by Sports Network

From The Sports Network

By Brian Mason, College Football Staff Writer

2003 SEASON IN REVIEW: It was another losing season for the Wildcats in 2003, going just 2-10 overall and only 1-7 in Pac-10 play. Arizona has not posted a winning season since 1998 and is on its third coach in the last six years. Last year the offense played nearly as bad as the defense for the Wildcats, who ranked near the bottom of Division I in almost every statistical category. Arizona ranked 87th rushing the ball (123.8 ypg) and 90th passing it (183.7 ypg), while also finishing 84th in rush defense (180.8 ypg) and 112th out of 117 teams in terms of pass defense (279.3 ypg). The Wildcats started their 2003 campaign with an impressive 42-7 victory over UTEP on August 30th, but proceeded to lose their next eight games. The team's only other win didn't come until November 11th when Arizona registered a 27-22 decision against Washington at home.

2004 ANALYSIS:

OFFENSE: Arizona returns nine starters on offense this season and should post much more respectable numbers this year because of that experience. Sophomore Kris Heavner was one of the many quarterbacks that received playing time for Arizona last season and should beat out the more athletic Nic Costa for the starting nod. Heavner had a terrible ratio last season (8 TD, 15 INT), but should get better under the direction of new head coach Mike Stoops. If Heavner falters at any point, Costa is more than capable to step into the starting role. Junior Mike Bell comes in as the unquestionable starter at tailback for the first time in his career and should surpass his 920 rushing yards and six touchdowns from a year ago. Junior Biren Ealy led the Wildcats last season in receiving with 42 catches for 577 yards and four touchdowns. Ealy will be joined by senior Ricky Williams (36 catches, 15.6 ypc) in the receiving corps, as well as speedy sophomore Mike Jefferson (16 catches, 214 yards).

DEFENSE: This defensive unit will take on the persona of its head coach this season, attacking early and often. Stoops has eight athletic starters returning on defense, including star defensive end Marcus Smith. Having started last season at linebacker, Smith found playing the end much more rewarding. He finished the year with 40 tackles and four sacks, earning him honorable mention All-Pac 10 honors. Defensive tackle Carlos Williams should also be solid on the line for Arizona, as he looks to improve on his 30-tackle 2003 season. The Wildcats will begin the year with extremely raw but athletic starters at linebacker. Middle linebacker and junior college transfer, Randy Sims. should be the star of the unit. Sims has the speed and size to excel both on the outside and the inside, which fits perfect into Stoops attacking style of defensive play. Strong safety Lamon Means finished fourth on the team with 66 tackles last year and is quickly becoming noticed as one of the hardest hitting DBs in the Pac-10.

SPECIAL TEAMS: Nick Folk split time as the team's kicker last season, but he likely gets the full-time gig this year. Folk missed all three of his field goal attempts in 2003 and is not considered a reliable weapon for the Wildcats at all. Danny Baugher will again be the team's punter, coming off of a season in which he averaged 42.6 yards per punt and landed 14 kicks inside the 20.

OUTLOOK: The Wildcats open up their schedule with four games at home, but three of those four teams are likely to put wins on the board against Arizona (Utah, Wisconsin, and Washington State). Stoops should begin to instill a winning attitude back into a squad that has been lifeless for half a decade, but it will not happen over night. A couple of upsets would not be out of the question for these Wildcats, but it is highly unlikely. Uncertainty at quarterback and in the secondary make this team likely to finish near the bottom of the Pac-10 standings once again. With only four wins (4-20) in conference play since 2001, Arizona can only get better and with former head coach John Mackovic finally out the door and Stoops in his place, that is almost a lock.