Quick hitters from Arizona’s post-practice media availability Wednesday morning:
* UA coach Rich Rodriguez indicated that receiver Nate Phillips (shoulder) will return for the Hawaii game after sitting out last week. Phillips’ apparent return is significant. The senior is a coach on the field, Rodriguez said, and Arizona really missed having him against Grambling State.
* Rodriguez said he spoke to the Pac-12 to get interpretations on some of the officiating calls from last week. Middle linebacker Cody Ippolito's targeting penalty and punishment will stand. He will have to sit out the first half vs. Hawaii.
* Senior Jake Matthews will start at middle linebacker. That enables Michael Barton to remain in his swing-linebacker role. Defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Marcel Yates said he basically has four starters for the MLB and WLB spots: Ippolito, Matthews, Barton and Paul Magloire Jr.
* Rodriguez also talked to the league about the defensive delay-of-game penalties that went against Arizona, and he didn’t get the clarification he was seeking. It'll be up to each officiating crew to interpret that, requiring a pregame discussion with the refs. Yates said he was hesitant to incorporate those last-second movement calls after the penalties and thought that hurt the UA defense.
* The Wildcats have spent more time working on tackling this week, and they obviously need it. One thing Yates wants his defenders to do is keep their feet moving and run through the ball-carrier. There was far too much lunging against Grambling.
* Whether Brandon Dawkins or Anu Solomon starts against Hawaii – it’s more likely to be Dawkins – Rodriguez simply wants to see better execution from the quarterback position. We’ll get a better idea of Solomon’s status when the injury report comes out Thursday.
* Statistically, Hawaii's defense isn't very good; the Rainbow Warriors allow 50 points per game. But the way UH plays – lots of blitzing, per Rodriguez - will pose a challenge to Arizona.
* Rodriguez said Arizona's attitude has been good since summer. He'd like to see the Wildcats do more extra stuff on their own time in the weight room and film room.
* Rodriguez said receiver Cam Denson is becoming more comfortable at his new position each week and would like to get him more involved. Denson caught two passes for 19 yards against Grambling.
* Rodriguez said late kickoffs make it harder for coaches and players to spend time with visiting recruits. But he’s very happy with the 2017 class so far.
