Notes and takeaways from the Arizona Wildcats’ media availability after their seventh practice of training camp Monday night:
* UA coach Rich Rodriguez doesn’t see J.J. Taylor’s size (listed at 5-6, 175) as a deterrent. Rodriguez also doesn’t foresee giving Taylor 40-plus carries in a game a la Ka’Deem Carey vs. Oregon in 2013. If both are healthy, I’d be surprised if Taylor and Nick Wilson aren’t splitting time evenly, or something close to it.
* I keep hearing it from multiple coaches: Arizona’s defense looks more athletic this year. The more I hear it, the more I think the unit is going to show marked improvement.
* It sounds more and more as if freshman safeties Scottie Young Jr. and Troy Young are going to play significant roles this season. “We thought when we signed them that they’d have a chance to compete,” Rodriguez said. “They’ve been even better early in camp than ever we could have expected. They’re learning in a hurry. They look like what you want your safeties to look like.”
* Sophomore walk-on Lee Anderson III might be a real factor as an outside linebacker/defensive end. Anderson didn’t play much as a freshman, appearing in only two games. He switched from a more traditional linebacker role to pass rusher this year. At 6-1, 235, he doesn’t have ideal dimensions. But in the meritocracy that is Arizona’s defensive front, he could carve out a role.
* Rodriguez said he’s looking for three quarterbacks he feels comfortable with by the end of training camp. He said he’d even play three if that were warranted. I don’t see things playing out that way. As of now, Brandon Dawkins is the heavy favorite.
* Rodriguez didn’t have one of the Rob Gronkowski bobbleheads when we spoke to him Monday night. Rodriguez did claim to have something he called a “Gronk Ice Cold Beverage Mug.”
* New special-teams coach Brian Knorr is taking a more analytical approach to the kicking game. The result of each field-goal attempt is assigned a number. For example, wide left is a “1,” left-middle is a “2,” etc.
* Knorr, who dubbed his edge rushers “The Edgemen,” is calling the special-teams units “Special Forces.” It’s kinda corny, but the players seem to like it.
* As of now, Josh Pollack and freshman Lucas Havrisik are competing at kicker, while Jake Glatting and freshman Cameron Braaten are competing at punter.
* Tight end Trevor Wood on how camp is going: “We’re playing more as a team. I just think the energy … there’s a different camaraderie and attitude toward the season.” And why is that? “Going 3-9. The experience we had last year. We had guys going down. It’s never fun. We got beat down. You don’t want to feel like that again.”
* Running backs coach Calvin Magee termed freshman Gary Brightwell’s receiving ability as a “pleasant surprise.” Brightwell has been doing some work out of the slot, and that might be his quickest path to playing time.
