The grades are in for Arizona’s 31-21 victory over Grambling State on Saturday night at Arizona Stadium:
QUARTERBACKS
Grade: B-minus
Comment: Brandon Dawkins, making his first career start in place of the injured Anu Solomon, did not look like a polished product. He completed barely 50 percent of his passes (15 of 29). He seldom seemed to find secondary route options. But he also made plays with his arm and especially his legs (97 rushing yards, two touchdowns). He also protected the ball well (zero turnovers).
RUNNING BACKS
Grade: B
Comment: Once again, it was the Nick Wilson Show. Wilson got the bulk of the RB carries, rushing 24 times for 116 yards and a touchdown. He also had a key blitz pickup on Dawkins’ 34-yard touchdown pass to Trey Griffey. Orlando Bradford got more work but not much more (4-15). Wilson failed to convert two fourth-and-short runs but had no chance on one of them.
RECEIVERS/TIGHT ENDS
Grade: B-minus
Comment: Griffey finished with four catches for 74 yards but dropped the first pass of the game, nearly leading to an interception. Shun Brown started for the injured Nate Phillips (shoulder) and didn’t seem to be on the same page as Dawkins early. Samajie Grant bounced back (5-95) after a quiet Week 1.
OFFENSIVE LINE
Grade: C-minus
Comment: The unit didn’t dominate the line of scrimmage as one might have expected against an FCS opponent. The line again allowed free rushers far too often. Dawkins frequently had to make plays on the run, although he held the ball too long at times. The run blocking wasn’t good enough on two fourth-and-short plays, especially the one in the second quarter (Wilson 4-yard loss). It got better in the second half.
DEFENSIVE FRONT
Grade: B-minus
Comment: A mix of good and bad. The front struggled mightily to corral Grambling’s Devante Kincade and Martez Carter in the first half. Once Kincade left the game because of an injury, the front exploited the less mobile Trevon Cherry. Parker Zellers had two sacks and forced two fumbles. Cody Ippolito recovered two fumbles but also got flagged twice for roughing the passer (the second earning an ejection). Jake Matthews’ forced fumble and recovery in the fourth quarter squelched a potential Grambling rally.
DEFENSIVE BACKS
Grade: C-minus
Comment: The secondary had three interceptions – by Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles, Jace Whittaker and Jarvis McCall Jr. – but largely struggled. Kincade and Cherry combined for 402 passing yards. Cornerbacks Dane Cruikshank and DaVonte’ Neal allowed big plays. Like the front, the secondary didn’t tackle well. Flannigan-Fowles finished with a team-high nine tackles, including one for a loss. Freshman safety Tristan Cooper, forced into action because of injuries, performed admirably (six tackles).
SPECIAL TEAMS
Grade: B-plus
Comment: The coverage units did a good job of containing the dangerous Carter, who gained only 1 yard on two punt returns and averaged 19.5 yards on two kickoff returns. Four of Edgar Gastelum’s six kickoffs went for touchbacks. Josh Pollack averaged 48 yards on four punts using the rugby technique, which made them difficult to return. He also made his lone field-goal attempt (31 yards). Freshman J.J. Taylor flashed his potential with a 22-yard punt return.
COACHING
Grade: D
Comment: Although there were many notable individual efforts, this wasn’t the collective performance Arizona was seeking or expecting. Players said the team came out flat in the first half; the Wildcats definitely didn’t seem as ready as they needed to be in the early going. That points back to Rich Rodriguez and his staff. Arizona made beneficial adjustments in the second half and rallied to win. But should it ever have come to that?
