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football Edit

5 Questions with GOAZCATS.com

GOAZCATS.com Senior Editor Matt Moreno answers five questions about the Beavers' opponent this weekend.

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1. What were the expectations for Arizona coming into this season, and how short did they come up to those expectations?

Moreno: "It really depends on who you ask. For the media covering the team there weren’t very high hopes going into the season for this year’s team. There were way too many question marks at a number of positions and virtually no depth at any spot. At the very best most who cover the team locally expected somewhere around .500 and likely below that. Fans are fans so they expected much more than a 6-6 season but the makeup of the roster this season didn’t start out with a ton of promise.

"Once the injuries hit things unraveled and it turned into the season that always seemed possible should things play out exactly like they have."

2. What is the fan base's mood with Rodriguez?

Moreno: "I hate to come back to this, but again it depends on who you ask. There is a section of the fan base that knew this season had a chance to be rough with wholesale defensive staff changes after last season, plus a ton of youth on the defensive side of the ball especially. That same group has also looked at the injuries that have hit UA hard once again this season and decimated the little depth the team had this year.

"For those fans, they understand how all those things impacted the season and they appreciate him making all the staff changes he did, firing coaches that have been with him a long time. They also know Arizona has one of its better recruiting classes in recent memory already nearly full. Those are the optimists.

"However, there is certainly a section of the fans who don’t think Rodriguez should be the coach at UA. The argument they lean on is that a program shouldn’t be going through this type of season in his fifth year at a program, which is understandable. He shouldn’t but he also had to hit the reset button after last year and recreate the attitude towards recruiting and that meant almost a redo of his first season in a lot of ways.

"It feels pretty evenly split right now between those two groups with the optimistic group maybe even being bigger than the other side."

3. Who are the key performers on offense and defense for Arizona that Beaver fans need to know about?

Moreno: "On offense it starts with the quarterback ... or quarterbacks in this case. Brandon Dawkins has been the starter recently, and he gives Arizona what it likes to see on the ground from the quarterback position. He can run the ball and he is capable of making explosive plays in the running game. Anu Solomon was the starter going into the season but a knee injury has kept him out for most of the year. He is back and he is much more of the passing threat on the team.

"In addition to those two, receiver-turned-running back Samajie Grant is another name to know going into Saturday’s game, and he is starting to become more comfortable at his new spot. A senior, he has played receiver his entire career but a run of unfortunate luck for the Wildcats at running back this season meant he had to move over to the position he played in high school in the last few weeks. His third start at running back was on Saturday and it was the most comfortable he has looked there. He went over 100 yards rushing and had two touchdowns.

"Running the ball is important to Arizona’s offense and he has helped spark up that part of the game for UA once again.

"On defense a pair of linebackers are the two key names to know going into Saturday’s game. Paul Magloire has been Arizona’s most consistent tackler this season playing the WILL linebacker spot. He will be active and in on a lot of plays. Alongside him at middle linebacker is Cal grad transfer Michael Barton, who has been a pleasant surprise for Arizona this season. The duo has led the team in tackles in a lot of games this season including Saturday against Colorado.

"In the secondary, the player to watch is sophomore safety Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles. He is just behind Magloire with 61 tackles this season and because he plays one of the hybrid safety spots he finds himself involved in a lot of plays. Across the board UA hasn’t had luck with creating turnovers but his 'bandit' safety position puts him where he needs to be to make those happen, so he is another one to watch this weekend."

4. What has the quarterback situation been like for Arizona? Oregon State has played three different quarterbacks this season, and the Wildcats have played a lot at the position as well.

Moreno: "As I mentioned above, it has been a bit of a mess this season. The Wildcats have played five different quarterbacks this year with one of them being the third-string tight end. Oddly enough, he performed better in his short time in the position against USC than any of the scholarship quarterbacks at that time. Dawkins and Solomon are at the forefront, and while Solomon hasn’t started a game since the opener against BYU, Rodriguez has left open the possibility of him starting on Saturday.

"Dawkins has been better after missing time with a rib injury and a concussion midway through the season, but he has struggled to put up points. Solomon came in against Colorado and sparked a mini run in the second half and that is one reason he could end up the starter on Saturday.

"It also wouldn’t be shocking to see true freshman Khalil Tate out there either. He has played at least some in every game since the Wildcats decided to pull his redshirt. He is green but he is talented and can break big plays."

5. What is your score prediction and why?

Moreno: "I’d feel better about Arizona’s chances if Solomon is named the starter, just because he is the more efficient passer, and right now, if the Wildcats want to score points, that is what they need to do. Not knowing that (maybe even if I did know that) I’d have to go with Oregon State with the win, 38-31.

"Arizona has to find a way to score a lot of points to make up for what its defense gives up, and I just don’t see that happening based on how the last couple weeks have played out. The momentum is going in the right direction but I just don’t think it adds up to a win yet for the ‘Cats."

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