Arizona football mailbag: answering UA fans' questions after loss to Kansas State

Following the Arizona Wildcats’ 31-7 loss to Kansas State in Manhattan, the first under head coach Brent Brennan, we sent out the “bat signal” and solicited questions from UA football fans on the social media app formerly known as Twitter — now “X.”

Episode 482 of “The Wildcast” podcast, which will be available on Apple, Spotify and Tucson.com Monday afternoon, will address every question that was submitted.

We decided to take a crack at a few questions early as Arizona enters a bye week.

“Are Arizona fans overreacting or do the Wildcats have a long season ahead of them?” — Brad Malone

A: It’s one thing to lose. But to lose by 24 points on national television in the primetime slot, when Arizona lost its three games last season by a combined 16 points, is another thing. Expectations for the Arizona football program have evolved in the last year or two because of the build by former head coach Jedd Fisch coupled with the retention of players after Brennan was hired.

With the nucleus of players returning from the 10-3 team that ended the season ranked No. 11 in the Associated Press Top 25, including arguably the best quarterback-receiver duo in Noah Fifita and Tetairoa McMillan, the expectation for Arizona entering was to compete in the Big 12 and vie for the expanded 12-team College Football Playoff — which they can still do since the setback to Kansas State is a nonconference game.

But in its first major test, after struggling in the first two games against New Mexico and Northern Arizona, Arizona failed — and they know it. Both Brennan and Fifita shouldered the blame for Friday night’s meltdown after the opening drive.

“At the end of the day, I need to coach this team better,” Brennan said. “It all starts with me. The good news is, we have a bye, which gives us a chance to get some guys healthy and get to work on fixing the things that weren’t right tonight.”

Added Fifita: “I think we’re good. There’s nobody pointing fingers, nobody is turning on each other and that’s a great sign. We understand that we have two weeks to prepare for Utah, to talk about this week and especially work on ourselves and get better in every situation.”

The concerning reaction from fans to Arizona’s blowout loss is justified, albeit — just like other fanbases — some were over-the-top upset. Arizona’s offense, after a plethora of explosive plays and a record-setting performance by McMillan, stalled the last two games because of wobbly protection and lack of distribution.

Defensively, a season after that unit sparked the turnaround in the Alamo Bowl, the Wildcats have struggled to stop the run. Arizona’s rushing defense is ranked 103rd out of 133 teams in FBS. After 17 missed tackles against Kansas State, Arizona’s 31.6 tackling grade on Pro Football Focus is the lowest grade since 2016.

Arizona has also used three punters this season and surrendered a 71-yard punt return for a touchdown on Friday. Brennan said, “I think we can get better in all three phases.”

Along with players, coaches go through growing pains, too. How Arizona responds in all three phases against No. 12 Utah on Sept. 28 in Salt Lake City could forecast the remainder of the season.

The loss to Kansas State could either be a one-off disaster, or this season could be a pump-fake akin to the 1999 and 2015 seasons.

“We neutralized (former Washington State quarterback) Cam Ward last year using a designated spy all game long. Why do we not use the same defensive game plan against mobile (quarterbacks?). Put (linebacker Justin Flowe) as the spy. Easy assignment to understand.” — @icecreampaintjob

A: Arizona defensive coordinator Duane Akina compared Kansas State quarterback Avery Johnson to Ward leading up to the game. The Arizona defense used to neutralize Ward was the double-eagle flex defense, with edge rusher Jeremy Mercier as the quarterback spy.

While Arizona deployed the “dollar” package with seven defensive backs, it was surprising to see the UA not utilize the double-eagle flex defense with Flowe, an explosive and athletic run-tackler, or anyone else as a spy to corral Johnson. Arizona wasn’t as aggressive against a run-heavy KSU team like other effective rushing teams from last season.

“Here’s my serious question: The defensive line looks legitimately bad. Does it seem more like a scheme or a talent issue?” — Garrett Lutz

A: No one said replacing nine scholarship defensive linemen would be an easy fix, but the Wildcats signed even transfers in the offseason and have a budding lineman in Ta’ita’i Uiagalelei.

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Arizona defensive line coach Joe Seumalo preaches downhill, tenacious rushing from the defensive line, but sometimes it could lead to guys over-pursuing and not containing the edge, allowing dual-threat quarterbacks, like Devon Dampier and Avery Johnson, to slip out and run for chunk yards.

“We’ve got to do a better job up front collectively — and myself as an individual especially,” said defensive end Tre Smith.

Added Smith: “It all comes down to little details to keep it short and simple. It’s execution and it starts with the littlest details. ... We just need to work on all the basic fundamentals.”

Arizona’s defensive line was the position group with the most concerns entering the season. It remains an issue — and it could result in the UA dropping games just like the 2022 season, whether it’s personnel or coaching.

“Penalties, penalties, penalties! Too many of them! Three penalties on offense on one drive (for) -30 yards! I think both lines need some work. I mean it was still a game midway through the third quarter.” — Adam Leon

A: Arizona is tied with Liberty for the fourth-most penalty yards (269) in college football to go along with 28 penalties. The only teams with more penalty yards: Washington (288), Michigan State (342) and San Diego State (349).

Penalties hindered the Wildcats from moving the ball in the second and third quarters against Kansas State.

“Those wounds are self-inflicted,” Brennan said. “That’s the hardest part about it, because we’re doing some good stuff moving the football. ... The biggest thing about our football team is that we have to be more disciplined. I think the penalty thing — especially Week 1 and tonight — is damaging. As coaches, we can be more demanding for those small technical pieces that hopefully give you a chance to avoid some of those penalties.”

As for Arizona’s offensive and defensive lines, the UA will go as far as its success in the trenches. So far, it’s not up to the standard set by last season, which doesn’t bode well for Arizona, but there’s still nine lives — err, games — for the Cats.

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