Arizona's players met with the media today in what is the new weekly meeting during game weeks. The media had the chance to talk with Tony Ellison, JJ Taylor, Tony Fields, Tshiyombu Lukusa and Tim Hough today. Here are a few of the highlights from those conversations.
Tony Ellison
The veteran receiver didn't have a ton to say but something that was interesting that he did say is that he expects teams to continue to play Arizona like it has since opponents started to figure out how to slow down Khalil Tate's running ability. BYU gave Arizona a number of chances in one-on-one situations and Ellison said the Wildcats simply didn't execute well enough in those spots.
"Last year we had a lot of one-on-one opportunities and like BYU it was a lot of one-on-ones again," he said. "That's how people are going to play us and we have to adapt to that. Obviously it's the first game so we're not really worried about it."
JJ Taylor
Taylor was Arizona's most productive offensive player Saturday night against BYU and he said he felt the team got more comfortable as the game went on. He said he saw Tate's composure improve later in the game and he chalked up the team's performance Saturday to getting to know each other and still figuring out how to play as a team together.
It will be all hands on deck for Arizona as it figures out how to slow down Ed Oliver this Saturday. That means there could be a couple instances when Taylor has to stay in and help block and he knows it will be a challenge this weekend.
"That's one of the players we have to key in on and do our best keep out of the backfield, especially on pass plays," Taylor said. "And that's about it."
One interesting thing Ellison said was that Houston was a big trash talking team last year when the two teams linked up and it was done with a purpose. Taylor said he didn't get involved in it but it will be important for Arizona to keep its composure in those situations.
Tony Fields II
It's always an enjoyable time talking with the UA will linebacker and he had some interesting things to say Tuesday. When Colin Schooler went out of the game for a bit Saturday it was Fields who stepped into the middle linebacker role which is something he has not done before. Fields played more of a safety role in high school so playing the Mike was something he had not practiced or really every had experience doing.
"I haven't practiced it or anything," he said. "It was one thing coach (Marcel) Yates asked if I could do and I said, 'yeah, I got it and I'll step up.' So, I stepped up to the plate and did it."
Fields said it's not a position he is working on in practice, but because he knows where everyone is supposed to be on defense anyway it is not something he would have an issue doing again if the situation arises.
Tshiyombu Lukusa
The offensive lineman was easily the most interesting player to speak with Tuesday and it was the first time he has had a chance to speak with the media in a group setting since he arrived to Arizona last year. Lukusa has a good personality and a nice story. He said he was working several different odd jobs while away from the game trying to figure out if he could regain his love for football again. He said it happened while he was working at a car wash in his hometown once he got tired of people asking him why he wasn't playing football anymore. He said he realized at that moment he wasn't sure why he wasn't and ultimately decided to try and make a comeback at Arizona Western playing both basketball and football.
He said Yuma was not what he thought it was so he reached out to Chris Singletary after three days after arriving to Arizona Western where he planned on playing both sports and decided he would come to UA to play football on the big stage again.
Lukusa never played guard before this year so that was a new position for him to learn and Saturday was his first game at a position other than tackle even going back to his high school days.
"This was a big switch for me for sure," he said. "... I thought they obviously had a plan in place for the rest of the season, a bigger picture plan – bigger than just the first two games. I was ready to do it, because one I don't want to be on the bench and two I want to help this football team and if it's at guard it's at guard."
Tim Hough
Hough was mostly brief with his responses Tuesday, but he did offer up something that had been kept pretty quiet up to this point. For as much of a fuss as there has been about the numbers at cornerback and the lack of depth there the staff had actually moved the UNLV grad transfer from corner over to safety to start the season. The plan was to have Hough play the spur safety position until it was determined that Jace Whittaker would not be able to go in the opener. It was at that point he was moved back to play cornerback.
We'll see what happens now that Whittaker is expected to be back, but that was certainly an interesting bit of information he mentioned today. Even if it means he won't get to see the field as much, Hough was adamant that the Wildcats need as much help as they can get defensively on the back end so he's happy to see Whittaker and Scottie Young Jr. back this week.
"We need both of them no matter what," he said. "No matter who is playing or at what position we need them all to play. All of us together is even better."
Tony Ellison
The veteran receiver didn't have a ton to say but something that was interesting that he did say is that he expects teams to continue to play Arizona like it has since opponents started to figure out how to slow down Khalil Tate's running ability. BYU gave Arizona a number of chances in one-on-one situations and Ellison said the Wildcats simply didn't execute well enough in those spots.
"Last year we had a lot of one-on-one opportunities and like BYU it was a lot of one-on-ones again," he said. "That's how people are going to play us and we have to adapt to that. Obviously it's the first game so we're not really worried about it."
JJ Taylor
Taylor was Arizona's most productive offensive player Saturday night against BYU and he said he felt the team got more comfortable as the game went on. He said he saw Tate's composure improve later in the game and he chalked up the team's performance Saturday to getting to know each other and still figuring out how to play as a team together.
It will be all hands on deck for Arizona as it figures out how to slow down Ed Oliver this Saturday. That means there could be a couple instances when Taylor has to stay in and help block and he knows it will be a challenge this weekend.
"That's one of the players we have to key in on and do our best keep out of the backfield, especially on pass plays," Taylor said. "And that's about it."
One interesting thing Ellison said was that Houston was a big trash talking team last year when the two teams linked up and it was done with a purpose. Taylor said he didn't get involved in it but it will be important for Arizona to keep its composure in those situations.
Tony Fields II
It's always an enjoyable time talking with the UA will linebacker and he had some interesting things to say Tuesday. When Colin Schooler went out of the game for a bit Saturday it was Fields who stepped into the middle linebacker role which is something he has not done before. Fields played more of a safety role in high school so playing the Mike was something he had not practiced or really every had experience doing.
"I haven't practiced it or anything," he said. "It was one thing coach (Marcel) Yates asked if I could do and I said, 'yeah, I got it and I'll step up.' So, I stepped up to the plate and did it."
Fields said it's not a position he is working on in practice, but because he knows where everyone is supposed to be on defense anyway it is not something he would have an issue doing again if the situation arises.
Tshiyombu Lukusa
The offensive lineman was easily the most interesting player to speak with Tuesday and it was the first time he has had a chance to speak with the media in a group setting since he arrived to Arizona last year. Lukusa has a good personality and a nice story. He said he was working several different odd jobs while away from the game trying to figure out if he could regain his love for football again. He said it happened while he was working at a car wash in his hometown once he got tired of people asking him why he wasn't playing football anymore. He said he realized at that moment he wasn't sure why he wasn't and ultimately decided to try and make a comeback at Arizona Western playing both basketball and football.
He said Yuma was not what he thought it was so he reached out to Chris Singletary after three days after arriving to Arizona Western where he planned on playing both sports and decided he would come to UA to play football on the big stage again.
Lukusa never played guard before this year so that was a new position for him to learn and Saturday was his first game at a position other than tackle even going back to his high school days.
"This was a big switch for me for sure," he said. "... I thought they obviously had a plan in place for the rest of the season, a bigger picture plan – bigger than just the first two games. I was ready to do it, because one I don't want to be on the bench and two I want to help this football team and if it's at guard it's at guard."
Tim Hough
Hough was mostly brief with his responses Tuesday, but he did offer up something that had been kept pretty quiet up to this point. For as much of a fuss as there has been about the numbers at cornerback and the lack of depth there the staff had actually moved the UNLV grad transfer from corner over to safety to start the season. The plan was to have Hough play the spur safety position until it was determined that Jace Whittaker would not be able to go in the opener. It was at that point he was moved back to play cornerback.
We'll see what happens now that Whittaker is expected to be back, but that was certainly an interesting bit of information he mentioned today. Even if it means he won't get to see the field as much, Hough was adamant that the Wildcats need as much help as they can get defensively on the back end so he's happy to see Whittaker and Scottie Young Jr. back this week.
"We need both of them no matter what," he said. "No matter who is playing or at what position we need them all to play. All of us together is even better."
