Arizona Wildcats continue to prep QB Khalil Tate for possible start at Utah

Quick hitters from the Arizona Wildcats’ post-practice media availability Wednesday morning:

* If freshman quarterback Khalil Tate starts at Utah on Saturday, he'll be able to do more things, UA coach Rich Rodriguez said. Tate has had more time to prepare this week after having to enter the game in relief against UCLA.

* The coaching staff is trying to figure out how much it can give Tate, Rodriguez said. They want to have a volume of plays, but not too much. They want Tate to react and not think.

* More should be known about the state of Arizona’s quarterback situation when the injury report is released Thursday afternoon. Brandon Dawkins suffered bruised ribs vs. the Bruins, and Anu Solomon has been battling a knee injury for almost a month.

* Rodriguez said Arizona is "trying several other guys" at cornerback this week. Senior starter DaVonte' Neal really struggled against UCLA. Sophomore Jace Whittaker has made some plays but has been inconsistent.

* Rodriguez on Arizona freshman safety Isaiah Hayes, son of former NFL defensive back Chris Hayes: "His dad was a tough, competitive guy, and you see that in Isaiah." I’ll have more on Hayes, who made his first career start against UCLA, later today.

* Rodriguez said Arizona has made "a few" personnel changes to its struggling special-team units. That’s been a big point of emphasis this week after a poor performance vs. the Bruins. Special teams have been a strength for Utah under Kyle Whittingham.

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* Arizona is last in the Pac-12 in third-down percentage (34.3). Rodriguez said getting the first first down on drives is critical in establishing a rhythm. Arizona went three-and-out on 6 of 7 possessions in the second and third quarters last week.

* Rodriguez on Utah losing starting center J.J. Dielman for the season: "We kinda know where they're coming from."

* Nose tackle Parker Zellers did not have a brace on his injured knee as he walked from the locker room to the elevator at the Lowell-Stevens Football Facility. That might – repeat, might – be an encouraging sign. Zellers has missed the past two games.

* Right tackle Gerhard de Beer had a noticeable limp as he made his way from the practice field to the locker room. De Beer got rolled up awkwardly against UCLA in the second quarter and had to leave the game.

* Right guard Jacob Alsadek, who exited the UCLA game because of an undisclosed injury, didn’t appear impaired in any way as he exited the practice field.

* Rodriguez is in favor of the 7-on-7 passing programs that have proliferated in recent years. "The guys are playing,” he said. “It beats laying around the house doing PlayStation.”