Arizona will try to fine-tune its offensive performance coming off a season-opening home win over Hawaii when it faces Weber State on Saturday in Tucson, Ariz.
Arizona (1-0) defeated Hawaii 40-6 last Saturday behind a stout defense that did not allow a touchdown while recording five takeaways and five sacks (after having only 23 sacks all last season).
The offense, with new offensive coordinator Seth Doege working with quarterback Noah Fifita for the first time in a game, looked like a work in progress.
Arizona was 3 of 11 on third-down conversions, while Fifita had modest numbers, completing 13 of 23 passes for 161 yards with a touchdown and no interceptions. He also scored a touchdown on a 10-yard run.
“I think the simplest answer to (the inconsistent passing game) is that we need to just throw it to the right guy,” Arizona coach Brent Brennan said. “It’s the first game, kind of where Noah was scanning a little bit too much. He just needs to go directly where the ball is supposed to go.
“He’s such a great leader and so accountable, and he’s so willing to admit, like, yeah, I jumped that progression and I went to this other guy and I should have just fitted the ball right there.”
Fifita, playing without NFL first-round receiver Tetairoa McMillan for the first time since middle school, spread the ball to eight receivers, with Brandon Phelps (two catches, 50 yards) tallying the most yards.
Weber State (0-1) is coming off a 45-10 loss last Saturday at James Madison, getting outgained 458-148 by the Dukes.
“Way too many third-and-longs offensively,” said Weber State coach Mickey Mental, whose team was 3 of 14 on third down. “Thought we had some good spurts defensively, like taking two turnovers, but we’ve got to do more. We’ve got to go back and practice hard.”
Jackson Gilkey threw for 84 yards while completing 10 of 24 passes with three interceptions and a touchdown.
Weber State mustered only 64 yards on the ground, led by Zach Hrbacek’s 39 yards on 12 carries.
The lack of production with the running game is a concern since Arizona yielded only 67 rushing yards to Hawaii.
