“Lev it on the Field” is back for Week 7. It’s the Star’s unique look at Arizona’s upcoming football matchup and other happenings around the Pac-12 (and Big 12) through the eyes of UA beat reporter-turned-columnist Michael Lev. Away we go ...
The most important coach for Arizona this week is Tyler Owens.
Michael Lev is a senior writer/columnist for the Arizona Daily Star, Tucson.com and The Wildcaster.
Owens is the Wildcats’ director of strength and conditioning. His much-praised work with the players will be put to the test Saturday in Pullman.
Arizona hasn’t had a bye yet. The Wildcats’ game vs. Washington State will mark their seventh Saturday in a row on the field. They’re coming off a triple-overtime game, also on the road, that ended at 11:25 p.m.
The Cougars had their bye two weeks ago. They also played in Los Angeles this past Saturday, but the game kicked off about 7½ hours earlier than Arizona-USC. They were back in the Palouse by halftime.
All of which makes me wonder: How much will the Wildcats have left in the tank compared to the relatively rested Cougars?
Arizona’s commitment to rotating along the defensive line will help. And other than quarterback Jayden de Laura (questionable), running back Michael Wiley (doubtful) and offensive lineman Raymond Pulido (out), the Wildcats are pretty healthy at the halfway point of the season.
That’s in large part due to Owens and his staff. He’s been universally lauded since Jedd Fisch hired him. The UA roster is unquestionably bigger, stronger and faster than when they got here.
Do the Wildcats have one more energetic effort in them before their bye arrives next week?
Take that for data!
Arizona’s defense is vastly improved this season. Coordinator Johnny Nansen deserves much of the credit for that. But if there’s a knock on Nansen since he came to Tucson it’s that the Wildcats seldom if ever intercept opposing quarterbacks.
Arizona has only four interceptions over the past 1½ seasons — and none this year. Only one other Pac-12 team, Stanford, is in single digits since the start of the 2022 season, and the Cardinal have twice as many (eight). ASU also has none this season — but had 11 last year. Only four FBS teams had zero interceptions entering Friday night.
The Wildcats’ misfortune in this area is bound to change. It’s commonly held that about 20% of passes defensed — interceptions plus pass breakups — become picks in college football. That figure through Thursday was 20.2%.
Arizona has defended 19 passes this season, per CFBStats.com. The UA’s official count is 18. Either way, the Wildcats should have three or four picks at this point.
(Rincon) Market report
Going up: UA pass protectors
Fisch made a great point during his Thursday press briefing: Arizona’s two starting offensive tackles, Jordan Morgan and Jonah Savaiinaea, weren’t in those spots the last time the UA faced WSU. Morgan was out for the season because of a knee injury, and Savaiinaea was playing guard. Today, they both rank among the top eight pass blockers in the Pac-12, according to Pro Football Focus’ grading system, having allowed one sack between them. I can’t wait to see them match up against the Cougars’ elite pass rushers, Ron Stone Jr. and Brennan Jackson.
USC coach Lincoln Riley, right, signals from the sideline during the second half of the Trojans’ game against Arizona on, Oct. 7, in Los Angeles.
Going down: Game management
Last week was a rough one for coaches who get paid millions of dollars to make the right decisions on Saturdays. Miami’s Mario Cristobal made one of the biggest blunders of all time by running the ball late against Georgia Tech when the Hurricanes could have taken a knee and escaped with a victory; they ended up fumbling and losing. The sequence preceding USC’s botched field goal attempt vs. Arizona was a masterclass in how not to efficiently and cleanly run down the clock; Lincoln Riley’s team was lucky to have survived. And even Fisch, who has a Sean McVay-esque recall, wasn’t fully versed on college football’s overtime rules.
A question from my X
“In your opinion, should Noah or JDL start?” — @jamescasillas76 via X/Twitter
Noah, of course, is Noah Fifita, the redshirt freshman who has started the past two games for Arizona because JDL — de Laura — has been out with an ankle injury. It’s the biggest question looming over the program at the moment.
I would stick with Fifita because he’s steadier. As we discussed on the latest episode of the Wildcast Podcast, this is a ceiling/floor argument. Fifita might have a lower ceiling than de Laura — but Fifita’s floor is much higher.
De Laura is a volatile player. He can make incredible plays — but also is prone to head-scratching turnovers.
Washington State — where de Laura used to play — is the wrong spot to put him back out there. He wasn’t in the right frame of mind vs. WSU last year in Tucson; imagine what Pullman would be like.
If he proceeds with the status quo, Fisch will have the benefit of time — next week’s bye — to further assess the situation and make a carefully considered decision.
Threads
Oregon is going with its “eggshell” uniforms for the monster matchup against Washington — white jerseys and pants with dark green speckles. The Ducks also are wearing silver helmets. I would have preferred a more traditional look for the final Pac-12 matchup between the bitter Northwest rivals. Then again, Oregon is gonna Oregon.
What he said ...
“I fully expect Jayden to dress this week. Even if he’s at 90%, he’ll dress and be the backup. If he’s at 100%, he’ll dress and start.” — Fisch
What he meant ...
“Who among us is 100%? If I start Noah — and I’m not saying whether I will or won’t — and get asked about it afterward, I can say that Jayden wasn’t 100%. There’s no way to prove it either way. Also, this decision isn’t as clear as I’ve made it out to be. Noah is a baller. I could use more time to think it through.”
The other side
Greg Woods, via The Spokesman-Review:
Washington State cornerback Cam Lampkin performed a front flip for an audience of zero. WSU head coach Jake Dickert took off down the sideline. Both made no effort to contain their emotions on the sideline of the Rose Bowl.
The spotlight belonged to WSU nickel back Kapena Gushiken, who had just intercepted a pass and returned it 88 yards for a touchdown, handing the Cougars a one-point lead right before halftime in Saturday’s loss to UCLA. On a sunny day in Southern California, game result aside, nobody shone brighter than Gushiken.
This fall, the Cougars’ secondary has stood out repeatedly. The secondary has two pick-sixes, one from safety Jaden Hicks against Colorado State and the one from Gushiken against UCLA. It also has three other interceptions, two from safety Sam Lockett III and one from fellow safety Jackson Lataimua.
WSU’s offense has received the most notice, perhaps rightfully so, but its secondary has provided a significant spark.
UCLA wide receiver Keegan Jones, right, stiff-arms Washington State defensive back Kapena Gushiken (4) on his way to a touchdown as defensive back Sam Lockett III (0) chases during the second half of their game on Oct. 7 in Pasadena, Calif.
Pick to click (aka #fadelev)
I picked Arizona to win outright. I feel even more confident that the Wildcats will beat the spread, even though it has dropped from 10.5 to 7.5 points over the course of the week — a sign that early money came in on the UA. And why shouldn’t it? Arizona is 5-1 against the spread this season, including decisive ATS victories the past two weeks over heavily favored opponents. (season record: 4-2)
One last thing
One reason you might want to consider fading me — Pullman has been a nightmarish place for Arizona football in recent years.
The Wildcats have lost their last three visits to Martin Stadium by a combined score of 182-53. I was on hand for two games in which the Wildcats surrendered 69 points. Not nice!
The 2021 game wasn’t much better — a 44-18 drubbing. But that was largely circumstantial. The weather was miserable, Arizona had nothing to play for and the Territorial Cup was on the horizon.
I can’t imagine another no-show on Fisch’s watch.
VIDEO: Arizona football coach Jedd Fisch says quarterback Jayden de Laura (ankle) is a "gametime decision" but will be fully dressed at Washington State. De Laura is "certainly closer than he's ever been." Fisch said de Laura could be used in an "emergency situation." (Justin Spears/Arizona Daily Star)
