A Duck Fan’s POV: Arizona versus Oklahoma State

Rematch of 2010 Alamo Bowl (OSU 36 UA 10)
Arizona (Pac-12) Head Coach Mike Stoops
Oklahoma State (Big 12) Head Coach Mike Gundy

2010 Season Stats Average (National Ranking)

Both teams open up their seasons on September 3^rd. Arizona will host Northern Arizona and Oklahoma State will also play at home against Louisiana-Lafayette. Both teams will benefit by facing smaller programs during the first week. An old football coach told me once that the most important week in a season is the development from week one to week two. College football has the best regular season in any sport at any level because of the BCS, so each game is important but most teams like a “tune-up” game to start the season.

Oklahoma State brings in a loaded offense, but an unknown defensive group. I went back and reviewed the cut-ups of the 2010 Alamo Bowl and I was very impressed with how OSU’s defense played. They controlled the line of scrimmage and confused Arizona’s QB Nick Foles (3 INT). They switched between a three and four man front and OSU was able to bring heat while controlling the edge.  So the Wildcats weren’t able to run their quick outside pitch. Nick Foles was hurried in the pocket, forced to scramble, and unable to make consistent coverage reads. Foles wasn’t all bad though, he had one deep pass in the second quarter that was called back because of an offensive pass interference call. Foles completed 64% of his passes (32-50) for 280 yards and one touchdown. The Wildcats offense seemed to be out of their element as a unit early on against OSU and that wasn’t a good thing to have happen since the Cowboys can score a ton of points.

WR #81 Justin Blackmon (6’1 207 lbs) finished the day with nine receptions (117 yards 2 TD). I really enjoyed how Todd Monken (OSU offensive coordinator) called the game. The Cowboys didn’t have the best rushing attack but what they did was created formations that limited the number of players Arizona could put in the box, while creating harder reads for the Wildcat linebackers. Rushing enough to keep Arizona’s defense honest, Monken was able to use play action for big numbers, incorporate four WR sets and throw both tailback and WR screens. If you have a kid like Blackmon you have to find was to get him the ball. Sometimes the passing game just isn’t enough. WR middle screens and quick screens are easy ways to get a play maker the ball. OSU returns Blackmon and QB Brandon Weeden who throw for 4,277 yards last season with 34 TD’s (342-511 CMP% 66.9). Can the Wildcats stop the Cowboys in 2011?

Arizona has some good corners that had a tough assignment last season. They stepped up to the challenge and played well, flying up to ball carriers for Madden-like “hit sticks” (outside of one play by a UA safety that dove at the feet of an OSU ball carrier and was easily walked over). The Wildcats will have to improve their defensive line play to provide a pass rush and some stability occupying opposing lineman so they reach the Wildcat LB’s.

Looking in to the Arizona camp, this team could be in for some trouble but they bring back their QB, top receiver Juron Criner (1233 receiving yards), and leading rusher tail back Keola Antolin (668 yards). The offensive line is unknown and unproven. This isn’t a great sign. Arizona was a tough team who hit a late season slide last season. The Pac-10 had some tough teams playing in 2010 and Arizona had them all in the second half of their schedule. The opposite is true this year. Arizona must play Oklahoma State, Stanford, Oregon, and USC before traveling to Corvallis matching up against the OSU Beavers. Arizona could be 1-4 going into the 6^th week of the season. Hopefully they have strong leaders in the locker room who can keep the heads high and players on the right track. Arizona is a bowl caliber team and it would be disappointing to see them finish less than 6^th in the Pac-12.

The Alamo Bowl is fresh in both teams’ minds heading into 2011. Will OSU be complacent and feel as though they can walk over Arizona? Are the Wildcats motivated by a disappointing one sided loss against OSU?  Do they have Thursday September 8^th circled on their calendars or just a long weekend off back in Tucson?

Surprisingly we are seeing a matchup between these two conferences that has a faster Big 12 team on the field. The west coast, Texas, and the southeast are known for their overall team speed, not schools from Oklahoma. After reviewing film from 2010, looking at stats, and seeing who is returning to both schools my pick has to be with the Big 12’s Oklahoma State Cowboys…and it could get ugly…