Five Key Questions for Arizona Football in 2019

With preseason camp in progress, I wanted to tackle five of the key questions the Arizona Wildcats must answer this season. Surely there are more than five uncertain areas, especially for particular individuals, but these will be relatively big picture questions that will determine the ultimate success of this team.

Let’s get started:

1. Quarterback

This question has several layers of consideration. First, has Khalil Tate matured into the consistent leader and playmaker you expect out of a senior? He showed noticeable signs of that in the spring and reports throughout the summer continue to indicate his development. But how does he and those around him handle the adversity that comes once the games begin. From that standpoint, the second layer of this question is: can Tate stay healthy throughout the season? And third, if Tate does go down for any period of time, who do the Wildcats turn to in his absence? Rhett Rodriguez is a smart and capable player to run the offense, but does he have enough dynamic ability to make plays and lead the Cats to a needed victory? And if the answer is not Rodriguez, is it redshirt freshman Kevin Doyle healthy enough or is true freshman Grant Gunnell ready for the spotlight? Winning games is imperative, but I think it would behoove the Wildcats to get some early season reps for whoever emerges as the No. 2. The bye weeks will help in the development of the younger players.

2. Interior Defensive Line Depth

Arizona lost two steady interior players from last season in Dereck Boles and PJ Johnson. It is no secret defensive line is one of the thinner units, especially at the nose and tackle positions. Moving JB Brown inside helps, and I am excited to see him use his strength and athleticism at the tackle spot. Myles Tapusoa arrived in spring, but was limited, though he’s a strong candidate at the nose. His ability to be in game shape and remain healthy will be critical. That holds true for Trevon Mason, who physically has the frame to be a force once he is in game shape. The Cats return a veteran in Finton Conolly who has good size, but lacks overall athleticism. Still, his experience will be critical to the depth. A player that was emerging last season before injury was Jalen Cochran. While he played end, he moved inside in the spring and has a frame to add good weight. Another player who saw limited action a year ago before a redshirt is Nahe Sulunga. If Connolly, Cochran and Sulunga have improved, combined with Brown’s slide inside and the arrival of the two JUCOs, then the Cats may have a good rotation that could surprise. Plus, Mykee Irving has flipped back to the defensive side of the ball after an audition due to lack of depth at offensive line in the spring. And I’ll keep an eye on the true freshmen linemen who hopefully can redshirt, but still be used in up to four games each. Perhaps one of them is good enough to crack the rotation? I like Iona Uiagalelei as a coach, and I expect his unit to play hard. The talent here is improving year by year, but the depth remains a question until it proves otherwise on the field.

3. Receivers

For me, this position is not a question mark. However, who emerges is the question mark. This unit is deeper and more talented than last year’s group, but it is definitely far less experienced. Shawn Poindexter developed into a legit big receiver, while Shun Brown and Tony Ellison were sure-handed and consistent players. However, the talent on this year’s roster is significantly better. Drew Dixon, Tre Adams, Zach Williams and Thomas Marcus Jr. are bigger and longer than Brown, Ellison and Devaughn Cooper from a year ago. So, too, are freshmen Boobie Curry and Jalen Johnson, and then there is the wildcard in Jamarye Joiner who has moved to receiver. This is a great move Joiner and the Wildcats as he best skills will be showcased. Of course, Cedric Peterson is the experienced veteran and his opportunity to make big plays will come this season in addition to his leadership role. Then there’s Brian Casteel, who I was very impressed with this spring, and Stanley Berryhill III, who is healthy following a spring injury. His spring absence opened the door for Jaden Mitchell to shine, and he’s another young player that can become a factor in the slot. The options are aplenty here, so it will be exciting to see how coaches Taylor Mazzone and Theron Aych rotate their guys. By end of September, the Wildcats – specifically Khalil Tate – need a player or two to emerge as a go-to target for a big third down conversion.

4. Position Rotations

This is a very general question mark, but I am curious to see how the coaching staff rotates players this year. As I have outlined in my recruiting story, unlike last year, the staff knows this roster inside and out. They know who they can trust and they have more pieces to work with. They also have the luxury of a schedule that affords multiple early season bye weeks. So younger players will be able to develop not only in practice, but hopefully games as well. Getting the best talent on the field is paramount, but keeping talent fresh is equally critical. So I expect the Wildcats to play more players than we have been accustomed to seeing, particularly on defense. Rotating the linebackers and defensive line early in games is essential to hold up over four quarters and the course of the season.  There are plenty of options at receiver and running back, so there will be opportunity to rotate players at those skill spots. Offensive line may not have desired depth, but it will also be imperative to rotate some players in there to ultimately build that depth. And last but not least, special teams will be the training ground for a lot of players to prove they are ready for extended action. The talent for coverage and return teams is the best it has been in a number of years, and both are areas that Arizona can improve upon.

5. The Schedule

The question here is can Arizona get off to a fast start? The schedule sets up well for the first half of the season, but a road trip to Hawai’i and a home showdown against Texas Tech present some challenges in the non-conference schedule. The improvement of this Wildcat team will be known well before conference play begins, then that is where things really begin to shake out. Opportunity exists to develop young players during three bye weeks, so depth should be better than in recent seasons. October is daunting, but if the Cats can pull a surprise or two, they may find themselves in contention of the Pac-12 South heading into November. However, if Arizona struggles early, it will be difficult to overcome during the second half of the season. And of course, bringing home the Territorial Cup at the end of the schedule is a prize for any season. But that’s a long way off. Priority No. 1 is play good football at Hawai’i.

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