The University of Arizona is on spring break, and so is the Arizona Wildcats football team.
To whet your appetite until the Wildcats resume spring practice next week, we offer some choice leftovers from recent interviews with UA coaches and players. Enjoy.
COACH RICH RODRIGUEZ
On having realistic expectations for the defense:
“To think, OK, we wave a magical wand and we’re going to automatically be a whole lot better is not going to happen. It starts with players and experienced players, and we’re not going to have a lot of them on defense. … But we don’t want to give excuses either. So we’ve got to get better in a hurry.”
QB COACH ROD SMITH
On the running ability of QBs Brandon Dawkins and Khalil Tate compared to Anu Solomon:
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“They’re both more explosive when it comes to that aspect of the game. I think each one of them has their own strengths that they bring. All of them, I think, can play this game. And I think they’ll be able to play at a high level. It’s just a matter of when that light bulb kicks on for those guys and they’re able to start performing like they’re capable of.”
TE JOSH KERN
On fellow TE Brion Anduze suffering a major knee injury during the first spring practice:
“It sucks. All of us knew Brion was a guy who could play this year. We knew he was going to be good this year. Seeing a guy go down 30 minutes into practice, on the first day, is rough, especially when it’s one of your buddies. …
“It’s kind of hard in that situation to be super optimistic. … It’s a rough process. But I believe Brion will be able to come back and be better than ever.”
WR COACH TONY DEWS
On the development of converted CB Cam Denson:
“Cam’s made a lot of strides from when we started working in skill development for the couple weeks before we started practice to today. It’s been nice seeing him make a couple plays with the ball in his hands. Cam was very unselfish and very team-oriented when he started out on defense. He was recruited as a wideout. When we had some issues at corner, he had no issue with going over if he could help the team there. He looks very natural playing receiver. You can see some of his abilities and talents come out as a receiver.”
PK JOSH POLLACK
On why he decided to come to Arizona from Highland Park, Illinois:
“I was going to all the recruiting camps. I came out here and fell in love with it. They offered me a scholarship, and it couldn’t have been a better situation. I don’t have to bring a shovel out to the field in the winter.”
