Ben Hansen
02-06-2003, 07:02 PM
If Arizona begins the year with a loss or two, all of these UA message boards will turn into BRO and/or BruinZone with the two warring factions of pro and anti-Mackovic clans. It will be a mess and it will be counterproductive, sad as it is to say so.
And just so everyone is clear, I am not my dad and we don't share the same opinions on everything so don't group me into the Mackovic haters club. I don't think he's done anything special as a coach so far, but it seems likely that his players may not have been giving their all for him throughout most of last year.
I was impressed to a degree about the recruits he was able to sign because I was one of those who thought the player revolt would kill recruiting to no end. But apparently it was just my dad and Terrence who did that (kidding). I am cautiously optimistic about the team this year but they are very, very young, especially at some key positions.
Mack has said that he wants to be more hands-on with the QBs and that is a must in my opinion. He has produced good QBs in the past and O'Hara, Nic Costa and Kovalcheck need some tutelage from a guy with a good history of developing young arms.
What I worry about most, however, is the defensive line - again. Doesn't matter how good the secondary is (which is my favorite group of players at UA) if they have to chase WRs around for five seconds every passing play. I don't think Mackovic or his staff really found enough impact D-Linemen to improve that position tremendously. And definitely not enough to get Arizona's defense to a point where it can dominate games and, thus, win games.
Here's the real problem. A couple of early losses and suddenly the apathy of the fans will hit an all-time high because of the last two years and Tomey's final year. And if no one comes to games, Mackovic will likely not be asked back in 2004 and the Mack Era will be considered a huge black mark on the history of Arizona's football program.
The key for Mack saving his job will be coming out hot and winning the first two or three games. That should be enough to get the fans excited for most of the season.
One last prediction: Mack and my dad will become golfing partners very soon and sit next to each other on all the team's flights.
Right.
-Ben
And just so everyone is clear, I am not my dad and we don't share the same opinions on everything so don't group me into the Mackovic haters club. I don't think he's done anything special as a coach so far, but it seems likely that his players may not have been giving their all for him throughout most of last year.
I was impressed to a degree about the recruits he was able to sign because I was one of those who thought the player revolt would kill recruiting to no end. But apparently it was just my dad and Terrence who did that (kidding). I am cautiously optimistic about the team this year but they are very, very young, especially at some key positions.
Mack has said that he wants to be more hands-on with the QBs and that is a must in my opinion. He has produced good QBs in the past and O'Hara, Nic Costa and Kovalcheck need some tutelage from a guy with a good history of developing young arms.
What I worry about most, however, is the defensive line - again. Doesn't matter how good the secondary is (which is my favorite group of players at UA) if they have to chase WRs around for five seconds every passing play. I don't think Mackovic or his staff really found enough impact D-Linemen to improve that position tremendously. And definitely not enough to get Arizona's defense to a point where it can dominate games and, thus, win games.
Here's the real problem. A couple of early losses and suddenly the apathy of the fans will hit an all-time high because of the last two years and Tomey's final year. And if no one comes to games, Mackovic will likely not be asked back in 2004 and the Mack Era will be considered a huge black mark on the history of Arizona's football program.
The key for Mack saving his job will be coming out hot and winning the first two or three games. That should be enough to get the fans excited for most of the season.
One last prediction: Mack and my dad will become golfing partners very soon and sit next to each other on all the team's flights.
Right.
-Ben