It's been a few days since Arizona's season opener and it has given me a chance to think about how things went and to watch a replay of the game. So here are my grades for Arizona's position groups as the team heads into its second week and Game No. 2 in Reno this weekend.
Quarterbacks: (B-plus) Anu Solomon finished the game with four touchdowns and 226 yards passing on 22 completions. It wasn't a great night for the redshirt sophomore, but he did what he needed to do for Arizona to get the win. Solomon had 14 incompletions and a couple of them were misses on deep plays where he overthrew the receiver. Solomon worked himself out of that issue over the spring and summer, but it crept back in against UTSA. Solomon will have to be better on those deep balls moving forward for UA to be able take advantage of its full arsenal on that side of the ball.
Solomon also had just five carries for 38 yards. For UA to take full advantage of its offense that number needs to be higher moving forward.
Running backs: (C) It's tough to say a running back rushing for 97 yards is an average night, but Nick Wilson has set the bar high for himself and when you factor in an early fumble that is what it was for the sophomore. Wilson did average 4.4 yards per carry when all was said and done, but the early turnover certainly hurt him as he wasn't able to get going again until the second half when he turned things on.
Wilson had 81 of those yards in the second half when he looked much more like himself. And after a much talked about battle for the third running back spot Arizona used just Wilson and Jared Baker in the first game with the latter getting nine carries for 35 yards. The group will be better moving forward.
Receivers/tight ends: (A) Tony Dews' receiver unit was the best of the night and a lot of that had to do with senior Johnny Jackson. Making his return to offense the former free safety had a career night with eight catches for 101 yards and score. In all seven different receivers caught a pass and the group accounted for all four of Arizona's offensive touchdowns in the game. UA even was able to use a true tight end more than it has under Rodriguez in the first game with Josh Kern catching a couple passes for 12 yards.
Arizona's receivers will have more productive games as the season goes a long, but Thursday night the group did exactly what it was asked to do.
Offensive line: (C-minus) Arizona had to make that last-minute adjustment with Layth Friekh starting for Freddie Tagaloa and that meant a rough game for the redshirt freshman left tackle. He allowed a sack right from the get go and overall it was not his best performance. He is better than what he showed against UTSA, but there will need to be some improvement too if Tagaloa remains out with his injury. Outside of Friekh the group wasn't at its best Thursday night as Solomon was under quite a bit of pressure throughout the night and he had to keep plenty of plays alive with this feet.
In addition to that the line didn't do much to help Wilson or Baker get to work on the ground early in the game, so that will need to improve as well.
On the plus side Cayman Bundage didn't have any errant snaps and he looked solid in his first start at center.
Defensive line: (C-minus) UA's defensive line was down a contributor with Anthony Fotu suspended, but even then the group did not make much noise. UTSA had all kinds of time to throw the ball and do what it wanted to do to control the pace of the game and that started up front. Even though Arizona's three-front doesn't lend itself to the line making all the plays it was still a low production night for that group. Luca Bruno led the way with four tackles but even that was only seventh best for the team on the night.
Linebackers: (D) This grade might have to be adjusted when you consider it had to play most of the game without its star in Scooby Wright, but even then the unit was just not good against UTSA. Roadrunners' tight end David Morgan II essentially could do whatever he wanted Thursday night as he finished with nine catches for 109 yards and a touchdown. UA's defense really had no answer for him and a lot of that falls on the linebackers. With Wright out for at least the next couple games Arizona will have some work do with the linebackers.
DeAndre' Miller was the best of the group with seven tackles including a tackle for loss.
Cornerbacks: (B) Arizona had two new starting cornerbacks Thursday night with DaVonte' Neal and true freshman Sammy Morrison getting the call. It was a good debut for Neal, who made the move from offense in the spring, as he finished his first game at cornerback with a team-high 11 tackles (tied with Will Parks) and a PBU to go along with his blocked kick. Morrison made a couple mistakes here and there and left the game with injury, but overall he was solid for the 'Cats in his college debut. When you factor in all the injuries the group had to overcome in the first game the group did a solid job even though UTSA was able to go to work in the air quite a bit.
Safeties: (B-plus) Two of Arizona's scores came from this group with Anthony Lopez and Jamar Allah both scoring defensive touchdowns and overall it was the strongest unit on the defensive side of the ball for UA. The Wildcats were able to get some more bodies than usual in with that unit and Paul Magloire and Carter Hehr were able to be decent contributors in their first real action. Allah and Parks were two of Arizona's top three tacklers on the evening and both played well for UA on that back end.
Parks was especially impressive with his 11 tackles, three PBUs and a forced fumble. Now with Wright out for a couple games Arizona's safety unit will have to be that much better moving forward.
Special teams: (B) With no field goals attempted the big play of the night came with Neal's blocked kick and it is something Rich Rodriguez said afterward the redshirt junior has been close to doing in practice. It gave UA a little added boost and it made it a good night overall for the special teams units.
Quarterbacks: (B-plus) Anu Solomon finished the game with four touchdowns and 226 yards passing on 22 completions. It wasn't a great night for the redshirt sophomore, but he did what he needed to do for Arizona to get the win. Solomon had 14 incompletions and a couple of them were misses on deep plays where he overthrew the receiver. Solomon worked himself out of that issue over the spring and summer, but it crept back in against UTSA. Solomon will have to be better on those deep balls moving forward for UA to be able take advantage of its full arsenal on that side of the ball.
Solomon also had just five carries for 38 yards. For UA to take full advantage of its offense that number needs to be higher moving forward.
Running backs: (C) It's tough to say a running back rushing for 97 yards is an average night, but Nick Wilson has set the bar high for himself and when you factor in an early fumble that is what it was for the sophomore. Wilson did average 4.4 yards per carry when all was said and done, but the early turnover certainly hurt him as he wasn't able to get going again until the second half when he turned things on.
Wilson had 81 of those yards in the second half when he looked much more like himself. And after a much talked about battle for the third running back spot Arizona used just Wilson and Jared Baker in the first game with the latter getting nine carries for 35 yards. The group will be better moving forward.
Receivers/tight ends: (A) Tony Dews' receiver unit was the best of the night and a lot of that had to do with senior Johnny Jackson. Making his return to offense the former free safety had a career night with eight catches for 101 yards and score. In all seven different receivers caught a pass and the group accounted for all four of Arizona's offensive touchdowns in the game. UA even was able to use a true tight end more than it has under Rodriguez in the first game with Josh Kern catching a couple passes for 12 yards.
Arizona's receivers will have more productive games as the season goes a long, but Thursday night the group did exactly what it was asked to do.
Offensive line: (C-minus) Arizona had to make that last-minute adjustment with Layth Friekh starting for Freddie Tagaloa and that meant a rough game for the redshirt freshman left tackle. He allowed a sack right from the get go and overall it was not his best performance. He is better than what he showed against UTSA, but there will need to be some improvement too if Tagaloa remains out with his injury. Outside of Friekh the group wasn't at its best Thursday night as Solomon was under quite a bit of pressure throughout the night and he had to keep plenty of plays alive with this feet.
In addition to that the line didn't do much to help Wilson or Baker get to work on the ground early in the game, so that will need to improve as well.
On the plus side Cayman Bundage didn't have any errant snaps and he looked solid in his first start at center.
Defensive line: (C-minus) UA's defensive line was down a contributor with Anthony Fotu suspended, but even then the group did not make much noise. UTSA had all kinds of time to throw the ball and do what it wanted to do to control the pace of the game and that started up front. Even though Arizona's three-front doesn't lend itself to the line making all the plays it was still a low production night for that group. Luca Bruno led the way with four tackles but even that was only seventh best for the team on the night.
Linebackers: (D) This grade might have to be adjusted when you consider it had to play most of the game without its star in Scooby Wright, but even then the unit was just not good against UTSA. Roadrunners' tight end David Morgan II essentially could do whatever he wanted Thursday night as he finished with nine catches for 109 yards and a touchdown. UA's defense really had no answer for him and a lot of that falls on the linebackers. With Wright out for at least the next couple games Arizona will have some work do with the linebackers.
DeAndre' Miller was the best of the group with seven tackles including a tackle for loss.
Cornerbacks: (B) Arizona had two new starting cornerbacks Thursday night with DaVonte' Neal and true freshman Sammy Morrison getting the call. It was a good debut for Neal, who made the move from offense in the spring, as he finished his first game at cornerback with a team-high 11 tackles (tied with Will Parks) and a PBU to go along with his blocked kick. Morrison made a couple mistakes here and there and left the game with injury, but overall he was solid for the 'Cats in his college debut. When you factor in all the injuries the group had to overcome in the first game the group did a solid job even though UTSA was able to go to work in the air quite a bit.
Safeties: (B-plus) Two of Arizona's scores came from this group with Anthony Lopez and Jamar Allah both scoring defensive touchdowns and overall it was the strongest unit on the defensive side of the ball for UA. The Wildcats were able to get some more bodies than usual in with that unit and Paul Magloire and Carter Hehr were able to be decent contributors in their first real action. Allah and Parks were two of Arizona's top three tacklers on the evening and both played well for UA on that back end.
Parks was especially impressive with his 11 tackles, three PBUs and a forced fumble. Now with Wright out for a couple games Arizona's safety unit will have to be that much better moving forward.
Special teams: (B) With no field goals attempted the big play of the night came with Neal's blocked kick and it is something Rich Rodriguez said afterward the redshirt junior has been close to doing in practice. It gave UA a little added boost and it made it a good night overall for the special teams units.
