Arizona football fans have endured a lot of really bad play over the years.
From John Mackovic to Kevin Sumlin it’s pretty easy for an Arizona fan to think it can’t get much worse than what’s been seen the last twenty plus years.
That all changed Saturday Night at Arizona Stadium as the Wildcats lost to Northern Arizona University 21-19.
A sparsely attended game that started out quickly for Arizona went downhill rapidly as the Wildcats were exposed on all levels.
With the exception of wide receiver Stanley Berryhill III, the offense is a total mess.
Don’t be fooled by the numbers, Will Plummer was terrible and just like Plummer the previous week, Jordan McCloud substituted in an looked pretty good. But who knows what that really means.
Even when wide receivers are wide open, the quarterbacks don’t see them and there is an obvious disconnect between the coaching staff and the players as Jedd Fisch went into detail during the postgame about his players not understanding what he wants from them.
At the end of the day that is on the coach.
Defensively the effort wasn’t quite as bad but it was still a subpar performance. At crucial points during the game when Arizona needed to stop NAU the Wildcats we’re unable to do it. And, frankly, the NAU offensive line pushed the Cats defensive front around.
Furthermore, expected impact players like pass rusher Jalen Harris and linebacker Anthony Pandy haven’t been difference makers
Besides having below average talent there is something more going on with this team.
Have all the coaching staff’s words been hollow? Has the team not bought into Fisch? Are the players confused by what he wants from them? Are there more factors in play?
Only the players and the coaches know what the answer to that is but it’s fair to say that the Tucson community is out on Arizona Football and the Jedd Fisch era at a very early stage. And can you blame them?
It’s on Fisch and the players to bring the fans back into the fold. But with actions on the field. Not words.
And judging from what we’ve seen the past two games, that could take a long time.
