By Greg Hansen
ARIZONA DAILY STAR
Six weeks ago, on UA football media day, Mike Stoops said the question he was most asked in the off-season was about "the ineptitude of our offense." And why not? The UA finished No. 116 of 117 NCAA teams in scoring last season, and No. 112 in total offense. In an attempt to fix those numbers, receivers B.J. Vickers, Mike Jefferson and B.J. Dennard were considered the UA's most likely big-play receivers. Tailback Chris Henry appeared so talented that the Wildcat coaching staff could not keep him off the field. Instead, Vickers left school, mired in a mess connected to his junior college academic transcripts. Dennard has not caught a pass, and rarely has been on the field except to cover and return kicks. Jefferson has not been productive (one reception), and Henry, with three fumbles, has gained 33 net yards. To multiply a bad situation, the UA offensive line has been overpowered by Utah and Purdue, and intimidated at times by the Boilermakers. Yet somehow, through industrious coaching and the emergence of tight end Brad Wood and freshman receiver Michael Thomas, the Wildcat offense has jumped to 64th in NCAA scoring and 61st in total offense. The problem is defense. Arizona has allowed 366 yards per game, and the perceived leaders of that group, defensive backs Darrell Brooks, Lamon Means and Antoine Cason, have not matched their productive performances of 2004. Such is the 1999-2005 misfortune of UA football. Whatever can go wrong, does. This is a program with all the signs of another 3-8 season, culminating with a loss at Arizona State. If not, if the Wildcats can play .500 football and somehow finish 5-6, Stoops should be on many coach of the year ballots.
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