Quick hitters from the Arizona Wildcats’ post-practice media availability Tuesday morning:
* The status of quarterbacks Brandon Dawkins (ribs) and Anu Solomon (knee) for Saturday’s game at Utah has not been determined, so Arizona is preparing freshman Khalil Tate to make his first career start if neither veteran can play.
* Tight end Matt Morin would be the Wildcats’ emergency quarterback in that scenario. Morin played quarterback in high school, is the team’s holder and has taken some practice reps at QB (although limited to handoffs).
* UA coach Rich Rodriguez said all the injuries on offense make it harder to install new plays and/or adjustments to existing plays. “When you have young guys in there,” Rodriguez said, “you can’t go to Phase 2 or the adjustment to a play because you’re still doing Phase 1.”
* Defensive lineman Luca Bruno was on crutches with a boot on his foot as he made his way from the practice field to the locker room.
* Injuries aren't affecting Arizona's morale, according to Rodriguez. “The first half of today’s practice was the best energy we’ve had in six weeks,” he said.
* Rodriguez said the defense has to get takeaways for Arizona to upset Utah. “If we don’t get any turnovers in this game, we’ll have a tough time,” he said. The Wildcats had four takeaways when they defeated the Utes in Salt Lake City in 2014.
* Rodriguez on sophomore wideout Shun Brown: "Pound for pound, he’s as tough as anybody we’ve got." I’ll have more on Arizona's leading receiver later today.
* Rodriguez and the staff are high on sophomore safety Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles. "He could be one of the better ones in the league eventually,” Rodriguez said. Flannigan-Fowles arguably has been Arizona’s most consistent defensive player.
* Receiver Trey Griffey has drawn at least three pass-interference penalties this season. Rodriguez said there are more one-on-one, downfield opportunities for offenses in college football these days because defenses "are trying to take away the easy stuff.”
* Rodriguez said junior Cam Denson's switch from cornerback to receiver is still "a work in progress" but that Denson knows all three receiver positions now. That should lead to more playing time for Denson, who registered his first career TD reception in the fourth quarter vs. UCLA.
