A new week and a chance to get closer to the summer when plenty will take place as teams start to begin the turnover to the new year. This week summer schools is continuing and that has meant some more newcomers making their way to Tucson. Let’s not waste any time this week as we jump right into the latest edition of the War Room.
Football
Arizona is starting to get back on campus as the players begin to make their return to Tucson and the coaches come back from recruiting on the road. June will be an important month for the team as the new players already on campus get acclimated to college and begin the work for the summer in addition to camp season taking place for the program. On the field it will be a chance for the players to get better and begin that work that will show up when the Wildcats begin camp next month.
* As the new players start to arrive for the upcoming season we will wrap up our look at the team by each position group this week with a unit that is another one going through some changes at different spots. This group, however is going through less of them than others. We finish up by taking a look at Jim Michalczik’s offensive line group and one that is a bit thin coming into the season. It was a trying year for the Wildcats’ offensive line last season. There were injuries and the group as a whole had to get over the loss of a teammate at the start of August camp. Along with the emotional toll that took on the group and Michalczik there was the need to fill the spot left by Zach Hemmila along the starting unit at the center position.
As much as the team didn’t want to make excuses it did impact the offensive line on the field and relying on Nathan Eldridge probably a year before he was ready to step into the role full time came with its challenges. The center has a number of responsibilities and in just his second year in the program and first on the field there were growing pains for Eldridge at the center spot.
There were also some injuries and some inconsistent play at times that were other obstacles to go overcome for UA’s offensive line in the 2016 season. Still, the Wildcats had some bright moments and ended the season on a high note with a dominant performance up front to help the Wildcats knock off Arizona State by controlling the ground game. It gave the Wildcats something to build off of heading into the new year.
- What went well: There was progress with the group and it started with Eldridge and getting more comfortable in his role. The starting center job is his and that has brought a sense of confidence for the redshirt sophomore coming out of the spring and heading into the summer. Talking to Eldridge and others on the team there is a better comfortability there with him going into this season than there was when he was put into the spot last year. He has had growth in his own game and that has helped the entire starting unit. UA also was able to establish more of its starting group and rotation in the spring as things came more into focus. Jacob Alsadek, Layth Friekh, Cody Creason, Gerhard de Beer, Christian Boettcher, Alex Kosinski, Levi Walton and Michael Eletise will all be part of that group in some fashion once the season arrives as well and that gives UA some players who have time in the program and experience in many cases. The strength of Arizona’s offensive line continues to be what it does in run blocking situations and with a nice collection of running backs once again this season that will continue. UA continued to make progress in that area over the course of the spring.
- What needs work: Think of all the things that continued to improve for UA over the spring and think about the opposite for what still needs to improve still. UA was able to further establish its starting group and larger rotation, but behind that unit the Wildcats are woefully thin and didn’t even have enough linemen to have three full groups during spring ball. Some help will be coming this summer so that Arizona can at least have bodies, but if the injuries pile up this season things could get a bit dicey with some unproven players having to step more into the spotlight. That is one reason the offensive line is one area the Wildcats are looking to add numerous prospects in the current recruiting cycle. There have been some other additions the ‘Cats have been looking at but not much has materialized there as of yet.
In addition to truly not being able to add a ton of depth in the spring, UA still wasn’t where it needed to be from a pass protection standpoint when the media was allowed to watch practice. There were still moments where the Wildcats didn’t give the quarterbacks ample time to get rid of the ball and allowed defenders through. Take into account, also, that that came against a defense that is still figuring out how to improve its pass rush as well.
- More competition?: When it comes to true competition and players who could step in and help right away that isn’t coming as of now. UA has been looking at grad transfer options, but things have quieted down on that side for now. Edgar Burrola will come in as a blue shirt option for the Wildcats, but coming off an injury it will be some time before he’s ready and the Wildcats don’t like to rush young players along the offensive line. So for UA it is one position group that will have to work with what it has.
- Final word: When healthy the group Arizona has on board right now is capable of being a solid unit. The run blocking ability of Michalczik’s group is certainly the strength of it, but even with its in ability to always protect the quarterbacks there are still not a ton of sacks given up. The concern will come if the injuries pile up. The loss of Keenan Walker to junior college certainly adds to that because he could have been a talented player who stepped in to help should that happen. Now UA will have to rely on what it has and hope the injuries aren’t too significant. If the Wildcats can remain healthy there is certainly the potential to continue to improve and be a strength of the team in 2017.
* Arizona is back on campus with its coaches and newcomers getting to Tucson this week. The workouts are already getting going and the first wave of freshmen got in over the weekend. Jalen Harris, My-King Johnson and Kurtis Brown were some of the players who highlighted the first wave of newcomers. At this point Arizona is confident all the members of the class that signed will be able to make it to campus and will have no issues making it in. There is always the chance that one or two stragglers takes more time to get to campus or that just doesn’t make it in – or stay – but the staff feels good about this group in its entirety.
* A more minor note, but UA added some more punting help in the last few days as Highlands Ranch (Colo.) Thunderridge punter Cameron Braaten decided to attend the school and will be part of the Wildcats adding to the depth there and working to create some more competition. The 6-foot-1 prospect isn’t as polished a player as Lucas Havrisik who is coming in, but he has potential and should be a solid addition in time.
Football recruiting
It is an interesting time for Arizona as the month of June usually means satellite camps, but because of some rules changes there are a few more restrictions on how many the Wildcats can have and where they can have those camps. UA will stay a bit more local this month but that gives the staff a chance to have a few more visitors and continue with the progress in the cycle. UA also officially lost an incoming recruit for the incoming class in the last week and that presents a good time to look at defensive line recruiting as well with one more option sticking out for the 2017 class as a late addition.
* Arizona continues to move into camp season and it had its first camp of the month over the weekend hosting a seven-on-seven tournament that was won by Marana. Receiver commit Jaden Mitchell and fellow Desert Pines recruit Jyden King were on campus as was high three-star offensive lineman Joey Ramos from Deer Valley in Glendale. Scottsdale-Saguaro standout rising junior defensive back Brandon Shivers was on campus checking things out as well with his team that also includes UA offer Seth Robinson. UA will have its Polynesian camp this weekend and that will be a good chance for the Wildcats to continue to recruit those players and get them on campus.
Football
Arizona is starting to get back on campus as the players begin to make their return to Tucson and the coaches come back from recruiting on the road. June will be an important month for the team as the new players already on campus get acclimated to college and begin the work for the summer in addition to camp season taking place for the program. On the field it will be a chance for the players to get better and begin that work that will show up when the Wildcats begin camp next month.
* As the new players start to arrive for the upcoming season we will wrap up our look at the team by each position group this week with a unit that is another one going through some changes at different spots. This group, however is going through less of them than others. We finish up by taking a look at Jim Michalczik’s offensive line group and one that is a bit thin coming into the season. It was a trying year for the Wildcats’ offensive line last season. There were injuries and the group as a whole had to get over the loss of a teammate at the start of August camp. Along with the emotional toll that took on the group and Michalczik there was the need to fill the spot left by Zach Hemmila along the starting unit at the center position.
As much as the team didn’t want to make excuses it did impact the offensive line on the field and relying on Nathan Eldridge probably a year before he was ready to step into the role full time came with its challenges. The center has a number of responsibilities and in just his second year in the program and first on the field there were growing pains for Eldridge at the center spot.
There were also some injuries and some inconsistent play at times that were other obstacles to go overcome for UA’s offensive line in the 2016 season. Still, the Wildcats had some bright moments and ended the season on a high note with a dominant performance up front to help the Wildcats knock off Arizona State by controlling the ground game. It gave the Wildcats something to build off of heading into the new year.
- What went well: There was progress with the group and it started with Eldridge and getting more comfortable in his role. The starting center job is his and that has brought a sense of confidence for the redshirt sophomore coming out of the spring and heading into the summer. Talking to Eldridge and others on the team there is a better comfortability there with him going into this season than there was when he was put into the spot last year. He has had growth in his own game and that has helped the entire starting unit. UA also was able to establish more of its starting group and rotation in the spring as things came more into focus. Jacob Alsadek, Layth Friekh, Cody Creason, Gerhard de Beer, Christian Boettcher, Alex Kosinski, Levi Walton and Michael Eletise will all be part of that group in some fashion once the season arrives as well and that gives UA some players who have time in the program and experience in many cases. The strength of Arizona’s offensive line continues to be what it does in run blocking situations and with a nice collection of running backs once again this season that will continue. UA continued to make progress in that area over the course of the spring.
- What needs work: Think of all the things that continued to improve for UA over the spring and think about the opposite for what still needs to improve still. UA was able to further establish its starting group and larger rotation, but behind that unit the Wildcats are woefully thin and didn’t even have enough linemen to have three full groups during spring ball. Some help will be coming this summer so that Arizona can at least have bodies, but if the injuries pile up this season things could get a bit dicey with some unproven players having to step more into the spotlight. That is one reason the offensive line is one area the Wildcats are looking to add numerous prospects in the current recruiting cycle. There have been some other additions the ‘Cats have been looking at but not much has materialized there as of yet.
In addition to truly not being able to add a ton of depth in the spring, UA still wasn’t where it needed to be from a pass protection standpoint when the media was allowed to watch practice. There were still moments where the Wildcats didn’t give the quarterbacks ample time to get rid of the ball and allowed defenders through. Take into account, also, that that came against a defense that is still figuring out how to improve its pass rush as well.
- More competition?: When it comes to true competition and players who could step in and help right away that isn’t coming as of now. UA has been looking at grad transfer options, but things have quieted down on that side for now. Edgar Burrola will come in as a blue shirt option for the Wildcats, but coming off an injury it will be some time before he’s ready and the Wildcats don’t like to rush young players along the offensive line. So for UA it is one position group that will have to work with what it has.
- Final word: When healthy the group Arizona has on board right now is capable of being a solid unit. The run blocking ability of Michalczik’s group is certainly the strength of it, but even with its in ability to always protect the quarterbacks there are still not a ton of sacks given up. The concern will come if the injuries pile up. The loss of Keenan Walker to junior college certainly adds to that because he could have been a talented player who stepped in to help should that happen. Now UA will have to rely on what it has and hope the injuries aren’t too significant. If the Wildcats can remain healthy there is certainly the potential to continue to improve and be a strength of the team in 2017.
* Arizona is back on campus with its coaches and newcomers getting to Tucson this week. The workouts are already getting going and the first wave of freshmen got in over the weekend. Jalen Harris, My-King Johnson and Kurtis Brown were some of the players who highlighted the first wave of newcomers. At this point Arizona is confident all the members of the class that signed will be able to make it to campus and will have no issues making it in. There is always the chance that one or two stragglers takes more time to get to campus or that just doesn’t make it in – or stay – but the staff feels good about this group in its entirety.
* A more minor note, but UA added some more punting help in the last few days as Highlands Ranch (Colo.) Thunderridge punter Cameron Braaten decided to attend the school and will be part of the Wildcats adding to the depth there and working to create some more competition. The 6-foot-1 prospect isn’t as polished a player as Lucas Havrisik who is coming in, but he has potential and should be a solid addition in time.
Football recruiting
It is an interesting time for Arizona as the month of June usually means satellite camps, but because of some rules changes there are a few more restrictions on how many the Wildcats can have and where they can have those camps. UA will stay a bit more local this month but that gives the staff a chance to have a few more visitors and continue with the progress in the cycle. UA also officially lost an incoming recruit for the incoming class in the last week and that presents a good time to look at defensive line recruiting as well with one more option sticking out for the 2017 class as a late addition.
* Arizona continues to move into camp season and it had its first camp of the month over the weekend hosting a seven-on-seven tournament that was won by Marana. Receiver commit Jaden Mitchell and fellow Desert Pines recruit Jyden King were on campus as was high three-star offensive lineman Joey Ramos from Deer Valley in Glendale. Scottsdale-Saguaro standout rising junior defensive back Brandon Shivers was on campus checking things out as well with his team that also includes UA offer Seth Robinson. UA will have its Polynesian camp this weekend and that will be a good chance for the Wildcats to continue to recruit those players and get them on campus.
