Arizona Football: Why Khalil Tate should be running the ball more

After Saturday night’s loss to BYU, 28-23, there are many things that stood out, including Khalil Tate’s lack of running the ball. He should be running the ball more, and this is why.

Many Arizona Wildcat football fans were left puzzled why Khalil Tate hardly ran the ball against BYU in the home opener. After having one of the greatest seasons as a Wildcat quarterback his sophomore year, expectations were high heading into the first game of the season. Unfortunately, things turned out not as many thought, rushing for only 14 yards.

To put things into perspective, last year Tate ran for a total of 1,411 yards, averaged 9.2 yards per carry, 153 carries, and 12 TD in 11 games played. Against BYU, he carried eight times for 14 yards, averaging 1.8 yards per game. For a preseason Heisman candidate that’s not going to cut it! Especially with the game being on ESPN, it was a huge disappointment, to say the least.

The majority of the game Tate was given pass plays to pass the ball down the field, maybe hoping for pass interference calls, which he got on a few occasions. But that doesn’t win games. He completed 17 out of 34 passes for 197 yards, 5.8 average yards per pass, two TD’s (one rushing and one passing) and no interceptions.

Last season, Tate’s passing was impressive and efficient. He completed 111 out of 179 pass attempts for a total of 1,591 pass yards. Tate averaged 8.9 yards per game with 14 TD and 9 yards.

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From his first game to the last game, Tate had the freedom to run and wanted to run. In the first game of this season, it seemed almost the complete opposite. It is because of a new head coach? Is it because of the new quarterback coach? Or is it because he wants to be known more than just a runner?

When Tate ran last season, it brought so much hope to Arizona Football knowing how much faster and talented he was than anybody else on the field. The defense has to respect that and be ready for that explosiveness. Against BYU, he was way too predictable in throwing the ball every single time. Plus, there were so many three and outs, especially in the third quarter, the BYU defense wasn’t tried at all. So even if he did run the ball, BYU would have been able to stop him.

When he did have the freedom to run, it was for only a couple yards. Tate’s running abilities can have such an impact on the game on so many levels, he should be given that option to do so, why limit him? Maybe it’s not a matter of him wanting to this year. Seems as if his mentality has changed and his approached is to become more of a pocket passer and run when the options is there to do so.

During the press conference, this was Tate’s response when asked why he couldn’t get going running the ball:

It seems as if Tate played it “safe” when asked about his lack of running. Maybe he knows deep down inside he should be running the ball more, but has to wait and see how the season plays out. Run Tate run!

If you ask me, there are more pros then cons when it comes down to giving Tate more flexibility to run the ball. Yes, he is only one person and football is a team sport, but the impact that he can make as a runner is more significant then just passing the ball all the time.

At Zona Zealots, we hopefully will get to see Tate do what Tate does and run past everyone for TD after TD. After Sumlin watches tape of his team performance, maybe he will allow for more flexibility in calling plays for Tate, to run the ball. Good things happen when you give No.14 the ball. Bear Down, Arizona!