In the Arizona Wildcats’ ongoing mission to upgrade their passing game, the quarterback faces the bulk of the scrutiny. No one disputes that the UA needs better play from that position.
Improved play from the guy snapping him the ball would help, too. Nathan Eldridge is determined to make that happen in his second year as Arizona’s starting center.
Eldridge, a redshirt sophomore, said he feels “100 percent” more comfortable now compared to August, when he took over the job under brutal circumstances.
Senior and projected starter Zach Hemmila died in his sleep a few days into training camp. Someone had to replace him. That someone turned out to be Eldridge, who endured the typical ups and downs of a first-time starter.
“I came in with the mentality that I wanted to start,” Eldridge said. “I wanted to be that guy. It was unfortunate how I got it. But we still had games to play. So I worked extra hard to make sure that I was on point with everything and I knew what I was doing.”
UA coach Rich Rodriguez said Eldridge performed “admirably” in a difficult situation. But he was far from a finished product — and isn’t one now either. This spring, he’s striving to shore up the deficiencies in his game.
Eldridge has spent a ton of time watching film to gain a better understanding of defenses. He has paid particularly close attention to the positioning and movement of safeties, whose whereabouts often dictate blitzes and coverages.
As the center, it’s Eldridge’s responsibility to convey that information to his fellow linemen. Failing to correctly identify fronts can lead to the blocking breakdowns that hurt the Wildcats at times last season.
“He got thrown into it last year, matured a ton and worked his butt off,” UA offensive line coach Jim Michalczik said. “Coming back a year later, he’s seeing the field a lot better. He’s really getting a better understanding of the game of football, of seeing the defense and being able to adjust and adapt on the move.”
Michalczik said Eldridge has a “high ceiling,” but that there are “some mechanical things that are keeping him from that right now.”
Eldridge is working on becoming more patient and balanced in his pass-protection sets. He had a tendency to lean forward too much, enabling defensive tackles to swipe his hands and maneuver past him.
Now, Eldridge is trying to sit back, use his hands when engaged, and move his feet. He tries to emulate Atlanta Falcons All-Pro Alex Mack, who, like Eldridge, wrestled in high school.
“I try and study how he uses his leverage, his hands, dropping his butt when he’s in his pass protection,” Eldridge said. “He’s a really good player. I really look up to him.”
Even though he’s still relatively young, Eldridge hopes that the other offensive linemen feel the same way about him.
To be an effective center, you have to be a leader. Eldridge wasn’t completely comfortable in that role at first as a redshirt freshman surrounded by upperclassmen.
He has embraced those responsibilities this spring. Rodriguez can sense it.
“That position is like quarterback,” Rodriguez said. “You’ve gotta have guys that (can) lead and take control, and I think he’ll have more confidence in doing that.”
Pro-day preview
Arizona will conduct its annual pro day Friday, so a lot of the conversation after practice Wednesday centered on the Wildcats’ NFL prospects. Although the Wildcats don’t have any certain draftees this year, all 32 teams are expected to have representatives on hand.
Rodriguez is particularly bullish on Samajie Grant, who played both receiver and running back last season.
“I think Samajie Grant’s an NFL guy,” Rodriguez said. “He’s got the athletic ability. He’s got the toughness. More than anything, he’s got a football awareness. He can learn multiple positions in a short period of time.”
Rodriguez said receiver Trey Griffey, who played in the East-West Shrine Game in January, brings added value because of his special-teams ability.
“He’s a physical guy,” Rodriguez said. “He’s got good size. You can put him on every special team, and he’ll be one of the best guys you have there.”
Griffey and linebacker Paul Magloire Jr. are Arizona’s highest-rated prospects, with some projecting Magloire as a mid-round pick. Rodriguez described Magloire as a “really good athlete” and praised him for moving from safety to linebacker in midseason of 2015.
Extra points
- The Wildcats practiced in the morning, and Rodriguez liked the energy level. Most of this spring’s workouts have been in the afternoon. Arizona practiced in the morning last season for the first time under Rodriguez.
- Former Arizona All-American Scooby Wright worked out in the UA weight room wearing Cardinals gear. Wright joined the Cardinals late last season.
- Regarding the overall influx of players on defense in the past two recruiting cycles, Rodriguez said: “I think we’re deeper talent-wise than we’ve been in maybe three or four years.”
- Linebackers coach Scott Boone said redshirt freshman Jacob Colacion has been a “pleasant surprise.” Unlike last season, Colacion is practicing without a bulky knee brace. He has been working at “Will” linebacker and at times “Mike” when Brandon Rutt has class conflicts.
