Road woes continue for Wildcats

Mike Stoops has repeatedly said this is the most athletic team he’s assembled during his six-year tenure at Arizona. However, it takes a little more than raw athleticism to beat a tough on the road.

Since Stoops took over the Wildcats in 2004, his teams are 8-17 in true road games, including yesterday’s 27-17 loss at Iowa. Other than the neutral-site win over BYU at last season’s Las Vegas Bowl, Stoops’ Wildcats have yet to travel into a non-Pac-10 stadium and leave that town with a win.

Perhaps expectations were blown a bit out of proportion for yesterday’s game. Between what was sure to be an emtional return to his alma mater (even if Stoops did deny any possible trips down “nostalgia boulevard”) and the two dominant wins to open the season, many Wildcat fans felt this might be the game that finally lands the team some national legitimacy.

However, a closer look showed that little could be learned about this year’s team from a pair of comfortable victories over a decent-if-not-athletic Central Michigan and a not-nearly-athletic-enough-to-compte-with-the-Wildcats Northern Arizona.

Any statistics compiled in those two contests were practically useless to help predict Arizona’s performance against one of the Big Ten’s most physical, well-coached defenses.

Aside from an electric 58-yard run early in the game, Nic Grigsby failed to live up to his billing as the nation’s No. 2 rusher. Iowa swallowed up nearly everything Arizona tried to run.

For most of the game, Arizona’s defense was up to the challenge — particularly Trevin Wade, who scored Arizona’s first touchdown and made it a nightmare for Iowa quarterback Ricky Stanzi to look anywhere in his direction.

But any defense will run out of steam if it’s forced to spend nearly 38 minutes on the field against a bruising offensive line such as Iowa’s. The Wildcats managed only eight first downs and had an impossible time sustaining a drive when the game was still within reach.

Matt Scott showed flashes of what might make him an excellent Pac-10 signal-caller (particularly that 27-yard designed quarterback draw in the first quarter), but the sophomore was clearly not up to the task of quieting nearly 75,000 rowdy Iowans. Four completed passes for 50 yards and one dreadful interception simply won’t get it done.

Stoops went to back-up Nick Foles early in the fourth quarter, hoping the strong-armed Michigan State transfer could spark something. He did lead the team to its only offensive touchdown of the afternoon (capped by an outstanding Juron Criner reception), but it was too little, too late.

However, Foles did play well enough — especially in contrast to Scott’s shaky outing — to potentially open up a quarterback battle that appeared to be settled.

Of course, the Wildcats have much bigger problems to worry about now, with the recent announcement that tight end Rob Gronkowski is expected to miss the entire 2009 season with his lingering back injuries. He’s one of the conference’s most devastating offensive weapons, and there is no way for the Wildcats to replace what he brings to the table.

Arizona will have a chance to reverse those road woes when it heads to Corvallis, Ore., to take on the always-tough Oregon State Beavers. Things don’t get any easier after the Oct. 3 bye week when the Cats head to Seattle to square off against the giant-killers from Washington (who took down mighty USC 16-13 yesterday).

Unless Cal happens to run the slate (which is exceedingly possible), the Pac-10 is wide open this year. If Arizona can snag a game or two away from Tucson, it can be in the mix for a solid bowl game.

It’s just vital for this team to not let this three-game road swing destroy its momentum.

nprevenas@gvnews.com | 547-9747