Arizona Vs Utah: Scouting Report On Wildcats Offense

Sep 27, 2024, 9:00 AM

MANHATTAN, KS - SEPTEMBER 13: Quarterback Noah Fifita #11 of the Arizona Wildcats throws a pass before a game against the Kansas State Wildcats at Bill Snyder Family Football Stadium on September 13, 2024 in Manhattan, Kansas. (Photo by Peter Aiken/Getty Images)

(Photo by Peter Aiken/Getty Images)

BY STEVE BARTLE

KSL Sports

SALT LAKE CITY – No. 10, 4-0 Utah Football is set to take on their second Big 12 Conference opponent and it’s a familiar foe. They will welcome the 2-1 Arizona Wildcats to Rice-Eccles for a late-night contest.

The Utes come into this one off an impressive 22-19 win over Oklahoma State last Saturday. Meanwhile, the Wildcats are coming off of a bye and will look to steal one on the road.

The Arizona-Utah game will be televised on ESPN, with kickoff scheduled for 8:15 pm MT.

It’s 𝐆𝐀𝐌𝐄 𝐖𝐄𝐄𝐊‼️⚫️

Dark Mode, Homecoming, and Hall of Fame Game! Can’t wait to see you all Saturday!

🏟️: Rice-Eccles Stadium
⏰: SAT 09.28 | 8:15PM MT
📺: ESPN
📻: ESPN 700 AM / 92.1 FM#GoUtes pic.twitter.com/yEmHvdwEFO

— Utah Football (@Utah_Football) September 23, 2024

Scouting Arizona Wildcats’ Offense

Arizona Passing Attack

One of the top quarterbacks in the conference, Noah Fifita is a coach’s dream. He is one of the most efficient signal callers in the conference. What Fifita lacks in physical attributes, he makes up for in fundamentally sound quarterback play.

What stands out most about Fifita’s game is his play against the blitz. Fifita owns a 90.9 PFF grade when blitzed, thanks to a stat line that includes 32-of-50 passing for 526 yards, 3 touchdowns, and 1 interception.

Fifita is an efficient pocket passer. He completed 72.4% of his passes last season and only threw 6 interceptions all last season. He has gotten off to a slower start through three games. His completion percentage has dropped to 63.6% and he’s already thrown 3 interceptions.

Arizona Pass Catchers

Fifita’s favorite target is a fantastic receiver, Tetairoa McMillan. He started the season to the tune of 304 yards and 4 touchdowns on 10 receptions against New Mexico. His production has tapered off over the last two games. Still, he hauled in 13 receptions for 149 yards in those two games.

McMillan is good in just about every meaningful way for a receiver but he is excellent after the catch. He has a great combination of athleticism and size at 6-foot-5, 210 pounds, which has led to an average of 9.0 yards after the catch.

After McMillan, there is a big drop off in production, as the second-leading receiver has just 94 yards on 8 catches. Collectively, 11 different players have combined for the remaining 40 receptions, 410 yards, and one touchdown produced in the Wildcats’ passing attack.

Here’s a look at the talent profiles and matchups for Arizona vs Utah.#GoUtes https://t.co/yoPHgo6RyS

— Steve Bartle (@BartleKSLsports) September 24, 2024

Looking at the pass game production against Kansas State, it paints an interesting picture. McMillan had a big day with 11 receptions for 138 yards but he didn’t get in the end zone and the rest of the Wildcats passing attack could not match McMillan’s production (15 receptions, 130 yards).

That could be a point of focus for Utah’s defensive approach. McMillan is the sort of talent that is just going to get his. Utah can’t get carried away with trying to stop him and it opens up opportunities for others to produce.

Arizona Rushing Attack

The 5-foot-11, 209-pound Quali Conley followed Brent Brennan to Arizona from San Jose State. Last season, he averaged 6.4 yards per carry, while totaling 842 rushing yards, and 9 touchdowns. Also, a productive pass catcher, Conley hauled in 27 passes for 269 yards,

So far this season, he’s gotten off to a solid start with 250 rushing yards and 69 receiving yards on 9 receptions through three games.

𝐀𝐋𝐋.
𝐁𝐋𝐀𝐂𝐊.
𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐘𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐍𝐆.#GoUtes pic.twitter.com/FwfBwkItSG

— Utah Athletics (@utahathletics) September 26, 2024

The volume of work hasn’t been there but there are some strong per-touch averages. He’s averaging 6.1 yards per carry and 4.34 yards after contact, which is seventh best among Big 12 running backs. Yet, against Kansas State, he ran for just 48 yards on 14 attempts for an average of 3.43 yards per carry.

Arizona brought in a second running back transfer, New Mexico’s Jacory Croskey-Merritt, who had 1,190 yards rushing and 17 touchdowns for the Lobos last season. However, he could be lost for the season after he was ruled ineligible.

Without Croskey-Merritt, the bulk of the workload falls on Conley. However, Kedrick Reescano could emerge as a bigger contributor.

The Arizona Offensive Line

On the offensive line, Arizona has redshirt freshman LT Rhino Tapa’atouati, redshirt sophomore LG Wendall Moe, three-year starting C Josh Baker, San Jose State transfer Ryan Stewart at RG, and two-year starting RT Jonah Savaiinaea.

The line has done a good job of limiting pressure on Fifita. Arizona owns a 33.0% pressure rate allowed in the passing game. Stewart has allowed 6 pressures, Tapa’atouati has given up 5, while Moe and Savaiinaea have each given up 4 pressures. Of those 19 total pressures, 10 of them came against Kansas State.

In the run game, the Wildcats find most of their success running to the left side. Of the 470 total rushing yards, 298 of those have come from the left side, and only 172 to the right side.