Bear Down Wildcats

He’s a natural run-blocker. Arizona’s read-option attack places a premium on running up the middle; fortunately, Tagaloa has always been able to clear lanes. With Tagaloa leading the way, Arizona rushed for a season-high 368 yards and five touchdowns in last week’s 44-7 win over Oregon State.

“He can move people,” offensive line coach Jim Michalczik said. “As a lineman, it’s one thing to get on the guy; it’s another thing to make something happen. It’s like a running back … any running back can run through a big hole, but the running back who makes a guy miss or breaks a tackle, that’s what makes him special. As an offensive lineman, if you can create hole, widen things, make bigger lanes … that’s making a play.”

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“At guard, you’re ‘on’ guys quicker than you are at tackle,” Tagaloa said. “You’re in a small box, and I take up the majority of the space in that box. That helps.”

Tagaloa must get lower. The UA junior “has got some pretty good genes to be that size,” Rodriguez says, but there’s a downside to standing 6-8: It’s hard to get low. The move to guard will help reinforce good habits, in part because Tagaloa must start in a three-point stance with his hand on the ground. Arizona’s tackles typically crouch with hands on their knees.

“It helps him play a bit lower and bend a little bit better,” Michalczik said. “On the offensive line, its not about being the biggest guy. Its about being able to bend, play with leverage and be explosive. A big guy who can’t bend and move isn’t ever any good. … A guy who can bend and move is something special.”

He feels better. Tagaloa injured his knee in the days before UA’s season opener against UTSA; he says his recovery has been “a day-by-day thing.” Guard comes with an unintended benefit, as Tagaloa learned in last week’s win over Oregon State.

“Guard has taken a lot of stress off my knee, since my hand’s on the ground,” he said. “It’s funny. Everything just works out in weird ways.”