Bear Down Wildcats

TUCSON -- The Arizona Wildcats released their camp schedule, and the absence of a practice at Fort Huachuca is the most notable change.

UA typically has held a few days worth of practice at the Army installation and worked on team bonding while escaping the Tucson heat. This year, coach Rich Rodriguez will take the Wildcats there again — they just won't practice there. UA will travel to Fort Huachuca on Saturday, Aug. 16, after a morning practice in Tucson.

The team will have dinner with the soldiers and stay on the installation overnight. UA will then have breakfast with the soldiers the following morning and head back to Tucson for media day in the afternoon.

Rodriguez said last year he enjoyed the team's annual trip to Fort Huachuca, but mostly for the team bonding and the interaction with the soldiers. With UA's new Lowell-Stevens Football Facility, there's less of a need for the Wildcats to take their act on the road during camp. With the new facility, two practice fields and a turf field at Arizona Stadium, Rodriguez and the Wildcats have a convenient setup on campus.

Of the time with the soldiers, Rodriguez said last year: "A lot of those guys are about the same age as my players, so it's really a good interaction there."

The Wildcats will open camp Saturday, Aug. 2, with an evening practice. The team's first two-a-day session is Aug. 7. The final camp practice is set for Aug. 22.

One highlight of the team's annual trip to Fort Huachuca was an open practice to the fans. Plans for an open practice this fall are still to be determined. There is not an open practice on the initial schedule.

Classes begin Aug. 25. UA opens its season on Friday, Aug. 29 against UNLV.

July 25, 2014 9:45 pm • By Daniel Berk

The Arizona Wildcats released their camp schedule Friday. The absence of a practice at Fort Huachuca is the most notable change.

Arizona has typically held a few days’ worth of practice at the Army installation and worked on team bonding while escaping the Tucson heat. This year, coach Rich Rodriguez will take the Wildcats there again — they just won’t practice when they travel to Fort Huachuca on Aug. 16, a Saturday, after a morning practice in Tucson.

The team will have dinner with the soldiers and stay on the installation overnight. The UA will then have breakfast with the soldiers the following morning and head back to Tucson for media day in the afternoon.

Rodriguez said last year he enjoyed the team’s annual trip to Fort Huachuca, but mostly for the team bonding and the interaction with the soldiers.

With Arizona’s new Lowell-Stevens Football Facility, there’s less of a need for the Wildcats to take their act on the road during camp. With the new facility, two practice fields and a turf field at Arizona Stadium, Rodriguez and the Wildcats have a convenient setup on campus.

Of the time with the soldiers, Rodriguez said last year, “A lot of those guys are about the same age as my players, so it’s really a good interaction there.”

Rodriguez did emphasize last year that the time away for multiple nights was a positive for the team. He enjoyed seeing the team come together.

“I’ve had places where we’ve done it for two weeks and places where we’ve just done it for two days,” Rodriguez said last year. “I like about four or five days. I think that’s just enough time.

“I think every football player needs to go through a camp experience, and this is what that gives us.”

The coach will try to duplicate the camp feel with his on-campus practices this fall.

The Wildcats will open camp on Aug. 2 with an evening practice. The team’s first two-a-day session is Aug. 7. The final camp practice is set for Aug. 22.

One highlight of the team’s annual trip to Fort Huachuca was an open practice to the fans. Plans for an open practice this fall are still to be determined. There is not an open practice on the initial schedule.

Classes begin Aug. 25. The UA opens its season Aug. 29, a Friday, against UNLV at Arizona Stadium. Kickoff is 7:30 p.m.

azcat49 wrote:Players report today for pictures and pads. news should be coming fast and furious. Maybe we can use this thread for all things fall camp related. I think we surprise a bunch of people this year. We will be fast, very fast on offense and I think the defense will be improved once again

azcat49 wrote: I feel pretty good about the O-line, the wide outs, LB's and the safety's. Somewhat concerned about the corner spot, QB, running backs and d-line

dc4azcats wrote:

azcat49 wrote:Players report today for pictures and pads. news should be coming fast and furious. Maybe we can use this thread for all things fall camp related. I think we surprise a bunch of people this year. We will be fast, very fast on offense and I think the defense will be improved once again

Here's the updated roster:

http://www.arizonawildcats.com/SportSel ... M_ID=30700

Merkin wrote:

azcat49 wrote: I feel pretty good about the O-line, the wide outs, LB's and the safety's. Somewhat concerned about the corner spot, QB, running backs and d-line

And lately a sore spot for me, concerned about ST.

dc4azcats wrote:

azcat49 wrote:Players report today for pictures and pads. news should be coming fast and furious. Maybe we can use this thread for all things fall camp related. I think we surprise a bunch of people this year. We will be fast, very fast on offense and I think the defense will be improved once again

Here's the updated roster:

http://www.arizonawildcats.com/SportSel ... M_ID=30700

Jordan Poland at 6'7 343 lbs is a big ass dude. I'm assuming that since he was originally a USC commit that he can move a bit for his size? Chief?

chiefzona wrote:

dc4azcats wrote:

azcat49 wrote:Players report today for pictures and pads. news should be coming fast and furious. Maybe we can use this thread for all things fall camp related. I think we surprise a bunch of people this year. We will be fast, very fast on offense and I think the defense will be improved once again

Here's the updated roster:

http://www.arizonawildcats.com/SportSel ... M_ID=30700

Jordan Poland at 6'7 343 lbs is a big ass dude. I'm assuming that since he was originally a USC commit that he can move a bit for his size? Chief?

Yes, he can move very well and is strong as an ox. He can move a mountain and block the sun.

I'm excited to play with all the new guys coming in," said Phillips, who last year at this time was one of those "new guys," reporting to camp as the anticipation built for the season's first practice.

"We're full tilt," said Phillips, a 5-foot-7 slot receiver out of Chandler Basha High. "He'll (coach Rich Rodriguez) tell you that. That's first day to last day. We're going to go as fast as we can. It's going to be a shock (to players) how quickly we go through practice and how quickly practice goes."

"Everybody is hungry," Phillips said. "Last year we weren't picked to win the Pac-12 South and this year we're still not picked to win the Pac-12 South. Everybody has a chip on their shoulder, maybe because they weren't highly ranked (as a recruit) or because we weren't picked high in the Pac-12 South. We have to go out there and play our best."

He said he'll have to get better with his route running. And having to compete with what is considered the Pac-12's best receiving group will help with that improvement. After all, you get better by playing with good talent and competition.

"You're fighting for playing time; you're fighting for a spot. When you're doing that, you might be the guy who is behind trying to be better than the guy in front of you, or you're making the guy better in front you (as) he tries to keep his spot."

NOTABLE

Arizona doesn't make freshmen and newcomers available to the media until later in camp, but several veterans were asked Friday about freshman Cam Denson, the former Tucson Salpointe Catholic High star. Denson, recruited as a wide receiver, will get a shot to be the starting cornerback because of a lack of depth at that position. How much he plays will be determined, but teammates said he's very talented.

"He's athletic and I really like what I see out of the kid," Grandon said. "When we play basketball at the rec center he's explosive. He dunks on kids. I'm going to enjoy seeing him develop. He's an explosive kid."

"I couldn't be more pleased with the direction we are going right now," said Greg Byrne, Arizona athletic director. "The progress that has been made under Coach Rodriguez in the two and a half, nearly three years. People think it's just about coaching and Xs and Os and that solve all the issues. But it's not. It's combination of recruiting, commitment in the weight room and commitment in the practice field and structure in the program that allows success. That foundation has been set which bodes well for our future."

"I think we're getting better," Rodriguez said at the annual Pac-12 media day last week. "Sometimes you're getting better and it doesn't show in your record because your opponents have gotten better too. But I think we're better as a program. We're better individually, talent-wise, and our guys are growing up in a system where two years ago we were doing things completely foreign to them."

"I don't know how much of it is noticed, but we are starting to get some relevant depth in positions that are not just one deep anymore," said former Arizona player Lamont Hunley. "A healthy team is a successful team, but good depth breeds consistent winners. I am very excited about the receivers. It looks like if we get some relatively strong QB play we are going to surprise a lot of people."

"There's a lot of anticipation for football," Byrne said. "I've been told from longtime fans that it's as high as they can remember."

"I have to tell ya, I love the guy (Rodriguez)," said Heath Bray, a defensive back for Dick Tomey in the mid 1990s and season ticket holder. "I have had the opportunity to be with (Rodriguez) on many occasions, and personally, I think he is a coach in the mold of the best U of A coaches Larry Smith and Dick Tomey from a personality standpoint. And that may be the highest praise of which I am capable. I would have loved to play for him and his staff. He's a tough, fair, brilliant coach and connects with the players.

"It's the type that breeds loyalty and belief from his guys. We have some ground to make up to be in the top of the Pac South, but I feel we are headed there. Greg Byrne has really put together an awesome foundation for the program. I haven't been this positive since Coach Tomey left."

"I'm very confident in the program and its direction," Bray said. "My real concern with this season is not really what we need to do but what the other teams are doing with their team. The USCs, UCLAs and ASUs in the south have really improved their teams. So we have to play so sound and error free football against them to get out of the Pac 12 South."

chiefzona wrote:Hey DC....I think he gets RS but comes back next year and starts all 4 seasons.

chiefzona wrote:Hey DC....I think he gets RS but comes back next year and starts all 4 seasons.

azcat49 wrote:Saw that RR said he doubted Poland would be in the mix this year. I have to imagine that is because we have great experience but I would have also thought they might want to get him some snaps to get him ready for next year.

I feel pretty good about the O-line, the wide outs, LB's and the safety's. Somewhat concerned about the corner spot, QB, running backs and d-line

Dkenner wrote:Tra'Maybe Bondurant has left the program per coach Rodriguez

Main Event wrote:

Dkenner wrote:Tra'Maybe Bondurant has left the program per coach Rodriguez

fuck

Dkenner wrote:Tra'Maybe Bondurant has left the program per coach Rodriguez

Dkenner wrote:he is too good of a player to let this slip away, I think he will be back later after he sees that this will hurt his draft stock.

ASUHATER! wrote:

Dkenner wrote:he is too good of a player to let this slip away, I think he will be back later after he sees that this will hurt his draft stock.

that's entirely up to his grades and up to rich rod if rich rod wants him back.

ANGCatFan wrote:First practice video and Coach Rod interview.

First practice photos.

If someone knows the trick to embedding this type of youtube video please let me know.

ANGCatFan wrote:Berk interviews Willy from Philly. The more I see and hear from Will Parks the more I like him. I still seem to be embed impaired with Chrome.

Baker tore his ACL during the ASU game last year, meaning it's only been eight months since the surgery.

"I say he's ahead of schedule (with rehab)," Rodriguez stated about Baker. "But we expected him to be full-go. Now it's just getting that confidence back in his knee and being able to cut on it."

"That's one of my best friends," added Terris Jones-Grigsby. "He's my roommate, so I'm happy he's coming back out, splitting the one reps. Once we bring out the two-back sets, it's going to be a perfect fit for us. Him getting out quickly and a speedy recovery from his ACL is good for us."

"It seems like he hurt it a couple months ago and he's already back. He just took a rock right up the middle and it didn't even look like he's lost a step. He says he's healthy, and you can tell just by watching him."

Sweep plays

I've talked about it a little bit before, but with the loss of Ka'Deem Carey, look for Arizona to have more sweep plays out of the backfield. This was the very first thing happening during practice. DaVonte' Neal, Tyrell (TJ) Johnson, Kaelin DeBoskie, and Samajie Grant were all getting a bunch of reps practicing sweep handoffs.

Two WRs suffer injuries

It's a good thing Arizona is so deep at wide receiver, because two injuries occurred on Saturday. Samajie Grant appeared to have tweaked his lower back, impacting most of practice for him. Then, towards the end of practice, Clive Georges suffered what looked to be a somewhat major hamstring injury.

Georges was unable to walk on it for the rest of practice, and he was saying on the sideline after it happened that it was the worst pain he's ever felt.

It also looked like Trey Griffey hurt his arm a bit, but afterwards he said he felt good.

Tight ends impress

Josh Kern and Trevor Wood both looked like they have the potential to be huge factors in the short passing game this year. Both are monsters (Kern 6-5, 229 and Wood 6-5, 251) and both look to have really soft hands.

Field Goal team struggles

It's kind of cliche to say at this point, but Arizona stinks at field goals. The FG team gets their practice in early, and it was not good to watch. The first snap went nowhere near the holder. The second snap, the holder couldn't get down. And although Casey Skowron looked good kicking, Jack Flatau was abyssmal.

Cam Denson

The highly-touted freshman out of Salpointe is only listed at cornerback, and that's where he spent all of his time on Saturday. He did not look particularly impressive, nor did he look 100% healthy.

ANGCatFan wrote:
Field Goal team struggles

It's kind of cliche to say at this point, but Arizona stinks at field goals. The FG team gets their practice in early, and it was not good to watch. The first snap went nowhere near the holder. The second snap, the holder couldn't get down. And although Casey Skowron looked good kicking, Jack Flatau was abyssmal.

Josh Kern also looks like he has put on good weight. Kern will also hold on kicks and the fact that he is a former quarterback could give the Wildcats some options for trick plays.

ANGCatFan wrote:Good free article on practice 3 at WSR by Brad Allis. New info at least for me:

Josh Kern also looks like he has put on good weight. Kern will also hold on kicks and the fact that he is a former quarterback could give the Wildcats some options for trick plays.

ANGCatFan wrote:Day 3 video. Coach Rod was not happy.

ANGCatFan wrote:Day 3 video is still on the official site.

I wonder what is going on at the official site? Last year that was usually the first site to post a practice report and gave you the best post practice videos. Now they haven't updated a story since the first practice.

My guess is there is a new agreement between the SID and the paid media to allow them to release stories (and updated rosters) first to try and help them draw in subscribers. Either that or the folks at arizonawildcats.com have just gotten lazy.

dc4azcats wrote:I couldn't get it to embed so here's the link:


http://youtu.be/7koxxLqALWg