Every week throughout the season, we take a look back at the Arizona Wildcats’ previous game after re-watching it via the TV broadcast. Here are five key takeaways from the UA’s 38-29 loss to No. 24 Utah on Saturday:
1. COUNTERMEASURES
It made sense to try to pressure Utah quarterback Cameron Rising. Entering Saturday, he had a significantly higher completion percentage with a clean pocket (71.8%) than without (30.0%). But the Utes were ready for whatever Don Brown and the Wildcats threw at them. Utah came to Tucson armed with plays that could beat the blitz and defeat man coverage. Take the Utes’ first third-down conversion of the game. Utah faced third-and-5 at its 43 on the opening possession. Tailback Micah Bernard motioned into the backfield. Arizona sent six pass rushers. Bernard sifted through the traffic into the right flat, where he was uncovered. He gained 27 yards, setting up the Utes’ first touchdown. Their second TD exploited man coverage, which is Brown’s preferred M.O. With five seconds left in the first half, Utah faced first-and-goal at the 2. The Utes motioned out of a goal-line formation into a trips concept to the left. Tight end Brant Kuithe split wide, then motioned back in, creating separation from defender Christian Roland-Wallace. Rising fired the ball to Kuithe, who followed two blockers into the end zone. Rising was 8 of 15 for 78 yards with two touchdowns when not blitzed, per Pro Football Focus. He was 11 of 15 for 216 yards when he was blitzed.
2. PLUMMER’S PROGRESS
You wouldn’t necessarily know from his numbers, none of which were eye-popping (19 of 34, 223 yards, one TD). But UA quarterback Will Plummer continued to show signs of progress. First off, he didn’t throw an interception for the second time in three games. Not only that, PFF didn’t tag him with a single turnover-worthy play. Second, Plummer generally made sound decisions with the ball. On his TD run, he recognized that Utah was in a “zero” coverage (no safeties) and exploited it. On Arizona’s second drive, Plummer saw that Dorian Singer was uncovered on third-and-1 and flipped the ball to him for an easy first down. Two subsequent passes down the left sideline to Singer fell incomplete – but they were ready properly. Singer had one-on-one coverage with Utah’s Zemaiah Vaughn. On the first one, Vaughn broke up a well-thrown ball. On the second, Singer tried to adjust to the ball, which was thrown to the inside, but couldn’t come down with it. None of which is to say Plummer was perfect. He’s still young and still learning. For example, on third-and-3 on Arizona’s second drive of the second half, Plummer tried to hit Alex Lines with a back-shoulder fade down the right sideline. Incomplete. Plummer had a much easier throw to Stanley Berryhill III on a crossing route. The more opportunities Plummer gets, the better his decision-making should become.
3. THE 2-POINT PLAY
After Arizona blocked a Utah punt and returned the ball for a touchdown, Jedd Fisch correctly elected to attempt a 2-point conversion. We’ve always believed that you lock away the 2-point chart until the fourth quarter. Once the final period is underway, all bets are off. With the Wildcats needing two points to tie the score, it made perfect sense. The play itself never had a chance. Arizona lined up in an unusual formation between the hashmarks. Receivers Boobie Curry and BJ Casteel were aligned as tight ends. Berryhill (on the right) and tailback Michael Wiley (on the left) set up as wings. Plummer stood alone in the shotgun. At the snap, Berryhill ran into the backfield. He took a flip from Plummer, then flipped the ball to Wiley. Plummer leaked into the right flat. It looked like “Philly Special.” Only Utah was in a zone defense. The Utes also showed great discipline on the play, staying home after Berryhill accepted the initial lateral. Seeing no openings in the secondary, Plummer tried to throw a block for Wiley. He had nowhere to go. Five red shirts were in the picture as he got tackled near the sideline vs. four white shirts – one of whom was Plummer, another of whom was Wiley. Utah kept the lead.
4. THIS TIME IT’S PERSONNEL
Each week we provide some notes on individual players, so here goes … We continue to be impressed with freshman RB Stevie Rocker Jr.’s ability to sidestep would-be tacklers. He’s easily the smoothest of Arizona’s runners. ... Lines – like Plummer, a second-year freshman – had a tough day. We credited him with one drop. He also had a chance to catch Plummer’s low throw to the back of the end zone in the fourth quarter but couldn’t secure the ball. ... Right tackle Paiton Fears has been one of the Wildcats’ most improved players. But if he’s going to have any chance at a pro career, it’ll likely have to be at guard. He still has trouble with speed rushers. ... DT Trevon Mason had his lowest grade of the season, per PFF. Some of that had to do with Utah’s offensive line. It also was a product of Mason playing too high. Playing with proper pad level is a constant battle for the 6-6 senior. ... LB Anthony Pandy said fatigue wasn’t a factor on Utah’s game-clinching drive that took eight-plus minutes off the clock. It sure looked like it on TJ Pledger’s 11-yard run to the left side after Rising’s successful sneak on fourth down. Pledger ran through Jerry Roberts’ arm tackle, spun off a Christian Young tackle attempt and dragged Roland-Wallace for about 8 yards. ... Although he was overpowered by Pledger for the final touchdown, we were impressed with safety Jaxen Turner’s physicality in the run game.
5. GREATER EXPECTATIONS
Any UA fan living in reality should have come away from Saturday’s game feeling pretty good about the program. Arizona went toe-to-toe with the 24th-ranked team in the nation for 60 minutes. So why were the Wildcats mad afterward? Because they expected to win, Fisch said. By virtue of finally winning the previous week – after two near-misses – Arizona crossed an important psychological barrier. The Wildcats have a newfound confidence in themselves. They truly believe they can compete with anyone in the Pac-12. Heading into the Utah game, we would have considered even one win in the final three games a surprising outcome. Now, we’d be surprised if Arizona didn't win at least one of the final two games, at Washington State and Arizona State. That late-season trip to the Pacific Northwest – ahead of the Territorial Cup – has been a trap for recent UA squads. This one seems ready for it. Despite their 1-9 record, the Wildcats are mentally tougher under Fisch than they ever were under his predecessor. We expect respectable, competitive football down the stretch – just like Arizona showed against Utah.
