Recruiting Wishlist

For the past few days I have teased you guys with my 2009 Arizona Wildcat wish list. So, after the countdown, I will provide you with the names of 12 guys that I really want to see in an Arizona uniform. Enjoy. PS Kyle Orton sucks.

At #20 is Jake Fischer. Jake is a Tucson native, playing his high school ball at Ironwood Ridge up in Oro Valley. When I worked at KVOA in 2007, oftentimes I covered games on the northwest side of Tucson. I probably got to see Fischer in action 6 or 7 times that year. Though he was just a junior, it was clear to all of us at channel 4 that Jake was a man among boys, and that he needed to be a priority for Coach Stoops' gang. Fischer committed last year, with Arizona edging out Nebraska, among others, for his services. He is a little short at 5'11, 225, but that really doesn't bother me. As a 9th grader Jake had enough athleticism to dunk a basketball, lettering in that sport before figuring out his calling. Barring an unforeseen disaster, Jake will be a backup this season. However, I can honestly say that he will be a force to be reckoned with one day in the PAC-10 and beyond. Linebackers with jaw-dropping athleticism and sideline to sideline tackling ability don't grow on trees, and when they come in a package as smart and vicious as this one look out.

Moving on, its time for my list. I have analyzed a fair amount of prospects that Arizona is actively recruiting and I think that while we certainly won't land all of these guys, there are at least a few who will stick. Some guys listed here are complete longshots. But hey, Turtle is dating Jamie-Lynn Siegler in real life (REAL LIFE), so like KG said, anything is possible!

1) Jordon James. Jordon with an O is a tailback from Corona, California. Arizona is in competition with some pretty elite schools, such as Notre Dame and UCLA, for his services. Last season he had over 1,100 yards. That decent, however James production came in 4 games! On tape, he is electrifying. I have watched all the top running backs this season (on tape), as well as Marion Barber and Reggie Bush in person when they were seniors in high school. James is right up there with both of them. He can stop, start, catch, break tackles, and he can really pull away. If you watch his highlight tape, he toys with Vontaze Burfict, and ASU freshman considered by many to be the top defender in last years senior class. He will visit Arizona, and if he is impressed the Slip'n'Slide crew had better look over their collective shoulders.

2) Marquis Flowers. Some will tell you that they don't consider in-state recruiting to be important. I do. Flowers is a Goodyear, AZ product who can run and hit with the best of them. Among others, ASU, USC and Arizona are competing to land this stud. By no means are we favorites, but this is a kid we can get if we have a successful season. Flowers wants to announce at the Army All-American Bowl. Keep your eye on this one.

3) Keanu Nelson. Keanu hails from right here in Tucson, AZ. The Sabino product has the versatility to play just about any skill position. I think he fits the mold of a spread-type receiver. Nelson has wiggle, hands, and speed. He is also one of the most intelligent kids on the West Coast. Stanford, UCLA, and a host of other great universities are vying to pick up Nelson. Lets hope that he realizes the best school of them all is right here in from of him.

4) Shaydon Acuna. Acuna is a big, mean linebacker from Hawaii. Many of the guys we have brought in the past few years are a little undersized. At 6'3 with a frame to add a ton of weight, Acuna is the opposite. With all 3 starters on track to graduate, I think its safe to say linebacker is a priority for the coaching staff. With early playing time potentially available, getting a decorated kid from the islands is a distinct possibility.

5) Josh Robbins. One of the finest programs in Tucson is Canyon Del Oro, commonly known as CDO (or CDBro, depending on who you talk to). Despite a ton of success, CDO is known more for producing baseball players. With Robbins coming up and KaDeem Carey a junior, CDO becomes an immediate priority. Oregon State has already offered this stud, and with the success they have with Arizona kids that tells me all I need to know. Arizona is recruiting him, and his father played here back in the 80s, which helps. As for his game, I think Robbins fits as another big, rangy safety in the mold of Adam Hall and, hopefully, Marquis Flowers. This guy may be #5 on my list, but consider him a must-get.

6) Donovan Vestal. If you know my buddy Creed (and maybe its better if you don't) then you immediately recognize this name. As far as I know, Donovan is NOT related to Creeds ginger girlfriend, aptly last-named Vestal. All kidding aside, Vestal is a big, strong Texan who plays defensive end. Already 6'5 240, I see this kid really becoming a beast. While we only have one senior at end in 2009, depth is important, and this is the type of guy who can dominate games after a redshirt year.

7) Victor Burnett. While he is only a 3 star prospect, Burnett may be the biggest longshot of all of these guys. The Culver City, California product just received an offer from Oklahoma. Burnett has uncanny size, even for a D1 prospect. He is a linebacker, and another kid who I think has the goods to play right away. Also competing with Arizona for his services, among others, is Washington (********More on this development at the end of my post). Lets hope he sees the light here.

8) Demetrius Wright. Wright is a highly decorated cornerback prospect who Arizona is battling a host of programs for. With Devin Ross graduating, and Marcus Benjamin and Mike Turner due to be seniors next season, there isn't much depth here. I think Wright has the goods to contribute on special teams early, and depending on his weightlifting, maybe contend to start. He is another longshot, but he does like U of A and that has to count for something.

9) Jourdan Grandon. Jourdan is another corner, hailing from Westview High School just, well west, of Phoenix. Grandon is about 6'1 or 6'2, and possesses outstanding moxie and speed. He also stars as a quarterback at the high school level, but at Arizona he would play corner. One has to think that these defenders would look at Antoine Cason, Wilrey Fontenot, Ross, as well as Derrick Strait at Oklahoma, and realize Mike and Mark Stoops are second to nobody when it comes to developing defensive backs. Landing Grandon also sends the message to Arizona State that they must consider Phoenix to be, at best, shared turf. Landing sleepers like this goes a long way in winning in-state recruiting.

10) Derek Earls. Earls is a Junior College guy, playing his ball at North Dakota College of Science. While its a funny name in a weird part of the country, NDCS produces some outstanding talent, regularly being raided by Big 12 and Big 10 schools. At 6'4 and probably about 230, Earls is physically ready to play linebacker at this level. If he gains some weight, he could even do damage as an end in our system. This is an outstanding athlete and maybe the most underrated guy Arizona is after.

11) Bruce Gaston. Bruce is a big defensive tackle from Chicago. This is one of the hardest positions to evaluate and recruit for college coaches. Despite already weighing close to 300 pounds, Gaston isn't just another fat 17 year old sitting on other teenagers. This is a guy with good strength and agility who can plug gaps. He is also a pretty good pass rusher. This is a guy who may be a little tough to land. I hope he realizes how many other Chicago kids call Tucson home for college, and based on my experiences, love it out here.

12) Svondo Bradley. Aside from having a sweet first name, Bradley is another athletic defensive lineman. At 6'1 240, I think he can go either inside or outside. Coming to Arizona would be perfect for him. With a lot of juniors on the team in 2009, he won't be counted on to play right away and can redshirt. After beefing up under Corey Edmond (maybe the most legit strength coach ever) Bradley can play the Marcus Smith/Donald Horton role. It's a good one, just ask Smith, who now plays for the Dallas Cowboys.

****I had to touch on Washington. It seems like EVERY kid on the west coast is infatuated with that program. They will no doubt land a good class this year. What many of these teenagers fail to realize is that Steve Sarkisian is the type of used-car salesman that will tell you exactly what you want to hear in order to sell you a Ford Festiva for 40 grand. Washington can have all the talent in the world, but with the staff they have they are still going to suck for a few years. Let's hope that nobody on this list drinks the purple kool-aid up there in Protest Ci...I mean Seattle. How are the Supersonics doing?

Anyway, remember this list is my opinion, which can lead you to two conclusions. First, that I am an insightful guy that really knows his stuff. Second, that I have way too much time on may hands this summer. Both of these are quite true. I can assure you that other guys will end up at Arizona, and not all of these kids will be great, so take this list for what it's worth. Stop by tomorrow, and I will have more stuff for you to read. Its been very, very real on Real Talk.

Marching on plus a look at Wazzu

Tonight's blog is going to look a little bit different than the past few days. For one thing, the countdown is continuing unabated. In addition, I am giving you another preview at a conference opponent. Tonight, it is the Washington State Cougars. For brevity's sake, I am keeping this one short, because Washington State sucks and I don't think any of you really want to read about them very much. I also have a few other thoughts with the NFL's preseason officially underway. With all that said, lets jump into it.

Coming in at #21 is #88, A.J. Simmons. A highly touted Tight End out of Oakland, Simmons has had to take a backseat to all world superstar Rob Gronkowski. Despite this, A.J. has shown a commitment to the team, providing stability in short yardage situations and flashing good hands when necessary. Back on parents weekend in 2007, Simmons caught a touchdown pass keeping the 'Cats in the game. Another key thing about him is his leadership. Younger players at his position, Jack Baucus and Terrence Miller, rave about his on field demeanor and how willing he is to teach his competition the correct way to play. In 2010, I expect Gronkowski to head to the NFL, which means we will finally get to see what A.J. brings to the table on a full-time basis. The coaches think highly enough of him that they rate him in the top 5 tight ends in the PAC-10, despite never getting a chance to show what he can do. Look out for big #88 in an endzone near you, possibly sooner than you think.

On to Wazzu. This is a team in transition. I will say that I think Paul Wulff is the right man for the job. However, his coaching style is very intense and he expects a ton from his guys in the offseason. For that reason, I hope Cougar fans are patient, as it may take longer than they want to produce a contender in Pullman. Former coach Bill Doba left Wulff with nothing to work with, and many of the guys that he inherited turned out to be scumbags and otherwise malcontents. Lets check back in in 2011. At quarterback, things got so bad last year that the coaches held an OPEN TRYOUT for students on campus to potentially join the team. Kevin Lopina is the key name at that position. They actually have a pair of backs that could be productive. If you are familiar with James Montgomery, its because he played at Cal in 2007, famously being flipped over Louis Holmes' shoulder en route to the ground. Joining him is sophomore Logwone Mitz. Mitz averaged 4.9 yards a carry last season, astonishing when you consider how awful his line is and was. I think people are sleeping on him, and he could have a productive season. Jeshua Anderson is a long, fast receiver who could sneak behind a few secondaries this season. Other than that, I will say that I consider the cupboard completely bare. The defense is a complete work in progress, and I can't say definitively who will start at any position. I think special teams goes without saying. Look, I don't mean to be disrespectful, but if Arizona loses AT HOME to Washington State in 2009, I will camp out in front of Jim Livengood's office until he and Mike Stoops join me in unemployment.

Tonight I watched the Steelers-Cardinals preseason matchup. I'm going to be blunt, ESPN's NFL crew is absolutely atrocious. I appreciate what Chris Berman has done, as he was an original part of getting ESPN going, but its time to cut him loose. The whole nickname thing was funny about 15 years ago, but anytime something clever becomes a desperate gimmick I die a little more inside. Put the man on a beach in Boca Raton and keep him away from my television. Good riddance. As far as resident geek Mike Tirico goes, DO YOUR HOMEWORK! Dennis Dixon was hurt against THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA!!!!! Not ASU like you 'reported'. I am sure a lot of you get sick of correcting relatives and idiots alike who don't realize a state can have more than one university (which in Arizona is, of course, debatable). ESPN's NFL guys have a tough time forgetting that we don't tune in for them. The best announcers stay out of the way and let the game come to them. I don't need 500 useless stories, just tell me who was involved, maybe where they are from, and critique the product in front of you. For preseason games, I would like to see them highlight more position battles and take note of guys fighting for roster spots, which makes the second half of these games much more interesting.

Tonight, I switched over to an old game on FSN. It was the Texas Tech-Nebraska matchup from October 20, 2001. I remember watching this game in my buddy Grimes' basement in Minnesota. That was the week that my dad was fired from his job, starting a chain of events that led to us moving to San Diego, and eventually landing me in Tucson. Also, this game reminded me of how great college football is. The pro's are pretty tight, but in my opinion you can't beat the passion and Americana that comes with the college game. I had forgotten just how good Eric Crouch was in his day. Watching this game was a trip, that's for sure. I hope you are like me. I cannot wait for the 2009 season to finally kick off.

Keep reading. I have some big things in the works, including a new college football system, a UA recruiting wish list, and my idea for an effective minor league to the NFL, among others. Always real, and if your reading this I love you.

Deuce Deuce

Today we have another member of the team highlighted, as well as a few of my thoughts on other things. Enjoy

Coming in at #22 is Trevor Foster. Foster is a junior safety from Ontario, California. Nicknamed Tito, Foster is a headhunter on special teams, similar to fellow countdown member Orlando Vargas. Throughout the country, every team has a couple of unheralded, relatively unknown guys that make big plays on special teams. Often these plays take place away from the ball, and thus out of sight of the common fan. Tito walked on the team several years ago, but earned himself a scholarship last season for his efforts on special teams. Wearing #29, Foster figures to be a mainstay crushing kick returners and downing Keenyn Crier's punts in great spots this season and next. With Cam Nelson moving on after this year, it wouldn't shock me if a heady, talented guy like Tito found his way into the starting lineup in 2010.

USA had a pretty rough outing today. It was apparent who got a good nights rest and who was rattled in Mexico City. Azteca Stadium is, in my opinion, the best homefield advantage in the world, regardless of the sport. There are some positives to take out of this afternoons loss. First, Charlie Davies is legit. Lets keep our fingers crossed, the kid looks like the type of athlete that teams will gameplan against in South Africa next year. Second, at least none of our player's were apparently entering a Joakim Noah lookalike contest after the game. Guillermo Ochoa, I'm looking right at you. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guillermo_Ochoa) Lionel Richie called, he wants his terrible 'hairstyle' back. I was hoping the jheri curl died with Rick James. and finally, Third, win or lose, Americans are great fans who don't throw bags of urine at the opposition. Score one for the States there. Regardless, I don't believe in moral victories. We (the USA) got slapped around out there. Despite a late goal, Mexico was allowed to dictate the tempo throughout the game. It's time to swallow our pride and admit the better team won today.

Good to see Jeff Samarasifdasfdasgja get rolled today. No matter the sport, I usually find a reason to cheer against good old Notre Dame. Rudy was offsides. Sorry, had to get those last two off my chest.

Finally, I heard something today that you all should hear. It was inspirational, moving even. A man was explaining what he does when hes feeling down in the dumps. He reminds himself something. He reminds himself that somewhere, way out there, there is a Mr. Pelosi. Good night, stay tuned, etc. It's always real.

His Airness...

That's correct, its time for number 23 on the countdown. Before we get to that, I want to talk a little about tomorrow's biggest game. United States versus Mexico. I won't be making any big predictions, but it is a very important match up if for no other reason than the fact that we (which I say as an American, not considering myself a part of the team like many fans seem to) have never won in Mexico City. This sport is truly the world's game, and I love the fact that earlier this summer America burst onto the scene. For decades we have been whipping boys, as has-been nations have enjoyed routing us on the pitch for years. Win or lose tomorrow, I love America and you all had better as well.

On to the countdown...#23 on the list is Alex Zendejas. Zendejas is a redshirt sophomore from up in the Valley, playing his high school ball at Ironwood in Glendale. Zendejas is a member of maybe the royalty of placekicking. Among others, Alex had two uncles, Luis and Alan, who kicked at Arizona State. Uncle Max was an All-American here in Tucson in the '80s before moving on to the Green Bay Packers. Alex got a little bit of playing time last season, kicking a few extra points and looking pretty good on kickoffs. At least since 2005, when I entered school, placekicking has been a strong point that Cats fans haven't had to worry about. Lets hope that continues with Mr. Zendejas this season.

Stay tuned for a preview on the Oregon Ducks, my idea to turn the BCS upside down, and more! Always real.

#24...The countdown Continues

What's up readers. I hope you are enjoying my thoughts and opinions. Tonight we will be keeping it rather light, with another player on the countdown. If you are keeping track (as I am) the number on the countdown does not correspond with opening day. I decided to give myself 2 or 3 days for emergencies, or simply being too busy to post. Without further ado, lets continue where we started last night.

#24 on my list is Orlando Vargas. Wearing jersey number 38, Vargas is a sophomore defender from Winslow, Arizona, which is up near the Grand Canyon. Out of high school, Vargas spent a season at Panhandle State University, which is in Goodwell, Oklahoma. Goodwell may be in the most desolate stretch of the United States, the Oklahoma Panhandle. It may not be the end of the world, but you can certainly see it from there. One can completely understand Orlando's decision to transfer to Tucson, where much more 'scenery' surrounds us. On the field, Vargas plays safety and linebacker. A walk-on, I wouldn't be shocked to see Vargas earn a scholarship, especially considering the way he plays. Vargas is a wedge buster on kickoff coverage, and a total headhunter. These are the types of guys I really love to watch. As an underrated overachiever in my own football career, I treated special teams like my life was on the line. Vargas is an outstanding blocker as well, famously springing Money Thomas' punt return TD against ASU. Look for #38 flying around the field this season on all special teams, and if he keeps busting his butt you may just see him become a fixture on defense as a junior in 2010.

Keep reading. Nothing else to say tonight, really. As usual, I always keep it real.

The Countdown Begins...#25

When I started this blog, my idea was to give you my personal insight into the Arizona Wildcats, sports, and the world in general. While I am not interviewing athletes (yet) I am pretty confident in what I am providing, and I would like to think that you the reader has gained a lot from reading my thoughts. Furthering this notion, I would like to shed light on members of the 2009 Arizona Wildcats football team that I think have earned it. The following is a list that includes superstars, walk-ons, future pros, and guys that I hold in high regard from personal experience. The goal is to make watching Arizona football a richer, more beautiful thing than it already is. Lets get started.

Coming in at #25 is Colin Baxter.Wearing number 64, Colin is a junior offensive lineman from Rolling Hills, California, on the Palos Verdes Penninsula. As a freshman in 2007, he beat out returning starter Daniel Borg and hasn't looked back. He brings an old school nastiness to the PAC-10. Baxter is the type of guy that plays right until the whistle blows, putting the team before himself every single play. An offensive line needs a mean streak, and Baxter continues to provide that from both guard and center. I fully expect him to contend for All Conference honors when the season concludes, and as a senior in 2010 All-American consideration wouldn't shock me either. While he isn't my absolute favorite player on the team, this is a guy any football fan will get a kick out of watching. Look out for #64 this season.

Keep reading for further information on PAC-10 teams, Arizona recruits, and some other things that have been on my mind lately. I realize that I have readers across the country and not all of you are die hard Arizona fans, so stand by as I have some stuff coming with you in mind. Always real

Season Opener: Central Michigan University

The next team that we take a look at is CMU, more commonly known as Central Michigan. Serving as the Wildcats first opponent of the year, the Chippewas are an important barometer for how the season will go. If Arizona can win this game easily, then it shows that at the least we have ourselves a solid defense and our major offensive questions will be solved. If its a struggle, then it isn't much of a stretch to imagine trouble on the 'Cats horizon. The Chippewas are coached by Butch Jones, who is in his 3rd season as head coach, posting back to back 8 win seasons. They are favored to win their 3rd Mid-American Conference (MAC) title in 4 years. CMU plays at Kelly/Shorts Stadium, one of the smaller venues in Division 1 FBS Football at just over 30,000 spectators. Kelly/Shorts has a FieldTurf surface, and in every aspect of the term the Chips are a 'turf team'. There offense is built around quick plays and making people miss in the open field. They run a spread, although it is a little bit different than what we are used to in Tucson. While we run out of spread and power I looks, as well as both shotgun and under center, CMU runs a 4 wide, 1 back set almost the entire game. This also isn't an offense that is known for scoring 70 points a game. Generally, CMU stays under 40 points, surpassing that only in a 52-56 loss at Eastern Michigan.

Quarterbacks: By now you have heard all the hype surrounding Colt McCoy, Sam Bradford, Tim Tebow, and a few other national heavyweights. Let me tell you, Central Michigan has a guy that is right up there with all of them. Don't be surprised to hear the name Dan LeFevour called early on draft day next spring. In 2007, LeFevour joined Vincent Young as the only quarterbacks to throw for 3,000 yards while rushing for over 1,000 in a single season. While he doesn't have electrifying speed, the senior out of suburban Chicago serves as his teams primary rushing treat. He is just as capable through the air. Last season, LeFevour completed 67% of his passes for just under 3,000 yards and 21 touchdowns, with only 6 interceptions. He has an uncanny ability to see the field and distribute. This guy has no problem sharing the wealth and keeping a defense guessing. After LeFevour, however, things start to get dicey. The past three seasons the Chippewas have had an outstanding backup QB, a guy named Brian Brunner. He has moved on, leaving several freshmen in his place. Should anything happen to LeFevour, this team is one hit away from missing out on the MAC title, and any potential bowl bid is also out the window.

Running Backs: Balancing LeFevour's act the last couple years were the dependable Ontario Sneed and Justin Hoskins. Both have moved on, leaving sophomores Bryan Schroeder and Paris Cotton to pick up the pieces. I figure Schroeder gets the lions share of carries here, as he looked pretty good in spot duty last season. One thing I look for is action from the receivers. Antonio Brown and freshman slotback Jahleel Addae are deadly in space, and it wouldn't shock me if end-arounds and reverses start getting called, especially if Arizona has success against the run early on. LeFevour of course is also a decorated runner, who has scored a ton of rushing touchdowns in his career. While this isn't a group that wows you, they will find ways to be effective.

Receivers: LeFevour is undoubtedly the star of the team, but the most talent on the quad is right here. They will start 4 guys at wideout, 3 of whom are proven commodities. Junior Antonio Brown is an undersized lightning bolt who had nearly 2500 all purpose yards last season. You know it, you hate it, but damn if it works; Brown is utilized a lot on the bubble screen. This is essentially a running play and I love it, its a guaranteed 5 yards and maybe more with a guy like Brown. Bryan Anderson is a massive target at 6'5, 215 pounds. The senior has a chance to become the all-time leading receiver at CMU, removing the legendary Reggie Allen (OK, not that legendary) from the top of the list. Junior Kito Poblah and Addae will also see plenty of passes thrown there way. Make no mistake about it, this is a top flight receiving corps. I doubt that it is the most talented unit our secondary will face, but these guys can make you pay with the slightest lapse in concentration.

Offensive Line: As we have seen the past few years up in Tempe, you can have a ton of talent at the skill positions (just ask them) but it won't matter if your hogs can't play. This is a massive concern for Central Michigan. The spread is great because it allows for wide splits and quick ball movement, but lets take a look at what Coach Jones is working with here. Returning starters at Center and left guard, and a senior right guard, Allen Ollenburger, who has started in the past. We've certainly seen worse. But then you look at the tackles. I don't have the current weights for these guys, but as of Spring Practice right tackle Rocky Weaver checked in at 253 pounds, and Jake Olson was JUST 237! Weaver actually was a tight end last year. Look, these guys would be undersized playing in the Los Angeles H.S. City Section, so imagine what trouble they are in this season in Division 1 football. A quarterback's best friend is a big, solid veteran protecting his blind side, and LeFevour literally has the opposite here. 'Nuff said.

Defensive Line: This is a solid unit for CMU, but it is not anywhere near what the 'Cats will face later on down the road. Seniors Sam Williams and Frank Zombo start at the ends. Zombo is easily the best player of the bunch, posting 9 sacks last season. These guys have an opportunity to make a statement early on against a left tackle who is moving over from guard. In the middle, they play Sean Murnane and nose guard John Williams. These guys are quite undersized, and with a pair of 335 pound guards, it wouldn't shock me to see the Wildcats pound the ball early. Last season the Chips had a rotation of 4 guys at nose guard(3 have moved on), and it wouldn't shock me to see at least that many throughout the game here.

Linebackers: 3 starters return to a veteran unit, including Nick Bellore, who led the MAC in tackles last season with an astounding 148! Matt Berning and his 70 tackles also returns. Tim Brazzel is a returning starter, but the senior is just 195 pounds. I think you notice a theme here. Even though this isn't a "power conference" team, they are as undersized as any non service academy squad that I have ever seen in Division 1. Brazzel is a converted safety, which tells me that the team decided to sacrifice size in order to cover more ground against other wide open offenses. This is a solid group, but other than Georgia last season none of the personnel they have faced compare (favorably or relatively, that is) to Arizona's.

Defensive Backs: This is the toughest group to evaluate, and I wouldn't be shocked if names I haven't come across figure prominently into the Chips' plans. The best player is Chaz West, who had a respectable top 10 finish in the frattiest name contest (former OSU DE Slade Norris took home the hardware there). However, where he plays is up in the air. Bobby Seay and Eric Fraser started at safety last season. CMU also returns Josh Gordy and a guy named Tommy Mama at cornerback. This group had a bad year last season. However, there are a ton of experienced players competing for time, and I think that Chippewa fans can expect to reap the benefits of healthy competition here.

Special Teams: The placekicker is Andrew Aguila and the punter, who I am not related to, is Brett Hartmann (Two N's). Neither of these guys will wow you and Aguila had some consistency problems last season. Where this unit really shines is the return game. Antonio Brown had nearly 800 KR yards last year. More renowned on punt returns, he averaged an astounding 20.5 yards per return in this department, with an impressive score as well. As long as Brown is on the field, Arizona coverage units have really got to bring it or things could go south.

Season Outlook: I pay almost zero attention to the MAC, which gets almost no media coverage out west. That said, I think that Central Michigan is probably the class of the conference. This is a solid team, and although it has some holes I think that they can get away with some things, in conference play at least, they may not be able to in a BCS league thanks to a solid cast of skill position guys. I fully expect to see them bowling, and with the right things happening LeFevour could see some serious Heisman Trophy consideration.

How can the Wildcats win? By being mistake free on offense. While they have 10 starters back on 'D', the Chippewas really struggled defensively and found themselves in a lot of shootouts. Expect nickleback Corey Hall to play nearly the entire game. He did a great job on Kyle Williams, Nick Moore, and Ronald Johnson last season. I think that Arizona has a defense that is perfect for what Dan LeFevour and the Chippewas bring to the table. Arizona wins here by executing on offense. I know that is simple, but it really is the case here. Unless 'Zonas new quarterbacks completely bomb, Central Michigan may have an impossible time keeping up with an offense that can get pretty hot down in Tucson. I don't like predictions, but this is a game Arizona will be favored in and should feel pretty good about.

Stay tuned. The next edition will feature the start of my 25 favorite Wildcats. Be on the lookout for more team analysis, and a breakdown of the 11 recruits I want to see finish out Arizona's recruiting class. With me, its always real, enjoy and keep up the support!