JonDMiller
Publisher/Founder
This is a team that going into the year, the experts felt the offense was going to be very good but the defense had a lot of questions to answer.
After watching their blowout win at Toledo, I think both of those things still stand.
First, the defense...hard to get a feel for how good they can be because Toledo had nothing at quarterback play. It's amazing how many schools have poor play at that position...you have heard Deace say 1000 times that you cannot hide your quarterback in college football...its become a funny saying now, over the top a bit...but it's so true. So many teams need a lot of help.
Now, the offense..
It starts and stops with QB Nick Foles. Iowa saw him late in the game last year. Mike Scott started that game and was ineffective. Foles pretty much took over for Arizona after the Iowa game and threw for over 2400 yards, 19 TD and 9 INT last year.
He got off to a great start for this year, going 32-37 for 360 yards and 2TD.
The vast majority of Arizona's passing attack is either lateral swing throws or quick crossing or slant routes underneath. It's a fast pace and acts like an extension of the running game. Foles doesn't hold the ball for very long on most of the passing plays, as they are designed to be quick hitters to get their athletes the ball and let them make a play in space. That's not to say that Foles can't throw it deep, he just isn't asked to do that much.
The underneath stuff can lull you to sleep because Foles can deliver the deep ball with grace and touch and he did so against Toledo. Foles stands 6-5, 240 and he is a slinger now.
Through the first 33 minutes of the game, he had not attempted any passing plays beyond 15 yards. He ended with a handful of them and all of them found the mark. He also had some help from receiver Criner (#82). He had 11 grabs for 187 yards with 13 minutes to go in the game and no need to play any more. Amazing body control, excellent concentration and superb hands.
RB Nic Grigsby is back and he broke off a 36 yard touchdown run that was a similar change of field run like he had early against Iowa last year.
Back to Arizona's passing scheme...the underneath stuff and the quick flares puts a lot of pressure on the linebackers, where Iowa is a bit inexperienced this year...it also demands clean tackling from your corners and safeties.
The underneath stuff is also something that is there to be had against Iowa between the 20's...Iowa's defense is set up to avoid the big play...there are gains to be had, short and underneath..and if you are an accurate and good quarterback who has patience, you can move the ball. Typically, there aren't a lot of great college quarterbacks that are patient enough to keep doing this all night. Based on looking at Arizona's offensive scheme against Toledo, which is going to be the way they play offense all year, this offense is set up to dink and dunk their way down the field...and Foles has the touch to hurt you anywhere in the redzone.
I have been leery of this game all spring and summer and after watching Arizona in their first game of the year on the road, I am more concerned about this one, considering it will kickoff at 9:30pm Iowa time to boot...
This is a very good offense, and I haven't seen a Big Ten team show this level of precision in a while. I think Michigan would like to have a passing game like this, but they will run the ball more and Dennard Robinson is no where near as accurate as Nick Foles.
One last thought...the Arizona offensive line was not overly impressive...Toledo didn't have much to throw at them, but stuffed the run inside. But their quick hitting passing game can negate an aggressive upfield passing rush game, how they like to throw the quick flares and slants.
If the Hawks beat the Wildcats later this month, it will certainly be an accomplishment and a great step. If they would lose to this team, it would not be a shocker to me.
After watching their blowout win at Toledo, I think both of those things still stand.
First, the defense...hard to get a feel for how good they can be because Toledo had nothing at quarterback play. It's amazing how many schools have poor play at that position...you have heard Deace say 1000 times that you cannot hide your quarterback in college football...its become a funny saying now, over the top a bit...but it's so true. So many teams need a lot of help.
Now, the offense..
It starts and stops with QB Nick Foles. Iowa saw him late in the game last year. Mike Scott started that game and was ineffective. Foles pretty much took over for Arizona after the Iowa game and threw for over 2400 yards, 19 TD and 9 INT last year.
He got off to a great start for this year, going 32-37 for 360 yards and 2TD.
The vast majority of Arizona's passing attack is either lateral swing throws or quick crossing or slant routes underneath. It's a fast pace and acts like an extension of the running game. Foles doesn't hold the ball for very long on most of the passing plays, as they are designed to be quick hitters to get their athletes the ball and let them make a play in space. That's not to say that Foles can't throw it deep, he just isn't asked to do that much.
The underneath stuff can lull you to sleep because Foles can deliver the deep ball with grace and touch and he did so against Toledo. Foles stands 6-5, 240 and he is a slinger now.
Through the first 33 minutes of the game, he had not attempted any passing plays beyond 15 yards. He ended with a handful of them and all of them found the mark. He also had some help from receiver Criner (#82). He had 11 grabs for 187 yards with 13 minutes to go in the game and no need to play any more. Amazing body control, excellent concentration and superb hands.
RB Nic Grigsby is back and he broke off a 36 yard touchdown run that was a similar change of field run like he had early against Iowa last year.
Back to Arizona's passing scheme...the underneath stuff and the quick flares puts a lot of pressure on the linebackers, where Iowa is a bit inexperienced this year...it also demands clean tackling from your corners and safeties.
The underneath stuff is also something that is there to be had against Iowa between the 20's...Iowa's defense is set up to avoid the big play...there are gains to be had, short and underneath..and if you are an accurate and good quarterback who has patience, you can move the ball. Typically, there aren't a lot of great college quarterbacks that are patient enough to keep doing this all night. Based on looking at Arizona's offensive scheme against Toledo, which is going to be the way they play offense all year, this offense is set up to dink and dunk their way down the field...and Foles has the touch to hurt you anywhere in the redzone.
I have been leery of this game all spring and summer and after watching Arizona in their first game of the year on the road, I am more concerned about this one, considering it will kickoff at 9:30pm Iowa time to boot...
This is a very good offense, and I haven't seen a Big Ten team show this level of precision in a while. I think Michigan would like to have a passing game like this, but they will run the ball more and Dennard Robinson is no where near as accurate as Nick Foles.
One last thought...the Arizona offensive line was not overly impressive...Toledo didn't have much to throw at them, but stuffed the run inside. But their quick hitting passing game can negate an aggressive upfield passing rush game, how they like to throw the quick flares and slants.
If the Hawks beat the Wildcats later this month, it will certainly be an accomplishment and a great step. If they would lose to this team, it would not be a shocker to me.
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