Quick hitters from Arizona’s Monday news conference featuring Wildcats coach Rich Rodriguez and players at the Lowell-Stevens Football Facility:
* Michael Barton has been moved from “Mike” to “Will” linebacker on the depth chart and is listed as a co-starter there with Paul Magloire Jr. The coaches want to get Barton more playing time.
* Rodriguez said safety Tellas Jones “tweaked an ankle” in the second quarter of Saturday’s 18-16 season-opening loss to BYU. Jones did not return. Rodriguez was unsure whether Jones would practice Tuesday.
* Rodriguez was pleased with the effort on both sides of the ball against BYU but would like to see better execution. He said the offense missed on some “touchdown opportunities.”
* Rodriguez said quarterback Anu Solomon was among those who missed big-play opportunities. Rodriguez reiterated his confidence in Solomon moving forward.
* Rodriguez said he was “close” to playing Brandon Dawkins against BYU and that would like him to play him some against Grambling State. Dawkins and Solomon are still listed as co-starters, but Rodriguez gave no indication that he’d make a change.
* Rodriguez said the offensive line suffered too many breakdowns but that “the things we need to get fixed are fixable.”
* Defensive linemen Finton Connolly (redshirt freshman) and Darrell Cloy Jr. (sophomore) did not dress because they weren’t part of the game plan, Rodriguez said.
* Rodriguez implied that freshman offensive lineman Keenan Walker is suspended after being arrested for fighting outside a bar this summer. Walker is healthy enough to suit up, Rodriguez said.
* Freshman linebacker Jacob Colacion, who suffered a knee injury during his senior year of high school, is practicing at full speed, Rodriguez said. Colacion is expected to redshirt.
* Starting defensive end Justin Belknap said he does not have a scholarship. He joined the program as a walk-on and remains one.
* Rodriguez noted that field position hurt Arizona against BYU. The Wildcats’ average starting point was their 20-yard line; the Cougars’ was their 29. Twice Arizona started drives inside its own 2. Rodriguez deemed the overall special-teams performance as “average.”
* Rodriguez was generally pleased with the defense but said the unit needs to tackle better and find a way to create turnovers. Arizona did not have a takeaway against BYU.
