Pac-10 Position Breakdown Quarterback: Arizona Wildcats

The 2009 Arizona Wildcats will look far different on offense than they did one year ago. Gone is Willie Tuitama, the school record holder for career attempts, completions, yards and touchdowns.

Tuitama was extremely efficient, completing 65 percent of his passes as part of a balanced attack for the Cats. Offensive coordinator Sonny Dykes will now run his inventive multi-spread offense with one of two new QB’s that are both firmly in the running.

The slight favorite for the job as of spring is true sophomore Matt Scott. A 6' 3" 190 pound product out of high-school football power Corona Centineal (CA), Scott is a threat to opposing defenses in multiple ways. His current edge on the starting job can likely be attributed to his speed and quickness. Scott is a very elusive runner, and has the awareness to know when it’s the right time to take off.

Scott appeared in limited action for the Wildcats last season but managed to lead the team with 8.2 yards per carry. Considering the Cats had 1,000 yard runner Nic Grigsby and shifty backup RB Keola Antoli, Scott’s rushing average was very impressive and could be featured as an integral part of the offense this season.

In fact, Sonny Dykes routinely called for naked bootlegs and designed rollouts when Scott entered games last season, possibly giving the Pac-10 a preview of the 2009 Arizona offense. He totaled 188 yards and two TD’s rushing as a freshman, and added 84 yards and another two TD’s through the air.

The key for Scott will be his production as a passer. No one expects Tuitama-like numbers, but he must be able to keep the defense from cheating at the line. With the league’s best tight end by a mile in Rob Grownkowski, Scott has a big target to rely on.

Head coach Mike Stoops has put some great offensive pieces in place with his recruiting, and Scott will have a talented supporting cast around him as he transitions into being the potential starter. If everything comes together, there could be a three-headed rushing monster in the Old Pueblo with Grigsby, Antolin, and Scott each capable of taking it to the house.

If the dual-threat offense doesn’t pan out for Scott and Arizona, the Wildcats could rely on a QB built more like Tuitama. Sophomore Nick Foles decided to transfer to Arizona after playing football in the Big Ten for a year with Michigan State.

The 6' 5" 235 pound Austin, Texas native is a traditional drop-back passer, perfectly equipped to run the same offense Tuitama manned last season. He spent last season with Arizona’s scout team, earning the acclaim of coaching staff and teammates alike for his ability to emulate opposing QB’s throughout the year.

During his time with the Spartans in 2007, he went 5-for-8 passing for 57 yards. Foles enjoyed a productive spring and is trailing Scott by a very slim margin heading into fall camp.

The dark horse for playing time in Tucson is sophomore Bryson Beirne. The 6' 3" 225 pound Hawaiian is a system-smart quarterback who played sparingly in 2008. Beirne has a strong arm and good footwork, but will be the clear No. 3 heading into the season.

My Take

I've followed a number of Pac-10 players on the last few Corona-Centenial teams, and Matt Scott is an athlete. If he wasn’t a QB, he’d still be one of Arizona’s 11 best offensive players and could find a place somewhere else on the field.

He is no Willie Tuitama when it comes to arm strength or accuracy, but all he has to do is be a serviceable passer for the Cats to have another explosive offense.

If the offensive line is decent, I think Scott could make the Arizona running attack better than ever. Foles is a solid QB, and has a better arm than Scott, which could keep him in the hunt for the starting job.

The bottom line; I believe Sonny Dykes is one of the brightest offensive minds in college football and he will find a way to make either Scott or Foles work in his offense.

-Sam Saig, www.allpac10.com