Many compare Arizona’s spread offense to Oregon’s. They are both run-first-type offenses with talented backs. Arizona’s Ka’Deem Carey will present the biggest challenge for the Ducks. He is a powerful, strong and fast running back. Carey, a Tucson, Ariz., native, has already rushed for over 1300 yards and 12 touchdowns.
But the Ducks can’t focus too much on Carey because the Wildcats, like the Ducks, have a quarterback that can run with success in B.J. Denker.
“He is good on his feet and, at the same time, running, so he likes to scatter around a lot and that is one thing we should prepare for,” senior defensive tackle Ricky Havili-Heimuli said after Wednesday’s practice.
Denker has thrown for just one more touchdown (12 total) than he’s ran for, a combination of a successful ground attack and a moderate throwing performance. His 11 rushing touchdowns have come with over 700 yards on the ground this season. In his first full season, the senior quarterback hasn’t shown the success that former quarterback Matt Scott had just last year.
“I think Matt Scott is little bit further along in that type of system (at this point last season),” head coach Mark Helfrich said. ”He’s played in that system since probably junior high school.”
Though Denker has struggled in the Arizona system, Helfrich thinks he has shown a lot of improvement since the early weeks of the season.
“He is just getting better and better and looks a ton more confident in the system,” Helfrich said.
However, the Arizona offense is likely to rely on running back Ka’Deem Carey as they have all year. Averaging over 150 yards per game, Carey has been dominant.
“He’s versatile, he’s tough, he’s powerful,” Helfrich said. ”He’s shifty, he’s a complete back that grabs your attention. So hopefully that will just ramp up our need to gang tackle, to wrap and even more so, just do your job.”
Helfrich expects there to be a lot of energy this upcoming Saturday. With the combination of hosting a No. 5-ranked team, senior day, being at home and trying to respond after being shutout by Oregon last year, the Arizona Wildcats don’t need much more motivation to beat the Ducks.
“They’ll be fired up and dialed up,” Helfrich said. “Senior day playing against our guys and coming off a shutout (last year against Oregon), you always want to redeem yourself.”
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