Arizona went back to work early this year with practice opening up Monday evening and continuing with the theme for the last week or so Rich Rodriguez was in a good mood and was pleased with how things went on the first day back for team.
* I've mentioned previously on Twitter that this is the loosest/most relaxed I've seen Rodriguez in my time covering him and the team. He has been in a joking mood and hasn't really seemed irked by any of the questions coming his way. It has been different to see it from him. I'm not entirely sure what it means or how to take it, but Monday was another one of those days. He was pleased with how the defense performed and although the team wasn't in pads he thought the defense was more aggressive than it has been and it led to more tipped passes and interceptions. Normally in every other year when the defense has done well, even in an early-camp practice, he has not been happy because it means his offense has not done well - typically. Again, it's just different and a different feel for Rodriguez right now. Even his demeanor was toned down today. There was yelling, but that's football. He truly didn't go off on any players during the open portion, so we'll see how long this lasts and if what it all means and what it translates to for the team.
* One other thing that was able to be seen in the short open media periods was that the freshmen class looks the part in a lot of ways. I have seen a number of the players back when they were recruits, but I thought a lot of those same players looked better than when I last saw them meaning they put in some work in the weight room. Colin Schooler and Xavier Bell were two who stood out to me in terms of passing the eye test. Both look like college-ready players and it wouldn't be shocking to see both get some looks as early as this season. They look the way you expect Power Five college football players to look.
"I think all the freshmen look good, but the group of linebackers and safeties we have – and even corners – the freshmen safeties we have they're all like, 'that's what they're supposed to look like,'" Rodriguez said. "The freshmen linebackers we have are very active and athletic. ... There's a bunch of them that are gonna play early. There's probably about 20-some freshmen defensive players and I bet half of them play this year."
* Running back wise Arizona is stacked and we already knew that but the position is just loaded. Gary Brightwell is another one looks like he'll be able to do some things and he is one we didn't see in the spring. It is as deep as Arizona has ever had and with multiple players who can do different things. JJ Taylor thinks Brightwell has a chance to be special and is already impressed by the freshman. Throw in Nathan Tilford and the group is simply stacked there's no other way to really put it.
* The 30 minutes went by fast and I was mainly focused on offense during the team portion but some things that stuck out to me with the groups was that Cedric Peterson got to work with what is the very early "first" unit. It was Peterson at one outside spot with Shawn Poindexter at the other and Shun Brown in the slot and Trevor Wood at tight end. Cam Denson worked with the second unit that also featured TJ Johnson and Tony Ellison. Peterson is someone the staff has really always liked and he was essentially a starter at one point last year before being injured. He'll be one to track in the spring. Christian Boettcher is still working with the first unit at left guard and Cody Creason is at right tackle over Gerhard de Beer so not much different from the spring with Michael Eletise at left guard with the second unit. UA repped all the quarterbacks quite a bit giving the ones not named Brandon Dawkins or Khalil Tate turns running with the third unit.
* On the Dereck Boles watch, the junior college transfer and Boise State bounce back practiced with the team and at this point he is all but officially cleared to do whatever he can with the team. Rodriguez said he doesn't anticipate any issues getting him fully cleared so they are proceeding at this point with the defensive lineman as part of the team. He does have good size and he looks like the type of guy Arizona has been needing up front. We'll truly be able to tell when the pads go on, but it is a promising situation with him up front.
"He is practicing and he's been very active," Rodriguez said. "I think it's just a matter of getting final clearance, but we don't think there will be any issues."
* Chuck Cecil was out at practice today and taking things in. He's very limited in what he can do so there are no direct pointers he can give, but he was out there. In talking to some people there might be just a little more to why he was hired. Remember that a 10th assistant is likely to happen and be put into action at the start of next year (January 2018) and as of now there would not be a lot of shocked people around the program if that opening went to someone like Cecil who is now part of the staff.
* I've mentioned previously on Twitter that this is the loosest/most relaxed I've seen Rodriguez in my time covering him and the team. He has been in a joking mood and hasn't really seemed irked by any of the questions coming his way. It has been different to see it from him. I'm not entirely sure what it means or how to take it, but Monday was another one of those days. He was pleased with how the defense performed and although the team wasn't in pads he thought the defense was more aggressive than it has been and it led to more tipped passes and interceptions. Normally in every other year when the defense has done well, even in an early-camp practice, he has not been happy because it means his offense has not done well - typically. Again, it's just different and a different feel for Rodriguez right now. Even his demeanor was toned down today. There was yelling, but that's football. He truly didn't go off on any players during the open portion, so we'll see how long this lasts and if what it all means and what it translates to for the team.
* One other thing that was able to be seen in the short open media periods was that the freshmen class looks the part in a lot of ways. I have seen a number of the players back when they were recruits, but I thought a lot of those same players looked better than when I last saw them meaning they put in some work in the weight room. Colin Schooler and Xavier Bell were two who stood out to me in terms of passing the eye test. Both look like college-ready players and it wouldn't be shocking to see both get some looks as early as this season. They look the way you expect Power Five college football players to look.
"I think all the freshmen look good, but the group of linebackers and safeties we have – and even corners – the freshmen safeties we have they're all like, 'that's what they're supposed to look like,'" Rodriguez said. "The freshmen linebackers we have are very active and athletic. ... There's a bunch of them that are gonna play early. There's probably about 20-some freshmen defensive players and I bet half of them play this year."
* Running back wise Arizona is stacked and we already knew that but the position is just loaded. Gary Brightwell is another one looks like he'll be able to do some things and he is one we didn't see in the spring. It is as deep as Arizona has ever had and with multiple players who can do different things. JJ Taylor thinks Brightwell has a chance to be special and is already impressed by the freshman. Throw in Nathan Tilford and the group is simply stacked there's no other way to really put it.
* The 30 minutes went by fast and I was mainly focused on offense during the team portion but some things that stuck out to me with the groups was that Cedric Peterson got to work with what is the very early "first" unit. It was Peterson at one outside spot with Shawn Poindexter at the other and Shun Brown in the slot and Trevor Wood at tight end. Cam Denson worked with the second unit that also featured TJ Johnson and Tony Ellison. Peterson is someone the staff has really always liked and he was essentially a starter at one point last year before being injured. He'll be one to track in the spring. Christian Boettcher is still working with the first unit at left guard and Cody Creason is at right tackle over Gerhard de Beer so not much different from the spring with Michael Eletise at left guard with the second unit. UA repped all the quarterbacks quite a bit giving the ones not named Brandon Dawkins or Khalil Tate turns running with the third unit.
* On the Dereck Boles watch, the junior college transfer and Boise State bounce back practiced with the team and at this point he is all but officially cleared to do whatever he can with the team. Rodriguez said he doesn't anticipate any issues getting him fully cleared so they are proceeding at this point with the defensive lineman as part of the team. He does have good size and he looks like the type of guy Arizona has been needing up front. We'll truly be able to tell when the pads go on, but it is a promising situation with him up front.
"He is practicing and he's been very active," Rodriguez said. "I think it's just a matter of getting final clearance, but we don't think there will be any issues."
* Chuck Cecil was out at practice today and taking things in. He's very limited in what he can do so there are no direct pointers he can give, but he was out there. In talking to some people there might be just a little more to why he was hired. Remember that a 10th assistant is likely to happen and be put into action at the start of next year (January 2018) and as of now there would not be a lot of shocked people around the program if that opening went to someone like Cecil who is now part of the staff.
