TUCSON, Ariz. -- Arizona has emphasized weight training and
conditioning since coach Mike stoops arrived, and now the Wildcats
feel they are physically ready to pound some teams.
They will need to be Friday, when they play Utah in Salt Lake
City. The Utes have won 16 straight games, and they return their
tough defense and good offensive line despite losing coach Urban
Meyer and quarterback Alex Smith, the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft.
"The line of scrimmage is something we have not been great at
in establishing ourselves," Stoops said Monday. "To win
consistency you have to be dominant up front. You have to create
some running space for your backs and put pressure on Utah's
offense."
Arizona was grasping for air, and wins, when Stoops took over a
2-10 team nearly 18 months ago. The Wildcats went just 3-8 last
season, but they knocked off bowl-bound Arizona State in their
finale, and there's no question Stoops has brought about a revival.
They players managed nearly 100 percent attendance during
voluntary summer workouts, and now they're looking forward to a
test.
"Being physical is a major point for our team," defensive end
Marcus Smith said. "A lot of people say the game is won at the
line of scrimmage. I think that is true. Our lines have improved.
We are eager to go out and show it."
One major improvement is in team depth.
The Wildcats now go seven or eight deep along the offensive and
defensive fronts. How that translates into results needs to be
seen, starting with the offensive push needed after averaging 14.9
points (116th nationally) in scoring a year ago.
If quarterback Richard Kovalcheck does not have time to throw
the ball, against an expected eight and nine man Utah front it will
be another long season.
The Wildcats faced stacked defenses throughout the 2004
campaign, starting with Utah's 23-6 win in Tucson last year.
"We know we have to beat the blitz and beat man-to-man
coverage," Stoops said. "When they put eight or nine men in the
box we must find a way to run the ball if we can't throw it. We
have worked hard at attacking the blitz and making sure we can get
some plays off and have some chances for success. Hopefully we can
do that."