Notes and takeaways from ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ coach Rich Rodriguez’s weekly Monday news conference at the Lowell-Stevens Football Facility.
* ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ is listing Khalil Tate and Brandon Dawkins as co-starters at quarterback, even after . Although not officially named the starter, Tate is expected to start against UCLA on Saturday.
*Â Tate was named Pac-12 Player of the Week after rushing for 327 yards and completing 12 of 13 passes against the Buffaloes. He is the first Wildcat to be honored by the league this season.
* Rodriguez said he has never seen Tate run faster and said he has lost 15-20 pounds since last season. We’ll have more on Tate later today.
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*Ìý¸é±ð²µ²¹°ù»å¾±²Ô²µ ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥â€™s porous run defense against Colorado (300 yards allowed), Rodriguez cited an inability to get off blocks and hold gaps.
* Rodriguez said the ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ have taken the “24-hour rule†to heart and have shifted their attention to UCLA.
* Despite a season-high four sacks, Rodriguez said ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥â€™s pass rush didn’t get home enough against Colorado. He said UCLA QB Josh Rosen “will pick us apart†if he’s not pressured.
* Rodriguez said ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ “ran against the numbers a lot†against Colorado, meaning the ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ stuck with running plays even against stacked fronts. Expect UCLA to use a similar approach.
* Rodriguez said there’s no consistent pattern to ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥â€™s five consecutive losses to UCLA other than the fact the ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ simply didn’t play well. He noted that with so many new players on the squad, this team won’t carry that baggage into Saturday.
* Rodriguez said freshman linebackers Tony Fields II, Colin Schooler, Kylan Wilborn and Anthony Pandy are “growing up, even though sometimes there are some growing pains with it.â€
* Rodriguez said freshman safety Scottie Young Jr. was “focused all week†after “he went through some things†off the field. Young was arrested Sept. 28 on a misdemeanor domestic-violence charge.
* Asked if Tate’s performance and the win at Colorado might energize the UA fan base, Rodriguez said: “I hope so. I think every win energizes everybody.â€
* ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ played a very clean game against Colorado (one turnover, two penalties), and Rodriguez said the ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ probably would have lost if they hadn’t.
*Ìý¸é±ð²µ²¹°ù»å¾±²Ô²µ Gary Andersen’s , Rodriguez described Anderson as “a heck of a football coach†and their shared profession as “wild.â€
* Rodriguez agrees with Washington Coach Chris Petersen that there are but understands that it’s part of the landscape now because of the league’s TV contracts, which bring millions of dollars in revenue to each school.
