Q & A with Arizona Director of Football Operations Erick Harper
Q: Arizona football will open the 2008 season playing five of six games against teams with losing records in 2007, and then proceed to play five of six versus teams who made bowl appearances.
Do you think the schedule will benefit the Wildcats by giving them a lot of early success and confidence, or might it make the second half of the season difficult due to such a drastic increase in competition?
A: There are no guarantees in sports, other than Tiger Woods' chances of winning each tournament he enters. As for five of six teams with '07 losing records to start the season, it doesn't matter because we will have to play our best each week to have a chance to win.
The second half of our schedule is heavy. However, we have four of those six games at home, and it's never easy playing on the road in the Pac-10. The road games are @ WSU (new staff) and @ UO (always a very good team at home).
Q: The Arizona Wildcat red zone offense struggled last year, only scoring 18 touchdowns on 42 attempts. A common critique of the spread offense is the inability to score touchdowns with a shortened field. Can Arizona fans expect any changes in regards to formations or philosophies when the offense gets inside the twenty?
A: The fans can expect our players to be more comfortable with the offensive system in its second year. With any offense, whether it's pro-style or spread, it boils down to "Execution."
Q: With a very talented receiving corps returning in Mike Thomas, Terrell Turner, Delashaun Dean, and tight end Rob Gronkowski, is this passing game only going to get better with another year in the system? How can Sonny Dykes utilize all of their talents and get everyone touches?
A: Yes, we have a talented crew coming back this year, and Coach Dykes will utilize each player to his fullest potential. The ball will be spread around; however, the open guy gets the ball. Of course, you game plan for certain things to take advantage of a player's ability, and Coach Dykes will make it happen.
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4 months ago
Great questions, informative article.
4 months ago
Very good article.
But i must say watching Willie Tuitama play quarterback makes me laugh.
4 months ago
can we finally get to a bowl game? should've asked that
4 months ago
makes you laugh?
he is better than anyonne else they have. He put up huge numbers last year.
4 months ago
U of A is dumbing down the schedule and hoping to make it to some garbage bowl while ASU is building a power in Tempe. U of A will also not beat ASU until they hire a real HC. Keep your fingures crossed and hope Stoops does not lose to another Mountain West team!!!!
4 months ago
WOW how did u get the director of football ops??!?!?!??!!??!?!?!?!?!
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