Arizona analysis

Guys,

Here's a post I wrote on the Arizona premium/paid boards in response to a bunch of bitching and moaning over our O-line's performance in the BYU game. Many of our fans believe the O-line is to blame for our dismal running performance on Saturday night - I disagree. Thought this might be more fodder for discussion before the game in a few days.

Thanks for having me in!


Lay off the big uglies!
I’m tired of all the posts bashing the Cats O-line this week.

I watched the game again on Tivo keeping an eye on their work in the trenches and came away impressed. A squad with 3 rookies had only one procedure penalty, gave Tuitama good pass protection, and believe it or not, did their jobs on run plays.

Before you start screaming about the dismal run game, keep in mind the scheme BYU’s Mendenhall game-planned for his defense. He ran a 3-4 and stacked his 4 linebackers (and safeties at times) to do two things – stuff the run and force Tuitama to beat them through the air. Regardless of the mostly good blocking our linemen laid down on runs, there was always a swarm of deceptively quick LBs and safeties to plug holes and stymie any gains.

The gamble obviously paid off as Willie (keep in mind, just his sixth game as starter) struggled under the pressure to make things happen on his own and never got into a passing rhythm. The line gave him time – he was simply off on most reads and throws.

Without Arizona getting its passing game on track, Mendenhall continued to stack the run the entire game – his strategy obviously worked to perfection.

Arizona’s O-line played very well in the face of a down night by Tuitama. They never broke down, played well as a unit, and dug deep on the final drive to set up the game-winner. I for one am applauding their effort and am looking to a much-improved performance by the entire O on Saturday night.

 

My god, you just got done playing BYU ok, a middle of the pack mid major school. Yes, your O-line sucks, if it plays like that on saturday, your qb is going to get killed.

And yes while I do not see the 59-13 thrashing that you took at your house in 03, the line is good, barring a small miracle LSU wins by atleast 21.

 

When I watched that dismal game between Arizona and BYU, I didn't see a Glenn Dorsey out there. Your o-line and QB better watch out.

 

I believe both teams should be really concerned about their O-lines. LSU has a lot of improvements to make before we see Auburn, but they better focus on getting Arizona out of the way and not look to Auburn yet. The Pac-10 teams have given us close games in the past.

Really the concerns for LSU are the O-line and now after the ULL game the punt returners. Everything else will be fine if all are healthy.

 

Interesting fact. I'm very excited about Saturday for many reasons, but primarily b/c I want to see how JR performs.

No, I'm not hating on the guy, it's just that this is an exotic defense that's touted as being the strength of that team. They're gonna blitz him from every angle on Satuday...and I'd love to see JR make his reads, call his audibles, and stick a couple of 60 yard beauts on Mike Stoops.

To win a national title, you need to have moments like this: rolling up a "tough" Stoops-led defense. Break 40 in a victory on Saturday and you've had moment #1 of the season, no question...

 

Welcome to the forum jammer. Your name reminds me that Grad wears jammers in public. anyway back on topic.

1. I see alot of folks around here looking past Zona, beating their chest, etc.. thank goodness they are fans.
2. I am pretty sure we have the talent/ability to win barring a train wreck. which can and does happen, thats the bad news. of course I don't think that will happen......
3. I remember OU fans acting much the same way b4 the sugar in '03. but this aint the sugar.
4. I know one thing they better not lose. I'm driving all the way down there and I'll be pissed if they do. this might be my only game this year, I can attend.

:geauxtige

 

Yes some of the fans are looking to Auburn and doing analysis on the Auburn game, myself included, but I am in no way overlooking this Arizona team.

Our defense will be able to shut down or keep the Zona offense in check but our O-line must perform in order for LSU to win. Stoops knows LSU has talent and he has faced them before in the Sugar and he will throw some good schemes at LSU's O-line. The O-line has to be able to protect JR and open up some holes for the RB's to keep things balanced on the offense.

The O-line will be key for LSU and we can't have turnovers. The pac-10 teams have given us trouble in the past and we can't overlook this game. They need to completely dominate the game in order for the confidence to be up for Auburn.

 

Auburn will be an important game, but I agree with JP... we have to focus on Arizona. Anything can happen in 60 minutes... wait, with the new clock rules, do we still get 60 minutes??? :wink:

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