Bear Down Wildcats

chiefzona wrote:Anu will be the starter for the Aug 29 UNLV game.

ANGCatFan wrote:

chiefzona wrote:Anu will be the starter for the Aug 29 UNLV game.

Oh no, Anu gets the dreaded Chief jinx. My money now says Anu will miss the the bus to the first game after getting a concussion when a fan "accidentally" closes a door in his face.

So much for having a 4 year starting QB in Coach Rod's system.

Thanks, Chief

chiefzona wrote:Anu will be the starter for the Aug 29 UNLV game.

chiefzona wrote:Anu will be the starter for the Aug 29 UNLV game.

Alieberman wrote:

chiefzona wrote:Anu will be the starter for the Aug 29 UNLV game.

I have not been following very closely, are you giving up on your boy Scroggins?

ASUHATER! wrote:We have enough options at qb that i wouldn't be surprised to see 4 guys get snaps in the first 2 games.

BearDown89 wrote:A year ago everyone was certain that someone else besides BJ would would get snaps in the early games. The majority of the board was demanding that and begging for RR to give another QB snaps. How could he not. He just had to. Well guess what? RR stuck with his guy, and outside of one Javelle Allen garbage TD, he rode BJ all the way.

My money says he does the same this year. RR and Rod Smith pick their guy and that's your QB1 for the duration, end of story barring injury or other extraordinary circumstances. Maybe . . . maybe you get some special packages, wildcat or whatever, as some have suggested with Randall, but there's no way we see 4 QBs play in the first couple of games under normal circumstances. I just don't think that's what RR's going to do. And I don't necessarily put much stock in what he did at WVU or UM in terms of multiple QBs. That was then. This is now. Different circumstances. I think he rode BJ to preserve Anu's redshirt and there wasn't any one else he could give the ball to. Now he's got some depth for backup and it's time for Anu to step up and be a multi-year starter.

Some folks, Chief for one, think the QB competition may extend through the first few games. I don't see it. I think RR will be ready to rock n roll with his guy come August 29th.

chiefzona wrote:There's only one reason why I say that. As long as Randall is on the sidelines in an Arizona uni, RR will itch until he gets Randall on the field.

Catstatic wrote:Here's hoping it's Solomon.

Q: Ideally, would you like to be able to give the keys to someone who could have it for three, four years?
A: "We want the guy who is going to give us the best opportunity to win on Saturday. I don't care if he's a senior or if he's a freshman. That doesn't matter to me. We don't look three years down the road. We play for right now. We have to win right now. That's not fair to the seniors to say, 'We're going to give it to a guy who has three more years.' You play for now. We'll worry about tomorrow, tomorrow. ... We like winning too much to not play the best guy."

Q: How is a final decision made? Is it a gut feeling? Is it numerical?
A: "You take all the practice film that you see, all the individual work that we do, and you also say, 'OK, how much upside, how much potential does this kid have. How far can he take us?' But the most important thing is the film work -- the work they put in at practice. Whoever is moving the offense, scoring points, doing things to control the offense, that's the guy who is probably going to separate himself. And then we'll sit down as a staff. I'll have my opinion and coach (Rich Rodriguez) will have his opinion and hopefully we're all on the same page."

Solomon: Right now appears to have the best balance of ability, knowledge and consistency. He does not have the arm that Scroggins and Randall have, nor does he have their wheels, but he also make better decisions and is a more consistent thrower. He makes really quick decisions, even if many of them are conservative checkdowns. At this point is it hard not to get the impression that the job is now his to lose.

Scroggins: I am leaving the senior slotted second, even though I believe Brewer may be overtaking him. Scroggins has a nice arm, and the ability to make some nice throws, but consistency is a huge issue. I also have my doubts about his leadership ability. Word is he was not the hardest worker during summer workouts.

Brewer: He has the least amount of ability, but makes up for some of it with accuracy and smarts. According to quarterbacks coach Rod Smith Brewer had a good end of the week last week and looked relatively sharp in the scrimmage. Don’t be surprised to see him get his share of second team reps this week.

Randall: So intriguing, so frustrating. Has the best arm, has the best legs, but he’s apparently quite lost. Not going to rule him out yet, but he better start making a push by week’s end. If not, the coaches are going to start figuring creative ways to get him on the field.

The reports have also been positive for true freshman Brandon Dawkins, although he is nearly 100% to redshirt this season.

Merkin wrote: Word is he (Scroggins) was not the hardest worker during summer workouts.

Apparently in contrast to what was reported earlier.

3goggles wrote:So if Randall is not playing QB will he be moved to another position to take advantage of his crazy fast legs?

"Some people treat their quarterbacks a little differently," Rodriguez said, "and worry about their confidence and all that. But I'm worried about my confidence. I'm worried about the team's confidence and getting it done. If the quarterback that can handle the heat in practice ... the games should be easier for them."

Solomon was very open about his lack of speed, and how his long-distance speed may be his biggest weakness as fall camp continues on.

"Right now I'm not moving that fast. I'm eating a lot because that's what summer camp does to you but I'll be good. We take long drives and I'm huffing and puffing sometimes, but I just gotta suck it up and get in good shape."

"I can get away for like 20 yards, I just don't have that breakaway speed like Jerrard (Randall) does," he continued. "That's the thing I just gotta work on, is having that breakaway speed so I can get away from people."

So how does Anu Solomon improve upon his speed?

"You know, just coming out here after practice and going to the weight room and working with the strength coaches. Running long distance, trying to get that speed up, and working on my endurance."

"I'm also working on the zip on my balls, and I just gotta eliminate the rookie, silly mistakes."

Merkin wrote:I am more concerned about his 0-20 burst, not after 20 yards. He's not a WR.

How many runs did BJ have longer than 20 yards?

Merkin wrote:I am more concerned about his 0-20 burst, not after 20 yards. He's not a WR.

How many runs did BJ have longer than 20 yards?

RazorsEdgeAZ wrote:

Merkin wrote:I am more concerned about his 0-20 burst, not after 20 yards. He's not a WR.

How many runs did BJ have longer than 20 yards?

Think running/getting a 1st down much more important with QB in this scheme. Keep chains moving, Field spread, Opposing DC wondering, High play count, Opposing Defense fatigue in 4th.

Denker Rushing 2013
13TDs
54 yds Longest
52 times got 1st Down
30 10+yds
9 20+yds (5% of his rush attempts)

Matt Scott Rushing 2012
6TDs
24 yds longest
45 times 1st down
26 10+ yds
2 20+ yds (nearly 2% of his rush attempt)

chiefzona wrote:Ah, no separation leads us back to zero. Tough battle going on but the one who exudes the most leadership and moves the offense up and down the field....wins.

Merkin wrote:

chiefzona wrote:Ah, no separation leads us back to zero. Tough battle going on but the one who exudes the most leadership and moves the offense up and down the field....wins.

So that means Solomon is not the man Chief? He will be the first one to admit he is too laid back to be the assertive leader.

chiefzona wrote:

Merkin wrote:

chiefzona wrote:Ah, no separation leads us back to zero. Tough battle going on but the one who exudes the most leadership and moves the offense up and down the field....wins.

So that means Solomon is not the man Chief? He will be the first one to admit he is too laid back to be the assertive leader.

He's shown ok leadership. But he needs to dig deep down and show he wants this.

azgreg wrote:Any way we can merge them all into one?

Merkin wrote:

azgreg wrote:Any way we can merge them all into one?

Reminds me of the Ortege Jenkins/Keith Smith year. If you have two quarterbacks you don't have any.

Yet it was the most successful season in UA FB history.

azgreg wrote:Any way we can merge them all into one?

azgreg wrote:Any way we can merge them all into one?

Chicat wrote:We need rep desperately on this board.

"I'm more comfortable, less anxious and less overwhelmed," said Scroggins, speaking for the first time this camp at Arizona's annual media day on Sunday.

"Maybe I'll take this team to a high-caliber bowl game," he said with his trademark grin. "I'm not going to say which one, but we all know it has roses in it."

Scroggins, a 6-foot-3, 200-pounder from Lakewood, Calif., is thinking big this fall -- and not just in football. He is on pace to get a degree in psychology, becoming the first person in his family to graduate from college.

"I like everybody's chances," Scroggins said. "May the best man win."
For Brewer, the Scottsdale Chaparral High grad and University of Texas transfer, it's been a learning experience since arriving on campus a year ago.

"Taking a year off (for the transfer) is no fun for anyone," he said. "I had to work really hard last year, especially knowing I wasn't going to be in there."

"Coach Rodriguez harps on knowing the offense, and I know it, but it takes hours and hours and hours to learn it," Brewer said. "I want to get in the film room and learn more."

All the quarterback contenders have great attitudes, Rodriguez said. All are coachable and eager to get better, he added. But each brings something different to the table.

* Solomon has a "good feel for the game and great pre-snap vision," Rodriguez said. "He sees the field. He's athletic enough to extend the play."

* Brewer brings a good feel to the game and "is a better athlete than you give him credit for. And he's a tough guy. He knows for him to win the job or to be in the mix he doesn't have to be perfect mentally but he has to be on his game."

* Scroggins, athletic with a good arm, had been uneven in practice before this fall but has come on lately. "He wasn't making the progress we wanted, but as camp started he's slowly made his way to where he's had some of his best practices the last couple of days. He's worked hard. He's taken another step the last couple of practices."

* Randall's "head was spinning" with so much information to take in. But he offers a tremendous arm and athletic ability. He's a seemingly perfect guy to run Rodriguez's offense -- if and when he really grasps the playbook. "You see a couple of moments where you just cringe and say, 'He'll never get it,' then you see moments where you say, 'He's getting it.' Then you see him run and say, 'If he ever gets it, he's going to be special,'" Rodriguez said.

"When I'm confident in what I'm doing, that's when I play at my best," said Randall. "When my confidence level goes down, that's when I kind of wet the diaper. I'm done that plenty of times. But if it was a game situation it would be different. I'd be ready to roll when the lights are on.

Rodriguez laughed when told that. How will you get to play in a game if you don't get it done in practice? It's not enough to say you're "a gamer."

"They all say that," he said, laughing. "How are you going to have that opportunity? Some guys are better in games than they are at practice. But they are also pretty good in practice. In order to get in the game you have to do it in practice."

Redshirt freshman quarterback Anu Solomon will make history if he starts next Friday against UNLV in the Arizona Wildcats’ season opener at Arizona Stadium.

The Wildcats have not featured either a true freshman or redshirt freshman as the season-opening starter in the time in which they have played in the Pac-10/12, starting in 1978.

Arizona has featured freshman starting quarterbacks but none who were deemed No. 1 out of fall camp. The list of freshmen who have started includes:

– Tom Tunnicliffe in 1980
– Ron Veal in 1987
– George Malauulu in 1989
– Keith Smith in 1996 (Batten was slightly ahead of him out of Fall camp that year but Smith became leading passer)
– Ortege Jenkins in 1997
– Kris Heavner and Ryan O’Hara in 2003
– Willie Tuitama in 2005

ANGCatFan wrote:Good (if not way too short) media interview with the top 3 QBs.

ANGCatFan wrote:Javier Morales with a history of Arizona opening day QBs since 1978. Key point:

Redshirt freshman quarterback Anu Solomon will make history if he starts next Friday against UNLV in the Arizona Wildcats’ season opener at Arizona Stadium.

The Wildcats have not featured either a true freshman or redshirt freshman as the season-opening starter in the time in which they have played in the Pac-10/12, starting in 1978.

Arizona has featured freshman starting quarterbacks but none who were deemed No. 1 out of fall camp. The list of freshmen who have started includes:

– Tom Tunnicliffe in 1980
– Ron Veal in 1987
– George Malauulu in 1989
– Keith Smith in 1996 (Batten was slightly ahead of him out of Fall camp that year but Smith became leading passer)
– Ortege Jenkins in 1997
– Kris Heavner and Ryan O’Hara in 2003
– Willie Tuitama in 2005

Spaceman Spiff wrote:

ANGCatFan wrote:Javier Morales with a history of Arizona opening day QBs since 1978. Key point:

Redshirt freshman quarterback Anu Solomon will make history if he starts next Friday against UNLV in the Arizona Wildcats’ season opener at Arizona Stadium.

The Wildcats have not featured either a true freshman or redshirt freshman as the season-opening starter in the time in which they have played in the Pac-10/12, starting in 1978.

Arizona has featured freshman starting quarterbacks but none who were deemed No. 1 out of fall camp. The list of freshmen who have started includes:

– Tom Tunnicliffe in 1980
– Ron Veal in 1987
– George Malauulu in 1989
– Keith Smith in 1996 (Batten was slightly ahead of him out of Fall camp that year but Smith became leading passer)
– Ortege Jenkins in 1997
– Kris Heavner and Ryan O’Hara in 2003
– Willie Tuitama in 2005

I have not thought about Kris Heavner in a long, long time.