Quick hitters from the Arizona Wildcats’ media availability after their second spring practice Monday afternoon:
* UA coach Rich Rodriguez did not have many complimentary words for last year’s defense. "It was bad,” he said. “It wasn’t for effort or coaches not trying hard. We just weren’t good. We weren’t good in any phase."
* But Rodriguez is bullish on the defense’s prospects for a quick turnaround: "I’m completely, 100 percent confident that not only will we be better defensively, we’ll be infinitely better."
* Rodriguez, in the course of making general remarks about practice, offered this about the passing game: "We’ve still got to get better, particularly at quarterback. We’ve got to get better throwing the ball."
* Rodriguez said he has confidence in quarterbacks Brandon Dawkins and Khalil Tate but said 15 spring practices won't be enough for them to get everything down. He implored them to do more work on their own come summer.
* Tate's biggest obstacle remains mastering the offense, Rodriguez said. He conceded that Tate had to play last year before he was ready.
* Rodriguez said tailbacks Nick Wilson and J.J. Taylor took minimal reps. They're on a pitch count, basically. The beneficiary is freshman Nathan Tilford, who’s getting tons of reps and experience.
* Safety-turned-linebacker Gavin Robertson, a redshirt freshman, is listed at 6-1, 210 pounds. He said he has grown to 6-3, 225. He very much looks like a linebacker.
* Defensive line coach Vince Amey on newcomer Sione Taufahema: "I'm excited about Sione. He's gotta get in shape, but he's picking things up quick." Taufahema is listed at 6-1, 330.
* Amey on signees Jalen Harris and My-King Johnson, a pair of defensive ends from the Phoenix area: "Honestly, they might come in and surprise you right away."
* Rodriguez indicated that offensive lineman Michael Eletise did not practice again because of an undisclosed injury. It’s possible he could be back later this week.
* Harper Sherman, another redshirt-freshman offensive lineman, left practice on crutches with an ice pack on his right foot.
* Receiver Cedric Peterson had a green jersey on, a possible sign of progress after he worked on the side in a yellow jersey Saturday. Peterson missed the end of last season because of a broken foot.
* Defensive end Jalen Cochran, who was limited to side work Saturday, did not have a helmet as he left the practice field.
