This season wouldn’t have been possible without the play and leadership of Matt Scott. Photo by Mark J. Rebilas-US PRESSWIRE

Soon after Arizona hired Rich Rodriguez, the seniors-to-be filed into his new office, one-by-one, to hear the same message.

Center Kyle Quinn remembers Rodriguez saying something like this:

“This is your team. It’s the seniors’ team. I may not have recruited you guys, and this is your last year, but I want you guys to have the best senior year possible. You’re my guys.”

This is always the worry with a coaching change — the tenuous relationship between the new coach and the old players. The guy with the long-term plan doesn’t always have use for the short-timers. The short-timers tune out the guy with the long-term plan.

“We really bought into his philosophy and his mindset,” Quinn said.

“We were eager to change,” said senior defensive lineman Chris Merrill. “We knew we had to buy in for change to be implemented.”

“It started with us,” added senior fullback/defensive end Taimi Tutogi. “We talked to the guys and said, ‘Look at this guy’s record; he’s done a lot of good things at previous schools.’ The guys followed their leaders.”

Compare that to the situation at Washington State, where first-year coach Mike Leach said last month some of his seniors have an “empty-corpse quality.”

At Arizona, the senior class has helped pulled the Wildcats up from a 4-8 record last season to a 7-4 mark this year heading into Friday night’s regular-season finale against Arizona State.

It’s not that this senior class is supremely deep or talented — there are only five seniors who have started a majority of the games, none on defense. Several seniors are merely deep reserves, but they haven’t poisoned the well while filling small roles.

“I thought it was a good group of guys, but I didn’t know if they could play or not and what their contributions would be on the field,” Rodriguez said of his first impression of the seniors.

“But I loved their attitude. I thought they had a willingness to listen and learn and to lead in the right way. Particularly if you’re a senior and you’re not playing a whole lot, you could go a couple of different ways.

“You could buy into the team concept and help us out that way, or you could kind of go the other way and be a detriment. I think our guys chose to go the right way.”

This was hardly a seamless transition. Rodriguez asked the Wildcats to learn a new scheme on offense, a new scheme on defense, to practice differently — fast-paced all the time — to condition differently and harder than ever in the offseason. What’s more, the coaching staff has a different collective personality than that of the previous staff, another factor that could lead to unease and unhappiness.

“The guys that are here are happy that they stayed. I know it’s the best decision I’ve made,” Tutogi said.

“I’m just happy that Coach RichRod is doing what he is doing. It’s been a 360 (degree) difference from last year. Guys have stepped up. Now I wish I would have redshirted my freshman year. That’s just a product of how Coach RichRod coaches and his philosophy. I like that it’s a family.

“I’m sad, but I’m happy for the younger guys, because that’s what they are going to get for the rest of their career.”

The whole feel-good vibe has been a stark contrast to Rodriguez’s first year at Michigan.

These are some of the things that have been different at Arizona: UA didn’t have a public, anguished coaching search; Rodriguez nailed his introductory press conference; he’s had the full support of the administration; he hasn’t been publicly bad-mouthed by former players; his good ol’ boy personality has played well to the masses; he inherited an experienced senior quarterback … and any grumbling has stayed behind the scenes.

The proof of the buying-in is in the win-loss record and an on-field effort that can’t be called disappointing. Much credit goes to the seniors.

“He asked a lot of us as a group,” Tutogi said.

“It’s been easy when you’ve got a group of guys like the ones you’ve got. We didn’t know what guys were going to think when Coach Rod came in because you have a lot of different opinions with a lot of different coaches. But it started with us.”

Arizona rotates captains on a weekly basis but on Wednesday named captains through the bowl game — Scott, Quinn, Biskin and junior linebacker Jake Fischer, a fourth-year player who is the leader of a defense that does not start a senior.

“A few of the guys have been not just good leaders but great leaders. I think that has really helped us in a year of transition,” Rodriguez said.

“We’ve been fortunate to make steps as a program while the seniors have been all in.”

* * *

Arizona’s 2012 senior class

*Note: WR Terrence Miller not listed because it is expected that he will get a medical hardship for this season, able to return as a fifth-year senior in 2013.

Kyle Dugandzic

Arizona senior punter Kyle Dugandzic, who was a bright spot Saturday night amid woes elsewhere on special teams, earned Pac-12 Special Teams Player of the Week honors Monday.

He punted five times for an average of 46.8 yards, with four landed inside the 20, against Oregon State.

Dugandzic said he was somewhat surprised by the honor, adding, “I take it with a grain of salt because it came in a loss.”

One of his punts was a 70-yarder that rolled to a stop at the Oregon State 5. He hit that punt rugby-style, taking a few steps to his right before booting the ball on a line.

The rugby punts are something Dugandzic didn’t do last season, but first-year coach Rich Rodriguez has called for those as a change-up to the traditional punts.

“Either way is fine,” Dugandzic said. “I prefer to just do a normal punt, because that way I can get it up in the air and have a fair catch. But if asks me to rugby kick, I’ll do that also.”

Dugandzic is averaging 44.89 yards per attempt, which ranks third in the Pac-12 and 18th in the NCAA.

Elsewhere on special teams, Arizona ranks 81th nationally in punt returns (6.33 yards per attempt), 70th in punt return defense (allowing 7.83 yards per return) and 113th in kick returns (15.91 yards per attempt).

Kicker John Bonano has missed field goals from 24, 25, 25, 31 and 41 yards.

Alex Zendejas will get one more chance to get everything straightened out. Photo by Mark J. Rebilas-US PRESSWIRE

Arizona Wildcats coach Mike Stoops said Monday that senior place-kicker Alex Zendejas is going to get his job back — at least for this week’s game against Oregon.

And Zendejas talked after Monday’s practice, talking about how he is “grateful and blessed” to be given a second chance.

“That’s all you can ask for sometimes — just another chance to get out there,” Zendejas said.

“I’ve continued to work just to get another chance. I’ve continued to prepare like I was going to play. I haven’t taken a day off.”

As far as redemption stories goes, this could be a doozy.

Zendejas has been the target of fan’s venom since missing two PATs against Arizona State (you all know the story), and then losing his job in camp to Jaime Salazar, who then promptly sprayed kicks all over the stadium and lost the job after three games.

Zendejas — whose game-winning kick against ASU in 2009 seems as if it never happened — could hear some of the biggest cheers, mock cheers or boos Saturday night.

But that is just part of the special teams story for the Wildcats. Let’s take a look at some others:

Who is next if Zendejas struggles?

Senior John Bonano figures to get the next shot. He has a big leg, and has been doing well in his role as the kickoff man. Seven of his 12 kickoffs have gone into the end zone for touchbacks.

Last season, only 12 of his 69 kickoffs resulted in touchbacks.

Part of the problem in 2010 was that he was place-kicking on the side and ended up “over-kicking,” special teams coach Jeff Hammerschmidt said.

“He messed up his groin and stopped kicking off really well,” Hammerschmidt said. “In the back of my mind, I don’t want that to happen because he over-kicked.”

Bonano competed some at place-kicker in the spring, but there wasn’t enough evidence there to make a change at that time. For now, Bonano will do some place-kicking in practice while hopefully not messing up his good kickoffs.

“I told him, just prepare yourself if a field goal is missed,” Hammerschmidt said.

The punt game is in fine shape

While Salazar hasn’t delivered after arriving from junior college, punter Kyle Dugandzic has. He is fourth nationally with an average of 49.4 yards, and Arizona is fourth in the country in net punting at 43.3 yards.

That’s a huge improvement over last season’s net average of 34.1 yards.

Eight of Dugandzic’s 13 attempts have gone for at least 50 yards, but Hammerschmidt is mostly looking for direction and placement. That’s key this week, as Arizona doesn’t want to give open space to any number of speedy Oregon returners.

If Duganzic can force fair catches or pin the returner near the sideline, all the better.

“I always knew he was a great directional kicker,” Hammerschmidt said. “He has been impressive so far.”

Oregon has a punt return touchdown from tailback LaMichael James this season, and has also used Kenjon Barner (who is expected back after missing the past two games because of injury) and superb true freshman tailback De’Anthony Thomas.

The Ducks haven’t even used cornerback Cliff Harris, who was suspended for the opener and has been working his way back into full-time roles. Harris had four punt returns for touchdowns last season.

“They’ll scare you with their skill,” Hammerschmidt of Oregon’s return teams.

It doesn’t help the punt coverage that the injury bug has taken a bite here, too. Elliott Taylor, a walk-on who ran a 10.44 100 meters for the UA track team in the spring, has been one of the team’s gunners, but he is out with a knee injury.

Hammerschmidt said he expects defensive backs Jourdon Grandon and Shaquille Richardson to be the starting gunners — the speedy guys on the outside who have the first crack at stopping the returner.

What about the return game?

Arizona isn’t doing much on punt returns after losing projected starter Jonathan McKnight to an ACL injury during camp. Richard Morrison has three returns for 18 yards. David Douglas is mostly back there to make a fair catch.

The kick return game has potential with freshmen Garic Wharton and Ka’Deem Carey, but the results are average so far — 22.4 yards per return, ranking 56th nationally. Carey has three attempts for an average of 27.0 yards.

Ka'Deem Carey will wear No. 25 at Arizona, just like he did at CDO. Photo by Deirdre Hamill/The Arizona Republic

Arizona football newcomers report to camp Tuesday morning, so get ready to see a bunch of pictures of some guys you have never seen before trying on helmets.

Coach Mike Stoops typically keeps his newcomers off limits through the first week or so of camp, so don’t expect any riveting interviews Tuesday — just those photos of newbies trying on their equipment.

That doesn’t stop us from looking ahead.

This most recent recruiting class received barely modest reviews — ranked eighth in the Pac-12 by Rivals.com, and last in the league by Scout.com (OK, so that’s a lousy review) — but there is ample opportunity for newcomers to make an immediate impact.

Later, we will have to do a list of “Top redshirts to watch” — such as WR Dan Buckner and left tackle Mickey Baucus — but for now, here are six first-year players to watch.

Arizona will hold its first practice Thursday morning.

6. LB Rob Hankins

Having a “motor” that is compared to that of Wildcats legend Tedy Bruschi makes Hankins one of the most intriguing new defenders for Arizona.

There is some question whether his production at Parish Episcopal High School in Dallas (126 tackles as a senior) will translate right away to the Pac-12. But given the Cats’ lack of depth at linebacker, though, it would be a surprise if Hankins doesn’t have some kind of backup role while helping on a variety of special teams.

5. P Kyle Dugandzic

It would be nice if he can take the adventure out of the punting game after the inconsistent senior year of Keenyn Crier. Special teams coach Jeff Hammerschmidt told us in the spring that Dugandzic doesn’t necessarily have a “wow” leg … but then the JC transfer boomed a 72-yarder in his one attempt in the spring game.

He did lead all California junior college punters last season with kicks of better than 50 yards, but the Wildcats will be happy to settle for placement and direction over pure distance after plunging to 98th nationally in net punting last season (34.1 yards per attempt).

4. LB David Lopez
Arizona coaches, needing to bolster its linebacker unit that lost four scholarship players in the offseason (including Jake Fischer to an ACL injury), bolstered the group in the summer with Lopez, a junior college transfer who was otherwise headed to Portland State.

For now, he is listed as the starter at strongside linebacker but will have to earn that spot in camp. Said coach Mike Stoops last week: “He looks good. He’s a big kid. We hope we stole one there.”

3. DE Lamar De Rego

Coach Mike Stoops says replacing the lost pass rush of three defensive ends now in the NFL is his biggest concern.

That’s where De Rego, who who had 8.5 tackles for loss at San Jose Community College last year, comes in. He seems to be the best option to provide competition for tentative starters C.J. Parish and Mohammed Usman.

2. PK Jaimie Salazar

The best position battle of fall camp will be between Salazar and two-year starter Alex Zendejas, who has to win back a lot of trust from the coaches after PAT nightmare against Arizona State. Coach Mike Stoops says the slate is clean … so may the best kicker win.

1. RB Kadeem Carey

He’s the star of the recruiting class (and speedy freshman RB Jared Baker can’t be ignored, either). But the hype has been swirling for years about Carey, who posted an epic junior season at CDO (running for 2,738 yards and 45 touchdowns) in leading the Dorados to the 4A-I state championship.

His senior year was marked by injuries — costing him the state running record and, likely, some points in the recruiting rankings — but he retains his game-breaking moves, which is exactly what Arizona needs. Senior Keola Antolin is a solid No. 1, but Carey (and Baker) could make a camp move into the backup role.

Alex Zendejas will have to be show more consistency in fall camp. Photo by David Kadlubowski, The Arizona Republic

Here is the 10th 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: Special teams.

INTRO

The kicking game was a mess last season. That’s not breaking news.

If there is one moment (or two) that will endure from Arizona’s 2010 season, look no further than the two extra point attempts that Alex Zendejas had blocked against ASU — one in the final minute of regulation, the other at the end of the second overtime.

He’s back but will have to fight for his job as a senior.

The punting game deteriorated, as the Wildcats’ net punting average dropped for the third consecutive season, down to 34.1 yards, 98th nationally. Four-year starting punter Keenyn Crier is gone, replaced by a junior college transfer.

It was all enough to put special teams coach Jeff Hammerschmidt (who also coaches defensive ends) on the hot seat. Of the place-kicking, he said: “We’ll be OK,” before adding, “or I won’t be here.”

Alex Zendejas

In 2009, he kicked a last-play 32-yard field goal to beat Arizona State. The next year, he had two extra-point attempts blocked in a painful double-overtime loss to the Sun Devils. Such is the life of a kicker.

He was the flashpoint for a lot of fan anger, which he has had to deal with through the offseason. Not even Zendejas was surprised when the coaches brought in junior college transfer Jaimie Salazar to compete for the job in fall camp.

Zendejas has been accurate (31 of 41 on field-goal attempts in two years as the starter), but the coaches rarely test his range and the height on his kicks have been an issue, as everyone knows from the ASU game. Arizona has missed eight PATs in the past two seasons.

“He still needs to be more consistent,” coach Mike Stoops said. “He showed signs of it (in the spring), but it has be consistently consistent, if that makes sense.”

Jaimie Salazar

The transfer from Trinity Valley Community College in Texas will get every chance to win the starting place-kicking job. He earned second-team All-America honors last season from the NJCAA after making 14 of 15 field goal attempts.

Coach Mike Stoops said the kicking competition between Salazar and incumbent Alex Zendejas will “start even” will camp opens.

“We’ll try to do more intensified drills with those guys to compete,” Stoops said. “We’ll probably spend more time than we have in the past to try to get those guys ready for the season.”

Kyle Dugandzic punts during Arizona's scirmmage on April 2. Photo by David Kadlubowski/The Arizona Republic

Kyle Dugandzic

Without another full-time punter on the roster after Keenyn Crier completed his eligibility last season, Arizona brought in Dugandzic at the semester break and got to work with him during the spring. The starting job is basically his by default. He’s also listed as the top holder for placekicks.

Special teams coach Jeff Hammerschmidt said Dugandzic was “trying to hurry himself” early in spring drills, but began to find his comfort zone later in practice.

Crier was known for a big, but erratic, leg … and he had trouble last season pinning opponents deep. The scouting report on Dugandzic is that he excels at direction and placement, although his right leg looked just fine, too, when he boomed a 72-yarder in his only attempt at the spring game.

Dugandzic is from Ventura (Calif.) Community College.

Chase Gorham

Gorham, the son of former UA placekicker Charlie Gorham (1972-73), has a chance to be a four-year starter as long snapper. He was the true freshman last year who entered camp most assured of playing time, and he did, indeed, start from the first game, doing a solid job.

The Arizona coaches quickly identified Gorham, from Scottsdale Chaparral High, as someone they wanted to recruit. Gorham committed in the spring of his junior season, becoming the first recruit in UA’s 2010 class.

Gorham was considered one of the top prep long snappers in the country, and he earned Arizona Republic All-Arizona honors as a senior.

Returners

This has been an area of strength for Arizona in recent seasons, but the Wildcats have to replace speedy kick returner Travis Cobb and primary punt returner Bug Wright.

Redshirt freshman Garic Wharton seems to be the best answer at kick returner. He’s arguably the team’s fastest player, and he showed show wiggle in his running style during spring drills. Perhaps he will fit in as the punt returner, too.

Some of Arizona’s young defensive backs — such as Shaquille Richardson and Jonathan McKnight — will have a chance at that role, too, each with the athleticism needed to make game-changing plays. When the Wildcats are playing it safe, they can send out sure-handed receiver David Douglas to make a fair catch.

Junior college transfer Kyle Dugandzic punts during Arizona's scirmmage on April 2.
Photo by David Kadlubowski/The Arizona Republic

We caught up recently with Arizona Wildcats defensive ends/special teams coach Jeff Hammeschmidt after a recent practice to see how spring practice is going from his perspective.

Some of the good news is that Hammerschmidt has an emerging senior end in C.J. Parish to help replace Brooks Reed, Ricky Elmore and D’Aundre Reed.

But defensive end is one of the least experienced positions on the team, and Hammer is also trying to improve the kicking game. (We’re hoping to have an update on kicker Alex Zendejas later in the week.)

Until then, here are five questions for Hammer from me and Brad Allis of WildcatSportsReport.com — and one of the bloggers with the TucsonCitizen.com Sports Network:

Q: How’s your new punter, junior college transfer Kyle Dugandzic?

HAMMER: “He’s doing OK. There were times when I lost a little bit of sleep, but he’s going to be fine. He’s a very polished directional guy. He’s not Keenyn Crier. He’s not going to amaze you when you go out and watch him kick. But he’s a direction guy; I think he’ll be fine. …

He is just getting used to his long-snapper. That’s a little adjustment. But then we start talking about our operation time. For what we do, we don’t like to kick it in 2.5, 2.4 (seconds). We’re more of 2.1. I think he was trying to hurry himself at times too much. Now, he’s just getting back into his rhythm. There’s a happy medium where he has to get comfortable. And he’s such a hard-working guy. We’re videoing him, and he goes in and watches it every day. He’s getting back to his normal self, the stuff that we saw before. And he’s athletic. He’s an old receiver, so it gives you a guy who do some things. He can throw and he can run, so that’s good.”

Q: Redshirt freshman end Dan Pettinato passes the eye test; how has he been?

“He’s coming along. I think his senior year of high school he was 6-4, 215, and the next year he was 6-4, 260. He’s gained some weight early, and he’s just getting used to it. I think the adjustment for him is just getting his foot speed quicker. But he’s going to be a good player because he works so hard. He could be one of the better guys for us. This year, we’re hoping he can get 10, 15 snaps per game or so — and play a bunch of special teams — and then next yeat hopefully he has a chance to be a three-year player for us.”

Q: Defensive tackle Dominique Austin has been practicing at end; how do you use a 290-pound guy at end?

HAMMER: “It’s just about finding a place to give him some reps. Dominique does a good job. At times, you would like more fast-twitch because you’re outside, but he’s a big, strong guy with long arms. Sometimes you get into a position where you’re playing the Stanfords and some of those teams that just power the ball, and I think you can use a bigger d-end. He has a chance to do that for us.”

Q: Does he have to transform his body a little bit, does he have to drop down some weight?

HAMMER: “No. I think we’re just going to let him be a guy who can do both. Donald Horton did it a couple of years ago and he was 280 pounds. He wasn’t ideal for pass-rush stuff, but when we’re playing teams with tight ends and fullbacks and all that stuff, then we brought him in. That will be (Austin’s) role.”

Q: What’s it like coaching the line with new defensive tackles coach and former Wildcat Joe Salave’a?

HAMMER: “Oh, it’s awesome. Joe is great. I really loved (former defensive tackles Mike Tuiasosopo), but Joe is so fun because of his energy. He is just going. He’s great for the guys. The guys really respect him and he knows exactly what he’s talking about. And he’s gotten much wiser over his days. He used to just grunt when he played. Now, he makes sense. He gives a lot of the motivation stuff — just about effort and playing hard. It’s been phenomenal. Then he comes to me, and asks, ‘You have anything to say?’ I say, ‘No, I would have said just what you said if I had the ability.’”