Notes and takeaways from the Arizona Wildcats鈥 media availability after practice Tuesday morning as they continue preparations for Saturday鈥檚 opener against Northern Arizona:
* Freshman tailback Nathan Tilford did not appear on the initial depth chart, but don鈥檛 read too much into that. "You all could take that depth chart and just throw it away,鈥 UA coach Rich Rodriguez said. 鈥淭ilford鈥檚 gonna play." Rodriguez praised Tilford鈥檚 passion and football IQ and said Arizona has five viable tailbacks, including Branden Leon.
*听蚕耻补谤迟别谤产补肠办 Brandon Dawkins on his 鈥渃o-starter鈥 status on the Week 1 depth chart: "I haven鈥檛 seen it. It doesn鈥檛 really change my approach. It doesn鈥檛 change my demeanor. It changes nothing about my work ethic. It鈥檚 just a piece of paper with some names on it. No matter where they have me, I always have to be prepared to go in there and execute the offense to its full potential.鈥
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*聽Rodriguez met briefly with Arizona鈥檚 freshman class Tuesday. His message? "This is a great group,鈥 he said. 鈥淚f they hang together the next four years, it could be pretty special."
*聽Arizona's first three games will be telling, especially with so many young players in key roles, Rodriguez said. The coaches will find out what they really have over the next three weeks.
*聽There鈥檚 no way to know how Arizona鈥檚 freshmen will react in games. Prep work is the key, Rodriguez said. "The best way to have confidence,鈥 he said, 鈥渋s to be really prepared."
*聽Rodriguez said Arizona Stadium hosting three AIA football championship games is "great news." The 4A, 5A and 6A games will take place in Tucson on Dec. 2. 鈥淚 just like showing off our place 鈥 not just our stadium but our campus and our city,鈥 Rodriguez said. 鈥淎ny event that we can we have in our stadium is a chance to showcase all those things.鈥
*聽Receivers coach Theron Aych lived in Houston when flooded the city in 2001. He saw freeways that looked like rivers, much like what鈥檚 happening now because of Tropical Storm Harvey. "It's like being in a movie,鈥 Aych said. 鈥淚t's very surreal." Aych said he's been in contact with Arizona recruits from the Houston area and that they and their families are safe as far as he knows.
*聽Rodriguez lauded No. 1 receiver Shun Brown's work ethic. Using him on kickoff and punt returns is just another way to get the ball in his hands. "We鈥檝e got to get him some touches," Rodriguez said.
*聽Arizona needs to generate game-changing plays on special teams. Rodriguez believes having a deeper pool of talent will help in that regard.
