Open Court: The Gronk effect

Momentum is a fickle feeling.

It will shift its alliances without so much as a warning. Once you think you’ve tracked it down, it will reverse its course just as quickly.

The Arizona Wildcats thought they had more momentum than they knew what to do with after clobbering their first two opponents 111-16. Of course, Idaho and Toledo are among the weakest starting opponents to any Pac-10 team’s 2008 schedule.

Those two mammoth, yet challenge-free wins led to some misguided cockiness going into New Mexico, where a desperate-for-a-win Lobos team eagerly knocked the Wildcats in the teeth.

Yesterday’s game at UCLA would tell Wildcat fans everything they needed to know about this team. Would the humbling loss at New Mexico destroy all that positive momentum the squad had built through the first two games?

In past years, it would have. This year is a different story.

Unlike previous Mike Stoops-led squads, the 2008 version of the Arizona Wildcats managed to stay focused and put a hurting on UCLA.

Rob Gronkowski’s return from strep throat and mononucleosis added the expected jolt of energy. Without Gronk for the first three games, the Wildcats didn’t have that deadly target stretching the middle of the field.

Gronkowski may have hauled in only three receptions, but two of those went for touchdowns. His first, a lovely 22-yard corner route where Willie Tuitama put just the right touch on the ball, fired up the UA sidelines more than perhaps any play so far this season.

His second TD came on a four-yard slant route where he simply bulled an overmatched defender.

If Gronkowski isn’t the most dangerous tight end in football, he’s on a short list. With defenses now needing to game-plan for him, a player like Mike Thomas can really reap the rewards.

He collected 117 yards through the air yesterday, and made an even bigger impact on special teams. He was a constant threat to run one back as UCLA’s inexperienced unit had little hope of slowing him down.

Before fans get too carried away, the Wildcats must remain humble. This wasn’t a perfect win. UCLA picked up 123 yards of total rushing, compared to nine last week at BYU and 29 against Tennessee. Bruin ball carriers consistently wiggled free of Arizona defenders.

Coupled with the Lobos’ Rodney Ferguson’s performance last week, the run defense is now officially a red flag.

It didn’t hurt the Wildcats yesterday, but against teams like California, Oregon and especially USC, it will be a much different stoy.

Next week, the Wildcats host Washington. Will momentum still be on their side, or will Jake Locker and his crew wrestle it away?

nprevenas@gvnews.com | 547-9747