Arizona will get back to work on Tuesday but Monday was its chance to chat with the media for a bit. Rich Rodriguez was a different kind of mood than he was last week coming off a tough loss to UW on Saturday night.
Here are a few of the notable topics discussed Monday.
* The first was of course the injuries and in a more subtle way Rodriguez said some of Arizona's injuries are going to take longer to heal. Throw into that JJ Taylor who Rodriguez said today is "more than likely" done for the season with his broken ankle.
* All the injuries to the running backs are going to impact the offense not only in the short term but for the rest of the season. Arizona had been working in putting in a two-back set and it wanted to expand on it once Wilson and Taylor were able to be in the backfield together. It was actually going to be a big part of the offense.
Arizona will not be doing that any longer. In general the staff is going to have to dial back the playbook this weekend and moving forward to make up for the lack of experience at the running back spot now.
* Shawn Poindexter had a nice start for Arizona on Saturday, but he too got hurt and that is why the 'Cats had to go away from him later in the game. Obviously a big body would have helped late when Arizona was trying to put it in the end zone.
* If it wasn't clear before the way Rodriguez was talking (of course he's never truly going to say) the QB job belongs to Brandon Dawkins now. The UA head coach said he doesn't want to put too much on Dawkins' plate heading into Saturday's game with the inexperienced pieces he'll have around him. That means this week the 'Cats are going back to basics in a way and will focus on running the things they know how to run well.
* At this point the discussions are ongoing about who will move over to help the running backs right now. The indications at least early this week are that Nick Wilson will not be ready to go, and that means moving at least another player from a different position in addition to what UA has at running back right now. Rodriguez said Branden Leon is "ready to play some" now so he will add to it. Right now Arizona is mostly looking at receiver when it comes to moving a player over in addition to Tyrell Johnson who will also continue working there.
Here are a few of the notable topics discussed Monday.
* The first was of course the injuries and in a more subtle way Rodriguez said some of Arizona's injuries are going to take longer to heal. Throw into that JJ Taylor who Rodriguez said today is "more than likely" done for the season with his broken ankle.
* All the injuries to the running backs are going to impact the offense not only in the short term but for the rest of the season. Arizona had been working in putting in a two-back set and it wanted to expand on it once Wilson and Taylor were able to be in the backfield together. It was actually going to be a big part of the offense.
Arizona will not be doing that any longer. In general the staff is going to have to dial back the playbook this weekend and moving forward to make up for the lack of experience at the running back spot now.
* Shawn Poindexter had a nice start for Arizona on Saturday, but he too got hurt and that is why the 'Cats had to go away from him later in the game. Obviously a big body would have helped late when Arizona was trying to put it in the end zone.
* If it wasn't clear before the way Rodriguez was talking (of course he's never truly going to say) the QB job belongs to Brandon Dawkins now. The UA head coach said he doesn't want to put too much on Dawkins' plate heading into Saturday's game with the inexperienced pieces he'll have around him. That means this week the 'Cats are going back to basics in a way and will focus on running the things they know how to run well.
* At this point the discussions are ongoing about who will move over to help the running backs right now. The indications at least early this week are that Nick Wilson will not be ready to go, and that means moving at least another player from a different position in addition to what UA has at running back right now. Rodriguez said Branden Leon is "ready to play some" now so he will add to it. Right now Arizona is mostly looking at receiver when it comes to moving a player over in addition to Tyrell Johnson who will also continue working there.
