Inside the Pac, Part VI

Inside the Pac--a look at the Arizona Wildcats for 2002
Will Mackovic's team finish "best-dressed" in the league?
By: Malamute, 26 July 2002

Photo of John Mackovic courtesy of Arizona Daily Wildcat

They say that clothes make the man. Okay, I'll buy that. But do threads make the coach? Although Arizona's head coach John Mackovic is the best-dressed guy in the league, a favorable schedule this season could make him more appealing to fans than his haberdasher will.

Four of his first five games are at home, and two bye-weeks are sandwiched inside his 12-game schedule--sans Troy and its dapper coach Pete Carroll. He gets Mike Price (WSU), Bob Toledo (UCLA) and Mike Bellotti (UO) at home, all contenders for the best-dressed coach in the league.

Editor's note: Bob Toledo, a candidate for best-dressed in the league? Give me a break, Mal. Rewrite the second paragraph!

Seriously, what could go wrong for the 'Cats?

Nothing that good coaching can't correct. Arizona finished ninth in the conference in two critical categories last season, allowing 34.2 points per game while giving up 32 turnovers. To be successful this season, the 'Cats need to turn those stats around.

They are led by senior quarterback Jason Johnson, who, last season, finished sixth in the conference in passing average, throwing for 213 yards per game. His touchdown to interception ratio was a respectable 19:13, and he finished sixth in pass efficiency. He's backed up by redshirt freshman Nic Costa and true freshman Ryan O'Hara. Quarterbacks John Rattay (7 games, 353 yards passing in 2001) and Cliff Watkins have transferred to other schools. Costa went 7-17 in the spring game, posting 65 yards and an interception.

This upcoming season, Johnson will be throwing to explosive WR Bobby Wade, who, last season, hauled in 62 passes for an average of 80 yards per game, good enough for sixth in the conference.

Mercurial running back Clarence Farmer--four scores of 65 yards or more last season--gives the 'Cats a breakaway threat. Last season, he was credited with 1224 total yards rushing, the best in the league, and averaged 112 rushing yards per game, finishing second in that category behind DeShaun Foster (UCLA). He is backed up by Mike Bell and Gainus Scott, who will give the 'Cats a solid rotation at running back. Doing yeoman duty, Scott ran for 71 yards on 21 carries in the spring game, while Bell garnered 53 yards on 12 carries. Mackovic likes both of them.

And they'll get some blocking up front.

Senior tackles Makoa Freitas (6-4, 301) and Darren Safranek (6-7, 280) bookend an experienced offensive line, and center Keoki Fraser (6-2, 292) returns. Although, the Wildcats lose two senior guards, they have two guards returning who played in a combined 9 games last season: Reggie Sampay (6-3, 273) and Keoki Fraser (6-2, 293).

Defensively, Arizona looses three men up front, DE Alex Luna, NT Anthony Thomas and DE Johnny Jackson. None of them were among the Pac-10 leaders in individual statistics; Arizona finished 6th in the league in rushing defense. Although Mackovic recruited three outstanding big men up front, it is unlikely they can contribute right away.

Mike Briggs (6-1, 230) spearheads a strong line backing corps, buttressed by Ray Wells (6-1, 224), Joe Siofele (6-2, 252), and Kirk Johnson (6-0, 203). All three playing in 11 games last season, Briggs had 93 tackles, Johnson had 33, and Wells had 45. Sidelined in several games, Siofele played in 8 games and had 21 tackles.

Michael Jolivette (11 games, 33 tackles, 5 interceptions) returns as cornerback, and Jarvie Worcester (6-1, 204), second in team tackles (70), returns at free safety.

Mackovic brings back Larry Mac Duff, 53, as defensive coordinator. Before going to the New York Giants, Mac Duff orchestrated the double-eagle flex defense for the Wildcats in the early nineties, and his 1993 Desert Swarm led the nation in rushing defense.

All things considered, we give the Arizona 35 power points, which is 5 points less than Washington, our current leader. Who cares, you might ask? I do; I mean, I engineered the damn thing. :) (See Table 8 below).

Table 1. On the upside

Upside Item	Comment
A favorable overall schedule	Four of 'Zona's first five games are at home. Two bye-weeks are sandwiched inside its 12-game schedule.
A favorable Pac-10 schedule against contenders for title	Does not play USC. Gets UCLA, Oregon and WSU at home.
Seven offensive players return, including three on the offensive line.	Last season, Arizona finished fifth in total offense (Pac-10).
Senior quarterback Jason Johnson returns	In nine of the last ten years, a senior qb has led his team to either the Rose Bowl game or to the Pac-10 title.
Durable, breakaway RB Clarence Farmer returns.	An All-Pac-10 selection, Farmer finished second in rushing behind DeShaun Foster of UCLA. He accounted for 65% of the 'Cats carries.
Mike Bell and Gainus Scott will backup Farmer.	And most capably, according to Mackovic.
WR Bobby Wade returns	He was second in the league in receptions per game.
Mackovic is in his second year as a coach in the Pac.	He has a history of second year turnarounds at Illinois, Wake Forest and Kansas City. He went 10-2 at Illinois after a 6-5-1 first season.
Arizona is the only team in the Pac-10 to return a 2000 yard passer and a 1000 yard rusher.	Jason Johnson and Clarence farmer both return.
Larry Mac Duff returns as defensive coordinator	Under his care, the Wildcats led the nation in rushing defense in 1993 (30.1 yards per game).
Head coach John Mackovic is the best dressed gent in the league. :)	That's according to Lotti Bull, our Pac-10 gossip columnist.

Table 2. On the downside

Downside Item	Comment
Must play the Huskies on the road	Winning a battle in Seattle is never easy, according to the 'Canes.
Not much of a home-field advantage against Pac-10 opponents.	The 'Cats have lost seven straight games in the Pac-10 at home.
Finished ninth in the conference in points allowed and ninth in turnovers.	The 'Cats gave up 34 points per game and coughed up the ball 32 times in 2001.
Finished tenth in time of possession last season	Coming off a 5-6 season, the 'Cats must control the ball.
In an average of 11 defensive categories, Arizona finished eighth in the league.	What ever happened to the Desert Swarm and the double eagle flex defense?
Rame Peru was last in punting average.	He needs to improve on his average of 37.9 yards per punt.
History is not on its side.	Arizona is the only Pac-10 team never to have appeared in the Rose Bowl game.

Table 3. Returnees on offense

Player	Pos.	Eligible Yr	Ht.	Wt.
Makoa Freitas	LT	Sr.	6-4	301
Keoki Fraser	C	So.	6-2	293
Daren Safranek	RT	Sr.	6-7	280
Justin Levasseur	RT	Sr.	6-5	245
Bobby Wade	WR	Sr.	5-11	180
Jason Johnson	QB	Sr.	6-2	210
Clarence Farmer	RB	Jr.	6-0	224

Table 4. Returnees on defense

Player	Pos.	Eligible Yr	Ht.	Wt.
Young Thompson	DT	Sr.	6-2	293
Joe Siofele	OLB	Jr.	6-2	252
Lance Briggs	ILB	Sr.	6-1	230
Ray Wells	ILB	Sr.	6-1	224
Michael Jolivette	CB	Jr.	5-9	175
Jarvie Worcester	FS	Jr.	6-1	204

Table 5. How key 'Cat returnees did in the Pac-10 in 2001

Player	Category	Pac	Stat
Clarence Farmer	Rushing	2	111.7 y/g
Jason Johnson	Passing	7	213.4 y/g
Jason Johnson	Total Off.	7	205.1 y/g
Bobby Wade	Receptions	2	5.64 p/g
Bobby Wade	Receiving	6	80.2 y/g
Bobby Wade	All Purp.	6	110 y/g
M. Jolivette	Intercept.	3	.45 p/g
Jason Johnson	Pass. Eff.	6	135.2
Bobby Wade	Punt Ret.	4	10.4 y/g
Gary Love	Kick Ret.	6	25.7 y/g
Rame Peru	Punting	10	37.9 y/g
Clarence Farmer	Scoring Td	3	6.0 pts/g
Sean Keel	Scoring kick	7	5.8 pts/g
Sean Keel	Field Goals	9	.82 fg/g
Sean Keel	F/G percent.	5	64.3%
Sean Keel	PAT Kicking	8	92.5%
Lance Briggs	Tackles	6	8.5 p/g
J. Worcester	Tackles	19	6.4 p/g
M. Jolivette	Tackles	39	4.8 p/g
Lance Briggs	Sacks	6	.64 p/g
Lance Briggs	Tackles loss	7	1.23 p/g
Lance Briggs	Fumbles forcd	7	2
M. Jolivette	Passes Def.	2	20

Table 6. 'Cats' Offensive Statistics in Pac-10, 2001

Category	Finish
Scoring Offense	5th
Pass Offense	5th
Turnover Margin	7th
Rushing Offense	5th
Total Offense	5th
Pass Efficiency	6th
First Downs	5th
Fourth-down conversions	10th
Red Zone Offense	7th
Third-down conversions	3rd
Sacks Against	6th
Time of Possession	10th
Average Finish	6.2

Table 7. 'Cats' Defensive Statistics in Pac-10, 2001

Statistic	Finish
Scoring Defense	9th
Pass Defense	6th
Rushing Defense	6th
Total Defense	7th
Pass Efficiency Defense	7th
Opponent first downs	9th
Sacks By	2nd
Opponent 4th down conversions	4th
Red Zone Defense	8th
Opponent 3rd down conversions	8th
Sacks Against	6th
Average Finish	7.1

Table 8. Arizona's 2002 Power Point Ranking is 35, good enough for fifth place in the Pac-10. (Points range from minus 3 to plus 5, relative to other Pac-10 teams).

Area	UW	WSU	UCLA	USC	OSU	UA	UO	Cal	SU	ASU
Coaching	5	5	4	3	4	3	5	1	1	2
Home field	4	2	4	2	3	2	5	1	3	3
QB's	5	5	4	5	4	5	4	5	4	3
Road Killers	-1	-1	-1	-1	-1	-1	-1	-1	-2	-1
Return Off.	5	5	3	5	4	5	2	4	4	2
Return Def	3	3	3	3	5	4	4	5	2	5
2001 Offense	4	5	3	3	4	4	5	2	5	4
2001 Defense	3	5	5	5	4	3	3	1	4	2
2001 Top 25	5	3	4	3	2	4	2	6	4	3
Punting	4	3	5	3	4	3	3	4	3	3
Field Goals	3	4	4	5	3	3	2	4	3	3
Total	40	39	38	36	36	35	34	32	31	29

Coaching--New head coaches gets 1 in this league. After that it's based on won/lost record (or tenure) relative to other coaches in the league. As dean of Pac-10 head coaches, Mike Price (WSU) automatically gets 5 points.

Road Killers--Playing at either UCLA, Oregon or Washington is considered a road killer. Rivalry games played at their joints are not. Reser Stadium (OSU) is fast approaching road killer status.

Quarterbacks--Seniors get 5 points; however, he has to have a capable backup--otherwise, it's 4.

Top 25--The number of top 25 teams (according to the last USA/Coaches Poll) played during the regular season. This helps normalize the 2001 offensive/defensive rankings, e.g., the hammering Washington took at number one Miami skewed its 2001 stats downward.

Home-field Advantage--Based on its last five-seasons at home against Pac-10 opposition.

Returning offense/defense; 2001 offense/defense--Compared to other Pac-10 teams

Punting Field Goal Kicking--Relative to other returning kickers in this league based on last season's stats.

Table 9. The Wildcats' 2002 Schedule

Date	Opponent
August 29	Northern Arizona
September 14	Utah
September 21	At Wisconsin
September 28	North Texas
October 5	Oregon
October 12	At Washington
October 19	at Stanford
October 26	Washington State
November 2	at Oregon State
November 9	UCLA
November 16	at California
November 29	ASU