Arizona took care of business in Reno on Saturday night coming away with a 44-20 win over Nevada behind a strong performance from running back Nick Wilson. Here are some grades for tonight's performance against the Wolfpack as UA moved to 2-0 on the year.
Quarterbacks: (B-plus) Anu Solomon has had better nights in the past, but he did what he needed to do for Arizona to get the win. He made a couple nice passes in the second half that he probably would have struggled with last season. Overall he finished with 24 completions on 33 attempts for 264 yards and a couple touchdown passes. Solomon was still not effective on the ground tonight, but his backup Jerrard Randall was. The senior rushed for a 57-yard touchdown and showed that he still has those wheels.
Running back: (A) Nick Wilson was special once again against Nevada Saturday night as he finished with one of his best games yet with 194 yards and three touchdowns. The sophomore averaged over nine yards per carry in the game and really just looked like the player most people remember from last season. Overall it was a big rushing nigh for the 'Cats as UA went over 300 yards on the ground including 47 yards from freshman Orlando Bradford.
Receivers/Tight ends: (B) Arizona's receivers were able to get in the mix quite a bit as Solomon hit 10 different players on the night led by Cayleb Jones' six catches for 103 yards. Johnny Jackson continued to keep things going with a touchdown catch and Arizona was able to get some new faces in the game as well. David Richards also had a nice game with 52 yards on three catches.
Offensive line: (C-plus) Arizona gave up a couple sacks and looked a little suspect in pass protection, but it also did a good job of opening up holes for Wilson all night long. It was the first night the Wildcats had what will be their usual starting rotation with Freddie Tagagloa back at his tackle spot. That left side had some issues again Saturday night and it will be something that will have to be corrected to keep Solomon upright moving forward. Cayman Bundage was not as sharp Saturday night as he was against UTSA in my opinion, but overall it was not a terrible night by the group. However, there is plenty to clean up.
Defensive line: (B) Considering there was a revolving door behind it at linebacker Arizona's defensive line needed to be solid for the 'Cats to get a win Saturday night and it did a good job of adding some pressure to the Wolfpack. Jeff Worthy had a solid night with a sack that was nearly a safety. There is still room to improve, but it did what it needed to do for Arizona to get the win.
Linebackers: (C) It was a makeshift group at times with so many injuries to work through, but Arizona's linebackers took that bend don't break mentality of their coach. Derrick Turituri was the best of the bunch moving all over the field and playing some middle linebacker he finished with a team-high five tackles on the evening. It's hard to put a true gauge on how the group did because there were so many injuries, but of the players were thrown into action they were adequate. There were some missed assignments at times by some of the veterans that got sucked up inside when they shouldn't have but overall it was what you would expect from a banged up group.
Safeties: (B-plus) Arizona had its full starting group ready to go for the Nevada game and that meant a chance to make up for the losses in front of them. Arizona rotated a number of players into the game at those spots and all of them performed fairly well. Will Parks came up with some big plays and finished as one of the leading tacklers. Jamar Allah came up with an interception on one of Nevada's 32 pass attempts. As Arizona continues to figure out the linebacker situation the safety group will have to be good and it did its job Saturday night.
Cornerbacks: (B-minus) The cornerback unit rotated a number of players in as well with Cam Denson and DaVonte' Neal getting a ton of the action. Both players finished with five tackles. There were definitely some things the group could have done better, but overall it wasn't a bad night for the unit. There will need to be some players get healthy there too, but for now that unit held its own as Nevada went for just 159 yards through the air on the evening.
Special teams: (C) Arizona was up and down on special teams Saturday night. Casey Skowron missed an extra point and a field goal as well. There was a near big mistake with Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles touching a punt on accident that could have meant trouble for Arizona. There was some good field position at times and Arizona mixed it up with Neal and Nate Phillips returning punts, but overall it was an average night for the special teams unit.
Quarterbacks: (B-plus) Anu Solomon has had better nights in the past, but he did what he needed to do for Arizona to get the win. He made a couple nice passes in the second half that he probably would have struggled with last season. Overall he finished with 24 completions on 33 attempts for 264 yards and a couple touchdown passes. Solomon was still not effective on the ground tonight, but his backup Jerrard Randall was. The senior rushed for a 57-yard touchdown and showed that he still has those wheels.
Running back: (A) Nick Wilson was special once again against Nevada Saturday night as he finished with one of his best games yet with 194 yards and three touchdowns. The sophomore averaged over nine yards per carry in the game and really just looked like the player most people remember from last season. Overall it was a big rushing nigh for the 'Cats as UA went over 300 yards on the ground including 47 yards from freshman Orlando Bradford.
Receivers/Tight ends: (B) Arizona's receivers were able to get in the mix quite a bit as Solomon hit 10 different players on the night led by Cayleb Jones' six catches for 103 yards. Johnny Jackson continued to keep things going with a touchdown catch and Arizona was able to get some new faces in the game as well. David Richards also had a nice game with 52 yards on three catches.
Offensive line: (C-plus) Arizona gave up a couple sacks and looked a little suspect in pass protection, but it also did a good job of opening up holes for Wilson all night long. It was the first night the Wildcats had what will be their usual starting rotation with Freddie Tagagloa back at his tackle spot. That left side had some issues again Saturday night and it will be something that will have to be corrected to keep Solomon upright moving forward. Cayman Bundage was not as sharp Saturday night as he was against UTSA in my opinion, but overall it was not a terrible night by the group. However, there is plenty to clean up.
Defensive line: (B) Considering there was a revolving door behind it at linebacker Arizona's defensive line needed to be solid for the 'Cats to get a win Saturday night and it did a good job of adding some pressure to the Wolfpack. Jeff Worthy had a solid night with a sack that was nearly a safety. There is still room to improve, but it did what it needed to do for Arizona to get the win.
Linebackers: (C) It was a makeshift group at times with so many injuries to work through, but Arizona's linebackers took that bend don't break mentality of their coach. Derrick Turituri was the best of the bunch moving all over the field and playing some middle linebacker he finished with a team-high five tackles on the evening. It's hard to put a true gauge on how the group did because there were so many injuries, but of the players were thrown into action they were adequate. There were some missed assignments at times by some of the veterans that got sucked up inside when they shouldn't have but overall it was what you would expect from a banged up group.
Safeties: (B-plus) Arizona had its full starting group ready to go for the Nevada game and that meant a chance to make up for the losses in front of them. Arizona rotated a number of players into the game at those spots and all of them performed fairly well. Will Parks came up with some big plays and finished as one of the leading tacklers. Jamar Allah came up with an interception on one of Nevada's 32 pass attempts. As Arizona continues to figure out the linebacker situation the safety group will have to be good and it did its job Saturday night.
Cornerbacks: (B-minus) The cornerback unit rotated a number of players in as well with Cam Denson and DaVonte' Neal getting a ton of the action. Both players finished with five tackles. There were definitely some things the group could have done better, but overall it wasn't a bad night for the unit. There will need to be some players get healthy there too, but for now that unit held its own as Nevada went for just 159 yards through the air on the evening.
Special teams: (C) Arizona was up and down on special teams Saturday night. Casey Skowron missed an extra point and a field goal as well. There was a near big mistake with Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles touching a punt on accident that could have meant trouble for Arizona. There was some good field position at times and Arizona mixed it up with Neal and Nate Phillips returning punts, but overall it was an average night for the special teams unit.
