Scottie Young Jr. (19) and the Wildcats combined for a season-high four takeaways during their win over Cal.
Key numbers then: Arizona had only one takeaway through four games. The Wildcats were one of five FBS teams that had just one. Up to that point, they were 4-14 under Yates when forcing one or zero turnovers and 8-3 when they forced two or more.
What’s happened since: The turnovers have come in bunches. Arizona took the ball away from USC three times and Cal four times. Two of the takeaways against the Golden Bears ended in touchdowns for the Wildcats. They were the difference in the game.
Despite a turnover margin of plus-2 in each contest, Arizona was able to win only one of them. Updating the records, the Wildcats are now 9-4 under Yates when forcing two or more turnovers.
The piece on takeaways also examined Arizona’s turnover luck, which tends to balance out over time. Entering the USC game, UA opponents had fumbled five times. The Wildcats didn’t recover any of them. Since then, they have recovered four of six opponent fumbles.
Arizona also wasn’t procuring as many interceptions as it should have. Through four games, the Wildcats had defensed 20 passes but intercepted only one. Their 5 percent success rate was well below the standard of about 22 percent.
Since then, Arizona has defensed 10 passes and intercepted three — a 30 percent clip.
Progress made? Yes.
