Every week throughout the season, we’ll 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 31-30 loss to UCLA on Saturday:
1. THIRD NOT THE CHARM
UCLA QB Wilton Speight picked the perfect time to keep the ball, fooling the Arizona defense to gain a critical first down.
The game came down to three third downs on the final possession. UCLA converted all of them (one by penalty) and ran off the final 6 minutes, 28 seconds. Here’s what we saw on those plays upon closer examination: (1) On third-and-3 from the UCLA 32, the Bruins ran a basic zone read. Except QB Wilton Speight kept the ball – a total tendency breaker for Dorian Thompson-Robinson’s less-mobile backup. Selling out to stop Joshua Kelley, edge defender Tristan Cooper crashed in from the offense’s right. Speight looped around him to gain the first down. (2) On third-and-1 from the UCLA 46, Kelley leaked into the left flat. Scottie Young Jr. grabbed him; it was an obvious hold. The thing is, Young didn’t need to do it. The ball landed several yards wide of Kelley. Even if he had a free run, he probably wouldn’t have caught it. It’s not even certain he knew the ball was coming. (3) On third-and-6 from the UA 41, Chip Kelly called a pass. Two receivers ran crossing routes underneath. Tight end Caleb Wilson posted up behind them, 2 yards past the line to gain. Arizona appeared to be playing a combination of man and zone. Wilson bisected zone defenders Cooper and Christian Young. First down, UCLA. Ballgame.
2. RHETT’S NIGHT
Arizona QB Rhett Rodriguez threw two TD passes in his first career start but didn't see Cedric Peterson running free on this third-quarter play.
Sophomore QB Rhett Rodriguez made his first career start, played the entire game and revealed his strengths and weakness. First, the good. Rodriguez rarely showed any signs of panic. He stayed patient in the pocket. He trusted his receivers to make plays for him, in particular Shawn Poindexter, who feasted on smaller cornerbacks all night. But Rodriguez wasn’t always as patient as he needed to be – perhaps a byproduct of wanting to win so badly. (We’ve seen this from other UA quarterbacks, including Khalil Tate.) Rodriguez’s first interception was a throw he never should make – an under-duress lob into the middle of the end zone, where UCLA safety Quentin Lake was lurking. Rodriguez made a similar play later, throwing the ball up for Bryce Wolma; that one luckily landed incomplete. Rodriguez needs to play within himself and within the system. Another play illustrates that point. On second-and-4 from the UA 42 late in the second quarter, Rodriguez threw an out route from the right hash to the left sideline for Devaughn Cooper. The ball didn’t have quite enough zip, enabling Elijah Gates to knock it down. That’s a hard throw for the strongest-armed pros. Heady kid that he is, Rodriguez will learn from his mistakes. If he gets another chance to start, he’ll make wiser decisions.
3. WAIT, ARIZONA LOST?
J.J. Taylor peeked over his shoulder a fraction of a second late on his second-quarter fumble: pic.twitter.com/V0ClehzyPf
— Michael Lev (@MichaelJLev) October 21, 2018
A quick check of the box score suggests the Wildcats should have been the winning side. They outgained the Bruins 520-460, averaging 7.2 yards per play to UCLA’s 5.6. The Cats outrushed the Bruins 289-153, averaging 7.6 yards to UCLA’s 3.3. Arizona had six penalties to UCLA’s 12. The Wildcats had 12 tackles for losses to the Bruins’ one. Kevin Sumlin pointed to untimely turnovers and penalties. J.J. Taylor was inside the 5-yard line, headed for a 56-yard touchdown, when Darnay Holmes punched the ball away from behind. The field-level replay showed Taylor peeking over his left shoulder just a fraction too late. The previously referenced Rodriguez interception also happened inside the red zone. Between those two plays – mistakes made by two of Arizona’s smartest, hardest-working players – the Wildcats lost between six and 14 points. The Scottie Young penalty obviously hurt. So did a holding call on Josh McCauley on second-and-6 from the UCLA 11 in the third quarter. The game was tied at the time. Arizona ended up settling for a field goal. That’s another four points lost … in a game the Wildcats lost by one.
4. THIS TIME IT’S PERSONNEL
Look at Gary Brightwell sticking his foot in the ground and going on this stretch play. Thought he and J.J. Taylor ran hard and decisively all night. pic.twitter.com/J0aDDJwJGf
— Michael Lev (@MichaelJLev) October 22, 2018
Each week we provide some notes on individual players, so here goes … Aside from the fumble, Taylor and Gary Brightwell played superbly. Both ran hard and decisively. Both broke tackles and gained extra yards. Taylor had two textbook blitz pickups. … After struggling with his assignments early, right guard Bryson Cain got into a terrific groove with Cody Creason, who moved from left guard to right tackle with Layth Friekh (ankle) out of the lineup. Cain and Creason were key figures in Arizona’s second-half rushing output (190 yards). … If PJ Johnson isn’t back next season – he’d have to apply for a sixth year of eligibility and might not be inclined to do so – he’ll be missed. He’s the sort of big, agile defensive tackle that’s hard to come by. … Sophomore defensive end JB Brown repeatedly penetrated the backfield to disrupt plays. Brown and fellow second-year edge rusher Jalen Harris look like defensive building blocks. … Linebacker Tony Fields II was overly aggressive against play-action, getting himself out of position. … Freshmen defensive backs McKenzie Barnes and Christian Young – forced to make their first career starts – held up well under the circumstances. Each got caught with his eyes in the wrong place – Young on Theo Howard’s 58-yard reception down the right sideline and Barnes on Devin Asiasi’s 24-yard TD catch. But the future looks promising for both.
5. DOWN AND OUT?
After losing by a point to Chip Kelly and UCLA, Arizona coach Kevin Sumlin, left, faces a lot of unanswered questions.
At 3-5, it’ll take an extraordinary effort for the Wildcats to qualify for a bowl game – one they frankly might not be capable of in their current state. Arizona is banged up on both sides of the ball and might not be favored in any of its remaining games. Three are at home, starting with 5-2 Oregon (which will be salty after a disappointing loss in Pullman) and 5-2 Colorado (which didn’t have star receiver Laviska Shenault at Washington but could have him back by Nov. 2). Then comes a trip to Washington State – the Pac-12’s last, best hope for the College Football Playoff – and the annual finale against Arizona State. The best-case scenario entering that game is to be 5-6 and fighting for a bowl berth – which feels like a stretch, despite the positive signs displayed at UCLA. There’s also the matter of the quarterback situation. Will Tate be ready to play against Oregon? Will Sumlin go back to him? Will Jamarye Joiner see the field again? Will we ever see fellow freshman Kevin Doyle? A third of the season remains. Countless questions linger.
