Blake Kerley is officially listed as a center. He might be better described as a general.
Almost overnight, Arizona's red-headed redshirt freshman has taken on key new responsibilities as a focal point of the Wildcats' Air Raid offense.
As the center, Kerley must assign blocking schemes once the offense reaches the line of scrimmage. When he gets set, Kerley must then snap the ball to quarterback Willie Tuitama in the shotgun position. If that is not enough, Kerley will usually have to deal with a snarling nose tackle charging right at him.
Kerley, 20, said he could not be happier with the new role. He will get his first big test during Saturday's spring game at Arizona Stadium.
"Oh, I like it," Kerley said. "I feel like more a part of the team. I feel like I have a larger impact on the game."
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The new responsibilities are not exactly alien to Kerley, a 6-foot-2-inch, 273-pounder. He ran an offshoot of the pass-happy attack as a standout at South Garland (Texas) High School and was named second-team all-state by The Associated Press.
Kerley's experience in the system has been a plus this spring, according to his coaches. He has been more vocal in practice, especially when it comes to calling out blocking assignments.
"No doubt, it helps," said Bill Bedenbaugh, the Cats' new offensive line coach. "As easy as it sounds to be able to do, (snapping) is a thing that sticks when you get reps over and over again. It's a learned trait, and it's something he's really good at right now."
The Wildcats need the line to step up in 2007. The unit allowed 31 sacks, seventh in the Pac-10, during an up-and-down 2006 season. Tuitama was forced from four games following injuries.
Kerley and the rest of the unit have embraced the new offense, which came after an off-season overhaul of the coaching staff.
Bedenbaugh has praised Kerley's ability to take charge in practice, and Tuitama said the center "looks like he's been doing it for a couple of years."
So far, Kerley said his only problem has been overexcitement.
Kerley said he gets so excited to run-block that he usually fires the ball too hard at his quarterback's hands.
"If you hit the quarterback in the face," Kerley said, "he can't hand the ball off very well."
Spring practice, Day 11
• Notable: The UA's final week of spring practice will have a familiar rhythm. The Wildcats practiced in full pads Monday and, after a day off today, will return with light workouts Wednesday and Thursday. The Cats will hold their spring game Saturday at 1:30 p.m. in Arizona Stadium. The schedule is very similar to the weekly in-season routine, when the Cats practice hard early in the week before tapering off as game day approaches.
• Injury report: Dominic Patrick has a sprained foot and is day-to-day. Tight end Brandyn McCall (back), defensive back Wilrey Fontenot (shoulder), offensive tackles Peter Graniello (shoulder) and Adam Grant (knee) and defensive tackle Lionel Dotson (shoulder) will be held out of contact drills with injuries. Linebacker Adrian McCovy and defensive end Mike Shelton have been suspended for spring practice for personal and disciplinary reasons.
• He said it: "It's kinda like a game week, but there's a lot of stuff we want to get polished up as we go into Saturday." — UA head coach Mike Stoops
