Well, 2022 is finally here, and as people begin making their lofty resolutions for the New Year, we create our own for Arizona Football.
Vamoose, 2021! While you provided a few great moments for Arizona Football, overall, you were largely a year in which many would like to forget.
Despite the highs of signing one of their best-recruiting classes in the last 15 years and hiring some talented staff members, fans of the Wildcats will largely associate 2021 with the misery of a 1-11 season, a myriad of key injuries, and several heartbreaking losses.
However, that is all in the past now as a new year is upon us, and with Arizona gaining momentum in the off-season, there is plenty to look forward to in 2022 and beyond!
So, with people beginning to make lofty New Years’ resolutions, we create our own for Arizona Football.
The Wildcats need a lot of things in 2022, and while it is difficult to quantify all the areas in which Arizona could/should improve, here are at least a few resolutions they should start at.
Find improved play/consistent starter at quarterback
No surprise that this is on here but simply put, the Wildcats were not good at quarterback last season, and they need significant attention and improvement at the position.
Overall, this was a group that combined for 2,732 yards passing and 12 touchdowns to just 18 interceptions on 269 of 443 passes (60.7 percent). Eeek!
The hope is that Jedd Fisch and the Wildcats will be able to find another quarterback in the transfer portal that will be better than the options they have now, as well as find improved play and development with another off-season under everyone’s belt.
Either way, Arizona needs improved play at more consistency at the position for 2022 in the worst way possible!
Build up and Settle the Offensive Line
Over the past three years, this is a group has regressed significantly. Blame it on injuries, attrition, poor recruiting evaluations, or perhaps a combination of all three, the offensive line was a point of weakness for the Wildcats in 2021, and naturally, this is why this one is on the New Year’s resolution for 2022!
Arizona should benefit greatly with the eligibility of Baylor transfer Davis DiVall, as well as the return of young up and comers like JT Hand, Leif Magnuson, and Josh Baker; however, Arizona needs more depth at the position as well as improved play.
If Arizona can answer some of those questions along the offensive line this off-season, we feel much better about the offense next season.
Improve Depth in the Secondary
While Arizona does have some playmakers in the secondary; however, as we all saw last season, this is a positional group that is an area of weakness for the Wildcats, and they desperately need improvement from top-to-bottom.
That is why for this New Years’ resolution, the Wildcats will need to focus on improving the overall depth.
Luckily, they are bringing in some serious talent in four-star corner Ephesians Prysock, Millikan corner Tacario Davis, and UCLA transfer DJ Warnell; however, the Wildcats will need more, particularly at safety.
Hopefully, with the transfer portal still ripe for the picking, the Wildcats can find another secondary player or two to help shore up this group.
Eliminate the Mistakes
It is hard to play error-free football for 60 minutes; however, there’s no legitimate excuse as to why you are one of the most penalized football teams in college football without admitting that you play a selfish and undisciplined brand of football.
In 2022, the Wildcats desperately need to focus on fixing the small things. Maybe it turns into another win or two, or perhaps it doesn’t but either way, it is an area that Arizona needs to improve on immediately.