Offense must make strides
UA needs to develop backup for QB Tuitama
ANALYSIS By JOHN MOREDICH
Tucson Citizen
The Arizona football team went into this season with a motto of "no excuses."
The 2007 theme should be: "Prove it."
There is evidence that the 2007 season could be something special, but fans - as well as the players and coaches - will want to see better results in coach Mike Stoops' fourth season.
"We're on the right track. We're not there yet," tight end Brandyn McCall said. "It's never good enough, but it's a start. We're going to get there."
It's time.
The Wildcats lose only three seniors who started against Arizona State, two on offense. That offense needs to make serious gains after averaging a lowly 17 points and 253 total yards per game.
A new offensive coordinator will be calling the plays following the departure of Mike Canales. That coach will have to reconstruct a unit that never could balance the run with the pass, but the cupboard is hardly bare.
A healthy Willie Tuitama at quarterback is the key. Nine months off can only help the junior-to-be clear the cobwebs from a season in which he had three concussions and was knocked out of another game because of a blow to the head.
Here's how the rest of the pieces might fall into place:
Quarterback
Projected starter: Tuitama
Key backups: Tyler Lyon, Kris Heavner, incoming recruit Bryson Beirne
Key number: 9 - Hard to believe Tuitama actually started nine games. He finished four.
Analysis: Tuitama clearly makes the UA offense more formidable when he is healthy. His health is the No. 1 priority in the offseason. Lyon has the physical tools to be a successful Pac-10 quarterback. He'll get plenty of reps this spring because he must be a reliable backup in 2007.
Running backs
Projected starters: Chris Henry, Earl Mitchell
Key backups: Chris Jennings, Xavier Smith, Glyndon Bolasky, incoming recruit Joseph Reese
Key number: 2.7 - yards per carry average this season by the backs.
Analysis: The backs held onto the ball this season after fumbling problems in 2005, but Henry must show the running style he did against Oregon: punishing, fast, instinctual. He can't revert to the backpedaling, timid style he showed in other parts of the season. UA needs a speedy back who can get to the outside and take it the distance.
If Reese picks up the offense quickly in August, look out. Mitchell has to be used more than just as a blocker. Throw him the ball. Let him run.
Wide receivers
Projected starters: Mike Thomas, Anthony Johnson
Key backups: Delashaun Dean, Terrell Turner, Terrell Reese
Key number: 1- The heralded freshman receiver class of Dean, Turner and Reese combined for a single reception this season.
Departing: Syndric Steptoe
Analysis: Thomas must become more of a big-play receiver again. He had 50 catches this year but needs more than just two touchdowns. Reese and Turner saw little playing time. They must adjust to the speed of the game. If the Wildcats want to spread the field more next season, the offense will only work if these players live up to their four-star recruiting rankings.
Tight ends
Projected starters: Brandyn McCall
Key backup: Travis Bell
Key number: 0 - Brad Wood led the team with six touchdowns in 2005. No UA tight end found the end zone in 2006.
Departing: Wood
Analysis: The Pac-10 is full of tight ends who are game-changers. The Wildcats need to find a player who can block and pass catch effectively. Mitchell would make one heck of a tight end, wouldn't he? UA could score big here if it is able to sign Rob Gronkowski, the nation's No. 3-rated tight end. Gronkowski, from Pittsburgh, is strongly considering the Cats.
Offensive line
Projected starters: LT Peter Graniello, LG Daniel Borg, C Blake Kerley, LG Joe Longacre, LT Eben Britton
Key backups: G James Tretheway, G/T Adam Grant, G Bill Wacholz
Key number: 3 - Three redshirt freshmen started along the line most of the season.
Departing: G Adam Hawes
Analysis: Hawes isn't a huge loss because the youngsters usually played with more authority than the veteran Wildcats. The growing pains were great early on, but Britton, Kerley and Borg appear to be the real deals.
Graniello must regain the form he had in his first two seasons. Stoops has raved at times about the potential of Grant, who missed 2006 because of a knee injury, and Tretheway, who redshirted after transferring from junior college.
Place-kicking
Projected starter: Alex Zendejas
Key backup: Jason Bondzio
Key number: 75 percent - Nick Folk's accuracy on field goals (15 of 20 this season) will be missed, as will his ability to hit from long distance.
Analysis: Bondzio, who will be a junior, will get plenty of time in the spring to prove he can do the job.
But never underestimate a Zendejas. Alex, the nephew of former UA kicking star Max Zendejas, will arrive in the fall as a freshman.
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XAVIER GALLEGOS/Tucson Citizen
Arizona true freshmen quarterback Tyler Lyon will get a lot of work during spring practice while Willie Tuitama heals.
, nice to see that ASU education hard at work.
