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READ ABOUT HOW ARIZONA ACHIEVED ITS STICKERS IN THE FIRST TWO GAMES BY CLICKING ON THE RIGHT “NEXT” ARROW
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How could Arizona go from eight helmet stickers earned in a lackluster win over UTSA to only seven in a meaningful road win against Nevada?
That’s what happened and here’s the reasons why:
— The stickers are based on certain categories. The chance exists the Wildcats will not fulfill categories en route to a victory.
— Arizona has not recorded stickers in three areas it routinely earned last year: Four drives of at least eight plays, third and fourth down conversion rate at least 55 percent and at least three sacks in a game.
In those categories, Arizona has achieved only five drives total in two games with at least eight plays, its third and fourth down conversion rates are 11 of 33 (only 33 percent) through the first two games and the Wildcats have only one sack so far.
Against Nevada, the Wildcats had only two possessions of at least eight plays, their third and fourth down conversion rate was only 3 of 16 (18.8 percent) and they achieved their first and only sack without injured All-American linebacker Scooby Wright.
More consistency on offense, converting on third and fourth down in crucial situations and applying more pressure defensively will be paramount for Arizona to have a successful season in the Pac-12 South. To this point, those areas are lacking, although the Wildcats showed improvement in forcing the quarterback from his comfort zone against Nevada.
Another positive sign: Arizona earned a sticker forcing seven three-and-outs defensively after UTSA was limited to only one three-and-out in the season opener.
So far, Arizona has 15 stickers, for an average of 7.5 a game. Last year, the Wildcats averaged 7.8, including 8.4 in their 10 victories.
READ ABOUT HOW ARIZONA ACHIEVED ITS STICKERS IN THE FIRST TWO GAMES BY CLICKING ON THE RIGHT “NEXT” ARROW
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Site founder and award-winning sports journalist Javier Morales has published his first e-book, “The Highest Form of Living”, a fiction piece about a young man who overcomes a troubled upbringing without his lost father and wayward mother through basketball and hope. His hope is realized through the sport he loves. Basketball enables him to get past his fears. His experience on the court indirectly brings him closer to his parents in a unique, heartfelt way. Please order it at Amazon (for only $4.99) by clicking on the photo:
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