Notes and takeaways from Arizona Wildcats coach Rich Rodriguezβs weekly Monday news conference at the Lowell-Stevens Football Facility, plus some recruiting news:
* Three-star defensive end Adam Plant of Las Vegasβ Bishop Gorman High has re-committed to Arizona, the Star has confirmed. Plant previously committed to the Wildcats in spring before backing out in June. 247Sports.com first reported Plantβs re-commitment. He is listed at 6-3, 225 pounds and projects to defensive end or βStudβ in Arizonaβs scheme. Arizona has only one defensive tackle committed for 2018 and would like to add more before the Dec. 20-22 early signing period.
*Β UA coach Rich Rodriguez said injuries along the defensive line are a βconcernβ heading into Saturdayβs game at Arizona State. All three UA starters went down at Oregon. βWeβre looking at any and all options,β Rodriguez said. Those do not include defensive tackle Sione Taufahema, who is redshirting, Rodriguez said. Iβll have more on the D-line situation later today.
*Β One player who should be back is Parker Zellers, who sat out last week after violating a team rule. Rodriguez indicated that Zellers would return if he fulfills the obligations of his punishment.
*Β Rodriguez gave credit to Oregon, especially its offensive line, but said Arizona made βsome uncharacteristic mistakesβ during its 48-28 loss in Eugene last week. The Wildcats have βa lot of things to fixβ this week, Rodriguez said.
*Β Rodriguez erupted in anger after Dane Cruikshank taunted an Oregon player, wiping out a touchdown. I asked Rodriguez if thatβs the maddest heβs been in a game. βIf itβs not, itβs in the top two,β he said.
*Β Rodriguez is hoping the Wildcats can find the right mix of competitiveness and intensity without crossing the line against the Sun Devils. He wants his team to be aggressive but to stay βwithin the framework of the rules,β which didnβt always happen at Oregon.
*Β Rodriguez thought Khalil Tate and the offense βpressed a little bitβ in the second half against the Ducks. That includes tailback J.J. Taylor, who sometimes tries to make big plays at the expense of smaller gains.
*Β Rodriguez said the Oregon game will be a learning experience for Tate. Rodriguez also said the coaching staff could do more to help him out when certain plays arenβt working.
*Β Tate did not make the top three for the Maxwell (College Player of the Year) or Davey OβBrien (nationβs best QB) awards. He had been named a semifinalist for both.
*Β Arizonaβs uncharacteristic mistakes at Oregon included several dropped passes. βEvery drop of big play missed can hurt youβ in a game like that, Rodriguez said.
*Β Although it counts as only one game, Rodriguez said the Territorial Cup has an βadded importanceβ because itβs the one fans are most passionate about and the one players hear about the most the other 364 days of the year.
*Β Unlike other conference road games, the entire team will travel to Tempe, Rodriguez said. Whether theyβre playing or not, Rodriguez wants all of his players to get a feel for the intensity of the rivalry.
*Β Rodriguez said the outcome of the Territorial Cup is βoverratedβ from a recruiting standpoint but acknowledged that the game is a bigger deal for in-state recruits.
*Β Rodriguez and his staff will hit the recruiting trail next week. They would have done so even without the new early signing date, but its existence creates βa certain urgency,β Rodriguez said.
*Β Rodriguez acknowledged that the struggles of the punting unit are more mental than physical. βIf you talk too much about it, it becomes more mental,β he said. βTheyβve got to trust their ability.β
*Β Rodriguez said he βwasnβt awareβ that former US tailback Orlando Bradford was sentenced to five years in prison Monday after pleading guilty to two felony counts of aggravated assault. He was dismissed from the program last September.
*Β Rodriguez said the biggest challenge of next yearβs schedule is the Wildcatsβ late bye. They will play 10 consecutive games before getting a week off.
