PJ Johnson, left, JB Brown and the Arizona defense were on their game from the get-go earlier this season against Oregon.

 Mike Christy / Arizona Daily Star

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 44-15 victory over Oregon on Saturday:

1. LACK OF YAC

UA coach Kevin Sumlin praised the Wildcats’ tackling after the game. The improvement in that area was evident from the opening series. On third-and-2, Justin Herbert hit Dillon Mitchell on a shallow crossing route. Colin Schooler tackled him immediately for a gain of just 1 yard. It became a trend: Aside from Mitchell’s touchdown and some garbage-time dump-off passes to running backs, Arizona kept yards after the catch (YAC) to a minimum. Some other examples: On Oregon’s second series, Herbert connected with tight end Ryan Bay for 5 yards … and only 5 yards, because Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles stopped him in his tracks. On the Ducks’ third possession, Herbert connected with Brenden Schooler on a bootleg pass to the right; Scottie Young Jr. limited him to 1 yard after the catch. All three drives ended the same way: three-and-out. The tone was set for the rest of the night. The sure-tackling Wildcats limited the Ducks to 3 of 16 on third down – easily the best performance by the defense in an area in which it has struggled for two-plus seasons. “That’s the story,” Sumlin said.

2. TATE’S PRESENCE

With defenders' eyes locked on the backfield, the middle opened wide for Arizona receiver Shun Brown to haul in a 27-yard touchdown pass from Khalil Tate.

Based on the standard he set last season, quarterback Khalil Tate played just OK Saturday night. But his mere presence had a sizable impact. Oregon’s “overhang” defenders – primarily Justin Hollins and Adrian Jackson – had to hold their ground every time Tate executed a zone-read action. The longer he held the mesh point, the longer they were frozen and not involved in the play. Tate didn’t pull the ball out and run very often because the Ducks didn’t provide many opportunities to do so. When he did run, Tate was able to race around defenders in a way seldom seen this season. Mostly, Tate handed the ball off, and the run game worked extraordinarily well with one defensive player locked onto the junior quarterback. With the zone-read run game well established, Tate and the Wildcats burned the Ducks with a perfectly executed play-action pass. It happened late in the third quarter. Tate carried out the fake. Shun Brown slipped behind the linebackers. Tate hit him in stride, and Brown cruised into the end zone for a 27-yard touchdown.

3. DFF, PBU

Arizona senior safety Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles was consistently in the right place at the right time vs. Dillon Mitchell and Oregon.

Flannigan-Fowles had his best game of the season – a proud moment for one of Arizona’s top leaders and most-respected locker-room veterans. ESPN analyst Dan Orlovsky surmised that Flannigan-Fowles must have done his homework in the film room, because his anticipation was excellent. On each of his career-best three pass breakups, Flannigan-Fowles read the play and drove on the ball. None was more important than the last. Down 23-8 at halftime, Oregon intercepted Tate on the first play from scrimmage in the third quarter. The Ducks had the ball at their 45-yard line with a chance to make it a game. On third-and-9, the Wildcats sent six pass rushers, leaving their defensive backs in mostly one-on-one coverage. Herbert fired the ball toward tight end Jacob Breeland near the right sideline. Flannigan-Fowles blanketed him and disrupted the play. Flannigan-Fowles struggled early in the season, especially in the BYU game. Many UA fans called for him to be benched, and Flannigan-Fowles was out of the starting lineup in Weeks 3 and 4. The senior from Tucson has rebounded in a big way. He has proved that no matter where you are in your career, you always can work to get better.

4. THIS TIME IT’S PERSONNEL

Each week we provide some notes on individual players, so here goes … Tailback J.J. Taylor is playing the best ball of his career, and he’s doing it in a different way. The jukes and spins are still there occasionally, but Taylor has learned to run downhill when he sees a hole. … Tight end Bryce Wolma struggled as a blocker earlier this season. The Oregon game was by far his best in that regard. … Right guard Bryson Cain appeared to suffer a non-contact injury to his left knee in the second quarter. That’s never a good sign. … Replacement Michael Eletise threw the key block on Taylor’s 19-yard TD run and likely would get the call if Cain is sidelined. … Nose tackle Dereck Boles clearly prepared for Oregon’s screen game. Twice he recognized and discombobulated screen passes where Herbert pump-fakes one way and tries to throw to the other side. … For the second week in a row, Kylan Wilborn ran a stunt that helped a teammate get a sack. Against UCLA, Finton Connolly was the beneficiary. Against Oregon, it was Tony Fields II. … Safety Tristan Cooper’s massive hit on Mitchell was clean as could be – shoulder to the chest. Cooper later diagnosed a jet-sweep shovel pass to Jaylon Redd, limiting the play to a 1-yard gain. … Cornerback Azizi Hearn played well but got away with a couple of jersey grabs that could have been flagged.

5. A NEW HOPE

Arizona coach Kevin Sumlin knows further challenges are ahead for the Wildcats.

Arizona was 3-3 after beating Cal. The next three games were at Utah, at UCLA and home vs. Oregon. Winning one of those and ending up at 4-5 was always the most realistic outcome. It just didn’t go the way anyone expected. UCLA seemed like the most winnable game; Arizona came up a point short. With their bowl hopes fading, the Wildcats rallied, put together their most complete performance of the season and pummeled then-No. 19 Oregon. Now, with three games to go, Arizona has a realistic shot to play in a postseason game. It isn’t what anyone envisioned before the season, but it beats the alternative. There’s still plenty of work to be done, of course. Arizona has to beat Colorado on Friday to give itself the best possible chance. The Buffaloes will be ornery after blowing a 28-point halftime lead to lowly Oregon State. A win would put the Wildcats at 5-5 heading into the two-game, post-bye final stretch against Washington State and Arizona State. For those games to mean something, Arizona must meet its next challenge. Sumlin phrased it in the form of a question: “Can we follow that up?” That he was in position to ask it said a lot.

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Contact sports reporter Michael Lev at 573-4148 or mlev@tucson.com. On Twitter @michaeljlev