What else could go wrong for coach Rich Rodriguez and his Arizona football team? Two more crucial injuries that’s what.
True, it was a hard loss and the team and fans are suffering. True, the team looked awful on defense and lost horribly to the Washington Huskies. But the Wildcats went into the game with one of the highest scoring offenses in the Pac-12 averaging 42 points per game. That was before Saturday night.
The Wildcats started the game without their star running back, Nick Wilson, who stayed back in Tucson to nurse a foot injury. The success the Wildcats have with their running game is directly related to the strength of their offensive line. So what happened to their offensive line after the Wildcats scored the field goal against the Huskies in the first quarter?
This happened:
Jacob Alsadek undergoing concussion protocol on sideline. Ruh-roh.
— Ryan Finley (@ryan_finley) November 1, 2015
Jacob Alsadek is Arizona’s 6-foot-7, 298 pound outside linebacker who protects the quarterback. Alsadek was injured and out with a concussion in the first quarter. The game seemed to go downhill from there. The team called on Zach Hemmila, the same player who subbed in for Cayman Bundage at center in the Washington State game to take over Alsadek’s job. Hemmila found himself playing yet another position on offense.
Sophomore guard Jake Alsadek injured/out, replaced by Hemmila. Alsadek probably UA's top lineman. Not a good sign
— Greg Hansen (@ghansen711) November 1, 2015
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A new hole in the offense, and, of course, it had to happen early in the game. The Wildcats quarterbacks were just getting used to playing with a new center, and then they lost another key offensive lineman. One would imagine that the rest of the offensive line must have been shaken up by this loss as well. It seems each time the coaches find a solution to one problem; another one pops up. The nightmare just got worse.
To add insult to injury, literally, Freddie Tagaloa also was injured later in Saturday’s game. Tagaloa is yet another Arizona offensive lineman who stands 6-foot-8 and weighs 316 pounds. According to Matt Moreno, he hurt his left leg.
Freddie Tagaloa being helped off the field now … looks like he can't put much weight on his left leg
— Matt Moreno (@MattRMoreno) November 1, 2015
To say the Wildcats are like a patchwork quilt at this point is an understatement. What other coach or team has had to deal with this many key injuries in the Pac-12? Not many, and you got to feel for coach Rich Rod. It all makes sense now, no wonder the offense was struggling. Along with Alsadek, it looks like Freddie Tagaloa is still injured according to Zack Rosenblatt.
Freddie Tagaloa and Jacob Alsadek are both still injured, RichRod said. Didn’t elaborate.
— Zack Rosenblatt (@ZackBlatt) November 2, 2015
Perhaps it is the apocalypse for the Arizona Wildcats. Maybe all of us should do what the Jacob suggests and pray! What else is there left to do?
"Pray for blood, pray for the cleansing, pray for the flood, pray for the end of this nightmare."
— Jacob Alsadek (@CoachAlsadek) November 1, 2015
Here goes, saying this out loud may help.
Oh, mighty Football Gods hear our prayer, please make sure our players don’t get hurt anymore and the one’s who are hurt heal quickly. May the coaches find a way to keep themselves and the team motivated, that players step up to fill in the holes and we beat those darn Trojans! Please help our coach Rich Rodriguez see that he needs to stay in Tucson because the town and the team need him. And one more thing..tell the team to Beardown!
Amen.
Beardown Jacob and Freddie, get better soon!