Matt Scott’s 461 yards of total offense vs. Toledo was the third-highest total in Arizona history. Photo by Matt Kartozian-US PRESSWIRE

Arizona Wildcats quarterback Matt Scott accounted for 461 total yards last week, the second-best mark in the country, but is fretting about all the yardage that got away.

“I don’t think that was a very good game for me,” he said after Tuesday’s practice.

“I know I can do better, and I intend to a lot better. Missed a couple of easy passes I wish I could have had back. I probably let my mechanics down a couple of time, lost my focus a little bit.”

While missing a few wide-open receivers down field, Scott did hit on 30 of 46 throws for 387 yards, with two touchdowns and one interception against Toledo. He ran 14 times for 74 yards.

Only Syracuse quarterback Ryan Nassib (500 yards) ranks ahead of Scott in total yardage after the first week of college football.

Arizona coaches aren’t complaining much about Scott’s performance.

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Tom Savage won nine games as a true freshman starter at Rutgers in 2009. Photo by Charles LeClaire-USPRESSWIRE

Arizona Wildcats freshman quarterback Daxx Garman will transfer, new coach Rich Rodriguez told TucsonCitizen.com on Monday.

And then later in the afternoon, quarterback Tom Savage, from Springfield, Pa., told Rodriguez he was transferring back to a school on the East Coast because of a family issue.

Rodriguez talked positively about Savage to TucsonCitizen.com and other media outlets today as he went through a press junket with local media. After that, Savage informed Rodriguez of his decision.

In a press release, Savage said: “This is a personal decision about my family and was not influenced by Coach Rodriguez or his style of play.”

Rodriguez said: “Tom has indicated to us that he wants to transfer closer to home for family reasons. He said it has nothing to do with football, schemes, or the University of Arizona. We certainly wish him and his family the best in the future.”

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It's not always easy to stay relaxed in the pocket when defenders are crashing the party. Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images

Nick Foles, as a fifth-year senior quarterback, knows the best piece of advice he can give true freshman quarterback Daxx Garman is to relax. Be patient.

“I just told him that everything is going to be going really fast right now,” Foles said after Tuesday morning’s practice.

“He’s a good player. He has really come along a lot. Every day you can see it. Especially when he gets to slow it down in 7-on-7. You can see him go through his reads, and he can deliver the ball.”

But the game isn’t played in 7-on-7 drills, and everything changes when the defensive line is charging with evil intent and the quarterback is trying to look over and around huge offensive linemen.

Foles said Garman has to avoid looking at the rush — feel it, don’t look at it.

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Daxx Garman delivers a pass in the spring. Photo by Michael Chow/The Arizona Republic

Bryson Beirne’s sprained right knee and indefinite absence moves the spotlight closer to true freshman quarterback Daxx Garman.

With Beirne out, Garman is one of three scholarship quarterbacks who are eligible this season for the Arizona Wildcats. The others are starter Nick Foles and Matt Scott — and Scott wants to redshirt this season.

If it’s a long-term emergency, the coaches will have to play Scott, of course, but Garman could be needed to take some snaps in a short-term situation.

Who is this kid?

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Scelfo

Note: This wraps up our conversation last week with Arizona quarterbacks coach Frank Scelfo. See links at bottom of post for more on the Wildcats quarterbacks.

Arizona’s 2012 quarterback plans are up in the air.

The Wildcats could have senior Matt Scott — if all goes well and he is able to redshirt behind Nick Foles this season.

And the Wildcats could have Rutgers transfer quarterback Tom Savage, who, as of Wednesday, is on a recruiting visit to Arizona.

Or they could have neither.

In the meantime, true freshman quarterback Daxx Garman, who enrolled at the semester break, can prepare for the future without the urgency of getting ready to play right away.

How can Arizona help him before spring practice begins?

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