Notes and takeaways from the Arizona Wildcats’ media availability after practice Wednesday morning:
* Defensive lineman Dereck Boles played in the season opener against Northern Arizona despite having the flu. He didn't tell the coaches he was sick because it was his first game at Arizona. Boles finished with three tackles.
* UA coach Rich Rodriguez is opposed to an NCAA rule proposal that would allow players to transfer once without having to sit out a year. “I’m sure there’ll be rules about tampering,” said Rodriguez, the acting president of the American Football Coaches Association. “But having an open (transfer policy) at this level, with as much time and money that’s committed to recruiting, to get a guy, to sign a guy – I’m talking about legally – and all of a sudden he can just transfer without sitting out? I think that’s a bad idea for Division I football.”
* Rodriguez praised presumptive Houston quarterback starter Kyle Allen, who’s from Scottsdale. “I’ve known him for a long time,” Rodriguez said. “He’s a great thrower. He’s an athletic guy. He’s experienced. He’s played in SEC games (14 starts at Texas A&M). He’s a really, really good player. Everybody in the country wanted him.”
* Two areas Arizona needs to improve against Houston, per Rodriguez: being more aggressive and active on defense and executing in the pass game on offense.
* Defensive coordinator Marcel Yates was happy with Arizona’s red-zone defense in the opener; NAU scored only one touchdown in six trips inside the 20-yard line. Overall, though? "Too many points, too many yards,” Yates said.
* Some focal points for Arizona’s defense this week: For defensive ends, setting the edge and keeping contain. For cornerbacks, picking up receiver cues and locating the ball. I’ll have more on this topic later today.
* Redshirt-freshman cornerback Lorenzo Burns, who made his first career start, said the game felt a little fast for him initially. He described his overall performance as "average."
* Rodriguez said the main group of defensive linemen all played about the same number of snaps vs. NAU, a situation he described as "ideal." Arizona is committed to playing more guys this year.
* Well-schooled freshman defensive end Kylan Wilborn said he always goes for the quarterback’s arm when closing in on a sack. That led to a forced fumble vs NAU.
* Special-teams coach Brian Knorr said the placekicker job remains an open competition between veteran Josh Pollack and freshman Lucas Havrisik.
* Knorr praised freshman Colin Schooler for stepping in for the injured Trevor Wood on the kickoff-return unit and helping spring Tyrell Johnson for a 58-yard return.
* Rodriguez said the coaches "weren't sure" if freshman tailback Nathan Tilford would play in the opener. He did in the fourth quarter and ended up with 79 yards on four carries. Rodriguez feels good about the top five running backs on the depth chart
* Some things Rodriguez looks for in quarterback recruits: arm talent, athletic ability, mobility, ability to manage a game and how soon they can be ready to play. Once they get here, Rodriguez wants them to have a "gym-rat mentality" – an extra commitment to learning everyone's jobs, roles and responsibilities. He said the current group has embraced that approach.
* Rodriguez said it was a "pretty big deal" for the Wildcats who scored their first career touchdowns vs. NAU: receiver Tony Ellison, tailback Branden Leon and quarterback Rhett Rodriguez. I’ll have more on RhettRod’s debut later in the week.
