Arizona Head Coach Brent Brennan

[azgreg]

What is that technique where Fafita holds the ball like he is a statue when he is handing off? I've seen similar but it's usually a team that is employing an option of some sort.

Idk, but I like how our o line is a problem except Fifita has the longest time to throw in college football. So which is it.

Having the longest time to throw and holding onto the ball the longest aren't the same thing.

[azcat49]

Does anyone know if Babers was strongly encouraged to be our OC. I have heard some rumors about that. Certainly still his call to reject that but at least it might give him some rope

[AZarchery]

What is that technique where Fafita holds the ball like he is a statue when he is handing off? I've seen similar but it's usually a team that is employing an option of some sort.

Idk, but I like how our o line is a problem except Fifita has the longest time to throw in college football. So which is it.

Having the longest time to throw and holding onto the ball the longest aren't the same thing.

True. But if the o line was really that bad both of those metrics would be vastly different because Fifita would be forced to get rid of it. The fact that Fifita can drop back 15 yards and not get sacked every single time shows that the o line is more than competent.

In my mind the scheme sucks which forces Fifita to hold onto the ball. Do we not throw bubble screens, tunnel screens, slants anymore?

[Chicat]

DMJ’sBCBB

I pity your wife

Oh goody, a personal attack bringing up my family. You’re a real winner dmj.

I didn't attack your family or wife.......I pity them.

You have a real issue with reading comprehension, don’t you?

[azgreg]

True. But if the o line was really that bad both of those metrics would be vastly different because Fifita would be forced to get rid of it. The fact that Fifita can drop back 15 yards and not get sacked every single time shows that the o line is more than competent.

In my mind the scheme sucks which forces Fifita to hold onto the ball. Do we not throw bubble screens, tunnel screens, slants anymore?

He's been holding onto the ball while running and scrambling for his life.

[dmjcat]

DMJ’sBCBB

I pity your wife

Oh goody, a personal attack bringing up my family. You’re a real winner dmj.

I didn't attack your family or wife.......I pity them.

You have a real issue with reading comprehension, don’t you?

Not in the least.

[AZarchery]

True. But if the o line was really that bad both of those metrics would be vastly different because Fifita would be forced to get rid of it. The fact that Fifita can drop back 15 yards and not get sacked every single time shows that the o line is more than competent.

In my mind the scheme sucks which forces Fifita to hold onto the ball. Do we not throw bubble screens, tunnel screens, slants anymore?

He's been holding onto the ball while running and scrambling for his life.

Occasionally yes, but not all the time. He def has more than enough time for a 2 step drop and get the ball out. But again the scheme isn’t calling for that

[ProfessorFate]

True. But if the o line was really that bad both of those metrics would be vastly different because Fifita would be forced to get rid of it. The fact that Fifita can drop back 15 yards and not get sacked every single time shows that the o line is more than competent.

In my mind the scheme sucks which forces Fifita to hold onto the ball. Do we not throw bubble screens, tunnel screens, slants anymore?

He's been holding onto the ball while running and scrambling for his life.

Occasionally yes, but not all the time. He def has more than enough time for a 2 step drop and get the ball out. But again the scheme isn’t calling for that

This.

[azgreg]

True. But if the o line was really that bad both of those metrics would be vastly different because Fifita would be forced to get rid of it. The fact that Fifita can drop back 15 yards and not get sacked every single time shows that the o line is more than competent.

In my mind the scheme sucks which forces Fifita to hold onto the ball. Do we not throw bubble screens, tunnel screens, slants anymore?

He's been holding onto the ball while running and scrambling for his life.

Occasionally yes, but not all the time. He def has more than enough time for a 2 step drop and get the ball out. But again the scheme isn’t calling for that

It's clear to me that the O line isn't as good as last year. Losing Morgan will do that. I'll give you the scheme deal. There was a play early in the WVU game where the QB rolled out left with the TE in front of him. When the defender got by the TE the QB flipped the ball to the TE for a sizeable gain. Beautiful play. That type of play isn't in Brennan's playbook like it was in Fisch's.

[RawleArenas]

I am sticking up for SANITY.

Fire Brennan and whomever you hire is going to have the SAME problem next year (little talent). And of course with very little NIL the new coach won't be able to recruit either so the "Jump of the Cliff" crowd will be right back here calling for the new coach to be fired.

Get a grip. You don't rebuild overnight, especially if you are NIL-Limited UA.

Think about every new coach UofA has had and the talent they had available. Stoops had nothing, rich rod had nothing, sumlin had a diva in Tate, fisch had less than nothing.

Now picture the circumstance Brennan walked into. All 4 of those coaches would have traded anything to start with what Brennan has.

THIS ISNT A REBUILD. Stop saying that. Brennan almost everything in place to field an upper tier Big 12 team. Maybe not contend for a title but def not finish last like we will.

^^^THIS^^^

Cannot be stressed enough. The kind of team Brennan has is the stuff of dreams for first year coaches. There are no more Tyler Loops in Brennan's future, or TMacs. The talent he has (or had) to manage is simply unbelievable. He has a kicker that can roll out of bed in his jammies and kick 60 yarders. Over 90 percent of coaches across the country would kill just for Loop. Can you imagine getting stalled at the 50 yard line and still be able to get points out of that drive? Alabama is the most storied program in America over the last 10 years or so and they have two first rounders for the 2025 draft. Arizona? THREE.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nfl/20 ... ngNewsSerp

If carefully selected, a great coach can come in on day one and move the needle for this program. However, no one should give rope to a coach who has never won more than seven games. He had his shot.

[PHXCATS]

Every position group is substantially worse than last year but that doesn't fit the narrative

[ChooChooCat]

Every position group is substantially worse than last year but that doesn't fit the narrative

Some people just live to make excuses for garbage no matter how bad it stinks.

[PHXCATS]

Every position group is substantially worse than last year but that doesn't fit the narrative

Some people just live to make excuses for garbage no matter how bad it stinks.

QB-No JDL as a backup and to help Noah (substantially worse room)
WR-No Cowing and no one has stepped up to be a 10th of Cowing (substantially worse room)
TE-Burnett has stepped up when healthy but still no where near as good as Mclaughlin (substantially worse)
RB-Lose your four best RBs from last. Conley has been good and Reeceno is good as a backup but substantially worse
Oline-Lose Morgan lose tons of depth. No one playing better than last year of the returning players (substantially worse)

I support the players fully. I will be at both games. I will renew my tickers and donate more. Because I am not fair weather

[AZarchery]

Every position group is substantially worse than last year but that doesn't fit the narrative

And yet every position group is substantially better than any new coach has ever had. Hell this group is probably better than any group rich rod had, yet his teams never looked this unprepared or inept. (Maybe the 3-3-5 did at times)

[ChooChooCat]

Every position group is substantially worse than last year but that doesn't fit the narrative

Some people just live to make excuses for garbage no matter how bad it stinks.

QB-No JDL as a backup and to help Noah (substantially worse room)
WR-No Cowing and no one has stepped up to be a 10th of Cowing (substantially worse room)
TE-Burnett has stepped up when healthy but still no where near as good as Mclaughlin (substantially worse)
RB-Lose your four best RBs from last. Conley has been good and Reeceno is good as a backup but substantially worse
Oline-Lose Morgan lose tons of depth. No one playing better than last year of the returning players (substantially worse)

I support the players fully. I will be at both games. I will renew my tickers and donate more. Because I am not fair weather

Yes that explains why we can only muster 22 points versus Texas Tech when Abilene Christian put up 51 on them. It also explains why we can only put up 7 against Colorado for homecoming. It certainly also explains how we lose to West Virginia at home when WV didn't have its starting QB, best OL, and 90% of its defense hurt.

Is there less talent than last year on this team? Sure. Should it be this bad? Absolutely fucking not. Quit carrying the water for a catastrophe of a coaching job. I'm happy you're such a great fan and better than all of us though. Good for you.

[ChooChooCat]

Every position group is substantially worse than last year but that doesn't fit the narrative

And yet every position group is substantially better than any new coach has ever had. Hell this group is probably better than any group rich rod had, yet his teams never looked this unprepared or inept. (Maybe the 3-3-5 did at times)

Correct.

[Postmaster]

True. But if the o line was really that bad both of those metrics would be vastly different because Fifita would be forced to get rid of it. The fact that Fifita can drop back 15 yards and not get sacked every single time shows that the o line is more than competent.

In my mind the scheme sucks which forces Fifita to hold onto the ball. Do we not throw bubble screens, tunnel screens, slants anymore?

He's been holding onto the ball while running and scrambling for his life.

Occasionally yes, but not all the time. He def has more than enough time for a 2 step drop and get the ball out. But again the scheme isn’t calling for that

It's clear to me that the O line isn't as good as last year. Losing Morgan will do that. I'll give you the scheme deal. There was a play early in the WVU game where the QB rolled out left with the TE in front of him. When the defender got by the TE the QB flipped the ball to the TE for a sizeable gain. Beautiful play. That type of play isn't in Brennan's playbook like it was in Fisch's.

I remember that play. A few minutes later we had same opportunity. IIRC, Fafita threw it away.

[Chicat]

I think the Brennan defenders would have a point if they could illustrate how great he’s done with marginal talent in the past and chalk this up as an anomaly of injuries and key defectors but what is it about his record at San Jose State would lead you to believe that he can actually coach at this level?

It’s certainly not his 8-29 record over his first three seasons at SJSU. Is it the 7-1 Covid season? Because, c’mon let’s be real. Things were just downright wacky that year. And he went a combined 19-18 over the next three seasons.

Time to face up to the fact that if Brennan hadn’t been a GA under Tomey and if his brother wasn’t a beloved Wildcat, there’d be no way he’d even get a cursory interview for a job like Arizona.

[Carcassdragger]

Brent seems like such a good guy though and with the right staff under him, can probably recruit very well.

I'm pulling for him to get a competent offensive staff under him, and right this ship before it sinks. At the latest, changes need to be made before the last game so we can get the contract money in place and have an OC in place immediately after the regular season.

[ChooChooCat]

Brent seems like such a good guy though and with the right staff under him, can probably recruit very well.

I'm pulling for him to get a competent offensive staff under him, and right this ship before it sinks. At the latest, changes need to be made before the last game so we can get the contract money in place and have an OC in place immediately after the regular season.

Based on the place Brent will be at after this season (if he keeps his job), I don't foresee any OC worth a damn taking on that job. You're basically working under a coach with a red hot seat and most coaches worth a damn aren't exactly excited to sign up to work under those conditions.

[Carcassdragger]

Brent seems like such a good guy though and with the right staff under him, can probably recruit very well.

I'm pulling for him to get a competent offensive staff under him, and right this ship before it sinks. At the latest, changes need to be made before the last game so we can get the contract money in place and have an OC in place immediately after the regular season.

Based on the place Brent will be at after this season (if he keeps his job), I don't foresee any OC worth a damn taking on that job. You're basically working under a coach with a red hot seat and most coaches worth a damn aren't exactly excited to sign up to work under those conditions.

Yeah, but it could be a big break for a young guy-if he can recruit, coach, and scheme well.

[ChooChooCat]

Every position group is substantially worse than last year but that doesn't fit the narrative

Some people just live to make excuses for garbage no matter how bad it stinks.

QB-No JDL as a backup and to help Noah (substantially worse room)
WR-No Cowing and no one has stepped up to be a 10th of Cowing (substantially worse room)
TE-Burnett has stepped up when healthy but still no where near as good as Mclaughlin (substantially worse)
RB-Lose your four best RBs from last. Conley has been good and Reeceno is good as a backup but substantially worse
Oline-Lose Morgan lose tons of depth. No one playing better than last year of the returning players (substantially worse)

I support the players fully. I will be at both games. I will renew my tickers and donate more. Because I am not fair weather

Yes that explains why we can only muster 22 points versus Texas Tech when Abilene Christian put up 51 on them. It also explains why we can only put up 7 against Colorado for homecoming. It certainly also explains how we lose to West Virginia at home when WV didn't have its starting QB, best OL, and 90% of its defense hurt.

Is there less talent than last year on this team? Sure. Should it be this bad? Absolutely fucking not. Quit carrying the water for a catastrophe of a coaching job. I'm happy you're such a great fan and better than all of us though. Good for you.

Oh and also why did Arizona only put up 26 at home to WV whose defense has been literally so bad that they fired their DC a week after playing us?

https://x.com/PeteThamel/status/1851275346106040697

[gronk4heisman]

Real coaches fire coordinators who clearly underperform.

[azcat49]

For all intents and purposes, Babers has been fired. The issue is we took all fall and spring and installing his offense and you just can’t install a new one in a few weeks. A few plays for sure but CBB made the huge mistake of hiring Babers. Whether that was forced on him or strongly suggested is up for debate

[gronk4heisman]

For all intents and purposes, Babers has been fired. The issue is we took all fall and spring and installing his offense and you just can’t install a new one in a few weeks. A few plays for sure but CBB made the huge mistake of hiring Babers. Whether that was forced on him or strongly suggested is up for debate

The optics of him not being fired shows the weakness in Brennan that is supported by the play on the field and demeaner in press room. For all intents and purposes is a lot different then what is shown to the team and their families, they media, the fans and the recruits. This is a cutthroat business and either you are cut out for it our you aren't. I know I am not, but I am not paid millions to be in this role.

A firing at least shows to all that the crap that got put out there will not be acceptable in this program, as opposed to quietly hiding the fact that we are keeping him on in a reduced role that only those die hards even notice changed because we don't want to hurt his feelings.

[azcat49]

I don’t think that would have the type of impact with fans that you think. Only thing that is going to win them back is wins. He has lost them for the near future. I get where you are coming from though

[RawleArenas]

Does anyone know if DRF can override Brennan and hire new staff if the boosters don't pony up? Does anyone know the details of his contract?

[ChooChooCat]

Does anyone know if DRF can override Brennan and hire new staff if the boosters don't pony up? Does anyone know the details of his contract?

Yes, the AD can dictate hires if she so desires. Usually that's not acceptable or is the case, but Brent isn't her guy and he's on thin ice, so if DRF wants a T-Rex to be her OC she can pretty much make it happen.

[Winger]

Its over. You have to find the $9 mil and blow this up. Brennan was hired in 2 hours with the Arizona AD working out of a hotel room in Washington due to a grounded plane. No search, no due diligence, no competition, nada. He isnt qualified for the job and if you need a second opinion Scheer’s at the time of the hiring was : “anyone but Brennan”. Heeke and Robbins left so many turds it is easy to lose count but this was their final one. Unreal how incompetent the Arizona AD has been since Ced left. Trashed a legit national caliber department, mostly behind laziness coupled with sappy nepotism.

[azgreg]

Closer to $16M.

[TucsonClip]

Its over. You have to find the $9 mil and blow this up. Brennan was hired in 2 hours with the Arizona AD working out of a hotel room in Washington due to a grounded plane. No search, no due diligence, no competition, nada. He isnt qualified for the job and if you need a second opinion Scheer’s at the time of the hiring was : “anyone but Brennan”. Heeke and Robbins left so many turds it is easy to lose count but this was their final one. Unreal how incompetent the Arizona AD has been since Ced left. Trashed a legit national caliber department, mostly behind laziness coupled with sappy nepotism.

Had a heard a few weeks back some of the doners didn't think this was gonna work, despite really like Brennan as a person. Time to foot the bill.

[Merkin]

Its over. You have to find the $9 mil and blow this up. Brennan was hired in 2 hours with the Arizona AD working out of a hotel room in Washington due to a grounded plane. No search, no due diligence, no competition, nada. He isnt qualified for the job and if you need a second opinion Scheer’s at the time of the hiring was : “anyone but Brennan”. Heeke and Robbins left so many turds it is easy to lose count but this was their final one. Unreal how incompetent the Arizona AD has been since Ced left. Trashed a legit national caliber department, mostly behind laziness coupled with sappy nepotism.

Too bad Brennan wasn't eating a sloppy hamburger during his interview.

And like Greg alluded too, HIS buyout is $10M if poached by another team, UA's is $16M if fired this season.

[IrishAzCat]

[Alieberman]

Just watched part of his last Press Conference after this blowout loss.

He seemed to have no clue why this team is terrible and seemed completed out of his league.

[Postmaster]

I was listening to the post game show and David Kelly suggested that if CBB was relieved of his duties (after next season) that UA might want to keep him around and give him some other role in the AD. Kelly said people like him and he is the type of guy you would want around the program.

Eafon and Howell got quite a chuckle out of this idea.

[Winger]

Its over. You have to find the $9 mil and blow this up. Brennan was hired in 2 hours with the Arizona AD working out of a hotel room in Washington due to a grounded plane. No search, no due diligence, no competition, nada. He isnt qualified for the job and if you need a second opinion Scheer’s at the time of the hiring was : “anyone but Brennan”. Heeke and Robbins left so many turds it is easy to lose count but this was their final one. Unreal how incompetent the Arizona AD has been since Ced left. Trashed a legit national caliber department, mostly behind laziness coupled with sappy nepotism.

Had a heard a few weeks back some of the doners didn't think this was gonna work, despite really like Brennan as a person. Time to foot the bill.

In my orbit he has lost just about everyone. Despite everyone initially really wanting this to work. Essentially entirely on account of what has transpired on the field. It has simply been, Utah aside, an abject failure everywhere. Next step is probably a sacrificial lamb but thats just misdirection.

[Winger]

Its over. You have to find the $9 mil and blow this up. Brennan was hired in 2 hours with the Arizona AD working out of a hotel room in Washington due to a grounded plane. No search, no due diligence, no competition, nada. He isnt qualified for the job and if you need a second opinion Scheer’s at the time of the hiring was : “anyone but Brennan”. Heeke and Robbins left so many turds it is easy to lose count but this was their final one. Unreal how incompetent the Arizona AD has been since Ced left. Trashed a legit national caliber department, mostly behind laziness coupled with sappy nepotism.

Too bad Brennan wasn't eating a sloppy hamburger during his interview.

And like Greg alluded too, HIS buyout is $10M if poached by another team, UA's is $16M if fired this season.

I must still have Fisch’s contract in my brain.

[IrishAzCat]

[Chicat]

Opie ain’t the one. Whether he gets one year or three to prove it, the truth is staring all of us in the face.

[Postmaster]

I feel like I've seen that Dumpster before.

[Carcassdragger]

Been thinking (more like stewing) about this situation for a couple hours.

I get that there may have been a bit more of a talent gap than we realized this year compared to last year. The thing is, it's not that we're losing, it's that we are not really competing and getting absolutely blown off the field by mediocre teams. We seem to be getting worse as the season progresses. We are now, pretty much, one of the absolute worst teams in the country.

This is just a complete failure, in every way, by this staff. No other logical way to look at it.

I like CBB and want him given more time, but sheesh, five net yards rushing? Give me break. Its obvious he needs to make some changes in his staff. Now.

[AZCatGirl]

The only thing I disagree with is wanting to give him more time. We got embarrassed today and he's still saying the same damn things in the press conference. He feels way in over his head and I feel like what's left of the defense has already quit on him.

Meanwhile ASU wins yet again today, and I fear another 70-7 game coming. (And yes I know the game is in Tucson this year.)

[CalStateTempe]

Mid major coach

[Postmaster]

Mid major coach

Well, if that's true, I wish he'd win against these mid major opponents.

[ChooChooCat]

Been thinking (more like stewing) about this situation for a couple hours.

I get that there may have been a bit more of a talent gap than we realized this year compared to last year. The thing is, it's not that we're losing, it's that we are not really competing and getting absolutely blown off the field by mediocre teams. We seem to be getting worse as the season progresses. We are now, pretty much, one of the absolute worst teams in the country.

This is just a complete failure, in every way, by this staff. No other logical way to look at it.

I like CBB and want him given more time, but sheesh, five net yards rushing? Give me break. Its obvious he needs to make some changes in his staff. Now.

Who worth a damn is going to come work for him? Honestly. The fans are already out on the guy and the recruiting class is going to fall apart. There's no win here in keeping him.

[ChooChooCat]

Its over. You have to find the $9 mil and blow this up. Brennan was hired in 2 hours with the Arizona AD working out of a hotel room in Washington due to a grounded plane. No search, no due diligence, no competition, nada. He isnt qualified for the job and if you need a second opinion Scheer’s at the time of the hiring was : “anyone but Brennan”. Heeke and Robbins left so many turds it is easy to lose count but this was their final one. Unreal how incompetent the Arizona AD has been since Ced left. Trashed a legit national caliber department, mostly behind laziness coupled with sappy nepotism.

My god the inbred Arizona nepotism was off the charts with the last admin.

[Fishclamps]

I still don't get how these guys brains work.

If i showed up to a 10-3 team that was on a 7 game win streak, I would not try and install some archaic overcomplicated system, I would just ask them to show me the old playbook and go from there.

If I still wanted to install my shitty offense, I would at least wait until I had a different qb under center so everybody could start fresh.

[Chicat]

I still don't get how these guys brains work.

If i showed up to a 10-3 team that was on a 7 game win streak, I would not try and install some archaic overcomplicated system, I would just ask them to show me the old playbook and go from there.

If I still wanted to install my shitty offense, I would at least wait until I had a different qb under center so everybody could start fresh.

I brought up Brady Hoke before. He’s hired at Michigan to bring them back to smash mouth football after the fans and boosters got tired of RichRod’s scheme that he developed in West Virginia because he wasn’t able to recruit the O-Line and RBs the way he needed to to win any other way (the OKGs).

What does Hoke do? He looks at his roster and determines there’s no way he can input his scheme and switches up his entire coaching philosophy to what will work best with the kids he has. Ignoring how things went when he started recruiting his type of players and installed his system in the next few years, Hoke had immediate success spreading the field and throwing quick slants and hitches and using misdirection to the tune of an 11-2 record and a Sugar Bowl win in his first season with what was essentially RR’s team.

We were an ascendent team that Brent Brennan and Dino Babers have driven into a ditch. I really feel terrible for Fifita, T-Mac and every other kid who came back. They thought we could run it back. Brennan had other plans.

[Fishclamps]

The only one who's seemingly been able to adapt to what he has was Akina, until half his players tore their ACLs

[CalStateTempe]

I knew Heeke was trash from the get go.

Another “mid major” mentality from CMU, only this one was from temu .