Notes and takeaways from the Arizona Wildcats’ media availability after practice Tuesday morning as Washington State week continues:
* UA quarterback Khalil Tate was named to Pro Football Focus’ Pac-12 Team of the Week for the third week in a row. Freshman linebacker Tony Fields II made PFF’s defensive squad.
PFF Week 8 - Pac 12 Team of the Week - OffenseKhalil Tate takes home QB of the Week honors for a third straight week. pic.twitter.com/Pp1lGQMrc8
— PFF College Football (@PFF_College) October 24, 2017
* Tate was sick on his birthday Monday. He came to the facility anyway. "He looked like death warmed over,” quarterbacks coach Rod Smith said. “So I said get out of here."
* Smith said Tate ran a 4.56 second 40-yard dash in the spring, when he weighed 220 pounds. Tate told us recently he’s down to 208.
* UA coach Rich Rodriguez felt that tailback J.J. Taylor was on the verge of a breakout performance vs. Cal before he got ejected for targeting in the first quarter. I’ll have more on Taylor later today.
* Taylor, who's 5-foot-6, on the targeting penalty: "I’m too short to hit somebody too high."
* Rodriguez said right tackle Gerhard de Beer had his best game of the season vs. Cal. De Beer is finally healthy after missing most of the offseason while rehabbing a knee injury.
* Rodriguez lauded safety Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles' aggressiveness vs. the Golden Bears. Flannigan-Fowles had a strong start to the year, dipped a bit, then rebounded big-time vs. Cal.
* Luke Falk and the Washington State passing offense have lit up the UA defense the past two seasons. Rodriguez said the Wildcats haven't pressured him, made plays on the ball or tackled well in space. Other than that ...
* Rodriguez generally has been pleased with Arizona’s cornerback play. They're put in lots of one-on-one situations. They will be tested repeatedly vs. the Cougars.
* Rodriguez had a lot of praise for Washington State's discipline and athleticism on defense. He said defensive coordinator Alex Grinch has done a good job of fitting his scheme to the players’ talents.
* Arizona's field-goal unit has had some misfires, largely because of injury and turnover at short snapper. "I hold my breath every time," Rodriguez said.
