Notes and takeaways from Arizona coach Kevin Sumlin’s weekly Monday news conference as the Wildcats prepare to face Oregon:
* Sumlin was unsure of quarterback Khalil Tate’s status as of Monday afternoon. Tate sat out last week’s game at UCLA to rest his injured ankle. Sumlin said he would meet with Tate and the training staff and could make a determination by as early as tonight. We’ll have more on this situation later today.
* Sumlin on the performance of Tate’s replacement, Rhett Rodriguez: “I thought Rhett did some things that were really good and some things he would take back. He was very critical of himself. In the end, he gave us a chance to win the game.”
* Sumlin said he didn’t use either of his freshman quarterbacks, Jamarye Joiner or Kevin Doyle, because of the team’s slow start. Arizona trailed UCLA 10-0 early in the second quarter.
* Sumlin praised the development of senior receiver Shawn Poindexter, who has proved he can win most one-on-one battles with opposing cornerbacks. Sumlin noted that teams are paying more attention to Poindexter; he had two defenders on him when he scored his second touchdown against UCLA.
* Sumlin was pleased with the offensive line’s performance against UCLA but said the unit can be better. The Wildcats played without senior left tackle Layth Friekh (ankle).
* Sumlin said PJ Johnson’s presence has helped his fellow defensive linemen, giving players such as JB Brown and Jalen Harris one-on-one opportunities.
* Sumlin said freshman Christian Young was the pick to move from safety to cornerback last week because he had proved himself on special teams and in limited opportunities on defense. Young made his first career start alongside fellow freshman McKenzie Barnes with Lorenzo Burns (injury) and Tim Hough (no longer on team) unavailable.
* Sumlin said he hasn’t spoken to senior cornerback Jace Whittaker about the possibility of redshirting. Whittaker has played in only one game this season because of injuries and has yet to use a redshirt year.
* Sophomore Brian Casteel has not been part of the receiver mix this season because of an injury, Sumlin said.
* Third down continues to be a major point of emphasis on both sides of the ball. Sumlin remains unsatisfied with Arizona’s performance in third-down situations. The Wildcats couldn’t get the Bruins off the field to get the ball back at the end of last week’s game.
* Sumlin said Oregon quarterback Justin Herbert is “extremely talented” and has “a lot of special players around him.” Sumlin added that the Ducks’ secondary is as good as anyone’s.
