Oregon State @ Arizona Oct 9th

[desertrat218]

Oregon State has only lost 2 games, both coming against teams ranked among the Top 6 in the nation. Arizona hasn't lost yet and will be playing at home. I'm thinking home field gives Arizona the edge, but the Beavers won't go down easy.

 

[arthurracoon]

 

[Renz]

Well, there's no way the Cats were the #9 team in the country. I expected them to lose to Oregon and Stanford, so this loss isn't really surprising.

 

[TJ]

Well, there's no way the Cats were the #9 team in the country. I expected them to lose to Oregon and Stanford, so this loss isn't really surprising.

In retrospect, we were overranked. To jump from 14 to 9 on a bye week is absurd. I should have known better. Our defense did not look like the #2 in the league. Plus, it is perplexing that we have one of the best QBs in the nation, 3 potent running backs and great depth at wideout, yet, have trouble scoring on a consistent basis. There is no reason why we couldn't drop 40 on OSU in our house.

At this rate, we are not beating Oregon in Eugene given how potent their offense is. Im starting to become nervous about our Rosebowl possibility

 

[TheHopToad]

Im starting to become nervous about our Rosebowl possibility

Rose Bowl? Realistically, you should be more nervous about your Sun Bowl possibility.

UA hasn't even hit the hard part of their schedule yet. Stanford and Oregon are going to destroy the Cats, and USC has a good chance of beating them too.

 

[desertrat218]

In retrospect, we were overranked. To jump from 14 to 9 on a bye week is absurd. I should have known better. Our defense did not look like the #2 in the league. Plus, it is perplexing that we have one of the best QBs in the nation, 3 potent running backs and great depth at wideout, yet, have trouble scoring on a consistent basis. There is no reason why we couldn't drop 40 on OSU in our house.

At this rate, we are not beating Oregon in Eugene given how potent their offense is. Im starting to become nervous about our Rosebowl possibility

You gotta make stops on defense to score 40. Arizona moved the ball with ease and outgained Oregon State in yardage and also had a huge advantage in average yards per play. Here is the big indicator from last night's game, Oregon state converted on 10 of 15 3rd downs and held the ball for more than 36 minutes while Arizona only had the ball a little more than 23 and a half minutes. It's hard to score when you're on the sidelines.

 

[green machine]

Rose Bowl? Realistically, you should be more nervous about your Sun Bowl possibility.

UA hasn't even hit the hard part of their schedule yet. Stanford and Oregon are going to destroy the Cats, and USC has a good chance of beating them too.

I can buy Stanford and Oregon, sure, but why USC? Cats beat that team in their house last year and I think this year's UA squad is better. Plus the game is in Tucson and at that point in the year USC knows they'll have nothing to play for.

 

[TheHopToad]

I can buy Stanford and Oregon, sure, but why USC? Cats beat that team in their house last year and I think this year's UA squad is better. Plus the game is in Tucson and at that point in the year USC knows they'll have nothing to play for.

USC has nothing to play for NOW. They're ineligible, so their whole season is for nothing but pride. However, they are always a tough team to beat, home or away. Their two losses were last second field goals. They are still a good team and if the Cats take them for granted, they will get beat.

 

[Chaplin]

If UA takes ANY team for granted, they'll get beat. USC doesn't hold the monopoly on that.

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

USC has nothing to play for NOW. They're ineligible, so their whole season is for nothing but pride. However, they are always a tough team to beat, home or away. Their two losses were last second field goals. They are still a good team and if the Cats take them for granted, they will get beat.

Of course. That goes without saying unless you're Alabama and the other team is Wazzu or something similar.

Arizona is a good team, but they still lack the necessary focus in a lot of areas (not surprising if you look at their head coach) and it gets them in trouble. I'm not as concerned about a team like USC or ASU that plays just as bone-headed and sloppy as I am a more disciplined team like Stanford, Oregon, or Cal.

This season is going to be interesting from here on out. I've heard rumors that Byrne and a decent amount of boosters are not 100% invested in Mike Stoops (on the other hand he loves Sean Miller - they do a lot of things the same way). Not saying Stoops is going to get fired or anything but he we are in Year 7 and we still haven't got us to the level Dick Tomey left us. That's a problem when you consider that the elephant in the room with Arizona Football is the Rose Bowl streak. It hangs over this program like a black cloud. My take and I know a lot of people agree with me is that if this guy ain't going to get us there, then what's the point? After all, we did can Tomey for accomplishing less than Stoops.

 

[Gaddabout]

You invoked Dick Tomey into the discussion so I had to look it up. Here's how Arizona went under Tomey season by season:

4-4-3 (2-2-3)
7-4 (5-3)
8-4 (5-3)
7-5 (5-4)
4-7 (3-5)
6-5-1 (4-3-1)
10-2 (6-2)
8-4 (6-2)
6-5 (4-4)
5-6 (3-5)
7-5 (4-4)
12-1 (7-1)
6-6 (3-5)
5-6 (3-5)

Stoops has gone:

3-8 (2-6)
3-8 (2-6)
6-6 (4-5)
5-7 (4-5)
8-5 (5-4)
8-5 (6-3)
4-1 (1-1)

Let's also remember Tomey was replacing Smith, who had done a pretty good job recruiting, especially in-state. Stoops was stepping into an absolute disaster. I'm not convinced Stoops hasn't put the program back to where Tomey had it. All he's missing is a signature season, but year-or-year they're about the same.

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

You invoked Dick Tomey into the discussion so I had to look it up. Here's how Arizona went under Tomey season by season:

4-4-3 (2-2-3)
7-4 (5-3)
8-4 (5-3)
7-5 (5-4)
4-7 (3-5)
6-5-1 (4-3-1)
10-2 (6-2)
8-4 (6-2)
6-5 (4-4)
5-6 (3-5)
7-5 (4-4)
12-1 (7-1)
6-6 (3-5)
5-6 (3-5)

Stoops has gone:

3-8 (2-6)
3-8 (2-6)
6-6 (4-5)
5-7 (4-5)
8-5 (5-4)
8-5 (6-3)
4-1 (1-1)

Let's also remember Tomey was replacing Smith, who had done a pretty good job recruiting, especially in-state. Stoops was stepping into an absolute disaster. I'm not convinced Stoops hasn't put the program back to where Tomey had it. All he's missing is a signature season, but year-or-year they're about the same.

You said it yourself - he's missing a signature season which everyone in the NCAA needs every now and then to keep their job these days. And I won't even go into how each coach conducts themselves off and on the field.

Tomey > Stoops and it ain't even close.

 

[TJ]

Rose Bowl? Realistically, you should be more nervous about your Sun Bowl possibility.

UA hasn't even hit the hard part of their schedule yet. Stanford and Oregon are going to destroy the Cats, and USC has a good chance of beating them too.

Stanford and USC have a good chance of being annihilated by us as well. USC has been rather unimpressive against mediocre teams and the Stanford game will be a toss up IMO. Saying Stanford will destroy us reeks of biased analysis. Just like me saying ASU is no better than a 5 win team. The difference is my assessment is more accurate. Barring injury, the Oregon game is going to be a blow out in their favor but the Stanford game should be close.

 

[TJ]

You gotta make stops on defense to score 40. Arizona moved the ball with ease and outgained Oregon State in yardage and also had a huge advantage in average yards per play. Here is the big indicator from last night's game, Oregon state converted on 10 of 15 3rd downs and held the ball for more than 36 minutes while Arizona only had the ball a little more than 23 and a half minutes. It's hard to score when you're on the sidelines.

I agree...it is symptomatic of our defense. They looked abysmal compared to past games they've played. Allowing Katz to go lights out on us especially after the Rodgers injury is flat out ridiculous.

 

[TheHopToad]

Stanford and USC have a good chance of being annihilated by us as well. USC has been rather unimpressive against mediocre teams

USC had their way with Cal today. Cal's defense looks like a poor high school team. 42-0 at halftime before Kiffin called off the dogs.

Using the "common opponents" method of comparing teams, you have to wonder why Arizona was only able to muster 10 points at home against this poor Bears team that also gave up 52 to Nevada.

Matt Barkley looked like Peyton Manning out there today. I wouldn't place your bet on annihilating them just yet.