Bear Down Wildcats

No back-to-back away games, save between Oregon and ASU. Bye after week 4 between Utah and Colorado.

One home game after Oct 28

Well it looks workable. Definitely will be a tough finish but maybe if we can start strong we can build some confidence.

Wondering more about our S&C program and it's relationship to all our injuries. Are we doing it the right way?

tough end to the season with usc, Oregon and asu all on the road. if we want any hope of bowling we need to be 5-3 after the first 8. gotta beat nau, Houston, utep and 2 out of Utah, @CU, ucla, @cal, or wsu.

See a lot of 7:45 pm games unless RichRod can right the ship.

The Houston game should be fun.

What is everyone thinking right now? 3 to 5 wins?

i'm thinking 4-8

Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuccccccckkkkkkkkkkk....

at least we skip washington and furd i guess.

Probably will be favored only v. NAU, UTEP and OSU. Houston may be a toss up.

Chicat wrote:

Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuccccccckkkkkkkkkkk....

Two games I am really looking forward to is Oregon and the Wazzu game. I hope we come out and make it very personal in both

Best Case
NAU - W
Houston - W
UTEP - W
Utah - L
Colorado - L
UCLA - W
Cal - W
WSU - W
USC - L
OSU - W
Oregon - L
ASU - W

Worst Case
NAU - W
Houston - L
UTEP - W
Utah - L
Colorado - L
UCLA - L
Cal - L
WSU - L
USC - L
OSU - W
Oregon - L
ASU - L

Kyle Allen should start at Houston and they don't lose too much. That might be a tough game. Oregon State might also be a tough game. NAU and UTEP are the only gimmies IMO. Some things can change but that's how I see it now.

pretty much agree with the best case worst case there. 3-9 again or 8-4

Here is my guess with kool-aid glasses on. I think it will be doable if we can keep the injury bug away.
NAU - W
Houston - W
UTEP - W
Utah - W
Colorado - L
UCLA - L
Cal - W
WSU - W
USC - L
OSU - W
Oregon - L
ASU - W

8 Wins, 4 Losses

Honest question: Why the expected losses to Oregon? Coming off a 4-8 season, what is suddenly so wonderful about them in 2017?

MrMeow wrote:Honest question: Why the expected losses to Oregon? Coming off a 4-8 season, what is suddenly so wonderful about them in 2017?

I don't think we are going to be a good road team and Oregon still has tons of talent and speed.

Chicat wrote:

MrMeow wrote:Honest question: Why the expected losses to Oregon? Coming off a 4-8 season, what is suddenly so wonderful about them in 2017?

I don't think we are going to be a good road team and Oregon still has tons of talent and speed.

Thanks. The first part I get, although I'm not sure I agree. The second part, talent and speed, has there been a upgrade from last season? (Burmeister can't be that good).

MrMeow wrote:

Chicat wrote:

MrMeow wrote:Honest question: Why the expected losses to Oregon? Coming off a 4-8 season, what is suddenly so wonderful about them in 2017?

I don't think we are going to be a good road team and Oregon still has tons of talent and speed.

Thanks. The first part I get, although I'm not sure I agree. The second part, talent and speed, has there been a upgrade from last season? (Burmeister can't be that good).

I didn't think talent was their issue last year. Motivation and coaching seemed (to me) to be bigger factors.

Chicat wrote:

MrMeow wrote:

Chicat wrote:

MrMeow wrote:Honest question: Why the expected losses to Oregon? Coming off a 4-8 season, what is suddenly so wonderful about them in 2017?

I don't think we are going to be a good road team and Oregon still has tons of talent and speed.

Thanks. The first part I get, although I'm not sure I agree. The second part, talent and speed, has there been a upgrade from last season? (Burmeister can't be that good).

I didn't think talent was their issue last year. Motivation and coaching seemed (to me) to be bigger factors.

Okay. Odd that Helfrich went 11-2, 13-2 (including the national title game), 9-4, then suddenly 4-8 last year.

3-9

MrMeow wrote:Honest question: Why the expected losses to Oregon? Coming off a 4-8 season, what is suddenly so wonderful about them in 2017?

1. Talent and Speed
2. The game is in Eugene
3. We had an even worse record than they did last year

Coming off a 3-9 season, why would you expect us to win at their place? I saw you think we may be a good road team... I am curious as to why.

I hopefully see improved health & output from the RB position... not sure where else I see a marked improvement. QB is a big problem and so is the entire Defense. The OL should be pretty good, but I thought they'd be better last year. We lose our top WR's and their production last season was nil (see QB position).

I'll predict between 4-8 and 5-7.

MrMeow wrote:

Chicat wrote:

MrMeow wrote:

Chicat wrote:

MrMeow wrote:Honest question: Why the expected losses to Oregon? Coming off a 4-8 season, what is suddenly so wonderful about them in 2017?

I don't think we are going to be a good road team and Oregon still has tons of talent and speed.

Thanks. The first part I get, although I'm not sure I agree. The second part, talent and speed, has there been a upgrade from last season? (Burmeister can't be that good).

I didn't think talent was their issue last year. Motivation and coaching seemed (to me) to be bigger factors.

Okay. Odd that Helfrich went 11-2, 13-2 (including the national title game), 9-4, then suddenly 4-8 last year.

Their recruiting has been fairly consistent (ranked in the 15-20 range since 2012) but they still run basically the same offense Bellotti stole from RichRod back in the day, which is the same offense so many other teams run. So they're not surprising anyone and defenses have adjusted.

Harvey Specter wrote:

MrMeow wrote:Honest question: Why the expected losses to Oregon? Coming off a 4-8 season, what is suddenly so wonderful about them in 2017?

1. Talent and Speed
2. The game is in Eugene
3. We were 3-8 last year

Coming off a 3-9 season, why would you expect us to win at their place?

Why would I? Not sure I said I do. I am curious, however, how all that "talent and speed" got them a 4-8 season under the same coach that previously got them three big winning seasons, including the national title game. What's missing?

Oregon's recruiting tailed off. Lost talent on o-line and d-line.

Merkin wrote:Probably will be favored only v. NAU, UTEP and OSU. Houston may be a toss up.

Way too early to say anything like this. No one thought U of A would be that bad last year and Colorado would be that good.

chiefzona wrote:What is everyone thinking right now? 3 to 5 wins?

8-4 if we can finally keep our RB's and QB's healthy. The running game will be crucial next season imho.

I expect Houston is the key game in ability to go to a bowl game. I would expect a bowl bid be the mark if RR will keep his job or not. New AD, his final retention fund percentage due kicking in... would have to think reaching a Bowl game or not is the marker.

I don't see reaching a bowl bid at this point. UA had 8 Senior starters that went 1-8 in conference. Starters. Couple other key contributors (on 1-8 team) transferred and another graduated early and left the program.

Since joining the PAC, the most conference wins UA has improved by is 3 games. It's only happened 3 times in 39 years. Of course never when coming off a 1 conference win season. Factor in this debacle of a slide started during 2015 season. Last season was worse.

I would guess 2016 was bottom, but it takes time to climb out of that. Takes time even if you have a Monster of a recruiting class. Not even then as so difficult to start as a true freshman even on this team. RR's schemes are so complex.

UA won't have a Monster recruiting class.

They're either gonna go 4-8 or 8-4. We might see that the young guys learned from all the lumps they took last year, and the offense stays healthy enough that Dawkins and Taylor can run wild and Dawkins will have chances to throw due to the run game. OR the talent isn't going to be there on defense, and the offense won't be able to overcome that. I don't see too much middle ground, really.

Does UA even have any NFL quality players on next season's team? Griffey and Magloire are gone.

Sid wrote:

chiefzona wrote:What is everyone thinking right now? 3 to 5 wins?

8-4 if we can finally keep our RB's and QB's healthy. The running game will be crucial next season imho.

What QB on the roster is going to win 8 games?

PHXCATS wrote:

Merkin wrote:Probably will be favored only v. NAU, UTEP and OSU. Houston may be a toss up.

Way too early to say anything like this. No one thought U of A would be that bad last year and Colorado would be that good.

I picked Arizona 5th and Colorado 6th before last season. Colorado was a bit of a surprise....Arizona....not so much.

I believe I predicted 6-6 last season with a healthy Solomon and Wilson.

Solomon gone, Wilson glass, no passing threat on the roster, no LBs, no frosh impact players outside of Tilford, D still undersized and so on, I think 4 wins is probably the over/under point. ASU is always questionable, and Houston can be either way.

chiefzona wrote:

Sid wrote:

chiefzona wrote:What is everyone thinking right now? 3 to 5 wins?

8-4 if we can finally keep our RB's and QB's healthy. The running game will be crucial next season imho.

What QB on the roster is going to win 8 games?

I'm sure you're not limiting your negativity to the QB position, however, if you are, which QB on the roster won 8 games in 2013?

MrMeow wrote:

chiefzona wrote:

Sid wrote:

chiefzona wrote:What is everyone thinking right now? 3 to 5 wins?

8-4 if we can finally keep our RB's and QB's healthy. The running game will be crucial next season imho.

What QB on the roster is going to win 8 games?

I'm sure you're not limiting your negativity to the QB position, however, if you are, which QB on the roster won 8 games in 2013?

There is not a QB on the roster who was on the team in 2013...

I assume your point is we won 8 games with a less-than-serviceable option at QB - so it could happen again?

Harvey Specter wrote:

MrMeow wrote:

chiefzona wrote:

Sid wrote:

chiefzona wrote:What is everyone thinking right now? 3 to 5 wins?

8-4 if we can finally keep our RB's and QB's healthy. The running game will be crucial next season imho.

What QB on the roster is going to win 8 games?

I'm sure you're not limiting your negativity to the QB position, however, if you are, which QB on the roster won 8 games in 2013?

There is not a QB on the roster who was on the team in 2013...

I assume your point is we won 8 games with a less-than-serviceable option at QB - so it could happen again?

Yes, that was my point ... in part. I'm not prepared to say it could happen again because there are other obvious deficiencies. I only wanted to point out that having a less than serviceable QB isn't the end of the world. Chief seemed to imply that having a serviceable QB is everything. I disagree, although it obviously helps.

And, oh, I was referring to the 2013 roster ...

chiefzona wrote:

PHXCATS wrote:

Merkin wrote:Probably will be favored only v. NAU, UTEP and OSU. Houston may be a toss up.

Way too early to say anything like this. No one thought U of A would be that bad last year and Colorado would be that good.

I picked Arizona 5th and Colorado 6th before last season. Colorado was a bit of a surprise....Arizona....not so much.

Cool story bro

chiefzona wrote:

Sid wrote:

chiefzona wrote:What is everyone thinking right now? 3 to 5 wins?

8-4 if we can finally keep our RB's and QB's healthy. The running game will be crucial next season imho.

What QB on the roster is going to win 8 games?

The one handing the ball off to JJ Motherfucking Taylor.

JJ ain't no Kadeem MF Carey though. For one thing, Kadeem is 4" taller just for starts.

But I can see Dawkins and Tate being another BJ Denker, great feet but not a Div I arm. BJ had the weakest arm, but knew the playbook the best.

Well, with the current lack of depth at RB I'm pretty sure Tilford will get a chance to push for playing time as well. At 6'2" and 215 lbs, that'll make up some of the difference right there. Would love to see some two-back sets with JJ and Tilford and RichRod probably would as well.

azpenguin wrote:Well, with the current lack of depth at RB I'm pretty sure Tilford will get a chance to push for playing time as well. At 6'2" and 215 lbs, that'll make up some of the difference right there. Would love to see some two-back sets with JJ and Tilford and RichRod probably would as well.

Tilford's no dummy. He saw an opportunity. Good for him, good for us.

Merkin wrote:JJ ain't no Kadeem MF Carey though. For one thing, Kadeem is 4" taller just for starts.

But I can see Dawkins and Tate being another BJ Denker, great feet but not a Div I arm. BJ had the weakest arm, but knew the playbook the best.

Dawk has elite speed and power as a runner that Denker never had. He's also got a stronger arm.

Dawk with modest improvement in the passing game is pert near unstoppable, I was at the Wash game where he and JJ were shredding the Husky D until the broken ankle happened.

wyo-cat wrote:

Merkin wrote:JJ ain't no Kadeem MF Carey though. For one thing, Kadeem is 4" taller just for starts.

But I can see Dawkins and Tate being another BJ Denker, great feet but not a Div I arm. BJ had the weakest arm, but knew the playbook the best.

Dawk has elite speed and power as a runner that Denker never had. He's also got a stronger arm.

Dawk with modest improvement in the passing game is pert near unstoppable, I was at the Wash game where he and JJ were shredding the Husky D until the broken ankle happened.

As good as Dawk may be, Tate is naturally better. Stronger arm, stronger runner. Needs experience, that's all.

It looked to me that Dawkins was afraid to throw the ball to anybody that had a defender within 5 yards of them.

azgreg wrote:It looked to me that Dawkins was afraid to throw the ball to anybody that had a defender within 5 yards of them.

I have to say, I logically suspect coaching. Perhaps I am wrong, but how many highly rated high school QBs has Rod Smith gone through without turning out something? Matt Scott was a long time ago.

Sid wrote:

chiefzona wrote:

Sid wrote:

chiefzona wrote:What is everyone thinking right now? 3 to 5 wins?

8-4 if we can finally keep our RB's and QB's healthy. The running game will be crucial next season imho.

What QB on the roster is going to win 8 games?

The one handing the ball off to JJ Motherfucking Taylor.

That's very funny.

PHXCATS wrote:

chiefzona wrote:

PHXCATS wrote:

Merkin wrote:Probably will be favored only v. NAU, UTEP and OSU. Houston may be a toss up.

Way too early to say anything like this. No one thought U of A would be that bad last year and Colorado would be that good.

I picked Arizona 5th and Colorado 6th before last season. Colorado was a bit of a surprise....Arizona....not so much.

Cool story bro

It's on my Twitter feed.

7-5 possibly 8-4. Pound the run and hope that every once in a while our QB can throw a pass. Yes...i think with everyone back and healthy we're that good at the RB spot. JJ Taylor should be a star by the end of next year.

chiefzona wrote:

PHXCATS wrote:

chiefzona wrote:

PHXCATS wrote:

Merkin wrote:Probably will be favored only v. NAU, UTEP and OSU. Houston may be a toss up.

Way too early to say anything like this. No one thought U of A would be that bad last year and Colorado would be that good.

I picked Arizona 5th and Colorado 6th before last season. Colorado was a bit of a surprise....Arizona....not so much.

Cool story bro

It's on my Twitter feed.

Cool story bro