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| Keola Antolin (2) will have to get it going to keep the Duck defense honest. Thomas Boyd/The Oregonian |
Backed up on their own 15 on 2nd and 10, Darron Thomas ran a speed option to the left and Josh Huff made a great individual effort to catch an errant pitch and turn the ball up field for a game changing 85 yard touch down run. Arizona never recovered momentum and Oregon went on to win 48-29.
That brings us to this week. Arizona was amidst a losing streak to FBS opponents that continues up to this week. Currently the Wildcats have lost 7 consecutive games against the FBS, the only win during that span, a 41-10 romp over Northern Arizona. Another loss this week with another road test against #23 next week could be the thing to put coach Mike Stoops on the hot seat in Tucson. Meanwhile, the Ducks have won their last two, against non conference opponents, averaging 62.5 points a game, albeit against the likes of Nevada and Missouri State.
On offense, Arizona has been living and dying by the pass, and they have just the quarter back for it. Nick Foles is a very talented and intelligent player and has a deep, experienced set of wide receivers head lined by star Juron Criner. Criner returned last week against Stanford to catch 6 passes for 48 yards and a score. If Arizona gets in a tight spot, look for Foles to try and find #82 down the field. It will be an interesting match up with the experience of Foles and Co. against the youth and talent of the Oregon secondary. Arizona likes to throw the ball. A lot. It will be interesting if the Ducks can contain the explosive passing attack to see where Arizona goes to move the ball down the field.
As good as Arizona has been through the air, averaging 364 yards per game; they have performed equally as poorly on the ground, mustering only 55.7 yards a game. A lot of this comes because Arizona has four new starting offensive linemen who are still gelling and have been thrown to the wolves early. Oregon is going to be the third consecutive top 10 opponent the 'cats have faced and through that they have not been able to get things going with RB Keola Antolin, he is an electric talent that if provided with a seam can make big plays in a hurry.
On defense, Arizona is also having to re tune their line, losing standout lineman Ricky Elmore among others. He was a major force on the line that is going to have to deal with the pace and speed of the Oregon offense which just now seems to be getting rolling. Through the first three games, Oregon has not really gotten the push expected to give Junior RB LaMichael James the lanes he often uses to get up field and do damage. If Oregon can push Arizona back off the ball, it could be a long day for the Arizona defense who gave up almost 389 yards on the ground last year.
Darron Thomas has appeared to improve as a passer from the first week of the season to now, becoming incredibly accurate even in limited time playing against Nevada and Missouri St. Oregon hopes to show that they are on par with Stanford who pasted the Wildcats 37-10. The secondary which has been decimated by injuries over the off season was shredded by the precision passing of Andrew Luck.
Arizona appeared to have challenges dealing with misdirection from Stanford and getting lateral to stop the plays going to the outside. That could be a recipe for disaster against an Oregon squad which loves to get to the corners and make plays down the sideline. If the Wildcats can't win the edges they are going to have a huge challenge slowing down the Duck offense.
Arizona will win if: Oregon will win if:
Foles gets comfortable Oregon wins the turnover battle
Antolin rushes for 100 yards More than 300 rush yards
Arizona wins field position battle Defense pressures Foles
Score prediction: Oregon 44, Arizona 24.
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