Because things are moving quickly with Arizona football and another practice is taking place Monday morning this week’s War Room will be a bit more streamlined hitting on various topics as things continue to develop with the Wildcats into the rest of the summer. It’s a busy time so let’s get right into this week’s War Room.
Football
Arizona of course began its road to the season opener against BYU last week with now three practices under the Wildcats’ belts heading into the start of the first full week of practice. Things changed a bit Sunday afternoon as UA’s staff decided to move things to the morning after practicing in the evenings for the first few days. It will be a busy week for the ‘Cats with a trip to Fort Huachuca set for next weekend to cap it all off before the next day off on Sunday.
* Things have been tightened up in terms of what can officially be reported this year during camp so it is making it a bit tougher to relay the information from camp to you. However, there are still some things the media is allowed to report on and after a few days of practice - including a look at one full practice on the first day - here is a breakdown of where things stand with each unit heading into the first full week of action this month. In addition to briefly breaking down each group we will give you an under-the-radar prospect of each unit to keep an eye on as well.
- Quarterbacks: Arizona continues to split reps with its two leaders at the quarterback position as Anu Solomon and Brandon Dawkins will likely end up being the QB1 and QB2 on the depth chart. That is nothing new, but things continue to move forward with that battle. Dawkins has really learned what separates him and gives him the best chance to earn the starting spot and he was certainly using his legs during the open practice on Thursday. The redshirt sophomore knows that is where he can make his impact with UA’s staff and it has been an element of his game that has been on display so far in camp.
Who to watch: In this case there is not an under-the-radar type to watch so the focus will continue to be on Solomon and Dawkins for the time being.
- Running backs: It felt like the running back spot was the strongest position on the offensive side of the ball during Thursday’s open practice. The one-two punch of Nick Wilson and Orlando Bradford continues to look like it will be a potent one once the season arrives. Both players look more explosive than I can remember them being at the same time and for Wilson he looks healthy which is a key. There is still the job of finding a third and potentially fourth back to go with the group to give the staff some more confidence about the unit and it will be interesting to see where it goes from here. Interestingly enough one player who has quietly made some progress is redshirt junior Zach Green. He has looked better so far through the first few days and he is looking like he will finally get his shot to get on the field in a bigger capacity. Branden Leon will also have his shot as well the rest of this month.
Who to watch: Zach Green
- Receivers/Tight ends: Rich Rodriguez said at the end of the week what has become apparent through the first few days of camp. The receiver position might not be quite as deep as it once looked like it would be. There will be a chance for some players to make a move up the depth chart as things move along, because while there is some talent there at the receiver spots there is still some work to do to bring it all together. Trey Griffey continues to look like the playmaker on the outside that Arizona hoped he could be and Thursday he made some nice plays. b is still finding himself a little bit now back on the offensive side of the ball. Shun Brown put together a nice first few days of camp and DeVaughn Cooper has moved himself a little more into the mix as a freshman.
Of the newcomers it has been Shawn Poindexter who has made a quick impact and at this point it will be surprising if he’s not on the field in a fairly significant role on the outside.
At tight end is the usual story as Josh Kern and Trevor Wood have both looked solid to start things off. Wood is again healthy and while the real determination on how hard he can go will come this week when pads go on so far so good with him.
Who to watch: Cedric Peterson
- Offensive line: Much like we have discussed recently the talent on Arizona’s roster along the offensive line is there it’s just that it is probably still a year away from being able to make an impact. The group is a bit younger and that means unless Arizona wants to go against what it usually likes to do the Wildcats are going to need some players to step things up. The staff would prefer to stick with some of the older players along the offensive line and that is why Rodriguez said over the weekend that he is a bit concerned the team might not have that eight-man rotation that it likes to have. Meaning there could be a chance for some young players to make a move. Nathan Eldridge is one of the players who could end up in that unit though there is still some progress he needs to make. Freddie Tagaloa has put together a solid start to camp, but the big question mark remains how his battle with Christian Boettcher will go for the left guard spot. Rodriguez clearly does not want anything to be handed to either player so it is a battle that could go late into camp.
Who to watch: Christian Boettcher
- Defensive line: Arizona’s defensive line is not going to be a strength this year, but it is not quite as dire as it looks on paper. One big reason for that is coming from an unlikely place as walk-on defensive end Justin Belknap has really turned things on again carrying his momentum from the spring. Rodriguez said he feels the redshirt freshman could end up helping the team this year and from what we have seen so far that would not be surprising at all and at this point it even seems likely. That is not necessarily good news for the state of the group as a whole, but it is a positive for a unit that needs them. As much as outsiders like to point to Parker Zellers size he has been effective in practice situations again and he is going to have to be a big part of things for the line to have some success.
Who to watch: Justin Belknap
- Linebackers: Arizona is actually a bit deeper than originally thought at the linebacker position and with Paul Magloire sticking there through the first week of camp it certainly keeps another nice piece with the group. The mix at linebacker is an interesting one, but one that fits well for what the staff is trying to do. Cody Ippolito brings the leadership while Magloire brings the boom. Meanwhile, DeAndre’ Miller is bringing the flash as he continues to look like he will be a star in his role this year. There is still some figuring out to do with the rest of the group, but there is some talent there for Marcel Yates to work with.
Who to watch: Michael Barton
- Safeties: Arizona’s safety group is going to have to be a strength for this defense to have success. It can’t be a weak link because there are some other spots where there won’t be much room for error. The good news is Arizona has some of its better players on the entire defense at those safety spots with the additions of Tellas Jones and what feels like a now permanent move for Jarvis McCall. Combine that with some younger players like Anthony Mariscal and of course Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles and you have a unit that can do some damage if it continues to progress this month and especially during the season.
Who to watch: Isaiah Hayes
- Cornerbacks: One of those groups mentioned above that isn’t going to have much room for error .. well the cornerback unit would fall into that category. DaVonte’ Neal and Dane Cruikshank have looked good so far through three days, but the names behind them might not be as familiar come the season opener. Arizona is not playing any favorites during camp and that has benefitted players like Malcolm Holland and Devin Holiday so far. Jace Whittaker did some nice things during the first practice and even though he is a freshman Lorenzo Burns is one to keep an eye on in more of a long-range sense.
Who to watch: Malcolm Holland
- Kickers/Punters: Arizona’s special teams unit is going to be interesting this season. Right now Josh Pollack is making plenty of noise, but the staff would prefer not to have one player doing both jobs as we have mentioned before. The issue right now is that the other players in the mix just aren’t quite showing what they need to. It could mean a search for anybody else who can kick à la Casey Skowron before the season arrives just to give Pollack some more competition.
* Tellas Jones has joined the team with no limitations for camp after being held out of spring ball while dealing with some off-the-field issues. There are still some aspects of that situation being dealt with internally, but Jones will be on the field for the Wildcats this season. His skill set is one that can help out the defense and he figures to be a big piece of what UA does this year. The redshirt senior spoke with the media last week and you can listen to that media session below.
* We brought you a newcomers video last week and today we have a look at the linemen and quarterbacks exclusively for the message boards.
Football
Arizona of course began its road to the season opener against BYU last week with now three practices under the Wildcats’ belts heading into the start of the first full week of practice. Things changed a bit Sunday afternoon as UA’s staff decided to move things to the morning after practicing in the evenings for the first few days. It will be a busy week for the ‘Cats with a trip to Fort Huachuca set for next weekend to cap it all off before the next day off on Sunday.
* Things have been tightened up in terms of what can officially be reported this year during camp so it is making it a bit tougher to relay the information from camp to you. However, there are still some things the media is allowed to report on and after a few days of practice - including a look at one full practice on the first day - here is a breakdown of where things stand with each unit heading into the first full week of action this month. In addition to briefly breaking down each group we will give you an under-the-radar prospect of each unit to keep an eye on as well.
- Quarterbacks: Arizona continues to split reps with its two leaders at the quarterback position as Anu Solomon and Brandon Dawkins will likely end up being the QB1 and QB2 on the depth chart. That is nothing new, but things continue to move forward with that battle. Dawkins has really learned what separates him and gives him the best chance to earn the starting spot and he was certainly using his legs during the open practice on Thursday. The redshirt sophomore knows that is where he can make his impact with UA’s staff and it has been an element of his game that has been on display so far in camp.
Who to watch: In this case there is not an under-the-radar type to watch so the focus will continue to be on Solomon and Dawkins for the time being.
- Running backs: It felt like the running back spot was the strongest position on the offensive side of the ball during Thursday’s open practice. The one-two punch of Nick Wilson and Orlando Bradford continues to look like it will be a potent one once the season arrives. Both players look more explosive than I can remember them being at the same time and for Wilson he looks healthy which is a key. There is still the job of finding a third and potentially fourth back to go with the group to give the staff some more confidence about the unit and it will be interesting to see where it goes from here. Interestingly enough one player who has quietly made some progress is redshirt junior Zach Green. He has looked better so far through the first few days and he is looking like he will finally get his shot to get on the field in a bigger capacity. Branden Leon will also have his shot as well the rest of this month.
Who to watch: Zach Green
- Receivers/Tight ends: Rich Rodriguez said at the end of the week what has become apparent through the first few days of camp. The receiver position might not be quite as deep as it once looked like it would be. There will be a chance for some players to make a move up the depth chart as things move along, because while there is some talent there at the receiver spots there is still some work to do to bring it all together. Trey Griffey continues to look like the playmaker on the outside that Arizona hoped he could be and Thursday he made some nice plays. b is still finding himself a little bit now back on the offensive side of the ball. Shun Brown put together a nice first few days of camp and DeVaughn Cooper has moved himself a little more into the mix as a freshman.
Of the newcomers it has been Shawn Poindexter who has made a quick impact and at this point it will be surprising if he’s not on the field in a fairly significant role on the outside.
At tight end is the usual story as Josh Kern and Trevor Wood have both looked solid to start things off. Wood is again healthy and while the real determination on how hard he can go will come this week when pads go on so far so good with him.
Who to watch: Cedric Peterson
- Offensive line: Much like we have discussed recently the talent on Arizona’s roster along the offensive line is there it’s just that it is probably still a year away from being able to make an impact. The group is a bit younger and that means unless Arizona wants to go against what it usually likes to do the Wildcats are going to need some players to step things up. The staff would prefer to stick with some of the older players along the offensive line and that is why Rodriguez said over the weekend that he is a bit concerned the team might not have that eight-man rotation that it likes to have. Meaning there could be a chance for some young players to make a move. Nathan Eldridge is one of the players who could end up in that unit though there is still some progress he needs to make. Freddie Tagaloa has put together a solid start to camp, but the big question mark remains how his battle with Christian Boettcher will go for the left guard spot. Rodriguez clearly does not want anything to be handed to either player so it is a battle that could go late into camp.
Who to watch: Christian Boettcher
- Defensive line: Arizona’s defensive line is not going to be a strength this year, but it is not quite as dire as it looks on paper. One big reason for that is coming from an unlikely place as walk-on defensive end Justin Belknap has really turned things on again carrying his momentum from the spring. Rodriguez said he feels the redshirt freshman could end up helping the team this year and from what we have seen so far that would not be surprising at all and at this point it even seems likely. That is not necessarily good news for the state of the group as a whole, but it is a positive for a unit that needs them. As much as outsiders like to point to Parker Zellers size he has been effective in practice situations again and he is going to have to be a big part of things for the line to have some success.
Who to watch: Justin Belknap
- Linebackers: Arizona is actually a bit deeper than originally thought at the linebacker position and with Paul Magloire sticking there through the first week of camp it certainly keeps another nice piece with the group. The mix at linebacker is an interesting one, but one that fits well for what the staff is trying to do. Cody Ippolito brings the leadership while Magloire brings the boom. Meanwhile, DeAndre’ Miller is bringing the flash as he continues to look like he will be a star in his role this year. There is still some figuring out to do with the rest of the group, but there is some talent there for Marcel Yates to work with.
Who to watch: Michael Barton
- Safeties: Arizona’s safety group is going to have to be a strength for this defense to have success. It can’t be a weak link because there are some other spots where there won’t be much room for error. The good news is Arizona has some of its better players on the entire defense at those safety spots with the additions of Tellas Jones and what feels like a now permanent move for Jarvis McCall. Combine that with some younger players like Anthony Mariscal and of course Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles and you have a unit that can do some damage if it continues to progress this month and especially during the season.
Who to watch: Isaiah Hayes
- Cornerbacks: One of those groups mentioned above that isn’t going to have much room for error .. well the cornerback unit would fall into that category. DaVonte’ Neal and Dane Cruikshank have looked good so far through three days, but the names behind them might not be as familiar come the season opener. Arizona is not playing any favorites during camp and that has benefitted players like Malcolm Holland and Devin Holiday so far. Jace Whittaker did some nice things during the first practice and even though he is a freshman Lorenzo Burns is one to keep an eye on in more of a long-range sense.
Who to watch: Malcolm Holland
- Kickers/Punters: Arizona’s special teams unit is going to be interesting this season. Right now Josh Pollack is making plenty of noise, but the staff would prefer not to have one player doing both jobs as we have mentioned before. The issue right now is that the other players in the mix just aren’t quite showing what they need to. It could mean a search for anybody else who can kick à la Casey Skowron before the season arrives just to give Pollack some more competition.
* Tellas Jones has joined the team with no limitations for camp after being held out of spring ball while dealing with some off-the-field issues. There are still some aspects of that situation being dealt with internally, but Jones will be on the field for the Wildcats this season. His skill set is one that can help out the defense and he figures to be a big piece of what UA does this year. The redshirt senior spoke with the media last week and you can listen to that media session below.
* We brought you a newcomers video last week and today we have a look at the linemen and quarterbacks exclusively for the message boards.
