Arizona Wildcats: 2019 Athletics New Year’s resolutions

LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 26: Wilbur the Wildcat is seen before the Arizona Wildcats take on the Xavier Musketeers in the West Regional Semifinal of the 2015 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Staples Center on March 26, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 26: Wilbur the Wildcat is seen before the Arizona Wildcats take on the Xavier Musketeers in the West Regional Semifinal of the 2015 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Staples Center on March 26, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images) /
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TUCSON, AZ – SEPTEMBER 29: Jead coach Kevin Sumlin of the Arizona Wildcats looks on during the first half of the game against the USC Trojans at Arizona Stadium on September 29, 2018 in Tucson, Arizona. (Photo by Jennifer Stewart/Getty Images)
TUCSON, AZ – SEPTEMBER 29: Jead coach Kevin Sumlin of the Arizona Wildcats looks on during the first half of the game against the USC Trojans at Arizona Stadium on September 29, 2018 in Tucson, Arizona. (Photo by Jennifer Stewart/Getty Images) /

Resolution: Win enough to make a bowl game, help Khalil Tate thrive under the coaching staff.

Coaches need to play to win, push for the team to play all 60 minutes, fit the offensive and defensive schemes based on the talent they have on the team.

Let’s face it, Wildcats fans went into the 2018 season with a lot of hype and high expectations and why not? The team had what it took to win more games and go to a bowl game, so it’s disappointing. But it was also the first year for Coach Sumlin and his staff, and the entire team had to learn new schemes, make new relationships, and more.

We barely saw some players we loved including Jamie Nunley, an able tight end, this was his redshirt sophomore season. We saw some of his fellow tight end Bryce Wolma, but not nearly enough. Trevor Woods transferred last season. Why doesn’t Arizona coaching staffs design plays for tight ends? Just don’t understand it. Here is a post I wrote before Nunley came to Tucson full of hope and dying to play for Wildcats fans:

It is hard on fans to lose players who are experienced in that position. Rob Gronkowski‘s school none-the-less. Players are transferring, like defensive tackle Kurtis Brown and even though transfers are expected it’s not a good feeling.

Also, experienced center Nathan Eldridge will play for the Oregon State Beavers. That’s a huge loss, he helped protect Tate in his breakout season and then recovered from injury last season.

Most of all, Arizona Wildcats fans wanted the offensive strategy to be more proactive and not reactive. In other words, don’t play to keep a lead, or don’t play safe, play to win. Play all 60 minutes, like Rich Rodriguez used to stress and it seemed to work for him and the teams he led. This season’s mantra was to play hard all four quarters, close, but let’s adopt that to each and every minute, shall we?

Also top of many discussions was to devise strategies for the players on the field and their strengths. Try to fit the scheme to the players and not the players to the scheme. This did not seem to happen this season. Playing true freshmen on the offensive line with a Heisman candidate quarterback to protect, was not a great strategy. Yeah, the freshmen got to practice but the cost was way too high. Allowing Ed Oliver, Houston, at Tate proved fatal for the season and hurt the quarterback in more ways that you can count.

Tate is coming back for his senior year, and he has a new offensive line as of last weeks signing day. Word is still out on a new running backs coach, although DeMarco Murray’s name has been floated about after his visit to the Arizona campus. On signing day, the Wildcats got a nice surprise, JUCO transfer Paiton Fears, a 6-feet-6-inches and over 325-pound offensive lineman signed on the dotted line to come to Tucson.

Arizona Football needs to set high goals this upcoming season with so many returning experienced players all now used to the coaching staff and a healthy quarterback to boot. It is quite conceivable that Arizona will be bowl bound in 2019 or more. But only if the coaches can find a way to accentuate the positives, be a ton more creative on offense and just win baby!