Notes and takeaways from the Arizona Wildcats鈥 media availability after practice Wednesday morning:
* Senior DE-LB DeAndre鈥 Miller鈥檚 status remains unclear for Friday鈥檚 game at Utah. Miller has been a partial participant in practice. He missed all of training camp and the first three games while rehabbing from July foot surgery. The debate for Arizona and Miller is whether it makes sense to use him in a limited role vs. Utah or give him an extra two weeks to get ready for the rest of the season. Arizona is off next week.
*聽Senior receiver Cam Denson remained in a yellow jersey as he left the practice field but also sported a walking boot, a possible sign that the injury to his right foot suffered in spring is still bothering him. Although Denson has appeared in a game, he鈥檇 have a good case for a medical redshirt if he elected to pursue one.
People are also reading…
*聽Defensive tackle Dereck Boles has nine tackles but none for losses. UA coach Rich Rodriguez said Boles is playing well and that stats don't always reveal that. Those nine tackles lead all UA interior linemen.
*聽Lane and eye discipline will be key for Arizona's youthful defense vs. mobile Utah QB Tyler Huntley, who leads the Utes in passing and rushing.
*聽Rodriguez said going against Brandon Dawkins regularly will help Arizona鈥檚 defense but that the same applies to Utah鈥檚 defense and Huntley. "That's probably a wash,鈥 Rodriguez said.
*聽Rodriguez said Houston had a good defense but Utah is "probably a step above." He cited the Utes' experience, athleticism and speed, especially up front.
*聽Rodriguez on attacking Utah: "We鈥檝e got to use every bit of our offense. We鈥檝e got to use our whole playbook to try to score on these guys."
*聽Rodriguez鈥檚 three overall keys to the game: Minimizing mental mistakes, winning the turnover battle and tackling well, especially against the speedy, slippery Huntley.
*聽Arizona has been much better at taking the ball away since the Territorial Cup last year. The main reasons, per Rodriguez: Playing aggressively and confidently. 鈥淚t usually feeds on itself,鈥 he said. 鈥淲hen you get a little more confidence on defense, guys will be more apt to go after the ball.鈥
*聽Defenses are more complex than they look sometimes. Rodriguez said Arizona will face four different schemes over the first four weeks.
*聽Arizona commit David Watson, an offensive tackle from Amphitheater High, attended practice.
