Who is at fault (Offense edition)

[WildcatBlitz]

Why can't Arizona score? Arizona Red Zone curse is very high right now. Arizona running offense is terrible, Arizona missing easy catches. Without Criner could Arizona really be 7-3 or more likely 5-5? Why can't our receivers run routes at the first down marker instead of 3 yards short? Why did TM plays disappear? Is our co-coordinators calling terrible games or is Foles not making the right reads? Foles can pass but why can't he get us a TD? Why don't we sen Cobb deep more often? Why when we have momentum does Arizona have some sort of misplay/penalty that takes us out of scoring range?

Why can't we pass more against USC the last passing defense in the Pac-10 until the 4th quarter?

[97cats]

starting 1st & 15 every single series and wasting 1st and 2nd down by rushing and pushing setting up 3rd and long continually and add in some of the worst play calling ive ever seen and it leads to unorganized sloppy play.

[97cats]

did i mention the penalties?

[97cats]

too effin many!!!!

[djcat2]

Let's face it Foles and the offensive unit were having issues against Iowa, Cal and OSU before getting knocked out at WSU. Iowa he was helped by run back and INT for TD.

[77HoyaCat4Ever]

Missed FG and two fumbles - that's the difference. Even with anemic defense, we win if we don't make mistakes and hit chip shot FGs.

[97cats]

wht the fu*k does Iowa have to do with illegal formations and lining up in the neutral zone, on offense!?!

way too many mental mistakes to take the Ctas seriously right now.

ugly football.

[97cats]

Missed FG and two fumbles - that's the difference. Even with anemic defense, we win if we don't make mistakes and hit chip shot FGs.

mistakes are beginning to feel like habit to me.

[djcat2]

[QUOTE=97cats;1491107]wht the fu*k does Iowa have to do with illegal formations and lining up in the neutral zone, on offense!?!

QUOTE]

The f**k that they were containing the O for the most part except for the final drive.

[catgrad]

I think it was clear from the 2nd qtr that Arizona was not going to win this game unless they had some really good breaks fall their way. USC kept their offense fairly conservative, knowing they were controlling the line of scrimmage.

I'm not a fan of the spread offense that we run, especially with a QB as immobile as Foles. He's a good player, but unless you have a dominant line and running game, good defenses are able to contain UA. Arizona hasn't been able to score on good defenses. I don't care how many passing yards are piled up, it's the points on the scoreboard that matter. The running game is a joke right now. Antolin is not an every down back built for the Pac 10. He's just not big enough running behind a mediocre O-line. Obviously, injuries have hampered the running game...but even healthy I don't think we could run consistently on SC or other good defenses.

Right now, UA will be lucky to finish the year 1-1. I think ASU is the better team at this point, but we're playing at home so I'll call it a toss-up. And unless they get some bowl game welfare, they're staying home again for the holidays.

[97cats]

[QUOTE=97cats;1491107]wht the fu*k does Iowa have to do with illegal formations and lining up in the neutral zone, on offense!?!

QUOTE]

The f**k that they were containing the O for the most part except for the final drive.

and penalties, mental breakdowns, overall panic, and turnovers ended every threat.

Arizona was bad in all phases tonight....especially coaching.

[catgrad]

Missed FG and two fumbles - that's the difference. Even with anemic defense, we win if we don't make mistakes and hit chip shot FGs.

You could make that argument. But SC moved the ball pretty consistently against us. They didn't take chances they didn't need to take. They ran the ball well and rolled Barkley for open completions. Time of possession tells the story in our 3 losses. We can't run the ball and our opponents played keep away.

[WildcatBlitz]

The offense this season really has been a disappointment for me, I expected so much more efficiency in the Red Zone.

I'm convinced now if Arizona wants to do anything next year we will need to see some Pistol so that our Running backs can start running down hill.

[gumby]

Spread fails in the red zone, because you run out of space to spread them out.
Immobile QB exacerbates it. So does on OL that can't get any push.

[BibbysTowelDude]

Only have 2 decent OL, really hurts.

[What I See]

Terrence Miller had a great game

[ragedogg69]

I'm not a fan of the spread offense that we run, especially with a QB as immobile as Foles.

I agree to a point. We are not running a spread offense. It only looks like a spread offense. Tonight was the first time I noticed this. We are running a 3 step drop west coast offense in the spread formation. I assume this is because the coaching staff is terrified of Foles getting murdered by his awful OL play.

Tonight would drop back, look immediately to one side of the field where he had may 2 WRs and a RB. If no one was there, he would either force it or throw it away. No checking off, nothing. I am not sure if this was our offense earlier in the year but I am noticing it now.

As far as the redzone, a spread will only work if we have a mobile QB. I have been saying since last year that we need to copy Florida back in Teebow's freshman year. Inside the 5 they would send him in to run the read option. We need to do the same thing with Scott. Give us an extra man as a blocker. But that would be smart.... sigh

[Merkin]

We need to do the same thing with Scott.

Scott would have to dress first. :)

But Matt has his own red zone problems too.

[Puerco]

I think it was clear from the 2nd qtr that Arizona was not going to win this game unless they had some really good breaks fall their way. USC kept their offense fairly conservative, knowing they were controlling the line of scrimmage.

I'm not a fan of the spread offense that we run, especially with a QB as immobile as Foles. He's a good player, but unless you have a dominant line and running game, good defenses are able to contain UA. Arizona hasn't been able to score on good defenses. I don't care how many passing yards are piled up, it's the points on the scoreboard that matter. The running game is a joke right now. Antolin is not an every down back built for the Pac 10. He's just not big enough running behind a mediocre O-line. Obviously, injuries have hampered the running game...but even healthy I don't think we could run consistently on SC or other good defenses.

Right now, UA will be lucky to finish the year 1-1. I think ASU is the better team at this point, but we're playing at home so I'll call it a toss-up. And unless they get some bowl game welfare, they're staying home again for the holidays.

The sad thing about all this is that USC's defense is crap.

[phxcat]

Penalties are huge--5 or 10 yards on O line is automatic as we cross the 30. The hold on the 4th down conversion might have cost us the game tonight.

Ditto Gumby's comment re spread in red zone.

Not enough shots at the end zone. All we do is dink and dunk in a crowded field.

And, of course, we missed a chip shot field goal that would have led to a tie game, probably a 30+ point effort due to OT, and maybe no such thread.

[RCWildcat]

We need to recruit a dominant all purpose RB.

Do not like the O Coord's play calling, Coach needs to go outside program for new O coord next year, with serious recruiting connections!

The Arizona offense is more complex and dynamic (and fun to watch) with Matt Scott, and he should keep improving with playing time!

He is faster all the way around


No More missed field goals...bye Zendajas...but field goals can sometimes tie or win close games..

[CalStateTempe]

[QUOTE=djcat2;1491124]


Arizona was bad in all phases tonight....especially coaching.

What else is new?

[KingJames3382]

the play calling has been terrible this year, it's like they lost the game tape from last year and completely forgot the plays that worked so well last year

they haven't developed Foles much this year either. lol they can't even explain to him what intentional grounding is, no wonder, except for the great late game heroics he has mostly gone downhill since hte OSU game last year

We need to recruit a dominant all purpose RB.

Do not like the O Coord's play calling, Coach needs to go outside program for new O coord next year, with serious recruiting connections!

The Arizona offense is more complex and dynamic (and fun to watch) with Matt Scott, and he should keep improving with playing time!

He is faster all the way around


No More missed field goals...bye Zendajas...but field goals can sometimes tie or win close games..

[DCCat]

The biggest problem with both the offense and defense are the lines. If you get beat in the trenches, you really have to excel in other areas, including scheme, to win. We've managed pretty well against our early season opponents, most of whom didn't have great lines either, but against tougher lines we've been exposed. Good line play makes everything easier. We have a couple of good players on both lines, but the other guys are overmatched. We have to upgrade our talent here to continue an upward trajectory as a program.

[Merkin]

the play calling has been terrible this year, it's like they lost the game tape from last year and completely forgot the plays that worked so well last year

they haven't developed Foles much this year either. lol they can't even explain to him what intentional grounding is, no wonder, except for the great late game heroics he has mostly gone downhill since hte OSU game last year

I've been OK with the offensive play calling. UA drives pretty well, until they get to the red zone anyway. The one play I don't get is Ant up the middle on first down for 2-3 yards.

Stoops and whatever OC we have likes to think we have a power running game, as with Grigs in prior years.

And true about Foles and intentional grounding, not sure how you can teach that it is more of a reflex thing, but he did do better at USC and threw it one time in the direction of receiver when he was going down. So improvement yes, but he still needs to learn to throw the ball away earlier.

And isn't the offense suppose to call "PETER PETER" when he is about to get sacked? Foles looks really surprised when he gets sacked.

But on the defensive side, not really happy at all. Playing man to man with a rare blitz is not working, and Stoops and the DCs do not seem willing to adjust.

[KingG]

I can't believe nobody has made mention of this in the thread, but the number one downfall that has absolutely killed us in all three losses is FALLING BEHIND early and having to play catch up.

I blame the offense more than the defense for this happening because we have not been able to score early TDs to put the pressure on the opposing team. Is it poor play calling or bad execution? I think our red zone play calling has been absolutely horrible this season. I understand that the staff wants to give the rushing game a chance but we've had too many wasted downs in the red zone when we NEED TDs. Bottomline, let Foles do what he does best early in the game, instead of making him have to play catch up all game long.

[uacats]

Play calling against SC

Opening drive we go right down the field to the SC 18:

1. Nowoko 3 yard run (ok)
2. Douglas pass for -2
3.Timeout Arizona
4. Antolin pass for no gain 4th and nine from the 19
5. Missed field goal.
6. Foles or Littrel have no balls.

[catgrad97]

Balls or brains uacats?

From what I saw from the Red Zone, it was the latter. All night.