Arizona Football: Kevin Sumlin faces major pressure in 2019

Offensive success hinges on Khalil Tate’s bounce-back

Quarterback Khalil Tate is unquestionably the biggest story on the offense. He’s had his ups and downs, but when he is on, he is an absolutely electric player. His 2018 season, the first with offensive coordinator Noel Mazzone, was one of his downs. Tate’s completion percentage dropped, and he did not run at the level he had in his first two seasons.

While Tate should be be a bit more liberal when it comes to leaving the pocket, he doesn’t have to carry this team on the ground. Running back JJ Taylor burst onto the scene in 2018, rushing for 1,434 yards and six touchdowns in his sophomore campaign. Tate and Taylor will form one of the most exciting backfields in the nation.

On the outside, a few new faces will have to emerge. The two leading receivers from last year, Shun Brown and Shawn Poindexter, have departed. Cedric Peterson is the most seasoned wideout, but he had only 18 receptions a season ago. It’s early, but freshman Boobie Curry is expected to become the next big thing.

The biggest hole for the offense is depth along the offensive line. The group features two seniors, along with sophomore tackle Donavan Laie, who showed promise in 2018. They’ll have to stay healthy, but if they can, they should be able to protect Tate and create running lanes for Taylor.