Matt Scott has completed 254 of 413 passes for 3,008 yards this season. Photo by Russ Isabella-US PRESSWIRE

Quarterbacks want to be known for their throwing, not their heaving.

But Arizona Wildcats senior Matt Scott can’t escape discussion of the latter. The TV cameras captured him throwing up on the field again last week at Utah; the producer in the truck called for multiple replays and cued up the video of Scott doing the same vs. USC on Oct. 27.

Thanks for that.

“I heard that so much today with people coming up to me saying, “I’ve seen you on TV” and them replaying it,” Scott said after Monday’s practice.

“It was pretty funny. But I’m done hearing about it.”

Moving on …

Scott has played in two games against Arizona State, but his first start against the Sun Devils will come Friday night (8 p.m., ESPN).

“I’ve been here five years now, and I can’t even explain how I feel about these guys,” Scott said. “Obviously, we don’t like them and they don’t like us.”

The conflicts are especially personal for Scott, who went a different way than many of his teammates from Centennial High in Corona, Calif.

ASU has a trio of players from the high school on the roster — senior linebacker Brandon Magee, junior defensive tackle Will Sutton and redshirt freshman quarterback Michael Eubank — and previously had ex-Scott teammates Vontaze Burfict, Shelly Lyons and Ryan Bass.

“I know those guys from back in high school and, obviously, they went to ASU and they could have gone here, some of them,” Scott said.

“There’s resentment against them I guess you could say. It’s definitely a bigger game just because they’re on the team. I don’t want to lose to these guys and go back home and have those guys talking.”

Scott returned last week after sitting out the Colorado game because of a concussion suffered at UCLA. He played the whole game at Utah, running 13 times for 74 yards, but his passing was sub-standard — 12 of 27 for 160 yards — and he admits too many passes “sailed” on him.

The Arizona coaches, as they have all season, would like to limit Scott’s exposure in the run game, but coach Rich Rodriguez said Scott often made the right decision to keep the ball last Saturday, taking the option the Utes defense was giving the Cats.

“I thought Matt was good,” Rodriguez said. “I don’t think he was his sharpest, accuracy-wise. He missed some throws that he made all year.

“He ran well,” the coach added. “He ran until he threw up.”

That would have been early in the second quarter near the end of a 75-yard touchdown drive. Scott had a 14-yard run, a 9-yard run and a 19-yard run to the Utah 8 on the drive.

“You could tell by the way he was running, the way he was bobbing, that he was a little bit tired,” Rodriguez said.

“There was either a timeout or a break in the action. I said, ‘Matt, are you tired?’ He went, ‘Hell, yeah, I’m tired.’”

Arizona won’t mind if Scott is being busy and productive enough to be that kind of tired against Arizona State. He leads the conference in total offense at 345.1 yards per game and will be making a final case for All-Pac-12 honors.

Arizona earned the right to possess the Territorial Cup with last year’s 31-27 victory at ASU.

Getting Territorial

Arizona brought the Territorial Cup to its weekly football press conference, perching it in front of Rodriguez and a trio of players who followed him at the table.

Said running back Ka’Deem Carey: “You’ve got to bring this home and we’re going to keep this here.”

McKnight ailing

Arizona junior cornerback Jonathan McKnight started the first eight games but has been limited in the past two as Derrick Rainey drew the starting assignment.

McKnight has been “banged-up a little bit,” Rodriguez said.

“I don’t know if he’s been healthy 100 percent in a week yet this season,” Rodriguez said.

“The offseason is going to be huge (for him). He’s not a really big guy anyway. He might be 175 pounds or something. There is a lot of weight room work we need to do in the offseason.”

McKnight had one of UA’s best plays of the year — a 48-yard interception return for a touchdown in the fourth quarter against Oklahoma State.

He said it

“A lot of people say, ‘If you were going to win just one game, make sure it’s the ASU game, then we’ll be happy.’ No, I don’t think you will be. But maybe it will at least make them less angry if that’s the one game you win.” — Rodriguez

Arizona’s Matt Scott gets ready to fire the winning touchdown pass in overtime vs. Toledo. Photo by Matt Kartozian-US PRESSWIRE

The Arizona football team is better than it should be, not as good as it could be.

The Wildcats — part encouraging, part frustrating, rarely boring — suffered their third consecutive loss last Saturday, leaving them at 3-3 overall at the midway point of the regular season.

Which is basically on par with preseason expectations.

Are you a glass-half-full fan?

Rich Rodriguez took over a 4-8 team that lost four NFL players, including quarterback Nick Foles, upset No. 18 Oklahoma State and, amid an injury crisis, came within a play or two of beating ranked Oregon State and Stanford. With a smile from the football gods, the Cats would be 5-1.

Or are you a glass-half-empty fan?

The Wildcats are disappointing because they haven’t made a play in crunch time in the past two weeks, a leaky defense has little chance of getting better in the second half of the season, and Arizona will run out of gas before getting to bowl eligibility. Wait till next season. Or maybe 2014.

As the Wildcats sit out this weekend before resuming play against Washington on Oct. 20, let’s take stock at the season’s halftime.

OFFENSIVE MVP

QB Matt Scott — He’s been Foles-like, passing for 2,099 yards and coming off a game in which he set Pac-12 records with 45 completions and 69 pass attempts. Yeah, he’s missed some big throws, too, but he’s led a fast-paced attack that leads the Pac-12 with 553.8 yards per game. That’s possible because Arizona has a talented, senior quarterback.

Scott, who has completed 186 of 289 passes, with 13 touchdowns and seven interceptions, could end up breaking some of Foles’ school season records in the major passing categories.

DEFENSIVE MVP

Tevis

S Jared Tevis — Linebacker Jake Fischer could fit here (maybe safety Tra’Mayne Bondurant, too), but Rodriguez said recently that Tevis could have been the defense’s top player in each of the first four games, so who are we to argue?

The former walk-on has missed the past game-and-a-half because of an ankle injury, but Tevis has been the kind of the savvy, chip-on-his-shoulder playmaker the coaches need to clone.

The sophomore has two interceptions, three forced fumbles and seven pass break-ups.

KEY NUMBERS

10 — Number of rushing touchdowns by Ka’Deem Carey. He should threaten Arizona’s 58-year-old record of 21 rushing scores, set by Art Luppino.

10.5 — Tackles for loss for Bondurant, the Spur safety. If he matches that total in the second half of the season, he’ll have the most stops behind the line of scrimmage at Arizona since defensive end Tedy Bruschi made 27.5 in the Desert Swarm defense of 1993.

21-4 — The combined record of Arizona’s five FBS opponents.

32.17 — First downs per game for Arizona, which leads the nation.

68.0 — Percentage of scores in red-zone opportunities (21 touchdowns and six field goals in 40 chances), which ranks tied for 105th nationally.

98.0 — Penalty yards per game of UA’s opponents, the most in the country.

494 — Defensive snaps played by the Wildcats, another mark that is first nationally.

TOP PLAY (OFFENSE)

We’ll call this a tie.

A couple of players this week, including Scott, picked the overtime touchdown pass to Terrence Miller against Toledo. Scott, on third-and-goal from the 10, was chased to the right sideline, nearly out of bounds, and had defensive lineman Danny Farr tugging on his jersey. Scott had just enough time, strength and moxie to fire to Miller at the goal line for the score.

That play gets additional high marks because of the circumstances, but as for dazzling, nothing beats Austin Hill’s diving 30-yard catch in the end zone against Toledo. Not a bad way to make the first score of the Rodriguez era.

TOP PLAY (DEFENSE)

No debate on this one. Jonathan McKnight’s 48-yard interception return for a touchdown with 10:24 left against Oklahoma State gave Arizona a 45-31 lead after the two-point conversion. McKnight, anticipating an early throw from Wes Lunt because of a blitz, jumped in front of a sideline pass and raced untouched into the end zone.

Matt Scott leads the band in “Bear Down, Arizona” after Arizona beat Oklahoma State. Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images

WHAT’S GONE RIGHT?

–Scott has been better than advertised as a passer, with Hill and Carey emerging as offensive stars.

–Arizona’s win over Oklahoma State snapped a six-game losing streak to ranked teams and put the Wildcats in the Top 25 for a couple of weeks, temporarily, at least, relevant nationally.

–Fischer and McKnight returned successfully from last year’s ACL injuries to be among the team’s best defenders.

–Rodriguez has, as he always said he would, adapted his read-option offense to suit the skills of his quarterback. The coach who typically runs the ball two-thirds of the time has an offense that is ranked fourth nationally in passing (370.8 yards per game).

Before finding success with running quarterbacks, his early version of the spread at Glenville State tilted toward the pass.

“We have a quarterback who can throw it around, and we have some receiver who can run and catch, so I’m not surprised,” said co-offensive coordinator Calvin Magee. “It’s just proof that this offense is flexible.”

WHAT’S GONE WRONG?

–Arizona lost at least nine potential starters/key contributors from spring through the first month of the season: DB Cortez Johnson (transferred to Oklahoma), S Adam Hall (torn ACL in the spring game, not expected to return to the program), LB Brian Wagner (left team), LB David Lopez (left team), LB Rob Hankins (quit football because of concussion problems), LB Greg Nwoko (hip), OL Jacob Arzouman (torn ACL), OL Jack Baucus (knee), OL Lene Maiava (torn ACL in the fourth game).

–The in-season injuries have been significant. Arizona was down five starters vs. Stanford last week: Tevis, center Kyle Quinn, guard Trace Biskin, and defensive ends Dominique Austin and Reggie Gilbert. Rodriguez said about 20 guys didn’t practice Wednesday while nursing injuries.

–Nothing has helped the pass rush. Even with the move of fullback Taimi Tutogi to a third-down pass-rushing defensive end, and more blitzing than the Mike Stoops-coached teams, Arizona is averaging a mere one sack per game.

–PK John Bonano, solid after taking over the job at midseason a year ago, has missed from 24, 25, 25, 31 and 41 yards. A dropped hold scuttled a 22-yard field goal attempt. Special teams woes have not abated after a couple of disastrous seasons.

–Arizona started no seniors on defense against Stanford, which is likely to be the case if Austin (foot) remains out with a foot injury. The Cats’ defense started five sophomores and two freshmen vs. the Cardinal.

This isn’t a 3-3-5 scheme problem. It’s a personnel problem.

The Cats are giving up 480.5 yards per game — 20 yards per game more than last season — but are giving less per play (5.8 to 6.6).

With no pass rush, little depth and injury worries, don’t expect defensive miracles from this unit in the second half of the season.

“We knew coming in, our depth issues, our lack of experience issues, our size issues, our speed issues … we knew what we had,” Rodriguez said.

“But we can play better than what we’re playing defensively. So there is some level of frustration there. … The problems that we have are fixable, but I don’t know how soon. I know we can fix it over time, but we’re trying to fix it as soon as we can.”

WHAT’S NEXT?

Rodriguez doesn’t have many personnel buttons to push, but look for walk-on receiver Johnny Jackson to get more time on offense. On defense, lineman Justin Washington returned last week after missing the first five games because of suspension and should stay in the rotation, Rodriguez said.

It might take industrial-size rolls of duct tape to hold the Cats together in the second half of the season, but if the figurative bleeding stops, Arizona has the offense to find itself competing late into games with almost everyone on the schedule.

Maybe not USC, but who knows?

The other five games are some kind of winnable. Some more, some less. Washington, Colorado and Arizona State at home. UCLA and Utah on the road.

Are there three victories among those five games that would make UA bowl eligible?

Maybe. Is the glass half full?

Austin Hill dives for a 30-yard touchdown catch in the opener vs. Toledo. Photo by Matt Kartozian-US PRESSWIRE

Arizona's Jonathan McKnight tackles Washington's Jesse Callier last season. Photo by Chris Morrison-US PRESSWIRE

Arizona Wildcats coach Mike Stoops walked up to a waiting group of reporters after Thursday’s practice and opened with this: “More bad news,” he said.

It sure was.

Sophomore Jonathan McKnight, a starting cornerback and projected to be the team’s primary punt returner, suffered a torn ACL in Wednesday’s practice and is out for the season.

“It’s disappointing for Jonathan,” Stoops said.

“He’s a terrific player and he had a great camp. It is just one of those things. We feel very disappointed and sad for him and our team. He’s a great leader for us and an outstanding football player.”

McKnight, who was a backup last season, often looked to be the team’s best cornerback in camp, although senior Trevin Wade made a statement with two interceptions in the final scrimmage.

Sophomore Shaquille Richardson, who had been competing for a starting spot at cornerback and could have been the starting nickel back, will take over McKnight’s spot.

“Shaq definitely has to step up, and he’s capable of doing so,” said secondary coach Ryan Walters. “He’s a tremendous talent. A smart player. He just has to focus on the details and be competitive every play.”

Redshirt freshman Jourdon Grandon, who returned this week from a sprained knee, will be the starting nickel back for the opener against NAU on Sept. 3. True freshman Cortez Johnson moves up to become the team’s third cornerback.

Five Arizona players have suffered torn ACLs since spring, including three defensive starters, which is potentially devastating. Safety Adam Hall and linebacker Jake Fischer, who each sustained their injury in the spring, are pointed toward a possible early October return, Stoops said Thursday.

Backup defensive tackle Willie Mobley tore his ACL playing pickup basketball in May, and backup running back Greg Nwoko suffered a torn ACL in spring practice.

“It’s very frustrating, but it’s part of the game,” Stoops said of the run of bad luck with ACL injuries, which hasn’t been a program-wide problem until this season.

“Guys are so much bigger and faster right now. … There’s a fine line as coaches as to how much you practice and how much you don’t. We haven’t altered our schedule in any way, or our training. I don’t have a good explanation for it right now.”

McKnight was injured Wednesday as he landed after going up for a ball.

“To get a guy hurt in non-contact is kind of freakish, but we’ve had two or three like that,” Stoops said. “It’s just very unfortunate.”

Who returns punts?

Arizona can always turn to receiver David Douglas, a senior who will catch everything but isn’t much of a threat to break off a long run. Earlier in camp, Richardson and receiver Richard Morrison also were competing at punt returner.

WR Richard Morrison, celebrating a touchdown in the spring game, is a prime candidate at punt returner. Photo by David Kadlubowski, The Arizona Republic

One of the people we caught up with for a few minutes after Arizona’s first fall practice was assistant Jeff Hammerschmidt, who coaches special teams and defensive ends.

We’ll save some of the talk about the defensive ends for another time as Arizona shifts through replacements at those positions for three players who are now in NFL camps.

As for special teams, Hammerschmidt is working with a new punter (Kyle Dugandzic, who was here in the spring), new returners (look for speedy Garic Wharton on kickoffs) and possibly a new placekicker. Junior college transfer Jaimie Salazar is here to compete with incumbent Alex Zendejas.

Here is some of our conversation with Hammerschmidt following the first practice, which began at 6:15 a.m. at the Rincon Vista Complex:

Q: What can you learn from the first day?
Hammer: “Everyone was ready to go. From the start of practice, I think the tempo was good. I think the guys were enthused about the special teams part of it. The kickers and everybody were got here at 5:15, got loosened up and were ready to go.”

Q: Who are looking at as punt returner?
Hammer: “There’s a good group. Richard Morrison. Jonathan McKnight. David Douglas has done it the last couple of years and has done a solid job of it. And if we really want to get dynamic, it’s Juron (Criner). Trevin Wade has good ball skills. We have a lot of good candidates, but right now we’re going to focus on Richard Morrison, Jonathan McKnight and David Douglas.”

Reaction: Morrison, a converted quarterback, came on strong at the end of last season as a slot receiver, and he has shifty open-field skills. McKnight is one of UA’s good-looking young athletes in the secondary, and he has the genes for the job (his brother Joe returned punts for USC). Douglas is the team’s “safe” option because of his good hands. As for Criner, he has proven to be tough to bring down after the catch, and returning punts could only help his NFL value.

Q: Has Juron caught a lot of punts in practice?
Hammer: “He did it in the spring and he’s trying to get a few every day. That’s what I told the guys. If they really want to do it, they have to get out there and do it on their own. They have to come out early and catch before (practice). When we’re punting, they have to run over there and catch a couple. We’re kind of putting it in their court. If it looks like they are working hard enough at it, then I’ll give them a shot to do it.”

Related: Arizona football camp Day 1: Criner hasn’t missed a step

Q: What will be the process as you try to differentiate between your placekickers?
Hammer: “We’re working on a rotation right now with Alex and Jaimie and, actually (returning kickoff man) John Bonano. He did a really good job in the spring, so we’ll let him take some whacks at it also. We’re going to do a lot of competitive stuff to start practice, then we’ll break off and do a lot of charting. We’re setting up drills for simulator-type stuff to challenge them. … We’re trying to put a little pressure on them with the two-minute drills at the end of practice. The first time, it is going to Alex, the next time it is going to be Jaimie and we’ll go from there. If Bonano has a chance to slide in there, I’ll do that, too. … We’ll be better at kicking this year no matter who it is because of the competition.”

Coming off a disappointing junior season, Trevin Wade was more dedicated this spring. Photo by David Kadlubowski/The Arizona Republic

Here is the ninth part of our Arizona Wildcats football preview in collaboration with our Gannett partner, The Arizona Republic.

We write the words, and they have taken the cool photographs and put it all together in a slick presentation at azcentral.com.

Check back here and at azcentral.com every Friday as we roll out more of our preview every week, all the way into August.

This week: I talked with new secondary coach Ryan Walters to get his breakdown of a position group that should be the strength of the defense.

INTRO

Perhaps the biggest news of the offseason in the Arizona secondary was the surprising coaching changes.

Head coach Mike Stoops, in a bold move, hired arguably the best in the business — former UA assistant Duane Akina — away from Texas. A few weeks later, in mid-February, Akina, citing family reasons, returned to the Longhorns when his old job became available again.

Stoops then went from the veteran savvy of Akina to the rookie coaching of 25-year-old Ryan Walters, who served last season as a graduate assistant, working with the defensive backs.

“I knew instantly he was going to be a rising star in this profession,” Stoops said.

Walters, a former defensive back at Colorado, inherits the defense’s best position group, led by established senior starters Trevin Wade and Robert Golden and a promising trio of sophomores.

Trevin Wade

He’s a “bounce-back” candidate after a disappointing junior season in which he briefly lost his starting job. Wade entered last season as a legit candidate for the Jim Thorpe Award, given to the nation’s top defensive back.

“Trevin did a great job this spring in putting last year’s performance behind him,” said secondary coach Ryan Walters. “His practice habits from last fall to this spring were leaps and bounds better.”

Wade, one of the several unheralded recruiting gems unearthed by coach Mike Stoops and his staff, intercepted four passes as a backup in 2008 and picked off five passes as a starter in 2009. He made just one interception last season, and his number of passes defended went from 14 to four.

“He really had an outstanding performance this spring, interceptions after interception,” Walters said.

Robert Golden

Golden was fine at cornerback last season after starting at strong safety in 2009. He broke up a team-high 12 passes.

But the Wildcats have plenty of cornerbacks, including a pair of athletic sophomores in Jonathan McKnight and Shaquille Richardson — and Golden was needed back at safety full time when safety Adam Hall suffered an ACL injury this spring.

“I just have to adapt to the position again,” Golden said.

Safety might not be as glamorous as cornerback, but Golden said he embraced the change. His
experience and versatility make him a leader in the secondary.

“Safety is probably his better position anyway,” said secondary coach Ryan Walters. “I think it worked out for the better.”

Marquis Flowers should step into a starting role as a sophomore. Photo by David Kadlubowski/The Arizona Republic

Marquis Flowers

Flowers, from Goodyear Millennium High School, was the headliner in Arizona’s 2010 recruiting class, arguably the best player from the state. He was a multi-purpose threat in high school, but the UA coaches immediately put his size and athleticism to work on defense as a true freshman.

At 6-3, 220 pounds, he might be the secondary’s fastest player, said secondary coach Ryan Walters.

Flowers’ role, entering the spring, was going to be as the nickel back, but Adam Hall’s ACL injury launched Flowers into a starting job at safety. He made 11 tackles last season in limited duty.

“Marquis is a guy who has to come into his own,” coach Mike Stoops said. “And I think he will this year.”

Adam Hall

The hard-hitting junior was projected to be one of the top playmakers on Arizona’s defense this season, but his availability is in doubt because of an ACL injury suffered during spring practice. Hall, who was a two-way star at Tucson’s Palo Verde High School, has a redshirt year available if he can’t make it back for 2011.

As the team gets into camp and he continues his rehab, the coaches might better be able to peg a possible return date.

“We would love to have Adam,” said secondary coach Ryan Walters. “He was going to be a premier safety in this conference and in college football.”

Hall was the nickel back a year ago, making 54 tackles and intercepting two passes, and his aggressive play gave opposing ball-carriers someone to fear.

Jonathan McKnight

With Robert Golden moving back to safety and fellow sophomore Shaquille Richardson sitting out spring because of a shoulder injury, McKnight got all the practice work he could handle in the spring. He absolutely took advantage of the opportunity.

“He got a tremendous amount of reps that he needed, and he was impressive in terms of the improvement he was able to make,” secondary coach Ryan Walters said.

“He was lights-out in terms of practice. He came out to compete, and that competitiveness is what makes him a good corner.”

McKnight, the brother of former USC running back Joe McKnight, played some last year as a true freshman, making 12 tackles and breaking up two passes. From the arrival of McKnight and Richardson, coach Mike Stoops has said they were as advanced as any young cornerbacks he had been around.

Shaquille Richardson

The one-time UCLA signee will resume his push for a starting job in camp after sitting out the spring because of a shoulder injury. He seemed to be next in line last season, when he started three games, made 29 tackles, intercepted two passes and broke up seven.

“I expect him to be leaps and bounds better than what he was last year,” said secondary coach Ryan Walters. “He is still physically maturing.”

Walters said that Richardson has been going through the team’s summer program, putting up good workout numbers under the eye of strength coach Corey Edmond.

Whether it’s Richardson or Jonathan McKnight who wins a starting cornerback job, the other figures to be the nickel back, which is nearly a full-time spot in Arizona’s scheme.

Josh Robbins will have to be ready to catch some playing time as a redshirt freshman. Photo by David Kadlubowski/The Arizona Republic

Josh Robbins

Robbins was an important recruit for coach Mike Stoops in the 2010 class. Not only is Robbins a local kid from Canyon del Oro High who earned Arizona Republic first-team Class 4A all-state honors, but he was a legacy recruit. His father, Randy, is a former UA star defensive back and NFL player, as well as an ex-UA assistant coach.

And Josh has size and talent.

“Josh is a big safety who shows a lot of potential,” said secondary coach Ryan Walters. “We have to see how he competes in the fall and how fast he picks up the defense on a weekly basis. I definitely expect him to get some playing time this season.”

Robbins redshirted last season as a true freshman.

Jourdon Grandon

He didn’t arrive with the same fanfare as some of the other defensive backs in the 2010 recruiting class, but perhaps that’s because he missed nine games as a senior at Avondale’s Westview High School. Still, his past performances helped him land on the Tacoma News-Tribune’s Western 100 list.

Grandon redshirted last season but made a case this spring to earn backup’s minutes at cornerback or at nickel back.

“He had a tremendous spring, and he’s had a good offseason,” said secondary coach Ryan Walters.

Grandon also played quarterback in high school, throwing for 1,526 yards and 11 touchdowns as a junior at Westview.

Mark Watley

Watley, a redshirt junior, is entering his fourth season in the program, so he should know his way around the defense. He will enter camp vying for time at a safety position, and he should continue to contribute on special teams as he did last season.

“He’s got to show progress in fall camp and be more aggressive,” secondary coach Ryan Walters said. “We need him to be more aggressive.”

Others to watch in the secondary include sophomore cornerback Derrick Rainey and incoming freshman safety Cortez Johnson, who seems to have the size and physical skills to contribute right away.

Marquis Flowers hopes to be turning some heads if he sees extended time against Iowa/Photo by Brad Allis, WildcatSportsReport.com

Arizona Wildcats sophomore safety Adam Hall, recovering from a shoulder injury, seems probable to play against Iowa this weekend. Marquis Flowers will be ready, just in case.

As co-defensive coordinator Greg Brown said, “This is why we recruited Marquis Flowers.”

Flowers was the high school headliner in coach Mike Stoops’ class of 2010, and he has made good on that promise by playing right away as a reserve in the first two games.

“The first two games definitely taught me the game speed of college and how it is,” Flowers said. “It definitely taught me the physicality, what you need to do. It’s been a little rough, but I’m getting used to it and I like it.”

Stoops loves Flowers’ potential, but the coaches would be much more comfortable with Hall (6-foot4, 212 pounds) starting in the team’s nickel package Iowa. Stoops said that Hall’s playing status could be a game-time decision.

“The guy is big, rangy,” Brown, also the secondary coach, said of Hall.

“He’s gotten a lot of playing experience. In the first week against Toledo, he did a great job. He brings an element of physicalness to the table. He’s a tough guy. He is going to run through offensive players, and he does the same thing on special teams.

“That would be tough if he can’t go.”

On Monday, Flowers said he would be watching more game film than in the first two weeks.

“Preparation is the key,” he said. “I want the coaches to be able to trust in me.”

Flowers has five tackles in the first two games.

“He’s a young guy who also is big and can run and hit,” Brown said. “It would be his time. It’s just that he hasn’t had as much reps as Adam.”

More on the defensive backs

With Flowers, Shaquille Richardson and Jonathan McKnight, the Wildcats have played three true freshman defensive backs. Put them together with Hall (and starting corners Trevin Wade and Robert Golden are only juniors) and you have to think the secondary is going to be very good for the foreseeable future.

“These guys, they’re ready-made players,” Stoops said of the three true freshmen.

“I don’t know what their star-rating was, and I don’t really care. But I know great players when I see them. If they stay true to who they are now and continue to develop, they’re as good as any players I’ve seen anywhere, and I’ve been some great places.

“They have great maturity about them and a serious side about them that allows them to compete at a very high level at a very young age.”

He said it

Iowa isn’t used to playing night games and playing this far west — the Hawkeyes are 2-8 in their last 10 non-conference games west of Iowa — two factors that could work in Arizona’s favor Saturday.

No big deal, according to Iowa safety Tyler Sash.

“Everybody’s making this big deal of going west,” Sash told Hawk Central. “I feel like it’s just the opposite of going east.”

Baxter speaks

Arizona senior center Colin Baxter, who will be a key figure going against the super Iowa defensive line, met with the media, including Brad Allis of our TC.com Sports Network partner WildcatSportsReport.com, after Wednesday’s practice.

“They don’t do a whole lot of stuff,” Baxter said of Iowa’s defensive line, “but they stuff that they do, they do very well.”

Brad has the video: