The Arizona Wildcats are set to begin training camp Thursday. To get you ready, we’ve examined each position.
QUARTERBACKS
Returning starter: RS JR Anu Solomon
Also returning: RS SO Brandon Dawkins
Newcomer(s): FR Khalil Tate
Burning question: Will Rich Rodriguez really go through with it and change quarterbacks, demoting a successful two-year starter in the process?
This much we know: Rodriguez is serious about at least exploring the possibility of changing quarterbacks.
It would be a bold move – the boldest of Rodriguez’s UA career besides the defensive staff changes made this offseason. It’s definitely not the safe play.
Starting Dawkins instead of Solomon is rife with risk. Why? Because one is a proven commodity and the other isn’t. You could argue that Arizona has a plethora of problems, and Solomon ain’t one of them.
But there has to be a method to Rodriguez’s apparent madness. Maybe he believes that Dawkins can become something Solomon isn’t – a true dual threat. Maybe Rodriguez feels that this season – with the defense in the midst of an overhaul that will take more than one season to complete – is the time to take a chance.
Although Rodriguez has the final say, it isn’t entirely up to him. Dawkins has to clearly show he’s the superior quarterback, and that won’t be easy. As of spring, Solomon had a sizable lead on his challenger in terms of experience and knowledge of the playbook. That matters as much, if not more, than how well you can throw or how fast you can run.
The secondary hope in all this is that the competition will motivate Solomon. Rodriguez insists he’s a fierce competitor. But Solomon, who isn’t an alpha dog by nature, doesn’t always show it, at least not in an overt way. If Solomon’s response is to step up and fight for his job, Arizona stands to benefit.
Circling back to the original question … I wouldn’t be surprised if Rodriguez made the move. I don’t necessarily expect it to happen, but Rodriguez has indicated – several times now – that it’s something he’s earnestly contemplating. It’s up to Solomon and Dawkins to state their cases.
