Another week, and more frustrations are piling on early into the year, as the Arizona Football squandered numerous opportunities to upset Utah.
In a game Arizona Football should have won, it was costly turnovers and mistakes that doomed the Wildcats in upsetting the visiting Utes.
Friday nights game was played in front of an abysmal crowd turnout (roughly 36,000), and resulted in an abysmal offensive effort as the Wildcats fell 30-24. Many things could highlight this game, but it was ultimately the five turnovers that will sting the worst.
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Defensively, Arizona looked great. Defensive coordinator Marcel Yates deserves a ton of credit, playing a young group in just his second year here, the Wildcats held the Utes’ offense to just 20 points, 341 yards, and a 20 percent conversion rate on third down.
However, it was the offense that didn’t hold their end of the bargain. Something we haven’t grown accustomed to saying during head coach Rich Rodriguez’s tenure at Arizona, but last night, the offense had their chances, and blew it.
Arizona out-gained the Utes, but were unable to capitalize when it mattered the most. Brandon Dawkins again struggled in the spotlight, and Rodriguez left his quarterback out there to dry, as his junior quarterback turned the ball over four times (albeit the fumble being a very questionable call to say the least).
The offensive line got pushed around up front, and didn’t create very many opportunities for the running backs, and Dawkins took a number of hits throughout the evening, something that has to improve vastly, if Arizona hopes to even match last years’ win total.
Special teams also deserves a little heat, as the Wildcats had two field goals blocked last night.
In summary, let’s take a look at a few plays that could have changed the outcome for Arizona:
- Dawkins pick six
- Nick Wilson dropping wide open pass for a potential touchdown
- JJ Taylor fumbling deep into Utah territory
- Dawkins “fumbling” after Arizona receiving the onside kick
- Two missed FG’s
- Tight end Trevor Wood being wide open for a touchdown, but not being thrown to
As a fan, last night was beyond frustrating. If there was ever a game to encompass and define what Arizona Football is, and has been for decades, last night was it.
With Arizona entering the bye week before playing Colorado, this staff and these players needs a long and serious look in the mirror. The Wildcats should be 4-0, but nothing is changing the fact that we have two losses, and the schedule doesn’t get any easier from here on out.
In those two losses, Dawkins is 41/71 (57 percent completion percentage) with 426 yards passing, with one touchdown, and SIX turnovers (three interceptions, three fumbles).
I don’t know if Khalil Tate is necessarily the answer, but you have to try something different. If you are talking about changing the culture, and are about the next man up mentality, why do you continue to go to the same players who make crucial mistakes in key moments?
After all, Rodriguez’s future with Arizona may even depend on it, so why not go for it?
Listen to Rodriguez in the teams’ post game press conference:
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At Zona Zealots, we are disheartened by the loss and hope the Wildcats can rebound from this one. Props to the team as they fought and even had a chance to win despite the numerous mistakes. Bear Down, Arizona!