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 62-31 victory over Southern Utah on Saturday:
1. ‘D’ ISN’T FOR DISCIPLINE
Well after the game ended late Saturday — it might have been Sunday by then — UA coach Kevin Sumlin called it a “glass-half-full night.” Applied to the defense, the positives were two sacks, an interception and a season-high seven tackles for losses. But Sumlin cautioned that the glass might not be half full come Monday. Many of Arizona’s defensive problems persisted against Southern Utah. What’s the main issue? It could be boiled down to one word: discipline. The Wildcats’ lack of discipline on defense takes several forms. Sometimes it’s the edge player failing to “keep contain.” Sometimes it’s pass rushers flying upfield and losing their gap integrity, allowing quarterbacks who aren’t that athletic — such as the Thunderbirds’ Chris Helbig — to gain needed yards on scrambles and draws. Sometimes it’s penalties. Arizona played more aggressively Saturday night, but a handful of times that turned into 15 yards for the other team. The Wildcats don’t have enough size, depth or talent to overcome mistakes like that. They need to play smart, fundamentally sound football. The competition will only get tougher from here. Arizona will face faster teams with better quarterbacks in Pac-12 play.
Wildcats linebacker Colin Schooler stuffs Southern Utah's Chris Helbig.
2. MIX-AND-MATCH MARCEL
Although he can only control so much, coordinator Marcel Yates ultimately bears responsibility for the defense’s performance. He tried a variety of different looks and blitzes to create pressure against Southern Utah, with mixed results. Sumlin mentioned the increased usage of four-man fronts; Arizona used four down linemen — with “Studs” Kylan Wilborn and Jalen Harris putting a hand on the ground — at least six times Saturday. The Wildcats also mixed in two-man fronts — with the ends standing up — in addition to their standard three-down look. Yates called double-A-gap blitzes featuring Colin Schooler, Tony Fields II and/or Anthony Pandy. Yates also used the linebackers on delayed blitzes; one of those led to Pandy’s sack late in the first quarter. A corner blitz by Lorenzo Burns led to Wilborn’s sack in the second. Arizona rarely rushed only three; one of the glaring instances came on third-and-10 late in the second quarter, resulting in a 28-yard completion. The Wildcats did all that despite an almost constant shuffling of personnel because of injuries. That might limit Yates’ options. But it doesn’t change the fact that 2018 remains a make-or-break season for the third-year assistant.
3. TATE’S TALENT
Quarterback Khalil Tate still appeared limited at times because of his sprained left ankle, which he aggravated on a second-quarter run. There’s nothing wrong with his arm. Tate’s immense “arm talent” was on full display on a night when he threw for a career-high 349 yards and tied his personal best with five TDs despite attempting only 20 passes. Two plays in particular stood out. The first was Tate’s 53-yard heave to Devaughn Cooper in the third quarter. On first-and-10 from the UA 30, Tate executed a play-action fate. He felt pressure and took a step to his right. Tate then quickly set his feet and launched the ball 63 yards in the air. Cooper made a diving catch on the other end. Later in the quarter, the Wildcats faced first-and-15 from their 25. Tate again faked a handoff. Sensing pressure from his left, he drifted right and lofted a perfect pass to a streaking Shawn Poindexter, who hauled it in and sprinted away from the defense for a 75-yard touchdown. Tate makes a handful of “wow” throws every game. What made this game different was the patience he displayed inside and outside the pocket and the accuracy with which he threw while on the move.
Receiver Cedric Peterson, left, contributed in more ways than one during the Wildcats' first victory of the season.
4. THIS TIME IT’S PERSONNEL
Each week we provide some notes on individual players, so here goes … Gary Brightwell and J.J. Taylor share many traits, but Brightwell is a better downhill runner — one who makes one cut and gets vertical. … Reserve RB Anthony Mariscal, a converted safety, ran hard inside and showed good speed on his 33-yard TD. … Cooper might be the fastest receiver on the team; the next step is to add diversity to his game. … Right guard Bryson Cain had by far his best performance; he helped escort Brightwell down the left sideline on his 29-yard run in the third quarter. … DT Dereck Boles, who missed the second half of the Houston game, played off the bench but didn’t look like his usual explosive self. … DE JB Brown, making his first career start in place of the injured Justin Belknap, showed good hustle and run-stopping instincts. … The same goes for Lee Anderson III, who moved from “Stud” to backup “Mike” linebacker. Anderson did struggle in coverage at times. … Pandy continues to flash big-time ability and arguably has outplayed starting WLB Tony Fields II. … Safety Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles had one of his better all-around performances. … Unsung veteran Cedric Peterson threw the key block on Taylor’s kickoff return for a TD. … Freshman receiver Tre Adams blocked his man through the back of the end zone on Mariscal’s TD run.
5. READY FOR THE PAC?
It’s important to keep a win like Saturday’s in the proper perspective; Southern Utah was picked to finish in the middle of the pack in the Big Sky Conference. But the Wildcats needed a confidence boost and some tangible validation for all the work they’ve put in since Sumlin and his staff arrived. Regardless of the opponent, this was the first time you could say Arizona showed marked improvement, especially on offense. Although Tate still didn’t run the ball like he did last year, he looked much more comfortable operating the offense — especially when utilizing play fakes and RPO concepts to freeze linebackers and safeties. Whether it will translate to Pac-12 play remains to be seen. Arizona is favored to beat Oregon State. It’s unquestionably a winnable game. That would put the Wildcats at 2-2 with USC coming to town the following week. Although the Trojans are struggling as well, they represent what the Cats would like to become. How far away are they? We’ll find out sooner than later.
