Bear Down Wildcats

catinfl wrote:Here's an article I wrote on how JUCO recruiting has been subpar and we need Magilore and Cruickshank to play well this year or were in trouble . (Completely forgot Tellas Jones and McCall in it but we need them to perform well too)
http://www.azdesertswarm.com/recruiting ... ce=twitter" target="_blank

ANGCatFan wrote:More actual information in this 7 minutes than we have gotten all offseason. From AZDS.



Another interview.



First media interviews of the year. It is almost Christmas!

The splitting of first team reps between quarterbacks is real. Anu Solomon and Brandon Dawkins were the only two in red non-contact jerseys, and they were taking a pretty equal share of the snaps with the first and second team offensive lines.

If you want an early frontrunner for the starting center job, it’s Zach Hemmila

If you want a player on the defensive side of the ball that’s going to be a breakout-type guy, it’s corner Dane Cruikshank.

Cal transfer Michael Barton will make a significant impact at linebacker.

As far as receiver, the guy that stood out to me was Shawn Poindexter, and not just because he’s 6-foot-6.

Both Francisco Nelson and Jalen Cochran are listed as linebackers, but were going through all of the defensive line drills. Also mislisted is Paul Magloire, who is listed as a safety, but played linebacker.

Smith said the worst thing Solomon did last season was get hurt. It wasn’t his fault, obviously, but he doesn’t necessarily see it that way.

“I really just need to toughen up,” Solomon said. “I thought I could have pushed through those two concussions.”

Solomon has the edge in experience. Dawkins has the stronger arm. They’re close, on and off the field.

“They don’t like each other — they love each other,” Smith said.

So what will it come down to in the end?

“Execution,” Smith said. “A lot of times the guy who executes best is the guy who will play.”

"Everybody who is supposed to be so diehard Arizona fans were like, 'I don't think I will watch a game this season. I'm disgusted,'" Grant said.

"That doesn't make me feel good that they're saying it, but it does give me a huge chip on my shoulder. For everybody to not think anything of us, that is what we like. That is exactly what happened my sophomore year."

Remember what defensive lineman Luca Bruno said the other day about the defense moving around before the snap and throwing different looks at the offense? That was readily evident during 11-on-11 drills, and it was extremely effective. The defensive front generated consistent pressure, often forcing the quarterbacks to flee the pocket. Linebackers DeAndre’ Miller and Jake Matthews registered sacks. The defense “won” the practice by a score of 62-56. The offense, including UA coach Rich Rodriguez, did pushups afterward.

ANGCatFan wrote:Picture day video hosted by Zach Werlinger. Pretty great!

Play of the Day:
Freshman running back J.J. Taylor provided the biggest highlight on offense for the Wildcats on Friday. The Corona, Calif., native took a handoff from quarterback Brandon Dawkins during the team's 11-on-11 portion of the practice and sprinted up the middle for a 60-plus yard touchdown. Taylor was active throughout the practice, showcasing the speed that made him a highly recruited threat out of Centennial High School in California.
. . .
Amey welcomes back a healthy mix of veterans and newcomers on the line and has already been impressed with a pair of freshmen, Jalen Cochran and Francisco Nelson, as defensive ends.

ANGCatFan wrote:Here is the official release on the 2nd practice. Here is the only actual football news:

Play of the Day:
Freshman running back J.J. Taylor provided the biggest highlight on offense for the Wildcats on Friday. The Corona, Calif., native took a handoff from quarterback Brandon Dawkins during the team's 11-on-11 portion of the practice and sprinted up the middle for a 60-plus yard touchdown. Taylor was active throughout the practice, showcasing the speed that made him a highly recruited threat out of Centennial High School in California.
. . .
Amey welcomes back a healthy mix of veterans and newcomers on the line and has already been impressed with a pair of freshmen, Jalen Cochran and Francisco Nelson, as defensive ends.

Play of the Day: Werlinger to Cooper
Late in practice during the 11-on-11 portion, quarterback Zach Werlinger hooked up with freshman receiver Devaughn Cooper for the top play of practice. Werlinger found Cooper streaking across the middle and hit him for a sure first down. Cooper took it one step farther and got around the two defensive backs pursuing him for a touchdown. After catching it in the middle of the field, Cooper moved to the sideline to allude the defenders for the six points.

Rodriguez continues to get in involved in special-teams drills. The team worked on kickoffs, kickoff returns and field goals during the open period. Kickoff returners included Tyrell Johnson, Shun Brown, Devaughn Cooper, Cam Denson, Samajie Grant, Nate Phillips, Darick Holmes Jr. and J.J. Taylor.

* Tight end Matt Morin is among the candidates to serve as Arizona’s holder. Morin, a redshirt junior, played quarterback in high school.

* Tight end Trevor Wood, who missed last season because of a shoulder injury, broke the UA tight end record for bench-press reps before the start of camp. Wood did 24 reps at 225 pounds, tight ends coach Charlie Ragle said. Wood has been practicing after sitting out spring drills.

Gilbertcat wrote:I hate that nfl team as much as tempe st, but that is a pretty cool move.

ChooChooCat wrote:

Gilbertcat wrote:I hate that nfl team as much as tempe st, but that is a pretty cool move.

Any particular reason you hate the only well run professional team in the state of Arizona?

ChooChooCat wrote:

Gilbertcat wrote:I hate that nfl team as much as tempe st, but that is a pretty cool move.

Any particular reason you hate the only well run professional team in the state of Arizona?

FORT HUACHUCA — In an annual, preseason tradition, the University of Arizona Wildcats return to Fort Huachuca Friday night for some football and time with soldiers.

The team will practice Saturday at 9:30 a.m. on Warrior/Sentinel Field. The practice is not open to the public.

That night the team will dine with the fort's military personnel at 6 p.m. at the Thunder Mountain Activity Centre. Maj. Gen. John Baker, commanding general of the Network Enterprise Technology Command is scheduled to be the guest speaker.

The team will leave Fort Huachuca Sunday morning.

Toward the end of the session, while simulating drills, the offense and defense set up the pressure of a game situation in which the offense trailed by three points with one minute left on the clock, one timeout remaining, and the ball at the offense’s own 40-yard line.

Junior Anu Solomon and sophomore Brandon Dawkins had spent the morning splitting reps while wearing the quarterback red jerseys. The 6-foot-2, 205-pound Solomon threw for 2,655 yards, 20 touchdowns and just five picks as last year’s starter, and was up first.

On second down, Solomon rolled to his right and threw the ball away in a broken play that took just three seconds off the clock. On third down, he rolled right again under some fierce pressure from the defense and spiked the ball to stop the clock. By fourth down, the pocket collapsed around Solomon, who was “sacked,” although the defense held up actually sacking him in the practice condition while forcing the offense off the field.

Dawkins (6-3, 210) was up next under the same simulated situation.

On first down, Dawkins used a terrific fake pitch to keep the ball and juke forward for a big rushing gain. Later in the series he threw a beautiful ball down the left sideline to streaking senior wideout Samajie Grant who hauled it in over his shoulder and reached the end zone.

Play of the Day: Taylor busts through the middle
During the rookie scrimmage portion of Monday's practice, freshman running back J.J. Taylor once again found himself in the spotlight. Taylor, a true freshman from Corona, California, took a handoff from quarterback Khalil Tate and used his speed and quick feet to bust through the defensive line. Once he had some room, Taylor outran the rest of the defense and took his carry in for a long touchdown run. Honorable mention honors here go to cornerback DaVonte' Neal, who had a diving interception during the 11-on-11 portion of practice.

Play of the Day: Cooper Comes Through With the Grab
Devaughn Cooper, a freshman from Los Angeles, has been active all camp out of his slot receiver position. In Tuesday morning's practice, Cooper hauled in a pass from Brandon Dawkins that earned play of the day honors. During 1-on-1s, Cooper, sprinted down the field, before breaking toward the sideline. It looked like Dawkins' pass might be too far for Cooper, but the freshman stayed with it, got under it and hauled it in, while still staying in bounds.

I asked coach Rich Rodriguez last Friday about the progress of former four-star linebackers Jamardre Cobb and Marquis Ware.

"They're not on the two-deep," Rodriguez said.

And, now, Cobb isn't even on defense.

Cobb did some good work as a blocking fullback last season before moving back to linebacker in the spring. Cobb, who began fall camp dealing with a minor injury, is back on offense.