Three things the Wildcats must do to beat Sun Devils
Nov 23, 2017, 9:31 AM
Arizona running back Zach Green (34) during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Arizona State, Friday, Nov. 25, 2016, in Tucson, Ariz. Arizona defeated Arizona State 56-35. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
(AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
What a year it has been for the Arizona Wildcats and Rich Rodriguez.
Predicted nearly unanimously as a bottom-three team in the Pac-12 South, Arizona enters the Territorial Cup draw tied with Arizona State for second at a 5-3 conference record.
Behind star sophomore quarterback Khalil Tate, Arizona leads the Pac-12 with 472 points scored, has the nation’s third-highest rushing attack at 331.6 yards per game and has the fifth best-scoring offense at 42.9 points per game.
With a win, the Wildcats and Rodriguez can make the case to play in a legitimate bowl game to build off of heading into next season, one in which Tate will look to gain national recognition as a potential Heisman Trophy winner in a full season as starter.
In order to do that, they need to win Saturday, and here are three things they must do in order to pull it off.
Unleash Khalil Tate
Just because it’s obvious doesn’t mean it’s not true.
That’s especially the case after last Saturday’s 48-28 loss to Oregon when the Ducks found a way to not only limit Tate, but completely shut him down.
After becoming the starting quarterback, Tate’s season-low in rushing yards was 137 against California coming into that game, but he was held to 32 yards on 14 carries against Oregon.
That forced Arizona to throw the ball, and whenever teams have done that against the Wildcats, they have won.
In Tate’s five wins starting, he’s averaging 13 pass attempts a game.
In the two losses? Thirty-three.
The Wildcats must build off what they did last year and take advantage of a Sun Devil defense that is known for giving up big play after big play.
Establishing Tate early and having him rattle off one of his signature long gains will dictate where the game is going, and that would be in the Wildcats’ favor.
Contain N’Keal Harry
The other standout sophomore in the state is the Sun Devil wide receiver, and despite his solid numbers this season, he has yet to have a superstar performance in a win.
With 69 catches for 957 yards and five touchdowns in 2017, Harry had a monster 13-catch, 148-yard effort with a touchdown grab in a 52-45 loss to Texas Tech.
It’s Harry’s only double-digit reception game of his career.
Arizona is dead last in the Pac-12 in pass defense, allowing an average of 287.3 passing yards per game.
All signs point toward this being Harry’s true breakout performance. Like Tate, Harry will look to create more momentum for next season as one of the best at his position. If the Wildcats allow that to happen, it significantly decreases their chances of a win Saturday.
Capitalize on a potential Manny Wilkins mistake
Yes, the Wildcats have the worst pass defense in the conference, but they also have the most interceptions.
Seventeen in 11 games, to be exact, which is nearly double the 10 by Arizona State.
Wilkins is not a perfect quarterback, but he has been taking care of the ball in 2017. After throwing nine interceptions last season on 311 pass attempts, he’s cut that number in half this year, turning it over four times through the air on 353 pass attempts.
In a game that will certainly be high scoring, a swing play could be a chance at an interception off Wilkins.
The Wildcats have proven all season they can pick off the quarterback, and on Saturday, they must capitalize if Wilkins gives them the chance to.
