Sorry for the delay, had a little issue with some of the audio I was going to use but here are today's practice notes as the Wildcats wrapped up their time to meet with the media Wednesday. It was a light practice today for Arizona with one more to go Thursday, which will be just a light walk-through before Friday night's game.
Lets get right into today's notes.
* It's been a different kind of vibe around the team this week and it really came out today talking with some of the players. Rich Rodriguez has been in a bit more focused, non-BS type of mood and the players reflected that this week for the most part. Everyone involved knows how meaningful this game is. Finton Connolly brought up the 3-9 a few times today and JB Brown did a good job of getting the mood of the team across today as well.
"As soon as the UTEP gam was over on the bus ride we were talking about Pac-12 play," he said. "So, this is a big deal to us because we were placed last in the Pac-12 this year. We want to come out and make a statement from kickoff."
* I told you about Cam Denson being in a yellow jersey and not looking very good just walking with that foot injury, well today he was back in a boot and right now it's just not looking good. I would, of course, not expect him to play Friday night but beyond that is looking like there will be some decisions to make with him. Meanwhile, DeAndre' Miller was able to do more this week but it still feels like he is another week away from being able to truly be himself after his foot surgery. Since there is a bye week coming up it will be interesting to see what Rodriguez does because he's probably good enough to play Friday night but I don't know how effective he will be. Arizona opted to play Nick Wilson as soon as he was able to give even close to his normal effort but it might be a better option to just wait out the next couple weeks and hold off on playing Miller until game against Colorado.
* I brought up the sack numbers yesterday and the numbers are not good when compared to the rest of the conference, but Rodriguez said it's not just about looking at those stats when it comes to evaluating how the group up front is doing. He's hasn't seen the full progress he wanted to see so far, but he also hasn't been disappointed with what the unit has shown either.
"It's been OK," he said. "I don't know that we've gotten pressure without blitzing but that's part of our deal anyway. We're more athletic, because of injuries, than we've been in the past but we're still working on it.
"... I think everybody judges based on sacks or whatever it is, tackles for loss. Some of those great players are going to get those numbers, but sometimes you can be a really good player and maybe not have the numbers because you're getting double-teamed or what have you."
Connolly remains confident those numbers will improve as the defense comes together during conference play.
"Yeah we don't have many sacks but we're always improving," he said. "We'll get there. We got the guys to do it, so I'm confident in the guys we have here on the d-line. ... Those guys work hard everyday so I know we'll get our sacks in."
* Rodriguez said that K'Hari Lane and Andrew Tovar have been the scout team quarterbacks this week acting as Utah's Tyler Huntley, but the UA head coach also said the team has gone good-on-good meaning the defense was worked against Brandon Dawkins this week as well. That's an interesting development that was going on during camp and I wasn't sure if it would continue into the season. Arizona has traditionally under Rodriguez not liked to have the 1s go against the 1s to prevent injury and keep everyone fresh. This year has been different and it will be interesting to see how much it helps over the course of the year. Arizona's third stringers are not going to challenge the starters on either side of the ball like the first groups do and that can only help from a practice perspective as long as everyone stays healthy.
* For Arizona there has been a recipe to the wins this season and for Rodriguez he said it comes down to the "old standard keys" for Friday's game against Utah.
"From an execution standpoint in all three phases if they're gonna beat you at least make them beat you with you not making mental mistakes," he said. "Then turnovers, it's not just about creating turnovers but we've been good about taking care of the ball. We're gonna have to tackle really well. I think that's one of the keys in this game particularly with a mobile quarterback we're gonna have to tackle well and keep contain."
Lets get right into today's notes.
* It's been a different kind of vibe around the team this week and it really came out today talking with some of the players. Rich Rodriguez has been in a bit more focused, non-BS type of mood and the players reflected that this week for the most part. Everyone involved knows how meaningful this game is. Finton Connolly brought up the 3-9 a few times today and JB Brown did a good job of getting the mood of the team across today as well.
"As soon as the UTEP gam was over on the bus ride we were talking about Pac-12 play," he said. "So, this is a big deal to us because we were placed last in the Pac-12 this year. We want to come out and make a statement from kickoff."
* I told you about Cam Denson being in a yellow jersey and not looking very good just walking with that foot injury, well today he was back in a boot and right now it's just not looking good. I would, of course, not expect him to play Friday night but beyond that is looking like there will be some decisions to make with him. Meanwhile, DeAndre' Miller was able to do more this week but it still feels like he is another week away from being able to truly be himself after his foot surgery. Since there is a bye week coming up it will be interesting to see what Rodriguez does because he's probably good enough to play Friday night but I don't know how effective he will be. Arizona opted to play Nick Wilson as soon as he was able to give even close to his normal effort but it might be a better option to just wait out the next couple weeks and hold off on playing Miller until game against Colorado.
* I brought up the sack numbers yesterday and the numbers are not good when compared to the rest of the conference, but Rodriguez said it's not just about looking at those stats when it comes to evaluating how the group up front is doing. He's hasn't seen the full progress he wanted to see so far, but he also hasn't been disappointed with what the unit has shown either.
"It's been OK," he said. "I don't know that we've gotten pressure without blitzing but that's part of our deal anyway. We're more athletic, because of injuries, than we've been in the past but we're still working on it.
"... I think everybody judges based on sacks or whatever it is, tackles for loss. Some of those great players are going to get those numbers, but sometimes you can be a really good player and maybe not have the numbers because you're getting double-teamed or what have you."
Connolly remains confident those numbers will improve as the defense comes together during conference play.
"Yeah we don't have many sacks but we're always improving," he said. "We'll get there. We got the guys to do it, so I'm confident in the guys we have here on the d-line. ... Those guys work hard everyday so I know we'll get our sacks in."
* Rodriguez said that K'Hari Lane and Andrew Tovar have been the scout team quarterbacks this week acting as Utah's Tyler Huntley, but the UA head coach also said the team has gone good-on-good meaning the defense was worked against Brandon Dawkins this week as well. That's an interesting development that was going on during camp and I wasn't sure if it would continue into the season. Arizona has traditionally under Rodriguez not liked to have the 1s go against the 1s to prevent injury and keep everyone fresh. This year has been different and it will be interesting to see how much it helps over the course of the year. Arizona's third stringers are not going to challenge the starters on either side of the ball like the first groups do and that can only help from a practice perspective as long as everyone stays healthy.
* For Arizona there has been a recipe to the wins this season and for Rodriguez he said it comes down to the "old standard keys" for Friday's game against Utah.
"From an execution standpoint in all three phases if they're gonna beat you at least make them beat you with you not making mental mistakes," he said. "Then turnovers, it's not just about creating turnovers but we've been good about taking care of the ball. We're gonna have to tackle really well. I think that's one of the keys in this game particularly with a mobile quarterback we're gonna have to tackle well and keep contain."
