Quick hitters from Arizona’s fourth spring practice Monday and media availability afterward:
- Asked whether offensive lineman Freddie Tagaloa (knee) has suffered a setback, Wildcats coach Rich Rodriguez said: “He’s getting some things fixed right now. He’ll be fine in the fall, but he’ll be limited in the spring.” Tagaloa was seen exiting the field on crutches Saturday.
- Rodriguez said he would like to have 7-8 game-ready defensive linemen for the three true down positions but conceded: “We're not there right now.”
- Middle linebacker Cody Ippolito, on the mend from a torn left ACL suffered last August, is doing everything except live hitting.
- Rodriguez said Arizona is “woefully thin” at middle linebacker and safety. The Wildcats lost MLB Scooby Wright, and Ippolito and Jake Matthews are still recovering from injuries. At safety, Arizona lost three of its top four players. Rodriguez is counting on newcomers to provide competition and depth.
- Rodriguez predicted Wright and receiver Cayleb Jones would do well at this week’s NFL scouting combine, “but they’ll do better when (they) put the pads on.” Both are “really good football players,” Rodriguez said. “And when the lights come on, they’re even better.”
