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Getting to know the Arizona Wildcats: Q&A with Arizona Desert Swarm

Jeremiah Masoli broke out against Arizona last year. Do the Wildcats stand a chance at slowing him down this year?

More photos » Greg Wahl-Stephens - AP

Jeremiah Masoli broke out against Arizona last year. Do the Wildcats stand a chance at slowing him down this year?

Another week, another huge game with the Pac-10 championship on the line. We caught up with Joe from Arizona Desert Swarm to see how Wildcat fans are feeling about the upcoming game. Our questions to their answers can be found here.

1. Oregon offense has been rolling in Pac-10 play, averaging just under 500 yards per game, and over 40 points. How will Arizona attempt to slow down the Ducks, and do they have a realistic shot at keeping the Ducks under 40?

Arizona's defense has been hit or miss all season.  Our secondary is legit and our defensive ends are monsters.  In order for the Cats to put together an entire game, the interior linemen and linebackers have to step up to the plate.  The key to Arizona's gameplan is a solid pass rush from the outside and limiting passes to the middle of the field.  Our corners rarely get beat and our safeties do a great job of defending the long ball down the middle.  Our weakness all season has been the passing game over the middle and strong counter/iso plays on our linebackers.  Depending on the flow of the game, I would expect Arizona to sit back in a zone and try to make Masoli beat them through the air if the game is tight.  If it's getting out of hand (one way or another), we may try to bring some pressure.

Star-divide

2. Nick Foles has been a great surprise in the Pac-10. What is his skill set, and what makes him so efficient in the Arizona offense?

Foles possesses a HUGE arm and just enough mobility to buy that extra two seconds when he needs it.  He is tall enough to sit in the pocket and makes good pre snap reads.  His weakness comes in the long ball and the rushing ability.  When he does scramble, he usually throws it even if he does have some real estate in front of him.  Our receivers this year are incredible and Sonny Dykes knows how to run routes, creating an offense that allows Foles to key his reads on only a few pre snap looks.

3. The Oregon defense has been stellar all year, outside of the visit to Stanford. Do they Wildcats have the players to take advantage of Oregon's lack of size in the middle? Did the UA coaching staff take anything important from that film?

Arizona's offensive line is incredible but struggle at times with technique on run blocking but have consistently given Foles enough time to make his passes.  Nic Grigsby will be another game time decision as he has been since late September.  If we can put together ANY type of running game, it should open up Foles to start picking apart Oregon's defense.  If no running game, Oregon should make Arizona one dimensional, kind of like Cal.  We won't watch the Stanford film if you don't watch the Cal film?

4. Arizona's receiving corp seems to function a lot like Oregon's, with many different receivers sharing the load. Who should Oregon be most concerned with?

Juron Criner, Deleshaun Dean, and Terrell Turner are the burners.  David Roberts and David Douglas are our possession guys.  Good luck.

5. What is the confidence level of the team and fans after losing to Cal?

I actually think that after the Cal game the team didn't lose much confidence at all.  Up until the batted pass/re-pass by Foles, everyone on that sideline, every Cal fan, and every U of A fan thought Arizona was going to win.  Then it happened.  Oh well. Stoops knows how to keep them in line and playing Oregon at home trying to make it 12 in a row in Tucson is enough for them to be very confident, even after losing to Cal.

6. Mike Stoops has been a butt of many jokes around the interwebs, but his teams have been steadily improving every year. What's been the key to this success over the past couple years.

Recruiting. Recruiting, and Sonny Dykes.  Stoops is dialed into the Texas high schools from his days at OU and has cherry picked those looked over and looking to get out of the state.  He knows how to run a program and has decided to embrace the Dykes style of offense while still looking for that defensive style that is his mark.  Iowa (bad QB), Washington and Cal losses in the last minute of the game have Stoops only a couple wins away from 10 on the season.  Ahhh. What ifs.

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Our weakness all season has been the passing game over the middle and strong counter/iso plays on our linebackers

I foresee a huge game by LMJ up the middle and Ed Dickson in short routes over the middle… Man I can’t wait for this game!!

Kenny Wheaton #20; The Pick - 1994 v UW. Matthew Harper #20; The Pick #2 - 2007 v USC. John Boyett #20;...

by Matt Daddy on Nov 20, 2009 12:45 PM PST reply actions   0 recs

I dunno what to make of it,

But I heard rumors flying about that James is still sick and may miss the game.

47-20, 42-3, 65-38...So many scores to choose from!
"Nobody east of the Rockies talks about Oregon football, and that's just not right".

by Dixonforlife07 on Nov 20, 2009 7:08 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Whaaa??? PANIC!!!!!!!!!

Don’t be like all coming here with no hard facts and all son! Go out there and confirm something for us!! Help!

by gamedaytribe on Nov 20, 2009 7:35 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

That's bullshit rumor-mill.

  James and ‘After’ will both play. Panic if you wish but there’s no need to for THAT reason.

by DONALDUCK on Nov 20, 2009 7:49 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Thanks

47-20, 42-3, 65-38...So many scores to choose from!
"Nobody east of the Rockies talks about Oregon football, and that's just not right".

by Dixonforlife07 on Nov 20, 2009 10:12 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Score early, get the running game going, maybe force a turnover or two! Go Ducks

Come on Corso....You know you want to don the Duck head on Saturday!

by UOfootball on Nov 20, 2009 1:50 PM PST reply actions   0 recs

Masoli says

You can’t stop me dudes. TOUCHDOWN:

"Good evening Blazer fans, wherever you may be!"-Bill Schonely

by skywaker9 on Nov 20, 2009 4:39 PM PST reply actions   1 recs

I get this feeling that Cliff Harris'

cat like reflexes are going to get him a pick six against the short passing game. Foles will underestimate his closing speed and get burned.

by BisonDucks on Nov 20, 2009 5:38 PM PST reply actions   0 recs

Should've had one vs. ASU

47-20, 42-3, 65-38...So many scores to choose from!
"Nobody east of the Rockies talks about Oregon football, and that's just not right".

by Dixonforlife07 on Nov 20, 2009 7:09 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

oiwrjvociwecvnoiaweicomweaicojewciovwarencoijew !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Kenny Wheaton #20; The Pick - 1994 v UW. Matthew Harper #20; The Pick #2 - 2007 v USC. John Boyett #20;...

by Matt Daddy on Nov 21, 2009 10:43 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Thank you

For the Arizona point of view of the game. I have seen other articles from Arizona but none this good. Thanks again.

No one shall mention the season that shall not be named.

by Jayon on Nov 20, 2009 8:43 PM PST reply actions   0 recs

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