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Transcript: Live Q&A chat with Ryan Finley on UA football

Ryan Finley answered questions on UA football and this Saturday's game against UCLA. See what others asked and said.

Hi everybody, and welcome to the latest in our weekly series of Arizona Wildcats football chats. The UA is coming off its most unexpected win of the season, a 39-36 upset of No. 10 USC last weekend. There's plenty to chat about: Matt Scott's health, Arizona's new national ranking and the Wildcats' chances of upsetting UCLA — and getting bowl eligible — on Saturday. Fire away; I'll try to answer as many questions as I can in the next hour.

by Ryan Finley 11/1/2012 7:01:46 PM
I mean, this feel-good ride has to end sometime, right? Please tell me the reasons why that might NOT happen on a beautiful night in Pasadena?

by Chase Headley Lamarr 11/1/2012 7:02:05 PM
Arizona has a quarterback, a scheme and a chance. And — for what it's worth — UCLA has arguably the worst home-field advantage in the conference. If Arizona can stick to the same formula it used to beat Okie State and SC — score, force turnovers and make stops — it can win. in fact, I think the Wildcats will.

by Ryan Finley 11/1/2012 7:03:54 PM
Did Shabaz ever get cleared to play at UCLA? if not why are they ranked so high?

by Linda 11/1/2012 7:03:57 PM
Right teams, wrong sport. (But no, he hasn't been cleared by the NCAA yet.)

by Ryan Finley 11/1/2012 7:04:14 PM
In view of the terrible "targeting" hitl that Matt Scott took in the fourth quarter, what's the likely hood of enacting tougher penalties (ie. ejection from the game) for such blatant hits.

by Patrick 11/1/2012 7:04:18 PM
Nothing immediate: Any rules change would have to start at the NCAA level. Unfortunately, cheap shots are often a down-side of running a quarterback so much.

by Ryan Finley 11/1/2012 7:05:01 PM
UCLA has a slightly better record than we do. What has their strength of schedule been so far and is that part of the reason?

by GarySmyth 11/1/2012 7:05:07 PM
UCLA's first eight opponents are a combined 25-27, giving the Bruins the 70th-toughest — based on results — schedule in the country. Arizona's opponents are 36-8, the highest opponent winning percentage of any team in the country. Strength of schedule is a bit different, and more prone to interpretation: Jeff Sagarin has Arizona in his top-10 in SOS.

by Ryan Finley 11/1/2012 7:07:21 PM
After this game against USC I am curious your take was Michigan at a lower starting point rebuilding than Arizona or is the PAC 12 weaker than the Big Ten?

by JREED 11/1/2012 7:07:24 PM
I'd say both. Part of Rodriguez's undoing at Michigan, I think, was that fans were unwilling to accept that the program had fallen so far under Lloyd Carr. Also, the Big 10 five years ago and the Pac-12 now are VERY different leagues, especially up front.

by Ryan Finley 11/1/2012 7:08:16 PM
RichRod hinted this week changes could come in "kicking game" in effort to get more production. Do you expect change(s) on returners this weekend?

by Wildcat_Country 11/1/2012 7:08:19 PM
Unsure — he said that a few weeks ago, too, and then nothing happened. Arizona's KOR and PR teams have struggled this year, though Richard Morrison's punt return for a TD against Washington was nice to see.

by Ryan Finley 11/1/2012 7:08:52 PM
Ryan: Can you google search one of those two-point conversion charts and send it over to coach rodrigues? and be sure to tell him a team doesnt need to go for two before it absolutely has to in the fourth quarter. How can such a veteran coach go for two in the third quarter like he did last week? Then he went for it again when we were up FOUR POINTS in the fourth quarter. Both decisions could have cost us big time if USC kicked a field goal to tie. Should have been a 41-36 game instead if the coach wasnt giving points away.

by Jon Kerry 11/1/2012 7:09:00 PM
I agree to a point. I think Rodriguez liked their odds of getting 3 yards, given the way they moved the ball and how gassed USC was. It was a risk that, while probably worth taking, blew up in his face a bit.

by Ryan Finley 11/1/2012 7:09:42 PM
I don't know if it was just me but I thought USC took alot of cheap shots. Somebody needs to instill some discipline in them because their Coach sure doesn't.

by garyc1 11/1/2012 7:09:46 PM
It wasn't even the helmet-to-helmet stuff; it was the penalties. USC continues to be the nation's most-flagged teams. That starts at the top, and Lane Kiffin isn't winning too many friends or admirers in Los Angeles.

by Ryan Finley 11/1/2012 7:10:42 PM
There were reports that RichRod mentioned "Rose Bowl" to his players after USC game. True? Did not see covered by local media. ESPN mentioned

by Wildcat_Country 11/1/2012 7:10:50 PM
Never heard that, and he still has never mentioned it. Rodriguez wouldn't touch my questions about a "special season" or "doing big things" with a 10-foot clown pole. I think the Rose Bowl becomes a less-ludicrous question if Arizona can beat UCLA.

by Ryan Finley 11/1/2012 7:12:25 PM
Who's the better back? Carey or Franklin?

by Ed 11/1/2012 7:12:27 PM
Apples and oranges given their schemes and sizes. Both will play in the NFL. If I had to pick one this very second, I'd say Carey. He's younger and, I think, more explosive.

by Ryan Finley 11/1/2012 7:12:56 PM
Kentucky, Arkansas, Tennessee. Does Richrod have any intrest in these jobs because they will be open?

by JREED 11/1/2012 7:13:09 PM
Doubt it. But don't be surprised if Sonny Dykes ends up on Kentucky's short list. He was an assistant there under Hal Mumme, and seemed to have really enjoyed his time there.

by Ryan Finley 11/1/2012 7:13:58 PM
How do we match up on paper with UCLA?

by Kyle 11/1/2012 7:14:00 PM
I think, on paper, the teams are about even. The oddsmakers' edge would probably go to UCLA, playing at home and having a slight edge on defense, but you never know.

by Ryan Finley 11/1/2012 7:14:37 PM
Ryan - I'm hoping to make my December plans a month early. Tell us where UofA will be playing come bowl season...and a likely opponent or two...

by Eric (Scottsdale) 11/1/2012 7:14:40 PM
Good question. Allow me to dream: Holiday Bowl, San Diego, against West Virginia. Rich Rod versus his alma mater. Bill Bedenbaugh vs. the offensive line he helped recruit. Matt Scott against Geno Smith. It'd be the most exciting non-BCS game on the schedule. Who's with me?

by Ryan Finley 11/1/2012 7:15:38 PM
All I've heard is how athletic UCLA's defense is. Does this help them against a spread-option like UA runs?

by Kyle 11/1/2012 7:15:40 PM
Sure, athleticism helps when it comes to stopping spread teams. But USC, Stanford and Oregon State are FAR more athletic than the Bruins, and the struggled. As bad as Arizona's offense has been, its allowing just 72 more yards per game than UCLA. And that's while playing a much tougher schedule.

by Ryan Finley 11/1/2012 7:16:49 PM
Ryan: Do you plan to publicly confess your sin of predicting a Wildcat loss last week? I've heard confession is good for the soul.

by The Rev. Jimmy Swaggart 11/1/2012 7:16:51 PM
ABSOLUTELY. I thought USC would win — who didn't? — and was pretty surprised to see the Wildcats step up, and the Trojans implode, in the second half. It's going to be an interesting final four games, for sure.

by Ryan Finley 11/1/2012 7:17:38 PM
I also like Arizona versus Oklahoma in the Alamo Bowl, with the Cats shredding Mike Stoop's defense.

by garyc1 11/1/2012 7:17:41 PM
WOW. Talk about a storyline. Sooners may be too good for Alamo, tho.

by Ryan Finley 11/1/2012 7:17:58 PM
Hey Ryan, what do you think of Arizona winning the Pac 12 South, and having to play Oregon, in the deciding game, on who will go to the rose bowl?

by sjoephil 11/1/2012 7:18:01 PM
I've been asked this question 50 times this week, and my simple answer is that: It's complicated. If Oregon beats USC this weekend, and the Ducks and Wildcats both win out and play each other in the Pac-12 title game, Oregon could punch ticket to BCS with win, while Wildcats could go to Rose Bowl by pulling a road upset. Arizona could MAYYYYBE sneak into Pasadena by winning out and then losing the Pac-12 title game, but they'd have to be ranked in the top-15 in the BCS to do it. Would going 4-1 down the stretch boost the Cats from 22nd to 15th? Unsure.

by Ryan Finley 11/1/2012 7:19:44 PM
If the QB concussion "controversy" happened during Rodriguez's time at Michigan, would it have been a bigger national talking point? Also, has there been any official word that Matt Scott was concussed? If not, boo Forbes guy!

by vaughnwibbles 11/1/2012 7:19:49 PM
Yes. Everything that happens at Michigan is big news. There has been no word on whether Scott was concussed or not, but from everything I've heard/seen, Scott appeared dazed on sidelines but was NOT concussed. I'll reserve judgment on the series of Forbes stories.

by Ryan Finley 11/1/2012 7:21:03 PM
Do you know what game worries me. Utah. I can see the scenario where Arizona squeaks by UCLA, then hammers Colorado, only to play flat against Utah. The reason I know I'm right is a hundred years of history of Arizona football folding in one late season game that would have let them in the Rose Bowl.

by El Mouldo 11/1/2012 7:21:05 PM
You're reading my mind. Utah's the toughest challenge left on Arizona's schedule, ESPECIALLY if the teams end up playing at night, in SLC, in late-November. The cold — and Utes DT Star Lotuleilei, the conference's most underrated player — could be a difference-maker.

by Ryan Finley 11/1/2012 7:22:01 PM
Anyway of Michigan sneaking into Rosebowl and U of A sneaking into Rose bowl there is a storyline!!!

by JREED 11/1/2012 7:22:06 PM
Doubt it.

by Ryan Finley 11/1/2012 7:22:25 PM
Given RichRod's extra practice issues @ Michigan. I dont think he'd endanger his own reputation, much less Matt Scott. What do you think?

by Don 11/1/2012 7:22:26 PM
I think that it would have taken a MASSIVE conspiracy on all levels, from the players to the trainers to the team docs to the coaches to the AD, to pull off a lie about whether Scott was concussed. Scott's story checks out, and I like to think I'm tuned in to detect BS.

by Ryan Finley 11/1/2012 7:23:29 PM
With all the local talk about Scott being overlooked for Heisman attention, how about Ka'deem? Will he strike the pose before leaving Tucson for the league?

by Jake T. 11/1/2012 7:23:32 PM
It'd take a special performance and a special team for Carey to be even considered for the award. Look at Matt Scott and Geno Smith, two quarterbacks who put up massive numbers but won't win the award because of their defenses. This is all-too-often a best player on the best team trophy; unless Arizona can climb into someone's top-10 this season or next, it's not happening.

by Ryan Finley 11/1/2012 7:24:55 PM

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Transcript: Live Q&A chat with Ryan Finley on UA football

Ryan Finley answered questions on UA football and this Saturday's game against UCLA. See what others asked and said.

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Transcript: Live Q&A chat with Ryan Finley on UA football

Ryan Finley answered questions on UA football and this Saturday's game against UCLA. See what others asked and said.

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