UA uses tricks in victory vs. Colorado
Arizona used two trick plays in its 4320 victory over Colorado on Saturday. Both worked, although neither unfolded exactly as they were drawn up.
Wildcats coach Jedd Fisch is the designer of those plays. He also decides if/when to call them. It isn’t an exact science.
“You’re looking at certain coverages that you want to run certain plays for,” said Fisch, whose team hosts No. 12 Oregon this Saturday. “You need to be able to get certain indicators that you can run a certain play. And then feel. Do you feel it’s the right time to call it? Is there a reason to call it? Do you feel like they’re over-pursuing on the back side so you can do certain things to open it up?
“There’s always a place for an opportunity to take a shot at one of those. But they don’t always work. And they’re just another play.”
Fisch made the latter point a second time during his Monday press briefing. Although double passes and the like aren’t common plays and might be called only once a week or every other week, he views them as just another part of his playbook.
Said Fisch: “When you look at it (as) more than that, you start thinking to yourself, ‘Do I save it? Do I not save it? When do I call it? How important is it? Is this gonna change the game, change the outcome?’
“I don’t think that’s the most beneficial because we shouldn’t put any more emphasis on any play. It’s just like the first play of the game ... it’s just a play. If you hit on it, it’s first down again. And if you don’t, it’s second-and-10.
“We all have these conversations with ourselves. (If) it’s the right time to call it, we’re gonna call it. We design plays for certain parts of the field. And then when we get to that part of the field, we’ll use it.”
Fisch pulled out the first trick on the seventh play from scrimmage at the CU 33-yard line. Quarterback Jayden de Laura threw a backward pass to the left to receiver Tetairoa McMillan. McMillan was supposed to throw downfield to tailback Michael Wiley. But Wiley wasn’t open, so McMillan ran to his right.
It appeared that McMillan was going
to try to dart upfield. But he pulled up before reaching the line of scrimmage and threw the ball to de Laura, who made a tiptoe catch inside the right sideline for an 11-yard gain.
Fisch said that de Laura reminded McMillan throughout the week that he was the checkdown option on the play. De Laura thought he should have had an even bigger role.
“He should have thrown it to me earlier,” de Laura said. “I would have scored.”
De Laura returned the favor to McMillan in the third quarter.
On first-and-10 from the Buffaloes’ 23, de Laura pitched the ball to the right to tailback DJ Williams. Williams then
threw a backward pass to de Laura. More time was needed for McMillan to break free in the end zone, so de Laura drifted to his left. With tackle Jordan Morgan keeping a CU defender at bay, de Laura threw on the run to McMillan, who made a rolling catch inside the left sideline for a touchdown.
‘T-Mac’ honored
McMillan was named Pac-12 Freshman of the Week after catching five passes for 90 yards — both career highs.
The former four-star recruit, who initially committed to Oregon, has improved every week, especially as a blocker.
McMillan has 16 catches for 290 yards and three touchdowns. His 18.1yard average per reception ranks third in the Pac-12 (minimum 14 targets).
De Laura didn’t win Offensive Player of the Week despite passing for a careerhigh 484 yards and tying the UA record with six touchdown passes. That honor went to UCLA quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson, who accounted for 368 total yards and four touchdowns in the Bruins’ 40-32 victory over Washington.
Injury updates
Arizona should have starting free safety Jaxen Turner for the Oregon game. Turner sat out vs. Colorado after injuring his shoulder the previous week at Cal. He has 24 tackles, an interception, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery in four games.
Fisch said defensive tackle Tiaoalii Savea is day-to-day. Savea suffered a lower-body injury in the third quarter vs. Colorado and did not return.
A key reserve, Savea has played 77 snaps in parts of four games, recording seven tackles, one TFL and one pass breakup.
Extra points
Defensive end Hunter Echols was named to PFF’s national Team of the Week after recording five tackles; two stops for losses, including 1.5 sacks; and one forced fumble against Colorado. Echols had a season-high grade of 90.1, per PFF.
Oregon’s T.J. Bass was named Pac-12 Offensive Lineman of the Week, and Brandon Dorlus was named the Defensive Lineman of the Week. The Ducks rushed for 351 yards in their 45-27 victory over Stanford. Dorlus had a careerhigh two sacks and three total TFLs.
Arizona’s Oct. 15 game at Washington will kick off at 2:30 p.m. It will be the Wildcats’ fourth consecutive game to air on Pac-12 Networks. The UA has a bye the following week before hosting USC on Oct. 29 for homecoming. The kickoff time for that game could be announced as early as Oct. 17.
Oregon (4-1, 2-0 Pac-12) opened as an 11.5-point favorite over Arizona (3-2, 1-1). The line dipped to 10.5 points before rising to 13 as of late Monday afternoon.