Numbers underline Solomon's ups and downs

Anu Solomon pondered the question. He paused. He chuckled. He didn’t say much, but his answer said a lot.

Asked Tuesday night how he felt about his season to date, the Arizona Wildcats quarterback wasn’t sure how to describe it. He settled on this:

“There’s been ups and downs,” Solomon said. “Obviously, it wasn’t one to follow up from last year. You’re going to have one of those seasons. You just have to come back fighting.”

Solomon isn’t remotely satisfied with the way 2015 has gone, mainly because of Arizona’s 6-6 record heading into the New Mexico Bowl on Saturday. That’s how the redshirt sophomore measures success.

“It’s all about winning,” said Solomon, who feels “normal” and back to his “regular self” after missing the regular-season finale against Arizona State because of a concussion.

“I just hate losing. That’s what bothers me the most.”

In that regard, Solomon took a step backward this year. But to blame the Wildcats’ failure to follow up on their 10-win, Pac-12 South championship season on their quarterback is patently unfair.

Although he doesn’t have as many yards or touchdowns as he did in 2014, Solomon actually improved in several key statistical categories. His completion percentage is higher (62.7 vs. 58.0). His yards per attempt is up (7.6 vs. 7.0). His efficiency rating is better (143.7 vs. 130.7). So is his touchdown-to-interception ratio (4.5:1 vs. 3.1:1).

So where does the perception come from that Solomon regressed?

“The kid had a good freshman year, and he set a good standard for himself,” UA co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Rod Smith said. “So everybody expects more. Whenever you don’t play the entire season, it’s tough to top those standards, top those stats. His yardage isn’t as much, but he didn’t play as much.”

Solomon missed two games and parts of two others because of concussions — the first suffered in the second quarter against UCLA on Sept. 26, the second in the fourth quarter against Utah on Nov. 14. He was among numerous Wildcats to miss time during a regular season in which injuries ravaged the roster.

“He hasn’t been healthy. The team hasn’t been healthy,” Pac-12 Networks analyst Yogi Roth said by phone Tuesday. “I don’t think he’s had a poor season. I don’t think he’s had an elite season. But no one expected (the Wildcats)to go through what they went through.”

Injuries crippled Solomon’s supporting cast, which includes the defense. Because the defense was scuffling so much, the offense “couldn’t afford bad possessions,” Roth said. That ratcheted up the pressure on the quarterback.

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Solomon won’t use any of it as an excuse.

“It’s a game of keep-up if our defense is struggling,” he said. “It’s all on me. I’m the commander of the team.”

Solomon said he plans to “compete till the wheels fall off” against New Mexico. Roth believes Solomon will flourish if the Wildcats’ pass protection holds up against the Lobos’ blitzing defense. They’re expected to play a lot of man-to-man coverage, which could create big-play opportunities for Solomon and his receiving corps.

“I think he’ll have his best game of the year,” Roth said. “They’re going to be able to crease this team.”

Solomon was playing his best ball against Utah before getting hurt. He had accumulated 363 yards of offense, including a season-high 86 rushing yards, and had accounted for three touchdowns. He exited with 9:25 remaining in regulation.

“He was on that night,” Smith said. “That’s what we expect from him every night. And we’ll get it.”

The feeling among Arizona coaches is that Solomon is ascending and will continue to do so. Even if, as expected, Brandon Dawkins pushes him next year, that competition should bring out the best in the incumbent.

“There are some moments he’d like to have back,” coach Rich Rodriguez said. “But when Anu’s been healthy this year, I thought he’s been better than he was a year ago. And I think he’ll keep getting better.”

Extra points

Sophomore tailback Nick Wilson is not expected to play in the New Mexico Bowl, Rodriguez said. Wilson, the Wildcats’ leading rusher, has missed three-plus games because of knee and foot injuries.

Rodriguez said sophomore cornerback Cam Denson will get a look at receiver during spring drills. 

Arizona honored its departing seniors at the end of their final on-campus practice. Each player was introduced over the PA system and had his own “walk-up” music.

The team travels to Albuquerque on Wednesday.