Quick hitters from the Arizona Wildcats’ media availability after their fourth practice of spring Friday afternoon:
* UA coach Rich Rodriguez confirmed that his plan is to hire a full-time special-teams coach, and he expects that to be done within the next two weeks. Arizona is expected to announce the addition of receivers coach Theron Aych any day not, but Rodriguez couldn’t comment on that because the hiring is not official yet.
* Rodriguez said freshman tailback Nathan Tilford is among the players who have looked better in pads than shorts.
* Rodriguez said tailbacks J.J. Taylor and Nick Wilson took some "quality reps" today after being held back in previous practices. "I like where we're at at tailback," Rodriguez said.
* Can quarterbacks improve how they see the field? Rodriguez believes they can - and that Brandon Dawkins and Khalil Tate will over the rest of spring.
* Rodriguez said 2-4 offensive linemen have been banged up each practice, limiting that unit’s capacity to rotate. None of the injuries is considered long term, and Rodriguez is hopeful everyone will be healthy by the middle of next week.
* Asked about the team’s cornerback play last year, Rodriguez said: "Not very good. That's putting it mildly." He said the corners as a whole need to get bigger, stronger and more consistent
* Rodriguez conceded that the '16 regulars, Dane Cruikshank and Jace Whittaker, had little Division I experience. He expects that group to improve in 2017.
* Cornerback Sammy Morrison revealed that he suffered a partially torn ACL in spring last year and then tore a hamstring on the first day of training camp, forcing him to redshirt. Fellow corner Lorenzo Burns ended up redshirting after suffering a sprained MCL in Week 2 against Grambling State. Both are healthy now.
* Arizona defensive coordinator Marcel Yates said he wanted to move back to the secondary after coaching linebackers last year and told Rodriguez as much during his search for a new defensive assistant. Rodriguez hired Scott Boone to coach linebackers, enabling Yates to make that move.
* I asked Yates about Rodriguez’s blunt assessment of the 2016 defense. Yates agreed with it. "It was bad,” he said. Yates expects improvement with more talent and familiarity in Year 2.
* In videos posted by Arizona of Friday's closed practice, tackle Cody Creason looked impressive in blocking drills.
* Linebacker Jacob Colacion participated in the “board drill,” a sign that he’s able to practice now after being held out because of a concussion.
* Defensive end Jalen Cochran left the practice field with a helmet, a possible sign that he’s back after being limited to start spring camp.
