Drake Anderson and Stevie Rocker Jr. have increased their workloads this week. Jalen John is getting close.
When theyβre all back, Arizona will have five scholarship tailbacks. Unless someone transfers β always a possibility these days β that number will grow to six when four-star freshman Rayshon βSpeedyβ Luke joins the team this summer.
Given that thereβs only one football, no more than two backs can play at a time and the Wildcats have added talent at receiver and tight end, is it possible to keep them all happy?
βThatβs a good question,β running backs coach Scottie Graham said. βMy freshman year when I was at Ohio State, Bobby Turner, who is the best running back coach in the world, told us, βI got eight of you guys, and I have one ball. Whoever controls their ego is gonna get the ball.β So I tell my six guys, βI got six of yβall and one ball. Whoever controls their ego is gonna get the ball.ββ
Having too many good players is never a bad thing. Competition is one of the core tenets of Jedd Fischβs program. He and his staff found playing time for four backs last year. Michael Wiley (336), Anderson (310), John (157) and Rocker (123) each played at least 123 offensive snaps, according to Pro Football Focus.
Freshman Jonah Coleman has joined that group, and heβs been one of the standouts of spring camp. He might be too good to keep off the field.
Graham expects the veterans to serve as mentors to the young players. The older players consistently have said they embrace that responsibility.
Asked if heβd be happy if he werenβt getting 20 touches a game, Wiley said: βFor me, itβs not really about that. ... Weβre trying to just win.β
Wiley played an integral role in the Wildcatsβ lone victory last season; he scored the only touchdown in Arizonaβs 10-3 triumph over Cal. Wiley, who has gotten starter reps during spring practice, carved out a role as a third-down back last season. He led the team with six touchdowns, scoring all of them over the final seven games.
Wiley doesnβt cower from the competition created by Colemanβs breakout or Lukeβs pending arrival.
βThatβs what we need to get where we want to be,β Wiley said.
The idea is that the more competitive the position room is, the better everyone will perform. Tight ends coach Jordan Paopao was talking about that concept this week. He was referring to his own room, but it applies to all positions.
βWhat you start to see is the guys that came in that are better at a couple different facets of play start to push the other guys,β Paopao said. βIt just starts to create a little bit of that internal competition of, βI donβt want to be shown up. ... Hey, I can do that too.β β
UA offensive coordinator Brennan Carroll is the son of a coach who built the greatest Pac-12 dynasty of the 21st century on a platform of competition. He saw first-hand at USC how Pete Carroll got the best out of his players β including running backs who had to fight for every rep.
βCompetition is going to show. Itβs gonna shine through,β Brennan Carroll said. βThe best guys are going to play, and itβs going to bring the guys who maybe are not going with the ones right now ... itβs going to get those guys to raise their game, raise their level.
βThose guys on the way back (from injuries), theyβre going to come out raring to go because they know that competition is on. Itβs happened across positions. Itβs happened in the receiver group, itβs happened in the O-line group, tight ends, quarterbacks. Competition is a beautiful thing.β
Burnettβs blocking
Freshman tight end Keyan Burnett has the first step down when it comes to mastering a task he didnβt perform all that often in high school β blocking.
βHeβs very willing,β Carroll said. βHeβs done a great job for a freshman, being barely 18 years old, fighting his tail off in there ... which is all you can ask for a young guy.β
Burnett earned a four-star rating at Servite High School in Anaheim, California, primarily for his pass-catching skills. He estimated that he was asked to block about 30% of the time.
Asked what his biggest adjustment has been since arriving on campus, Burnett said: βThat, and just the game is faster.β
Burnett is receiving what Paopao described as a βtrial by fire.β Burnett is being given every opportunity to succeed Bryce Wolma as Alex Linesβ running mate at tight end. Lines played 651 offensive snaps last season, per PFF, sixth most on that side of the ball. Wolma played 410 snaps.
βWeβre trying to find a variety of different ways that we can match them up,β Paopao said.
Burnett already has flashed his receiving skills. Blocking remains a work in progress. He said Paopao is βreally detail orientedβ in terms of footwork, angles and techniques. Burnett also can learn from Lines, who played for Paopao at UNLV and followed him to Arizona.
βThe dudeβs a beast,β Burnett said of Lines. βI donβt know if youβve seen it, but heβs strong as an ox.β
Extra points
Burnett and Lines both said they enjoy the challenge of facing UA veteran safety Christian Young. βHeβs a competitor,β Burnett said. βI feel like thatβs what I am too. Itβs fun. Every time itβs a battle. Said Lines: βAnytime you can go up against a guy like that, it just makes you better. It just breeds competition. And thatβs what weβre all about.β
Paopao, whoβs now in charge of special teams, on improving Arizonaβs punt protection after the Wildcats allowed four blocks last season: βWeβre gonna protect first. ... We just have to get back to fundamentals. You go to a lot of press conferences, and thatβs coach-speak, right? βWe gotta get better at technique and fundamentals.β But I think thatβs the honest-to-goodness truth.β
Paopao said Arizona will be adding walk-ons to compete with kicker Tyler Loop and punter Kyle Ostendorp. Theyβre the only specialists in spring camp. βWe are definitely in the process of recruiting a couple guys to be able to do exactly (that), build a little bit of depth,β Paopao said. βThatβll make Loop better, thatβll make βDorpβ better. They had fantastic seasons, especially to finish it. But thereβs no reason that we canβt push the envelope.β
If youβre wondering who could be the successor to Clay Markoff as Arizonaβs fullback, it might be Issaiah Johnson, who moved from linebacker to tight end this spring. βI see being able to potentially build a role out for him in that manner,β Paopao said.
After throwing four interceptions Monday, UA quarterbacks avoided turnovers Wednesday during what Carroll called a run-oriented practice. But Carroll looks at turnovers with a head coachβs perspective. βWe need the defense to make plays too,β he said. βI celebrate when the defense picks a ball off. Itβs blasphemous. But ... we all need to make good plays.β
Defensive tackle Dion Wilson Jr. returned to practice Wednesday after missing Monday. Defensive end Hunter Echols also participated after being forced out of Mondayβs practice because of a minor injury.
Offensive lineman Davis DiVall, who made his first appearance of spring Monday, got some reps with the third team at left guard. Carroll said DiVall will be in the mix at guard and tackle.
Players who did not participate or were absent included receiver Maβjon Wright, defensive lineman JB Brown and defensive back Gunner Maldonado. Linebacker Anthony Solomon was limited. Linebacker Jerry Roberts got banged up during 11-on-11 work and exited early.
Zac Taylor, head coach of the Super Bowl runner-up Cincinnati Bengals, spoke to the team via videoconference Wednesday. Taylor and Fisch worked together with the L.A. Rams.
The Wildcats will practice again Friday afternoon before holding a scrimmage at 7 p.m. Saturday at Arizona Stadium.