[slappy]

Alright, I understand if the Phoenix paper tells me no more than that Willie T. completed x out of y passes. But I read the (Tucson) Arizona Daily Star's articles this morning on the web and they didn't tell me anything about how the 2nd string quarterback did, or if he even played. I'd really like more objective facts about what's coming onto the field in this year's edition. Do they think we're stupid? Or are they?

I had to read between the lines to learn that the 'Cats are still thin and inexperienced in the offensive line (last year's downfall) and that we still have no stand-out running back or backs.

As a season ticket holder, I've seen all the home games for at least the last three years. I'm not one to believe, as they wanted us to last year, that Willie T. is the program's saviour. If we don't have a second string QB worthy of mention, and we're going to be throwing the ball 50 times a game because that's how Spike Dykes' baby boy plays it, I think the 'Cats will have trouble winning another 6 games this year.

Anyone have any insight of the kind that was missing from the recent press coverage?

[simple simon]

hey slappy, welcome to the forum

not sure how much i can help you here....im searching around for stories and so far have come up empty.......even the Wildcats web-site isnt talking about how the game went yet

are you expecting them to do better then 6-6 this year ?

[Lefty Noob]

Welcome to GoTeamsGo, slappy, and thanks for joining us.

Found a good story over at Scout.com about the scrimmage. From what they say, Tuitama was 24-39 for 292 yards, two touchdowns and two picks, but looked good on a couple of drives. Sounds like he should've had a third TD but Xavier Smith dropped a TD pass. Anyway, hope that article's what you're looking for!

Simon & Lefty,

Yes, I would hope they'd do better than 6 wins this year. They were pretty close last year except for a bad game against AS-Who and one or two others. Maybe they'll only get 7; I don't know and I'm not a big maker of predictions. But to answer your question, yes. Seven or more would be nice.

I appreciate the reference to other internet sites, Lefty. Personally, I don't follow this stuff very closely at all, and I don't rely much on websites to tell me what's going on. When I posted my question, I was hoping some UA football fans who were at the spring game would be posters here and would share their eye witness insights. I like my sources to be people who were there.

I think maybe the Arizona Daily Star and the Tucson Citizen are laying low this year and that's why there's less gabbing about the football team. They took a beating from their readership on the website after the 'Cats underachieved against AS-Who. Seems most of the loudmouths who post on the Star's website thought the local papers and the Athletic Department's marketeers pounded their chests too hard last summer. And maybe they did. I saw a lot of dropped passes and missed tackles last year, especially in the early going. That's not stuff a good quarterback can protect you from. It takes coaching.

But the Republic has been full of Erickson and Rudy Carpenter now for about two weeks. So I was hoping for more than one article and one column from the Star. Maybe the Tucson papers can see the writing on the wall and know it's going to be another mediocre season and don't want to wind up with egg on their faces again.

I don't blame the Tucson writers if that's the case. I read where Stoops says we need to get bigger in the line to have a chance. He said that last year. Not that it isn't true, but it's his job to do something about that. And besides, it's pretty obvious. I think my dogs know that!

I also read where we're going to throw the ball a lot. I grew up back east and I spent a year living with the Florida football team when I was in college. Call me old fashioned, but I don't think you can win consistently in Division I if you can't run the ball. And planning to throw the ball 50 times in each game is a tacit admission that the coaches have no faith in the running game. None of this encourages me, but I still hope for the best for the 'Cats. And I'll be there at every home game. So bear down, and let's play some football.

[Lefty Noob]

Originally Posted by Unregistered

I also read where we're going to throw the ball a lot. I grew up back east and I spent a year living with the Florida football team when I was in college. Call me old fashioned, but I don't think you can win consistently in Division I if you can't run the ball. And planning to throw the ball 50 times in each game is a tacit admission that the coaches have no faith in the running game. None of this encourages me, but I still hope for the best for the 'Cats. And I'll be there at every home game. So bear down, and let's play some football.

If you're old fashioned, then so am I, because I absolutely agree with you that a running game is essential. Living where I do (Ohio), I get pretty much zero coverage of West Coast teams save for the Internet. Shame the papers out there aren't giving fair coverage to both schools, but a few Arizona wins and I bet you that changes in a hurry. Hang in there!

[desertrat]

Last year Arizona started 3 freshmen on the OL. As a result, Tuitama got hammered weekly and the running game struggled. Towards the end of the season the line started playing noticably better and that should carry over to this season. All-American CB Antoine Cason is back to help bolster the secondary as well as 5-star DL recruit Louis Holmes. The defense is expected to be really tough but the offense will be a mystery early. Arizona hired OC Sonny Dykes from Texas Tech to install the spread passing attack ran in Lubbock known as "Air Raid". Anytime you install an entirely new offensive scheme you should expect some problems early on. For this season, the main focus of attention will be on the offense and obviously, how fast the team picks it up will determine how succesful this team is this year.