Arizona's Offense will be potent, that I have no doubt. HOWEVER: "Wildcats TE Gronkowski out for opener with strep, possibly mono"
Big loss for them. Couple that with the fact that their defense is depleted, especially their D-line which "may be the worst in the Pac 10", and they face Idaho which returns 11 on offense....
I'll be taking the points. Should be a fun high scoring game. I see the MildCats winning by 17.
Big loss for them. Couple that with the fact that their defense is depleted, especially their D-line which "may be the worst in the Pac 10", and they face Idaho which returns 11 on offense....
I'll be taking the points. Should be a fun high scoring game. I see the MildCats winning by 17.
Top TE, Rob Gronkowski, for Arizona is out. He was a big play weapon. You will need Idaho to score more than 1 TD to have any chance for a cover and a back door one at that. Arizona should be able to do what it wants on both sides of the ball. Past Trends for Idaho relatively meaningless IMO.
Vandals Scouting Report
Scouting The Offense: The Vandals will start six players who also started a year ago at USC, including quarterback Nathan Enderle, running back Deonte Jackson, H-back Deonte Jackson and the entire left side of the offensive line. Idaho will be attacking a defense that must replace eight starters.
The starting receivers are two sophomores and a freshman.
Scouting The Defense: The Vandals switch to a 4-3 scheme this season and are most experienced on the defensive line and safety positions. The biggest question mark is in the linebacking corps, where three sophomores (Justin Allen, Jonathan Faraimo and JoJo Dickson) are starting for the first time.
Quote To Note: “We’re together for 353 days a year, but you are judged by what happens on those 12 game days.”—Idaho coach Robb Akey.
Strategy And Personnel
THIS WEEK’S GAME: Idaho at Arizona, Aug. 30—The Vandals haven’t beaten a Division I team since Oct. 16, 2006, when they won at Louisiana Tech. Arizona is the first of six consecutive opponents that did not have a winning season last year, giving Idaho a realistic chance of starting the season strong. Both teams return most of their offensive threats from last season, so a shootout could be in the works.
Players To Watch:
ORT Tyrone Novikoff—The redshirt freshman was thrust into the starting lineup when projected starter Matt Cleveland broke his leg in fall camp. How he handles blitzing Wildcats and blocks on running plays could signify how well the Vandals perform offensively.
RB Deonte Jackson—The sophomore burst onto the scene last year by running for 99 yards against USC. He finished the season with 1,175 yards, but he was held out of most contact drills during fall camp because of back problems. Jackson says he’s healthy, but the decision to play two true freshman running backs this season could be the insurance policy.
S Virdell Larkins—The junior college transfer started his career at Cal, but this will be his first Division I game. He’s the free safety, starting opposite of second-team All-WAC performer Shiloh Keo. Coaches are expecting big things out of Larkins, who has waited a long time to make his D-I debut.
Roster Report:
• Guard Mike Iupati, who had shoulder surgery in the spring, has returned to practice and has started some contact drills. Originally expected to miss five games, Iupati could return in time for the WAC opener Sept. 20 at Utah State.
• Senior Breyon Williams, who started all 12 games at cornerback this season, will start as a backup this year to true freshman Kenneth Patten. Williams will be one of two kick returns, along with Dewey Hale.
• Tackle Billy Bates, last year’s starter at right tackle, has moved to the left side when projected starter Matt Cleveland went down with a broken leg. Cleveland is expected to miss at least eight weeks.
Scouting The Offense: The Vandals will start six players who also started a year ago at USC, including quarterback Nathan Enderle, running back Deonte Jackson, H-back Deonte Jackson and the entire left side of the offensive line. Idaho will be attacking a defense that must replace eight starters.
The starting receivers are two sophomores and a freshman.
Scouting The Defense: The Vandals switch to a 4-3 scheme this season and are most experienced on the defensive line and safety positions. The biggest question mark is in the linebacking corps, where three sophomores (Justin Allen, Jonathan Faraimo and JoJo Dickson) are starting for the first time.
Quote To Note: “We’re together for 353 days a year, but you are judged by what happens on those 12 game days.”—Idaho coach Robb Akey.
Strategy And Personnel
THIS WEEK’S GAME: Idaho at Arizona, Aug. 30—The Vandals haven’t beaten a Division I team since Oct. 16, 2006, when they won at Louisiana Tech. Arizona is the first of six consecutive opponents that did not have a winning season last year, giving Idaho a realistic chance of starting the season strong. Both teams return most of their offensive threats from last season, so a shootout could be in the works.
Players To Watch:
ORT Tyrone Novikoff—The redshirt freshman was thrust into the starting lineup when projected starter Matt Cleveland broke his leg in fall camp. How he handles blitzing Wildcats and blocks on running plays could signify how well the Vandals perform offensively.
RB Deonte Jackson—The sophomore burst onto the scene last year by running for 99 yards against USC. He finished the season with 1,175 yards, but he was held out of most contact drills during fall camp because of back problems. Jackson says he’s healthy, but the decision to play two true freshman running backs this season could be the insurance policy.
S Virdell Larkins—The junior college transfer started his career at Cal, but this will be his first Division I game. He’s the free safety, starting opposite of second-team All-WAC performer Shiloh Keo. Coaches are expecting big things out of Larkins, who has waited a long time to make his D-I debut.
Roster Report:
• Guard Mike Iupati, who had shoulder surgery in the spring, has returned to practice and has started some contact drills. Originally expected to miss five games, Iupati could return in time for the WAC opener Sept. 20 at Utah State.
• Senior Breyon Williams, who started all 12 games at cornerback this season, will start as a backup this year to true freshman Kenneth Patten. Williams will be one of two kick returns, along with Dewey Hale.
• Tackle Billy Bates, last year’s starter at right tackle, has moved to the left side when projected starter Matt Cleveland went down with a broken leg. Cleveland is expected to miss at least eight weeks.
Wildcats Scouting Report
Scouting The Offense: The Wildcats are likely going to try to exploit an Idaho defense that allowed 37 points per game a year ago by mixing up plenty of screens to backs or to the 2007 Pac-10 leading receiver Mike Thomas in the middle of the field. There are plenty of home run threats as well with Arizona trying for the deep ball more consistently with Terrell Turner and Delashaun Dean. The offensive line is a key as the four returning starters have added bulk and strength.
SCOUTING THE DEFENSE: Only three returning starters can be a bad thing. Arizona is hoping to change that into a positive with more aggressiveness and team speed. Cornerback Antoine Cason, the 2007 Jim Thorpe Award winner as the nation’s top defensive back, must be replaced. That is not an easy task as Devin Ross and Marquis Hundley fill in as first-time starters at corner. The defensive front has a combined one career start. Earl Mitchell has switched from tight end and H-back to nose tackle, bringing with him more speed than years past.
QUOTE TO NOTE: “I think we can score when we want to. We have that type of an offense.”—UA coach Mike Stoops.
Strategy And Personnel
THIS WEEK’S GAME: Idaho at Arizona, Aug. 30—The Wildcats have boasted about their offensive potential, and now must live up to their hype and have a rare blowout. If Arizona can’t run up a score against a defense ranking 118th nationally a year ago in passing efficiency defense, then when?
PLAYERS TO WATCH:
TE A.J. Simmons—The sophomore caught only one pass, but it went for a three-yard touchdown a year ago. More is demanded with starter Rob Gronkowski possibly out for a month with mononucleosis.
CB Marquis Hundley—Replacing Jim Thorpe Award winner Antoine Cason has not seemed to faze the senior so far, but what happens when the lights turn on should be interesting as Arizona is accustomed to a big playmaker from that position.
QB Willie Tuitama—The senior led the Pac-10 in touchdowns a year ago with 28. After starting out poorly the first couple weeks of fall camp he has been on target of late, just in time to take on a suspect Idaho secondary.
ROSTER REPORT:
—P Keenyn Crier, who missed most of fall camp after having a bone cyst removed prior to the start of practice, is slated to start the opener. The sophomore, a first-team All-Pac-10 selection, averaged 43.7 yards per kick last season.
—Arizona offensive coordinator Sonny Dykes has preferred to be down on the sidelines for games, but has decided to call the plays from the box this year with the Wildcats in the second year of the spread scheme.
—The Wildcats lost only offensive tackle J’Marcus Webb from its 2008 recruiting class due to academics.
Scouting The Offense: The Wildcats are likely going to try to exploit an Idaho defense that allowed 37 points per game a year ago by mixing up plenty of screens to backs or to the 2007 Pac-10 leading receiver Mike Thomas in the middle of the field. There are plenty of home run threats as well with Arizona trying for the deep ball more consistently with Terrell Turner and Delashaun Dean. The offensive line is a key as the four returning starters have added bulk and strength.
SCOUTING THE DEFENSE: Only three returning starters can be a bad thing. Arizona is hoping to change that into a positive with more aggressiveness and team speed. Cornerback Antoine Cason, the 2007 Jim Thorpe Award winner as the nation’s top defensive back, must be replaced. That is not an easy task as Devin Ross and Marquis Hundley fill in as first-time starters at corner. The defensive front has a combined one career start. Earl Mitchell has switched from tight end and H-back to nose tackle, bringing with him more speed than years past.
QUOTE TO NOTE: “I think we can score when we want to. We have that type of an offense.”—UA coach Mike Stoops.
Strategy And Personnel
THIS WEEK’S GAME: Idaho at Arizona, Aug. 30—The Wildcats have boasted about their offensive potential, and now must live up to their hype and have a rare blowout. If Arizona can’t run up a score against a defense ranking 118th nationally a year ago in passing efficiency defense, then when?
PLAYERS TO WATCH:
TE A.J. Simmons—The sophomore caught only one pass, but it went for a three-yard touchdown a year ago. More is demanded with starter Rob Gronkowski possibly out for a month with mononucleosis.
CB Marquis Hundley—Replacing Jim Thorpe Award winner Antoine Cason has not seemed to faze the senior so far, but what happens when the lights turn on should be interesting as Arizona is accustomed to a big playmaker from that position.
QB Willie Tuitama—The senior led the Pac-10 in touchdowns a year ago with 28. After starting out poorly the first couple weeks of fall camp he has been on target of late, just in time to take on a suspect Idaho secondary.
ROSTER REPORT:
—P Keenyn Crier, who missed most of fall camp after having a bone cyst removed prior to the start of practice, is slated to start the opener. The sophomore, a first-team All-Pac-10 selection, averaged 43.7 yards per kick last season.
—Arizona offensive coordinator Sonny Dykes has preferred to be down on the sidelines for games, but has decided to call the plays from the box this year with the Wildcats in the second year of the spread scheme.
—The Wildcats lost only offensive tackle J’Marcus Webb from its 2008 recruiting class due to academics.
Yeah and the PAC-10 is Watered down.. and has been with the exception of SC for a long time..
WSU sucks, Oregon Sucks (we saw what happened w/o their QB last year)
Ucla sucks, Oregon St sucks, Arizona St(Mediocre), Cal (Mediocre), Stanford sucks..
So when you are playing against these teams.. how could you not have one of the top 2 offenses in the Pac-10????
Just curious, are you in Idaho or did you go there at some point?
I mean seriously, how can you think Idaho is going to beat a BCS team that's been putting out offensively the way Arizona has especially since Sonny Dykes took that offense.
Ahem.... you must realize that the Vandals only win last year was vs a Div 2 school -- Cal Poly SLO.
I'm not saying it's impossible for them to get the cover spotting them 4 TDs but beat them SU?
They will win straight up (in Tuscon) and shock the world. Are you kidding?
Is this meant to be some kind of joke? Seriously.
I mean seriously, how can you think Idaho is going to beat a BCS team that's been putting out offensively the way Arizona has especially since Sonny Dykes took that offense.
Ahem.... you must realize that the Vandals only win last year was vs a Div 2 school -- Cal Poly SLO.
I'm not saying it's impossible for them to get the cover spotting them 4 TDs but beat them SU?
They will win straight up (in Tuscon) and shock the world. Are you kidding?
Is this meant to be some kind of joke? Seriously.
Ok Dummy - Can you not read? MY PLAY IS IDAHO PLUS TWENTY-SEVEN OVER ARIZONA... THAT MEANS THAT I AM PLAYING IDAHO PLUS TWENTY-SEVEN OVER ARIZONA.. THAT MEANS THAT IF I MAKE A COMMENT LIKE DONT BE SURPRISED IF THEY WIN SU THAT IS NOT MY PLAY! UNDERSTOOD OR DO YOU NEED ME TO EXPLAIN FURTHER???? PLEASE TAKE YOUR NEGATIVE ENERGY SOMEWHERE ELSE.
What's so negative about pointing out that your "win straight up... shock the world" comment was either way out there or a big joke?
I don't have a problem with your play. I didn't say anything about your play. But you took it way too far if you meant that Idaho would shock the world and win straight up. That needs some explanation.
I wouldn't touch Idaho on the moneyline if it went to +10000.
Can you tell me which post I said "win straight up... shock the world"
Im pretty sure those are YOUR words and all I said in response to someone talking smack was "K... when they win SU... you will be shocked... "
Do I think they win SU... Probably not, but Maybe (app st.) ... Do I think they will cover the 27- Absolutely.
Hey its nothing personal.. The Pac-10 wasnt very good last year... I just know an overrated team and an even more overated conference when I see one... Im actually a fan of SC, ASU, and Stanford (friend played linebacker there) - Thats cool you dont have to follow my picks.But you dont have to come in my thread and bash me either...
Play what you want.. My goal is to make ME and you and whoever else $$$.. No where did I say to take the ML... so get your shit correct son..
and thanks for reading my political posts.. they have nothing to do with my handicapping skills...
