Arizona got a significant blow on the injury front this week, with Brent Brennan confirming that defensive back Daylen Austin is done for the season.
“I don't have any updates on Cole right now,” Brennan said. “Daylen Austin has a season-ending injury, which is really unfortunate.
He's a great kid. He's going to be a great player here, but he's got a little bit of a mountain to climb, so we're supporting him on that journey right now.”
Tight end Cole Rusk also left the Northern Illinois game with an undisclosed injury, but Brennan said there was nothing new to report on his status.
The Wildcats are also trying to clean up a run game that never found much traction against NIU. Brennan pointed directly at execution and missed assignments when he broke down what went wrong.
“I felt like some of that execution wasn't where it needs to be in terms of the run game, and some of that was just missed assignments,” Brennan said. “Cleaning that up is an absolute priority for us this week.
That's something that we have done a really good job of, and I felt like the week before we ran the ball, against a really good BYU team. That's something that we are aggressively attacking right now.”
One of the more interesting wrinkles from Saturday was Brandon Phelps getting work in the slot. Brennan said that kind of flexibility matters, especially when a receiver can handle different roles.
“If you want to put a good football player inside or outside, they can make it go,” Brennan said. “Some of the stuff we ask those guys to do is different, some of the play calls.
The one thing for me with receivers, just being an old receiver guy, is I don't want to have all the same type of body types at receiver. I don't want a bunch of speed and space guys.
I don't want a bunch of monsters. I want to be able to mix and match that.
BP is one of those kids that's a tough ass kid, and he can make plays and that's shown up the last couple weeks.”
There was also a positive development on defense, where Cam Chapa earned more snaps at safety because of injuries. Brennan said the freshman looked more comfortable and more forceful than he has at any point since arriving.
“I felt like watching him Saturday night was the most confident and physical I've seen him play since he's been here,” Brennan said. “Maybe that's just him settling in, him getting used to the speed of the game, him getting used to who he's playing against, or he's getting used to the scheme and being able to play.
“I think that's one of those things for players, you guys asked me last week about young players and them getting their chance, but when players get a new scheme and they learn know what to do and they really know it, to me that's when you see their talent show because they know what to do. They're no longer processing or thinking.
For Chapa, I think like all of a sudden it's like let's go, and he's he's confident playing fast. You saw him trigger.
You saw him play physicality. I was really excited for him.”
Looking ahead to Washington State, Brennan framed the challenge in plain terms: win the basics, and don’t give the game away.
“This is one of those games where I know the focus for us is just going to be heavy on what sounds basic, but turnover battle, tackling, special teams execution, and just penalty avoidance, avoiding those sins,” he said. “They hurt your chances to win in a tough environment on the road.”
And while Noah Fifita took too many hits for Arizona’s liking, Brennan said the responsibility doesn’t fall on just one unit.
“I think it's everybody,” Brennan said. “I think everybody has a piece of the execution, and obviously we don't want Noah Fifita getting hit at all if we can avoid it.
Protection is O-line, tight ends, backs. It's the receivers getting open on time.”
In Other News...
Arizona Fans Had Two Reasons To Be Furious During BYU Loss
Arizona fans already had plenty to digest as BYU hung around long enough to turn a tight game into a frustrating finish, and the mood only got worse as the Cougars pulled away late. Arizona carried a halftime lead into the break, but the second half belonged to BYU, which steadily took control and left the Wildcats staring at a loss they could feel slipping away before it was over.
The broadcast added its own distraction when Fox Sports analyst Robert Griffin III spent time on an odd anecdote about Bear Bachmeiers family traditions, a side note that quickly started making the rounds. Between the comeback on the field and the offbeat call from the booth, Arizona fans wound up with two separate reasons to be irritated on a night that was supposed to bring a different result. [Read more 🡒]
Arizona Faces A Real Test In The Matchups That Could Decide Saturday
Saturdays meeting with Washington State is shaping up as more than a standard Big 12 measuring stick for Arizona. The matchup carries familiar coaching threads and a clear tactical edge on both sides, with the Cougars adjusting their offensive line and the Wildcats bringing the kind of pressure-heavy defense that can force an offense out of rhythm. For Arizona, the question is whether that pressure can disrupt Washington State before the Cougars get comfortable attacking downfield.
The other side of the equation rests with Noah Fifita, who has enough experience to handle a tough road test but has also spent the last couple of weeks dealing with more frequent sacks and the aftermath of those hits. Washington State, under defensive coordinator Trent Bray, will try to make the quarterback think twice and limit the deep passing game that can change the feel of the night. If Arizonas protection holds up, the Wildcats can make this one about execution; if it does not, the game could hinge on a handful of snaps very quickly. [Read more 🡒]
Arizona Faces Three Washington State Threats That Could Decide Pullman
Brent Brennan knows the trip to Pullman can test a team in a hurry, and Arizonas third-year coach is preparing for a Washington State group that has found a few different ways to make life difficult. Brennan, who played and coached in the old Pac-12, is familiar with the challenge of handling a road game in that setting, where the details can tilt the night one way or the other.
What makes this matchup especially tricky is the variety Washington State brings into it. The Cougars have players who can affect the game at different spots, from Woods and Pinnick in the offensive mix to Thomas, whose recent burst on special teams has given him a bigger role in the return game. For Arizona, the issue is not just containing one threat but sorting through several, and Pullman has a way of rewarding the team that handles those moving parts best. [Read more 🡒]