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

Ryan Finley answered questions about UA football and this Saturday's game against Washington.

Hi everybody, and welcome to our weekly Arizona Wildcats football chat. Before we tune in to Oregon-Arizona State tonight, we'll chat a bit about the Wildcats' showdown with Washington. Both teams are 3-3 but struggling in conference play; whichever team wins will position themselves nicely for the second half of the season. Let's get started: I'll answer as many questions as I can in the next hour or so.

by Ryan Finley 10/18/2012 7:00:39 PM
This Ariz team is 3-3 and with a few good bounces and a couple of defensive stops, could be 5-1.
Is there any hope that RR at this point in the season can find a way to shore up a very vulnerable defense? Or will this team’s success be strictly predicated on the ability to win these massive shootout games such as what we saw in the 54-48 loss to Stanford?

by hotblondegurl_18 10/18/2012 7:01:02 PM
Great question — one that, I'm sure, Rich Rodriguez wishes he could answer. The Wildcats' defense is still woefully thin, players are dropping like flies, and reinforcements are about a year away. Defensive end Kyle Kelley, arguably the team's best true freshman, is committed to redshirting, and Rodriguez told me last week he won't mess with the scheme. So, basically, I think Arizona's going to have to rely on winning shootouts the rest of the way. Will their defense improve? It can't get that much worse, right? But I don't see the Wildcats winning unless they can score 30 or more points per game.

by Ryan Finley 10/18/2012 7:02:48 PM
You're not an NFL analyst, but put on your Mel Kiper Pants and tell me (if his career progresses as it has thus far) where Ka'Deem the Dreem can be drafted and what type of player he could be in the NFL. Neuheisel and others have said "he'll play on Sundays." Can he be more of an NFL player than, say, Jacquizz Rodgers, who's about as fast and strong (despite being a shrimp)?

by Tino Martinez 10/18/2012 7:02:50 PM
I think Ka'Deem Carey is one of the few players on Arizona's roster with a real NFL future (the others, IMHO, are tackles Mickey Baucus ad Fabbians Ebbele and maaaybe Shaq Richardson or Jonathan McKnight). Speaking of McKnight — see what I did there? — Carey reminds me an awful lot of Jonathan's older brother, Joe, a former USC standout who's now a backup with the Jets. Ka'Deem's big (enough), explosive and athletic; his pass-catching and blocking have been works in progress, but he continues to get better. And few players on the team seem to love/care about football more. If Ka'Deem can keep this up, he'll be a top-half-of-the-draft pick and a guy who can contribute — maybe not on every down, but enough to make some decent money in The League.

by Ryan Finley 10/18/2012 7:05:22 PM
How did Jake Fischer describe how his injured shoulder feeling at Monday's presser?

by Wildcat_Country 10/18/2012 7:05:44 PM
He didn't address it during the presser, so I asked him afterwards. Jake sorta shrugged. He's going to play.

by Ryan Finley 10/18/2012 7:06:58 PM
In UA's 3 wins, Matt Scott ran an average 14 carries, 62 yards. In their 3 losses averaged 5 carries, 11 yards...Which will it be for WU game? After bye-week, Will Scott 'run' in zone read option or not?

by Wildcat_Country 10/18/2012 7:07:01 PM
I think he'll run more this week, yes, but I doubt we'll see him carrying the ball as much in the second half of the season as he did in the first three games. Ka'Deem Carey's too good not to work the ball his way, and Scott's too valuable to expose to more bone-crunching.

by Ryan Finley 10/18/2012 7:07:56 PM
Does this team take a step back next year without Matt Scott? I do not see anyone on the roster half as good as Scott.

by CJ 10/18/2012 7:07:59 PM
In my opinion? Yes. Next season is when fans will see the growing pains that most teams have in the first year of new coaching staffs. Even if BJ Denker starts at quarterback — and that's a big if, I think, because of the talent coaches are going to try to bring in — the team will look (and play) much differently.

by Ryan Finley 10/18/2012 7:08:55 PM
What's the status of Tevis?

by Tad Tablet 10/18/2012 7:08:57 PM
Arizona will release its weekly injury report this afternoon. Tevis will likely be listed as questionable. I personally can't see him playing Saturday.

by Ryan Finley 10/18/2012 7:09:25 PM
RR & recruiting... how's the staff doing and when can we expect to see real progress with shoring up these depth issues and having BCS Championship type talent on the roster?

by Beat the Huskies 10/18/2012 7:09:27 PM
2, 3 years? Arizona's depth and talent problems weren't caused all at once, and won't be fixed all at once. (Gosh, now I sound like Rodriguez). This staff needs time to woo, sign and develop players. That usually takes a while.

by Ryan Finley 10/18/2012 7:10:28 PM
Will coaches work to land another QB recruit to replace Brandon Cox or do you think Brandon Golson (LB) was the replacement?

by Wildcat_Country 10/18/2012 7:10:31 PM
I think they want at least one more quarterback. Scott's numbers (and exposure) are allowing Arizona access to players who probably didn't even consider the UA a few months ago, and that's a good thing. Don't be surprised to see the Wildcats pursue more pass-first quarterbacks than pure runners. Scott's shown what QBs can do through the air in this system.

by Ryan Finley 10/18/2012 7:11:37 PM
If we lose this weekend, is it fair to root for USC the following week since they are in the BCS hunt, as opposed to the Cats being out of it? If Cats are out...go Pac 12!

by CJ 10/18/2012 7:11:40 PM
"Root" might be a bad term for it … I think USC will have enough people pulling for a win in Tucson.

by Ryan Finley 10/18/2012 7:12:27 PM
Isn't Washington as beat up as U of A? Against USC they seemed pretty stout on defense but couldn't move the ball with any consistency.

by Ed 10/18/2012 7:12:33 PM
They're as thin and inexperienced on offense as Arizona is on defense, with one caveat: The Huskies have a handful of stars (QB Keith Price, TE Austin Seferian-Jenkins)
that can sometimes hide their lack of depth.

by Ryan Finley 10/18/2012 7:13:20 PM
Do you give the Sundevils any chance at all tonite of knocking off the ducks, and I've been pondering do we actually want Oregon to lose and not play for the national championship?

by garyc1 10/18/2012 7:13:25 PM
I'd certainly like to see ASU make it a game, but I think Oregon wins, and big. Consider: ASU's first six opponents are a combined 6-17 this year; their strength of schedule through six weeks ranks 115th nationally. Arizona, by comparison, is 2nd.

by Ryan Finley 10/18/2012 7:14:55 PM
If Arizona where to win out the rest of its games what jobs would worry you about Richrod taking love him as a coach dont think he gets the fan support that he deserves hear. Oegon if chip Kelley leaves or Arkansas?

by JREED 10/18/2012 7:15:06 PM
I wouldn't worry about him going anywhere, at least not after Year 1.

by Ryan Finley 10/18/2012 7:15:22 PM
Part 1: If the UA wins Saturday, is it a guaranteed sellout vs. USC next weekend? Part 2: If the UA loses Saturday, how much grief will RichRod catch from irrational fans who (inevitably) declare this a subpar season?

by Mark Langston 10/18/2012 7:15:30 PM
1: I'd hope its a guarantee. Fans won't be able to complain about the start time, that's for sure. 2: I'm curious what the public reaction to a Washington loss would be. I'd like to think most fans would understand that this is a rebuilding/transition year, but fans can be funny.

by Ryan Finley 10/18/2012 7:16:40 PM
Hey Ryan, can tonight's game between ASU and Oregon be used as a measuring stick game to determine Arizona and ASU's relative progress?

by JohnV8r 10/18/2012 7:16:44 PM
Naw. Oregon's VERY good, and has made better teams look bad. I think we'll have a much better idea after 9 or 10 games; Arizona schedule gets easier, and the Devils' gets tougher.

by Ryan Finley 10/18/2012 7:17:29 PM
Behind the scenes question...Does media get advanced notice on which players will appear at Monday's pressers? Seems (IMO) media wants to balance theirs questions to everyone but struggles at times...

by Wildcat_Country 10/18/2012 7:17:32 PM
Nope. The UA decides in the morning, and there's no advance notice. Fortunately, most of the players they select are insightful/interesting. But there are days, sure, when I'd prefer to talk to someone else.

by Ryan Finley 10/18/2012 7:18:12 PM
Are there any prospects on the d line that have the potential to be play makers red-shirt, recruit, or someone not receiving a lot of playing time

by leejr928 10/18/2012 7:18:14 PM
Kyle Kelley can be a star, I think, but he's redshirting.

by Ryan Finley 10/18/2012 7:18:29 PM
Ive seen Matt Scott several times this year. Whats up with that? Does he have small hands?

by Luke 10/18/2012 7:18:33 PM
you mean, you've seen him fumble? I don't think its a hand-size issue. He rushes things sometimes, and the ball tends to squirt out. I think his last two fumbles on passes have come on fourth downs. Maybe he's rushing it.

by Ryan Finley 10/18/2012 7:19:09 PM
Any plans to do a story on the victory against Washington in 1992, which was when the Desert Swarm all began.

by Desiree Swarmm 10/18/2012 7:19:17 PM
Keep an eye on Greg Hansen in the next few days.

by Ryan Finley 10/18/2012 7:19:32 PM
I noticed we are deep at wide receiver is that a clear sign that Trey Griffey is a red shirt this season?

by Rey 10/18/2012 7:19:36 PM
Yes. Trey will definitely redshirt.

by Ryan Finley 10/18/2012 7:19:53 PM
Why haven't we heard much from Magee or Casteel this year? There's been very little media time with either of the coordinators. Is that normal for a Rich Rod staff?

by Bear Down 10/18/2012 7:20:00 PM
It's a personality thing. Magee is outgoing and very quotable, and — frankly — has more to brag on than Casteel. Casteel is quieter.

by Ryan Finley 10/18/2012 7:20:44 PM
First off--God speed to Chuck Osborne. That dude was awesome to watch and is gone far too soon. Are we looking at 2014 or beyond as when this team is going to be able to compete for the South? I just don't see much hope on the horizon.

by Toolman51 10/18/2012 7:20:46 PM
Agree on Chuck Osborne. Too soon. As for the second half of your question, i think 2-3 years is about right before fans can honestly expect Arizona to compete for its division. USC, UCLA and even ASU have all been looking pretty good of late.

by Ryan Finley 10/18/2012 7:21:47 PM
Worst case scenario...causing a 2 year set back for football program. ASU beats Oregon and Arizona loses to Washington. Could lose significantly on in-state recruiting

by Brad in Portland 10/18/2012 7:21:52 PM
Not sure I agree. Now, if ASU waxes Arizona in the rivalry game …

by Ryan Finley 10/18/2012 7:22:11 PM