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Arizona's report card: New Mexico 36, Arizona 2809/14/2008 12:07 AM
Ryan Finley ALBUQUERQUE — I’m getting a definite feeling of deja vu. Let’s break it down: FINAL SCORE: New Mexico 36, Arizona 28 QUARTERBACK: D. Face it, we all expected more out of quarterback Willie Tuitama. The Cats’ senior accounted for four of the Wildcats’ five touchdowns, two interceptions and the two fumbles. More telling was Tuitama’s inability to drive the Cats for a score with the team down eight points with 1:30 remaining. The Wildcats went-three-and-out. Tuitama finished by completing 27 of 50 passes for 321 yards — not his worst statistical performance, by any stretch — but his turnovers were deadly. RUNNING BACKS: D. The Wildcats gained a combined 67 yards on 24 carries, brutal numbers for a team that ran at will through the first two games. Starter Nicolas Grigbsy (18 carries, 72 yards, 1 TD) was workmanlike, but his fumble on the first play of the second half put Arizona in serious trouble. Ronnie Palmer gained seven yards — and a first down — on a fake punt. WIDE RECEIVERS: B. Mike Thomas (12 catches, 138 yards, 1 TD) and Delashaun Dean (6 catches, 108 yards, 1 touchdown) were the bright spots on an otherwise-ugly day. Juron Criner caught a 28-yard touchdown pass to pull the Wildcats within eight points late. OFFENSIVE LINE: C. New Mexico registered three sacks and countless hurries. Much of that can be put on the front line. FRONT 7: C. The Wildcats’ front was owned by an undersized New Mexico line, though Ricky Elmore’s two sacks were impressive. With the game on the line, however, the Lobos dominated. And Arizona demurred. SECONDARY: A. For all the praise thrown on UNM quarterback Donovan Porterie, he completed just 13 of 17 passes for 89 yards. Marquis Hundley had an interception. SPECIAL TEAMS: B. Keenyn Crier averaged 53.7 yards on three punts. Jason Bondzio hit four PATs. : Advisory: Gronk warming up, may play |
Smart defensive coordinators with average talent can always devise a way to stop Willie T from being effective. With Willie’s totally lack of mobility, opponent defenders need not waste personnel trying to contain him. Just blanket Willie’s receivers with extra defensive backs, because just three rushers will soon run him down anyway. Willie is a terrific passer, but even he can not consistently hit double covered receivers.
The Cats have two major flaws that have consistently made them losers: Willie’s lack of mobility and our poor defenses over the last few years that are reactive rather than attacking.
— Cactus Jim 09/14/2008 08:01 AM #
I would’ve given the O-line a “D” at best. It was an atrocious display against what looked to me like a small (but quick) New Mexico D-Line.
GET IT TOGETHER!
— CHRIS 09/14/2008 09:37 AM #
I’ve been following wildcat football since 75, and it is not just the talent on the field. Stoops is not the coach Arizona needs either.
— Emery 09/14/2008 09:56 AM #
D’s to F’s all across the board. I do think that because New Mexico does play Utah and BYU in MWC play that helps them. Also playing UA and TT in the last three years that seeing that scheme is to their advantage. The bad news is that UNM is at best the 4-5th best team in the MWC. BYU, Utah, and TCU being the top three. I do not think UA is close to those 3 teams. Then again after USC/ Oregon I do not think any other Pac 10 team could beat any of those three. Anyway, UCLA is basically a must win. UA should beat UW, WSU, and OSU. Thats 5 wins with those 3 games. UCLA will be a good program in a few years. UA needs to take advantage of a team that will be up and down this year. This game is is as much about the long term status of this program as the hear and now.
— pat 09/14/2008 03:15 PM #
Coaching: D-. UNM threw gimmick after gimmick on both sides of the ball and UA was completely unprepared for it. Where was the game plan? The score would have been worse for the Cats had Porterie executed better on a number of plays. And going for it on 4th rather than take the FG was foolhardy given the Cats’ inability to establish any momentum. Kicking it would mean the Cats could have won with a last minute FG.
— Frank 09/14/2008 05:16 PM #
Tuitama is a horrible QB. He is a liability in the pocket, has horrible accuracy and constantly making bad decisions. Grade is an F for the QB play, RB, and a c for the O-line. I thought that the defense for as long as they were on the field played well, however the defensive front needs to be more productive.
— Brian 09/14/2008 07:03 PM #
Beating Idaho and Toledo high proved nothing. Lost to New Mexico for the 2nd time in a row. Reality has set in, come back down to earth. UofA is average at best. Tuitama is NO WAY one of the best in the Pac-10, just get that out of your mind right now. The defense will get even more rolled on as the Pac-10 season arrives. UCLA got ambused by BYU and is not that good of a team. Lose to them at their house, and your bowl hopes will come down to beating ASU once again. We all know that is not a good scenario for UofA fan to have to digest.
— sundvlpwr 09/14/2008 09:18 PM #
sundvlpwr all I have to say is do you know UNLV?
At home and ranked 15th, how do you explain sundvlpwrthat.
— FN52 09/14/2008 09:48 PM #
scmdvlpwr, You realize you just lost at home to a team projected to finish last in the MWC? tempe normal will start the season with four home games, after playing EIGHT home games last season. Both losses by the Arizona schools Saturday night were bad.
— Button Salmon 09/14/2008 11:04 PM #
And thinking more about these grades, I think giving a B to the special teams is letting them off the hook. I agree with PAT…D’s to F’s across the board.
Embarassing. But not as embarrassing as the LAME Devils losing to a hapless Rebel group. I even heard that there was some discontent and infighting among the Runnin Rebels defense as of late. So the big question is; when are the Devils going to understand that 10-3 was a fluke, and they are in for a very disappointing season? Idiots.
— CHRIS 09/15/2008 09:16 AM #
That New Mexico defense is just murderous. And I know of what I speak.
— Miles Dabord 09/15/2008 02:19 PM #
FIRE STOOPS! I use to be a big supporter of Mike, but now, it is obvious that he can not prep a team to go undefeated in a cupcake schedule. UNM was 0-2 before Arizona waltzed in and laid down for them. 5 TURNOVERS!?! Give me a break! 4 by Tuitama himself. The worst turn over has to be an interception on a little screen pass! Geez!!!
My vote for Arizona’s next head coach has to be Brian Billick. Brian Billick has experience in college and the NFL, and he is available. Let him put together a staff now and let Stoops return to work as a coordinator because that is what he is best at, and not as a head coach.
Bear Down and bring in Billick!
— Big Jon 09/15/2008 03:13 PM #
We need a football reformer (coach)!
— Anthony 09/15/2008 05:27 PM #
another horrible job by the stoopid brothers and turnover tui.
— Pimp K 09/15/2008 08:01 PM #
“The curse of Tony Mason shall prevail”
— Tony Mason 09/16/2008 09:19 AM #
scumpowerblower, You should really think twice about running your mouth when your alledged “football school” just got beat at home by a team projected to finish last in the MWC. Good luck on Saturday. Georgia is going to put a LSU type beating on you. Erickson is going to be going on a weeklong bender after this epic beatdown.
— asuhater 09/17/2008 05:01 AM #
Throw the report card out the window with the bathwater.The learning curve is to low for these readers.
The two previous loses UNM suffered were the worst thing the Cats had to face on Saturday.
The Cats obviously let UNM dictate the play ,on the field.
Do what you do and make your opponents adjust ,to your game plan.
Notable: Arizona’s offense suffers ,due to the defense committing an extra player to the running back or rush.There is NO back side threat of QB ,keeping the football.there is a remedy…Welcome back Rob
Play Fast AND FIGHT!
— James H 09/17/2008 11:36 AM #
It is time to make Bronco Mendenhall an offer he can’t refuse! Or any number of proven coaches.
— Big Jon 09/18/2008 10:24 PM #