the change before a white out?

He stated they wore white at the beginning of the season at home because it was hot. Most teams were their home unis during a white out.

UAEebs86 · Post by **UAEebs86** » Tue Oct 05, 2021 5:50 pm

azgreg wrote: ↑Tue Oct 05, 2021 5:12 pm
gronk4heisman wrote: ↑Tue Oct 05, 2021 5:03 pm
azgreg wrote: ↑Mon Oct 04, 2021 12:05 pm

First, why was it not so from the start of the season? Second, why make the change before a white out?
He stated they wore white at the beginning of the season at home because it was hot. Most teams were their home unis during a white out.

They were fucking night games, one indoors. Jersey color makes no difference. What a maroon.

azgreg · Post by **azgreg** » Wed Oct 06, 2021 3:36 am

UAEebs86 wrote: ↑Tue Oct 05, 2021 5:50 pm
azgreg wrote: ↑Tue Oct 05, 2021 5:12 pm
gronk4heisman wrote: ↑Tue Oct 05, 2021 5:03 pm
azgreg wrote: ↑Mon Oct 04, 2021 12:05 pm

First, why was it not so from the start of the season? Second, why make the change before a white out?
He stated they wore white at the beginning of the season at home because it was hot. Most teams were their home unis during a white out.

They were fucking night games, one indoors. Jersey color makes no difference. What a maroon.

In Vegas we were the visitors.

CatsbyAZ · Post by **CatsbyAZ** » Wed Oct 06, 2021 9:28 am

Thinking of going to our Nov 6 homegame Vs Cal.

With Cal and Colorado almost as bad as we are I figured Cal is one of our only two shots at witnessing a win this year.

TheCatInTheHat · Post by **TheCatInTheHat** » Wed Oct 06, 2021 10:45 am

A couple of things bug me. First, the "It's Personal" thing. Well, if it's personal, what are you putting it on signs for? That says, "we're tired of losing, we've got a chip on our shoulder, and we're going to take it out on somebody." Okay, if you're capable of doing that, then do it, but don't talk about it. Otherwise, it comes off as the twerpy kid who acts like a jerk and gets laughed at and picked on, and then shouts empty threats over it and gets laughed at even more. (And SDSU comes to our place, takes our lunch money, and tosses their own "it's personal" at us on their way out of town.) I've noticed that the signs on campus for the next game now use the alternate "Desert Rising" slogan. Well, that's better, but pick one campaign slogan for the year and stick to it. Then the Alumni Association puts out an e-mail promoting their travel excursion to Boulder. (I've never done that; I'm happier making my own arrangements.) But they insist on calling it the "Boulder Takeover". Uh...no. There will be a smallish group of mostly player family members and friends, some people with "official duties" (a.k.a. boondoggle), and a few random fans. I don't see the point in trying to paint that as "we OWN this place." If we've had some luck there recently, it's because CU has been really bad, not that we've been particularly good. You've got to have some reasonable level of quiet confidence, but I'd just think that the circumstances of the past couple of years would instill a bit more humility. Do it first, then let your actions speak for themselves. (And get off my lawn.)

azcat49 · Post by **azcat49** » Wed Oct 06, 2021 2:33 pm

I thought the it’s personal slogan was more about relationships and the depth of those?

We are improving and there seems to be a very small glimmer at the end of the tunnel

UAEebs86 · Post by **UAEebs86** » Wed Oct 06, 2021 2:35 pm

azcat49 wrote: ↑Wed Oct 06, 2021 2:33 pm
We are improving and there seems to be a very small glimmer at the end of the tunnel

Might be an oncoming train.

azgreg · Post by **azgreg** » Wed Oct 06, 2021 3:29 pm

azcat49 wrote: ↑Wed Oct 06, 2021 2:33 pm I thought the it’s personal slogan was more about relationships and the depth of those?

We are improving and there seems to be a very small glimmer at the end of the tunnel

>

Merkin · Post by **Merkin** » Wed Oct 06, 2021 7:51 pm

I hate gimmicks for a losing program.

OSUCat · Post by **OSUCat** » Sat Oct 09, 2021 10:38 pm

Go Joiner/Berryhill/Anderson wildcat for the rest of the season.

OSUCat · Post by **OSUCat** » Sat Oct 09, 2021 10:38 pm

Go Joiner/Berryhill/Anderson wildcat for the rest of the season.

AZCatGirl · Post by **AZCatGirl** » Sat Oct 09, 2021 10:46 pm

No more color out games for ANY sport. Enough is enough.

Merkin · Post by **Merkin** » Sun Oct 10, 2021 7:33 am

This year the offense was supposed to be better than the defense, yet the Cats can't score more than 19 points a game all season.

With McCloud out indefinitely, why not put Joyner back there as QB? He came to UA as a QB and can't be much worse than Cruz and Plummer, and will certainly be more mobile.

Chicat · Post by **Chicat** » Sun Oct 10, 2021 7:35 am

It’s Personal…………ly embarrassing.

EastCoastCat · Post by **EastCoastCat** » Sun Oct 10, 2021 7:40 am

My excitement over attending the Cal game during my upcoming homecoming trip is waning.

How is the halftime show?

Irish27 · Post by **Irish27** » Sun Oct 10, 2021 8:46 am

The entire student section should copy those few students who wore the Safeway paper bags over their heads.

Siempre Verde · Post by **Siempre Verde** » Sun Oct 10, 2021 10:00 am

Irish27 wrote: ↑Sun Oct 10, 2021 8:46 am The entire student section should copy those few students who wore the Safeway paper bags over their heads.

I would have figured UofA students for Trader Joe’s shoppers. Lol. Not like Robbins will give a crap, so long as he has his Chardonnay.

Fishclamps · Post by **Fishclamps** » Sun Oct 10, 2021 10:06 am

Merkin wrote: ↑Sun Oct 10, 2021 7:33 am This year the offense was supposed to be better than the defense, yet the Cats can't score more than 19 points a game all season.

With McCloud out indefinitely, why not put Joyner back there as QB? He came to UA as a QB and can't be much worse than Cruz and Plummer, and will certainly be more mobile.

Absolutely. I mentioned it in the game thread yesterday they should just put him in. He threw a beautiful cross field touchdown on that trick play.

UAEebs86 · Post by **UAEebs86** » Sun Oct 10, 2021 10:11 am

Fishclamps wrote: ↑Sun Oct 10, 2021 10:06 am
Merkin wrote: ↑Sun Oct 10, 2021 7:33 am This year the offense was supposed to be better than the defense, yet the Cats can't score more than 19 points a game all season.

With McCloud out indefinitely, why not put Joyner back there as QB? He came to UA as a QB and can't be much worse than Cruz and Plummer, and will certainly be more mobile.
Absolutely. I mentioned it in the game thread yesterday they should just put him in. He threw a beautiful cross field touchdown on that trick play.

He was a very inaccurate QB when he played for Cienega HS. He made plays with his athleticism. But at this point I'm not sure we have anything to lose if he and his parents are OK with the switch.

84Cat · Post by **84Cat** » Sun Oct 10, 2021 10:24 am

U.P. Zona Fan · Post by **U.P. Zona Fan** » Sun Oct 10, 2021 1:12 pm

Oh my gosh. Those are bad numbers,

AZCatGirl · Post by **AZCatGirl** » Sun Oct 10, 2021 8:15 pm

No surprise, but still heartbreaking.

UAEebs86 · Post by **UAEebs86** » Sun Oct 10, 2021 8:54 pm

Only played 3 games right? So he can redshirt if he hasn't already.

Postmaster · Post by **Postmaster** » Sun Oct 10, 2021 9:55 pm

Those 3rd down numbers are bad, but I feel like we are running the ball more and better since mcclode started, which, I think is giving us shorter 3rd downs.

DrWildcat · Post by **DrWildcat** » Mon Oct 11, 2021 7:01 am

Postmaster wrote: ↑Sun Oct 10, 2021 9:55 pm Those 3rd down numbers are bad, but I feel like we are running the ball more and better since mcclode started, which, I think is giving us shorter 3rd downs.

Well the defense actually has to respect the passing game with McCloud in which makes it easier to run.

Carcassdragger · Post by **Carcassdragger** » Mon Oct 11, 2021 12:15 pm

On reflection and trying to take away something positive from this disaster of a program: these kids are showing alot of character. I haven't seen them give up. They just keep playing hard. I'd like for us to win, but I'll keep pulling for these guys.

UALoco · Post by **UALoco** » Mon Oct 11, 2021 1:36 pm

Why isn't Bam Smith getting any snaps?

Merkin · Post by **Merkin** » Mon Oct 11, 2021 1:41 pm

UALoco wrote: ↑Mon Oct 11, 2021 1:36 pm Why isn't Bam Smith getting any snaps?

I have wondered the same thing. My only guess, and it's just a guess, is that he is another Nathan Tilford. All the running skill in the world, but can't pick up the playbook, or being able to block and protect the QB.

UALoco · Post by **UALoco** » Mon Oct 11, 2021 2:23 pm

Merkin wrote: ↑Mon Oct 11, 2021 1:41 pm
UALoco wrote: ↑Mon Oct 11, 2021 1:36 pm Why isn't Bam Smith getting any snaps?
I have wondered the same thing. My only guess, and it's just a guess, is that he is another Nathan Tilford. All the running skill in the world, but can't pick up the playbook, or being able to block and protect the QB.

Just hope it is not something nefarious. (on the part of the coaching staff, not Bam)

AzCatFan2 · Post by **AzCatFan2** » Mon Oct 11, 2021 2:47 pm

It's five games in and I'm still trying to figure out Fisch's offensive philosophy. Is it hurry up? At times, yes. Spread? Occasionally. Power running? From time to time, but not enough. I can tell that we're not a vertical passing team, nor does Fisch like to run any read option, and very few RPO plays. Seems to me, the only consistent thing from our offense is our incredible ability to shoot ourselves in the foot and end a drive before we reach the end zone. Be it by penalty, negative yardage play, or bonehead mistake, the one thing we do well is self sabotage!

Personally, I think we need some sort of gimmick and identity on offense to succeed. I don't think we can be a pro-style team, because we're not going to recruit the best pro-style players. RichRod did well with the read option spread, and Dykes had success with the Air-izona offense. Even though Tomey himself was more conservative, his best offensive teams with Homer Smith/Dino Babers ran a similar offense as Dykes, with spread formations, and a lot of vertical passing. Helps when you have players like Canidate, Northcutt, McDaniel, and Brennan as skill players, and Eafon as a power back for short yardage situations.

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