Wildcat Notebook: Wildcats set sights on Pac-10 lead

Statistics can be deceiving, but one can’t help but take notice of one major numbers advantage in Arizona’s match-up with Stanford on Saturday.

Through five games, the Wildcat (4-1, 2-0 Pac-10) offense has averaged nearly 260 yards per game through the air — a number that would surely be higher if the squad hadn’t elected to run out the clock in blowout wins over Idaho and Toledo earlier this season.

Meanwhile, the Cardinal (3-3, 2-1) ranks 113th out of 120 Division 1 FBS teams in pass defense, giving up 273.8 yards an outing.

It doesn’t take a mathmetician to see that Stanford needs to tighten up its pass coverage when “Air Zona” and the spread offense comes to California this weekend.

Stanford defensive coordinator Ron Lynn said his unit is much more effective when it’s blitzing, but he counters by saying that isn’t always a smart way to attack Willie Tuitama and company.

“That’s the conundrum,” Lynn said. “Arizona is really difficult to blitz because Willie gets rid of the ball so quickly. He understands he has a lot of weapons and he uses them well.”

Stanford’s greatest weapon against the pass might actually be on the other side of the ball.

Bruising tailback Toby Gerhart is among the Pac-10 leaders in rushing with 525 yards. If he can get rolling, he might shift the time of possession battle into Stanford’s favor, which would keep Arizona’s potent offense off the field.

At times this year, the Wildcat defense has been susceptible to the run — especially against the power attack. Case in point: Rodney Ferguson’s 158-yard performance in New Mexico’s 36-28 win on Sept. 13.

“Gerhart is a very physical presence,” Arizona head coach Mike Stoops said. “He’s going to run downhill at you. He’s not going to make many moves to try to make you miss, but he is a very hard-nosed runner.”

If Arizona’s defense finds a way to corral Gerhart, it will be up to quarterback Tavita Pritchard and big-play wideout Doug Baldwin to move the ball against the nation’s top-ranked pass defense. Arizona opponents are averaging a meager 118 passing yards per game.

On the flipside, the Wildcats will look to get Mike Thomas, Terrell Turner, Delashaun Dean and Rob Gronkowski involved early and often.

Gronkowski enjoyed a breakout game this past Saturday, hauling in three touchdown receptions in Arizona’s 48-14 win over Washington. The bruising sophomore missed the first three games of the season, shook off the rust against UCLA and used the bye week to get himself back into game shape.

“Robbie’s number in pure catches might be down, but his productivity is way up,” Stoops said. “He adds so many new dimensions to our offense.”

Lynn took his praises of Gronkowski a step further, going as far to compare him to future Hall-of-Famer Tony Gonzalez.

“I don’t know if Rob is an impossible match-up, but he’s as close as you can get,” Lynn said. “He’s such a big son-of-a-gun who runs so fast. It’s going to be a real challenge.”

His presence has opened up new running lanes for Nic Grigsby, giving the Wildcats that balance that Stoops and his coaching staff covet.

In order to keep that offensive success going, Stoops said his squad needs to come prepared not only physically, but mentally. Head coach Jim Harbaugh — who just became a father again early Tuesday morning — has a reputation of masking his defensive formations and confusing opposing offenses.

Throughout much of Stanford’s season-opening win over eventual USC-slayers Oregon State, his defense gave the Beavers’ offensive unit fits.

“It’s as much mental as physical when you play Stanford,” Stoops said.

Last season, that mental side let the Wildcats down in a crushing 21-20 home loss that sent UA to 2-6 on the season and effectively ended the squad’s bowl hopes.

Penalties and costly turnovers helped Stanford come away with the win.

Last year’s squad featured an opportunistic, turnover-creating defense. Lynn said if Stanford hopes to come away with the victory, it will need to do a much better job in the turnover battle and hope to recapture some of that 2007 magic.

“We talk about it on a daily basis,” Lynn said. “When we lose the turnover battle, it makes it that much harder to win.”

Arizona is looking to come out of this weekend with its spot at the top of the Pac-10 standings in tact, continuing the squad’s best start since 2000.

What has changed for the Wildcats, who have struggled so mightily the past few years?

“I sleep a lot easier at night because of how our players do things,” Stoops said. “It’s much more enjoyable. They’ve done everything we’ve asked of them on and off the field. There isn’t much more you can hope for as a coach.”

Saturday’s kickoff is scheduled for 2 p.m.

nprevenas@gvnews.com | 547-9747

Details

Arizona (4-1, 2-0) at Stanford (3-3, 2-1)

Where: Stanford Stadium, Stanford, Calif.

When: 2 p.m.

Radio: 1290-AM, 107.5-FM, 990-AM (Spanish).

TV: None.