Arizona needs more high-end talent. Whether you base that assessment on recruiting rankings or the Wildcats’ school-record 19-game losing streak, it’s an inescapable conclusion.
But Arizona’s losing ways aren’t exclusively the result of physical mismatches. The Wildcats are struggling with the mental part of the game, too.
The latest example came last week against Washington. Arizona held a 16-7 lead and had the ball at the UW 28-yard line early in the fourth quarter. Quarterback Will Plummer threw an interception on a screen pass. It was all Huskies from there, as they rallied for a 21-16 victory.
“There was just a deflation,” Fisch said Monday. “Almost a ‘here we go again’ mentality rather than, ‘OK, we’re still up nine and they have to drive 72 yards.’ ”
Fisch could sense that it was happening, and he was powerless to prevent it. Washington needed just 1 minute, 19 seconds to score a touchdown to make it 16-14. After a three-and-out, the Huskies drove 82 yards for the go-ahead score.
Fisch has been trying everything he can think of to alter Arizona’s collective mindset. The team is spending an “enormous amount of time” on the psychological aspects of the game, Fisch said. Sports psychologists have spoken to the Wildcats at team meetings. They include Dr. Rachel Webb, the UA’s assistant athletic director, sport psychology and wellness; and Dr. Mike Clark of Clark Performance Consulting.
“What we’re trying to teach our team is one play is one play,” said Fisch, whose team visits USC on Saturday. “One play is not the outcome.”
Fisch has seen his team fall apart far too often. Arizona trailed Oregon 24-19 in the fourth quarter and lost 41-19. The UA trailed UCLA 24-16 in the fourth and lost 34-16. Colorado held a 6-0 lead in the third quarter. In a span of just over five minutes of game time, it became 27-0.
Fisch also has seen how good teams respond to adversity. He cited Notre Dame, which defeated USC last week. With the score 24-10 in favor of the Fighting Irish in the fourth quarter, quarterback Jack Coan threw an interception. The Trojans turned it into a touchdown, making the score 24-16. Notre Dame answered with a TD drive of its own to make it 31-16 and essentially put the game away.
“That’s what we have to learn how to do,” Fisch said. “We have to just realize that it is not a ‘here we go again.’ There is no ‘here we go.’ Each game is a separate game; each play is a separate play. We need to be better being able to handle that and get that stop after the interception. It wasn’t in our territory. It was in theirs.”
After Washington took its first and only lead with 6:44 to play, Arizona went backward on its next possession.
“Our penalties and sacks started at that point,” Fisch said — almost as if it were an expectation. It certainly wasn’t unfamiliar.
“That’s what we have to avoid,” Fisch said. “We gotta learn how to win. We have not earned that right yet.”
No QB change
Although Plummer struggled against Washington, passing for just 62 yards on 20 attempts, Fisch said no quarterback changes are forthcoming.
Arizona’s options are limited with Gunner Cruz and Jordan McCloud out for the season because of injuries. The only alternative involving a scholarship player would be to install receiver Jamarye Joiner as the full-time quarterback running zone reads and similar rushing plays. Fisch doesn’t seem inclined to do that at this point.
Arizona wide receiver Jamarye Joiner was effective as a “Wildcat” quarterback against the Huskies, but he won't be the full-time QB.
Joiner proved effective as a “Wildcat” quarterback against the Huskies. He rushed four times for 25 yards and scored Arizona’s lone touchdown. His presence also opened running lanes for his teammates.
“There was a lot of misdirection,” said one of the beneficiaries, tailback Stevie Rocker Jr., who rushed for a career-best 87 yards on eight carries. “The defense (had to) figure out who they’re going to really have to key on. It was kind of hard for them to try and choose one, because either way one of us was breaking off something.”
Fisch did say that Joiner could play a larger role against USC and down the stretch. He played two snaps at quarterback vs. Colorado and nine vs. Washington.
“He’ll have another week of reps,” Fisch said. “So I believe that there’ll be some more opportunity to expand his package.”
Expanded RB rotation
Fisch called it a “predicament.” It’s actually a good problem to have.
Arizona could have an abundance of healthy running backs available when it visits USC. Rocker and Jalen John handled the bulk of the carries against Washington, combining for 27 rushes and 152 yards. They were pressed into duty with veterans Drake Anderson and Michael Wiley unavailable because of injuries.
Anderson and Wiley both dressed, though, and they could be back this week. That doesn’t necessarily mean they will regain their roles as the top two backs.
“The young guys have played really well,” Fisch said. “I’m not ready to say by any means that it’s just gonna become a two-man show the other way. Jalen and Stevie will have plays in this game, and they’ll carry the football.”
Anderson and Wiley have combined for 424 rushing yards on 121 carries, an average of 3.5 yards per attempt. John and Rocker have combined for 276 yards on 50 carries, an average of 5.5 yards per attempt.
Anderson and Wiley also have accounted for 30 receptions totaling 216 yards (7.2 ypc) with one touchdown. John and Rocker have seven catches for 76 yards (10.9).
“We should run it a lot,” Fisch said. “I think all four of them are gonna have some carries.”
Extra points
Fisch again defended his decision to call a pass on the play that resulted in an interception in the fourth quarter vs. Washington. The Huskies played the deep coverage Fisch anticipated, but they dropped a lineman, who ended up picking off Plummer’s screen attempt. “There’s no safer throw in football than a screen pass,” Fisch said. “I didn’t feel like I was being wildly crazy when I called it. ... I don’t think there was anything unique about the call. I don’t think there was anything truly that special other than the fact that we poorly executed it.”
Arizona was flagged 10 times vs. Washington. The Wildcats have had at least seven penalties in six consecutive games. “I don’t know why,” Fisch said. “I know that we talk about it all the time. We emphasize it. We know that self-inflicted wounds are a killer. We don’t have the team to overcome penalty after penalty. It’s just not where you want to be.”
Arizona’s homecoming game against Cal on Nov. 6 is slated for a noon kickoff. The contest will be televised by Pac-12 Networks.
