Bear Down Wildcats

No doubt but they had several defensive players drafted or lost their eligibility and they had the #2 draft pick.

I am just trying to justify a 12 point line and sinker simply don’t see it. We have 21 transfers so we have added depth and experience. We are not that same 0-5 team from last year and they are not an 11-1 team this year

I thought we were just 0-5

BYU did destroy a decent Navy team coached by UA fan favorite Ken Niumatalolo.

Decent that they had no offense and the highest they scored in their last 3 losses was 7 points and giving up a max of 19 points those games,
while beating Tulane and Temple and E Carolina earlier in the season.

Merkin wrote: Wed Sep 01, 2021 11:34 am BYU did destroy a decent Navy team coached by UA fan favorite Ken Niumatalolo.

Decent that they had no offense and the highest they scored in their last 3 losses was 7 points and giving up a max of 19 points those games,
while beating Tulane and Temple and E Carolina earlier in the season.

Navy was awful last year.

I think the line should be 21. Until we win some games, we blow.

azgreg wrote: Wed Sep 01, 2021 11:43 am

Merkin wrote: Wed Sep 01, 2021 11:34 am BYU did destroy a decent Navy team coached by UA fan favorite Ken Niumatalolo.

Decent that they had no offense and the highest they scored in their last 3 losses was 7 points and giving up a max of 19 points those games,
while beating Tulane and Temple and E Carolina earlier in the season.

Navy was awful last year.

Arizona didn't give up less than 24 points last season. If Navy was awful, Arizona was ???

Merkin wrote: Wed Sep 01, 2021 1:51 pm

azgreg wrote: Wed Sep 01, 2021 11:43 am

Merkin wrote: Wed Sep 01, 2021 11:34 am BYU did destroy a decent Navy team coached by UA fan favorite Ken Niumatalolo.

Decent that they had no offense and the highest they scored in their last 3 losses was 7 points and giving up a max of 19 points those games,
while beating Tulane and Temple and E Carolina earlier in the season.

Navy was awful last year.

Arizona didn't give up less than 24 points last season. If Navy was awful, Arizona was ???

Terrible. Doesn't change the fact that Navy was awful.

scumdevils86 wrote: Wed Sep 01, 2021 10:08 am I thought we were just 0-5

Whoops, I lost count after we lost to ASU. That had to be worth at least 2-3 losses.

https://zonazealots.com/2021/09/01/zona ... ll-vs-byu/

Eric (Site Expert): BYU 27 Arizona 20
Shereen Rayan (Contributor): Arizona 37 BYU 35
Kevin Barney (Contributor): Arizona 20 BYU 17
Kenny Lindberg (Contributor): Arizona 27 BYU 20

^They have obviously been partaking in the newly legalized weed.

azgreg wrote: Wed Sep 01, 2021 7:25 pm https://zonazealots.com/2021/09/01/zona ... ll-vs-byu/

Eric (Site Expert): BYU 27 Arizona 20
Shereen Rayan (Contributor): Arizona 37 BYU 35
Kevin Barney (Contributor): Arizona 20 BYU 17
Kenny Lindberg (Contributor): Arizona 27 BYU 20

Get serious. BYU is going to roll us.

Yea I love what I've seen from Jedd and co so far but we have a long way to go. After a measly 20 years of watching Arizona football I know what to expect. If we keep it within 20 points I'll pop one of my bottles of De Garde beer I have saved for a special occasion.

They will run on us at will. They have a guy that I think was the no.4 rusher in football last year. It is unknown if our transfers can stem the tide but BYU is very good and has mature guys playing in a system they know.

azgreg wrote: Wed Sep 01, 2021 7:25 pm https://zonazealots.com/2021/09/01/zona ... ll-vs-byu/

Eric (Site Expert): BYU 27 Arizona 20
Shereen Rayan (Contributor): Arizona 37 BYU 35
Kevin Barney (Contributor): Arizona 20 BYU 17
Kenny Lindberg (Contributor): Arizona 27 BYU 20

Wow, that's optimistic to the point of crazy. Any of those results would be a massive W, even the moral victory of only losing by 7.

We still really lack depth, so I think we hang in there for a half, then BYU opens up to a 2, 3 touchdown win. I think we'll be ready to compete, but the consistent depth of talent across the board isn't there. As the game goes on, they should have a significant advantage in the trenches.

My hope/expectation is to cover the current 12 point spread and be respectable. I think there are a few factors to consider:

o Covid set the college football world on its ear, and many 2020 outcomes really should have an asterisk next to them.
o From a personnel perspective, we hung in fairly well with USC in last year's opener. Then the team wore down and ultimately quit.
o Offenses are often behind defenses in early season games. That may hurt us more with a new offense, but I think both teams will pound.
o We're as big as BYU on both sides of the ball. I don't think we'll get pushed around nearly as much as some do.
o We may have the biggest chip on our shoulder and a desire to prove something more than any team in college football.
o A newly assembled coaching staff has to have in-game communication and organization worked out. We may have some kinks there.
o There's no reason to think we're ready for prime time and won't be a little starry eyed in the Raiders' stadium on ESPN.

So, I think it's a bit of a mixed bag. I think there'll be some moments where our fans have surprised open mouths and get wide-eyed and yell and laugh at some unexpected good stuff. And I think there'll also be some moments where it'll be palm-to-the-forehead, look at the ground and shake your head at some screw-ups.

Personally, I think it's BYU's game to lose. If they screw up more than we do (or if we can force enough errors), we have a puncher's chance. But I won't put any money on us to cover. At least not until I've had too much to drink and I'm sitting in a sports book somewhere.

A 4-4-4 defense should be effective.

84Cat wrote: Thu Sep 02, 2021 9:44 am

By anything standing out, does he mean the rock solid 2 deep at LS?

I think it’s the listing of 12 positions on defense

I count 19 new names on the two deep and at least 15 of those are transfers. This is not the same team as last year.

More talent, more experienced, motivated, better coached and hungry. If the OLine is better then we have a great chance at a shocker Saturday night. I bet a lot of HS recruits will be there

azcat49 wrote: Thu Sep 02, 2021 10:21 am I think it’s the listing of 12 positions on defense

azcat49 wrote: Thu Sep 02, 2021 10:21 am I think it’s the listing of 12 positions on defense

Look, RichRod and Sumlin would been better off if they'd gone to that strategy. Solid decision by Fisch.

Outside of NAU I'm basically going into every game this year accepting that we'll lose. Just not giving up 50+ a game and being competitive is all I really ask for. Our roster is just too depleted and has little to no power 5 level talent at almost every position to expect more. A good chunk of non power 5 teams have better rosters. We can beat BYU but I don't expect it.

ASUHATER! wrote: Thu Sep 02, 2021 11:18 am Outside of NAU I'm basically going into every game this year accepting that we'll lose. Just not giving up 50+ a game and being competitive is all I really ask for. Our roster is just too depleted and has little to no power 5 level talent at almost every position to expect more. A good chunk of non power 5 teams have better rosters. We can beat BYU but I don't expect it.

https://sportspac12.com/dane-millers-we ... -previews/

Arizona football Pac-12
BYU v. Arizona
Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas, NV
Saturday, September 4
7:30pm PT, ESPN

In what is shaping up to be the most-attended college football game in the history of the State of Nevada, Arizona takes on BYU at Allegiant Stadium.

Washington State transfer Gunner Cruz is set to start the game for the Wildcats, but Jedd Fisch has indicated that Will Plummer will get an opportunity as well.

Led by its wide receivers, the UA offense must implement its new Pro-Style scheme against an older BYU defense.

At the end of the day, a game-changing play on special teams from Cunningham could be the difference. Yet, the play of Don Brown’s defense and its ability to slow down BYU figures to be the key to an Arizona upset.

I’d like to see us not give up in the first quarter.

Baby steps.

Must

- Win the coin toss
- Kick off to BYU with a touchback
- Stop them with a three-and-out

If we do this we may still loose by 2 touchdowns, but at least we have a great start.

azgreg wrote: Thu Sep 02, 2021 12:19 pm

So UA again doesn't have a designated ST only coach? That has not worked well under the Stoops and RichRod regimes.

Understanding of course each school has a limit of 15 coaches.

I want to see improvement in all 3 phases and show some fucking fight.

I want to not be down 14 points after the first minute. Baby steps...

I guess I am the only one here who thinks we will be vastly improved from last years shit show under Sumdick.

I think the program will make a statement right here and now. Maybe we don’t win but we are going to be light years better Saturday night.

BYU lost a bunch from last year and we have a bunch of new transfers playing. New schemes will make it difficult on BYU early and I expect us to take advantage of that. While they have the home crowd we are going to hush the blue brigade and be in it to the end.

It’s a new era and while we are not going to be 12-0 we are going to compete every week

It will be interesting to see who BYU will put I at quarterback after we sack and knock out their starter.

I’m with azcat.

OSUCat wrote: Thu Sep 02, 2021 2:40 pm I’m with azcat.

So am I as is Jon Wilner.

I’m optimistic. So many new faces, new schemes….I’m excited.

Shit, we could still have the drunk on the sideline.

Winning.

azgreg wrote: Thu Sep 02, 2021 3:24 pm

OSUCat wrote: Thu Sep 02, 2021 2:40 pm I’m with azcat.

So am I as is Jon Wilner.

Wilner said something nice about us?

Going to go book a ski vacation in hell now. Thanks for the heads up.

Chicat wrote: Thu Sep 02, 2021 3:36 pm

azgreg wrote: Thu Sep 02, 2021 3:24 pm

OSUCat wrote: Thu Sep 02, 2021 2:40 pm I’m with azcat.

So am I as is Jon Wilner.

Wilner said something nice about us?

Going to go book a ski vacation in hell now. Thanks for the heads up.

He sure did, and when someone who generally holds the program in low regard says something nice about it it's noteworthy.

Which drunk? The Hooters patron? The Lowell Stevens predator? Or the last one who didn't even try to be a good coach?

https://tucson.com/sports/pac-12-hotlin ... &id=201408

Wilner:

Arizona +11.5 vs. Brigham Young (in Las Vegas)
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. on ESPN

Comment: The Wildcats have (slightly) more talent than they displayed last year, will be highly motivated to change the narrative and should look more competent than expected. Meanwhile, the Cougars aren’t as good as they were following the departure of star quarterback Zach Wilson. Those colliding dynamics should result in a thrilling debut to the Pac-12 presence in Allegiant Stadium. Pick: Arizona

By the way, we're going to huddle on offense.

azgreg wrote: Thu Sep 02, 2021 4:06 pm By the way, we're going to huddle on offense.

And the QB goes under center?

Merkin wrote: Thu Sep 02, 2021 4:14 pm

azgreg wrote: Thu Sep 02, 2021 4:06 pm By the way, we're going to huddle on offense.

And the QB goes under center?

More often then not I'm told.

Anybody seen POM lately?

If anybody is interested, here's the game where Coastal Carolina beat BYU last year.

When I read the tweets in these last couple posts, Greg, all I can think is how much they guarantee BYU is going to drill us hard.

There is no better way to guaratee a giant, crushing loss for Arizona football than to be excessively positive.

Edit...uhh, those tweets that seem to have disappeared.

Looks like we now are playing against a Big 12 team tomorrow. Does that now increase our strength of schedule or lessen it?