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If you would like to contribute to Azdesertswarm as a writer, photographer, or in any other way, contact Joe at azdesertswarm@gmail.com and we'll chat. I love updating the site as much as possible but will need some help in the event I actually have some work to do.


Wildcats exceed expectations at Toledo.

 

Heading into the game on Friday, there was a lot of talk. It was many people echoing the same statements. "The offense is very good." "The LBs will be a weakness." One comment that did not get a lot of repetition, "We need to play someone other than ourselves". Along with his criticism of his defense, coach Stoops stated that they really needed to play someone other than the Arizona offense to see how good or bad they really are.

Boy, was he right. The defense looked great. Will they be one of the top defenses in the Pac-10 this season? That remains to be seen. I am inclined to say they will be a top 5 defense overall, and top 3 defense with regard to the secondary. They played the kind of defense that would have won them the Pac-10 last season. No ‘blow-by’ tackles. My pet peeve. Want to see me blow my top at an Arizona Wildcats game? Take a look at me right after one of our defenders dives at an offensive player, missing him entirely. I can’t stand it. Let the offense have 5 yards. Just don’t turn that into a 10 - 15 yard gain because you decided to jump early and leave him an open running lane. The defense was very disciplined in this regard. Time and again in the Toledo game, they played it smart, and waited for the offensive player to commit to a direction before going for the tackle. Good. Bend and don’t break.

Special mention here for the LBs. Did they dominate? No. Did they make constant mistakes? No. The LBs played very well considering the lack of starting experience. And Derek Earls! In position! No major mistakes! And an interception! I have been high on this guy since he committed to transfer to Arizona, and I expect great things to come.

 

 

 

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College Football Open Thread

 

All times Central

 

TIME GAME TV LINE
11:00 Miami (OH) at Florida
UF -35
11:00 Western Michigan at Michigan St. MSU -23
11:00 Samford at Florida State --
11:00 Youngstown St. at Penn St.
--
11:00 Eastern Illinois at Iowa
--
11:30 Illinois vs Missouri (St. Louis)
MO -12
2:30 Purdue at Notre Dame
ND -11
2:30 Kentucky at Louisville1 UK -3
2:30 UCLA at Kansas State1
KSU -1.5
2:30 Connecticut at Michigan1
MICH -3
2:30 Texas vs Rice (Reliant)
TX -31
2:30 North Texas at Clemson
CLEM -27
6:00 Washington St. at Oklahoma St. OSU -17
6:00 Memphis at Mississippi St.
MSU -21
6:45
TCU vs Oregon St. (Jerryworld)
TCU -13.5
7:00 LSU vs North Carolina (Atlanta)
LSU -9.5
9:00 Cincinnati at Fresno St.
FSU -2.5
10:00 Wisconsin at UNLV
UW -20

1ABC Coverage Map

 

Complete Week 1 TV Line Up

High Definition TV Sports Guide

Live Vegas Lines

Top 25 Scoreboard

Pac-10 Scoreboard

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Post Game Recap: Arizona 42 vs. Toledo 2

Arizona's Juron Criner (84) catches a pass in the end zone for a touchdown over Toledo's Bryon Best during the Second half on Friday, Sept. 3, 2010, during an NCAA college football game in Toledo, Ohio. Arizona won 41-2. (AP Photo/J.D. Pooley)

More photos » J.D. Pooley - AP

1 day ago: Arizona's Juron Criner (84) catches a pass in the end zone for a touchdown over Toledo's Bryon Best during the Second half on Friday, Sept. 3, 2010, during an NCAA college football game in Toledo, Ohio. Arizona won 41-2. (AP Photo/J.D. Pooley)

The outcome was: Better than expected.  The Cats offense looked incredible.  Grigsby, Antolin, Nwoko, Criner, Douglas all looked like they were on top of their game.  Foles was almost perfect and Matt Scott even got a TD.  The defense pitched a shutout (who saw that coming?) and our young linebackers impressed me a ton.   The gameplan was put together well with the Cats sticking to their base 4-3 more than I thought they would.  There was so much talk of nickel and dime packages that I thought it would be more of the norm rather than the exception.   The Cats never let up and finished the game strong.

Confusion: I know that Matt Scott will be worked into the offense but does anyone else think it was a good idea to start his series when we are pinned inside our own 5 yard line? 

 

The Offensive MVP was: Nick Foles.  The guy was incredible last night.  He threw for 360 yards on 32 of 37 passing.  He also ran one in.  His only interception came off the hands of his own receiver, Taimi Tutogi.   The guy is incredible and got to shine in the national spotlight.  His arm is huge and should be an NFL caliber quarterback by the time he leaves Arizona.  Props to the offensive line as well for giving Foles the time he needed to pick apart the Toledo defense.  The first quarter pass to Douglas was a thing of beauty.   Grigsby, Nwoko, and Antolin carried the ground game well.  They combined for 18 carries for 98 yards.  The holes weren't as big last night as I had hoped they would be.  Toledo's front four didn't do a bad job against Arizona's massive O-Line.  Grigsby's draw touchdown was impressive.  He flashed the speed we remembered from 2008.  Juron Criner = Beast Fast.

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Game 1 Quick Reactions: Arizona 41, Toledo 2

Arizona rolled into Toledo on Friday and left with pretty much everything but the key to the city.

QB Nick Foles was as accurate as you could be -- 32-37 for 360 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception off the fingers of FB Taimi Tutogi.

Not to be outdone by Foles, WR Juron Criner put on a show for ESPN's national television audience. Criner -- who finished his night with 11 receptions, 187 yards receiving, and a gorgeous touchdown catch -- picked up a huge 45 yard reception falling on his back. Under heavy coverage -- some may say it looked like defensive PI -- Criner grasp the ball with his right hand, off his right thigh and cradled for the the catch with his left hand. Flip on SportsCenter, it will be there.

The defense looked rather solid considering all the questions about the inexperienced linebackers. JuCo transfer LB Derek Earls picked off a pass. DEs Brooks Reed and Ricky Elmore made their presence known. Freshmen Shaquille Richardson and Marquis Flowers got in on the action as well.

Overall, the defense pitched a shutout. Toledo's only points came on a holding call in the endzone that resulted in a safety.

Special teams showed up as well. WR and returner William "Bug" Wright had a solid 35 yard punt return. Late in the game, Arizona forced Toledo's standout freshman WR from last year, Eric Page, to cough up a return inside his five to effectively close out the game.

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Arizona vs. Toledo Open Game Thread



Next Game

Arizona (0-0, 0-0 Pac-10) at Toledo (0-0, 0-0 MAC) 8 p.m. (EDT)
Glass Bowl (26,248) | Toledo, Ohio

Live TV Broadcast: ESPN (national)
Television Talent: Joe Tessitore (play-by-play); Rod Gilmore (color analyst)
UA English Radio: Wildcat Radio Network (Brian Jeffries, play-by-play; Lamont Lovette, color; Dana Cooper, sideline)

Satellite Radio: XM 212

Degenerate Gambling Line: Arizona vs. Toledo
Spring is here
Some quick Arizona Wildcat links.

Complete Coverage >




Get'em CATS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Degenerate Gambling Line: Arizona vs. Toledo



Sports-betting_medium

Arizona is playing at Toledo tonight and the line is Arizona -16.  What are your thoughts on the line.

Poll
Arizona -16 at Toledo.

  181 votes | Results

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Spring is here

Arizona's Trevin Wade (24) is finally dragged down by Oregon's Casey Matthews (55) on a punt return during the first half of a NCAA college football game at Arizona Stadium in Tucson, Ariz., Saturday, Nov. 21, 2009. (AP Photo/John Miller)

More photos » John Miller - AP

9 months ago: Arizona's Trevin Wade (24) is finally dragged down by Oregon's Casey Matthews (55) on a punt return during the first half of a NCAA college football game at Arizona Stadium in Tucson, Ariz., Saturday, Nov. 21, 2009. (AP Photo/John Miller)

The long barren winter of the college football off-season is over.  In some parts they call it "summer."  We call it hell.  Goodbye humidity.  Goodbye getting into a car so hot you can't hold the steering wheel for fear of suffering third degree burns.  No more "Nationals! Pirates! It's the MLB on ESPN!" No more wondering what to watch on a lazy Saturday afternoon. 

Fall has sprung.  The leaves will soon turn.  Foles will throw.  Grigsby and Keola will run.  And, Trevin, boy will Trevin cover.

At 7:30 Eastern, college football is back.


Enjoy Cats fans. One more day until we hit the field.  Enjoy tonight's appetizer to tomorrow's ever-so-longed-for main dish.

Bear Down.

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Great job to AZ Desert Swarm Matt Ortega for providing an excellent Arizona capsule. This is a must read for the Pac-10 preview.

3 days ago Arizonawildcats_tiny joenewby4040 0 comments

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