Seth Littrell watches over the UA offense last spring. Photo by Michael Chow/The Arizona Republic

Arizona and Indiana basically completed a trade of offensive coordinators on Tuesday.

Indiana hired former UA offensive coordinator Seth Littrell for the same position, helping replace Rod Smith, who spent one year with the Hoosiers before leaving last month to rejoin new Arizona coach Rich Rodriguez.

Smith was Indiana’s co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach last season. He played for Rodriguez at Glenville State and coached for him at West Virginia and Michigan.

Littrell was at Arizona for three seasons. He coached running backs and tight ends in 2009 and 2010, also adding the title of co-offensive coordinator in 2010, when he was the primary play-caller. He was the full- coordinator last season, coaching H-backs and tight ends.

“We received a large amount of interest from a talented pool of applicants, but I kept coming back to Seth,” Indiana head coach Kevin Wilson said in a statement.

“Seth is one of the most innovative, young coordinators in the country. We are excited to incorporate his successful background with the spread passing game into our offense.”

Littrell is the third assistant from last season’s staff to land a job. Offensive line coach Robert Anae was re-hired at Arizona, and defensive line coach Joe Salave’a joined Mike Leach’s new staff at Washington State.

Related: Rodriguez could be close to landing his defensive coordinator

Utah's Star Lotulelei takes up a lot of space in the middle. Photo by Russ Isabella-US PRESSWIRE

Mash together Arizona’s offense (at least in the passing game) and Utah’s defense (at least against the run), and you’d have a pretty good college football team.

It will be a battle of opposites Saturday at Arizona Stadium, with Wildcats quarterback Nick Foles taking aim at, statistically, the best defense in the Pac-12.

The Utes are allowing only 325.6 yards per game and rank 11th nationally against the run, yielding a mere 91.0 yards per game.

“They’re good. I would say one of the top two defenses we have played all year,” said UA offensive coordinator Seth Littrell.

“They’re extremely physical up front. In the secondary, they are going to try to man you up, beat your receivers up. They are, at times, going to play press coverage and say, ‘Come and get us. If you can make the play, go make the play.’ …

“It’s not going to be one of those easy-type football games where you run up and down the field, I’ll tell you that.”

Utah (4-4 overall, 1-4 Pac-12) is big up front, including 325-pound defensive tackle Star Lotulelei and defensive ends at about 270 pounds. Utah is second in the league with 2.88 sacks per game.

“Defensively, they’re damn good,” said Arizona interim coach Tim Kish. “They’re D-line is very, very good. Very, very good.”

This sounds like a game in which Arizona’s full-house backfield would come in handy. The Wildcats can max-protect Foles while, potentially, taking advantage of the man coverage on the outside with Juron Criner, Gino Crump and others. Too bad for Arizona that Dan Buckner is out with a separated shoulder.

Foles leads the nation with 32.38 completions per game and is third nationally with 366.75 yards per game.

Utah coach Kyle Whittingham said earlier this season that his team plays more man coverage than anybody in the Pac-12, and Littrell agreed with that assessment.

“But I tell our guys all the time, it doesn’t really matter what they’re doing. It matters what we do and how we execute our base plays,” Littrell said.

“That will never change week to week. It’s a mindset. Obviously, you have to put them in great situations to be successful. But at times in the football game, it’s you against the other one. Can you win? Are you going to win?”

* * *

Redshirt freshman left tackle Mickey Baucus played his best game against Washington, Kish and Littrell said.

“He rose up to the challenge and played a great game,” Littrell said.

“Hopefully, he will continue to do that. He has been working hard in practice, and it is showing on the field. He and (center) Kyle Quinn really stepped up. Those are the two guys who really played well on the O-line.”

Baucus’ challenge this week is Utah right end Derrick Shelby. The senior has six tackles for loss, including four sacks. He has an interception and has broken up five passes.

Littrell said the difference between Arizona’s offensive line from the beginning of the season until now is “night and day.” The Wildcats began the year with the least experienced offensive line in the country.

“They’re going to be special,” Littrell said.

* * *

Senior Lyle Brown and redshirt freshman nickel back Jourdon Grandon were competing for a starting cornerback spot this week, Kish said Wednesday, the last day of media availability with Arizona. He both “both will play some.”

Starting cornerback Shaquille Richardson is back from suspension but likely not back from a sprained ankle. His backup, freshman Cortez Johnson, is doubtful because of a concussion.

Also considering starter Jonathan McKnight hasn’t played all season because of a torn ACL, the Wildcats could be down to their fifth-best cornerback as a starter against Utah.

* * *

Kirifi Taula

Look for 280-pound defensive tackle Kirifi Taula to get ample time at defensive end, as he did last week at Washington. Kish said he likes the extra size out at the edge; Arizona’s starters have been 245-pounders C.J. Parish and Mohammed Usman.

“He’s a thick guy,” Kish said of Taula.

“If you’re standing behind C.J. Parish or Mohammed Usman, you’re not seeing much of a massive body. I like that big, wide back end.”

* * *

Crump, who had four catches last season, has 45 through eight games. The senior has at least five receptions in each of the past six games.

“The thing he has more than he has ever had is the confidence to go out there and know he is going to make a play,” Littrell said. “He has really grown.”

* * *

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Seth Littrell watches over the offense during a spring practice.
Photo by Michael Chow/The Arizona Republic

From coaches, from quarterbacks, from running backs and receivers, there was one often-repeated word through spring practice.

Simplify.

Arizona tried to be too many things on offense last season. Using two coordinators, the Wildcats tried to marry a four-wide spread passing game with a “heavy” power running game featuring fullbacks, tight ends and H-backs.

Didn’t work.

“I think last year, we did a little bit too much,” said Seth Littrell, who is the lone coordinator after the departure of Bill Bedenbaugh to West Virginia.

“It’s one thing for us as coaches to sit there in the film room and scheme and run everything. There are a lot of good plays, a lot of ways to skin a cat.

“But at the same time, it’s very important for players to understand and to know how to adjust to the game. When you’re doing so much, and (the defense) is giving you a lot of different looks, it’s hard to get 11 guys on the same page.”

Even head coach Mike Stoops said late in the season that it was difficult to recruit the differing personnel to fit both schemes … and, let’s face it, that power running game flopped. When the quarterback was under center, we all knew the Wildcats were going to hand off, right?

Arizona has taken the best of its attack — up-tempo, shotgun, four receivers — and is going to hang its hat on that quick passing game this season.

Instead of doing it all, the Cats will try to be really, really good at one thing.

“It means we’re going to go out and play pick-up football and just let our athletes be athletes. Try to limit the thinking,” said quarterback Bryson Beirne.

“We’re just going to get the ball out there to our guys — 15 and 82 (wide receivers Juron Criner and Dan Buckner) — and just let them score touchdowns. Our job is to just give it to them. It’s not very hard if they’re that good.”

And the less-complicated approach is good for an all-new starting offensive line with a new position coach, Robert Anae.

“He’s simplified everything for us because we’re a younger group,” said guard Trace Biskin. “What he has done is make it easier as a whole, schematically. As long as we can perfect that, it will help us down the road.”

Arizona didn’t use its up-tempo approach in Saturday’s scrimmage, but that will be an emphasis through informal summer workouts. When the Wildcats reconvene for fall camp, they can expect to practice at a faster pace, too.

It sounds as if Littrell has an offseason slogan:

“Play fast, play physical and have fun,” he said.

Simple.

Garrett Chachere at Wednesday's practice.
Photo by Michael Chow/The Arizona Republic

The Arizona Wildcats football team, without any fanfare or announcement, tweaked its offensive coaching staff this spring.

The shuffle moves inside receivers coach Garret Chachere to running backs, puts outside receivers coach Dave Nichol in charge of the inside receivers as well, and frees up coordinator Seth Littrell to focus on play-calling and take a bigger-picture look at the entire offense.

Littrell last season was the running backs coach and shared the coordinator duties with now-departed offensive line coach Bill Bedenbaugh.

“Everybody got a chance to do something they kind of wanted to do,” Chachere said after Wednesday night’s practice.

“It just fit perfectly. It is like anything else, any job you’re in. If you get a new challenge, it kind of gets your batteries charged again. I really have been loving every minute of it.”

After last season, Chachere was intrigued about the possibility of coaching running backs. Independently, Littrell had been thinking of a similar shuffle. When they realized they had the same idea, they took it to head coach Mike Stoops after signing day … and Stoops put his rubber stamp on the changes.

“I’ve coached inside before and I have been in this system forever,” Nichol said. “I’m excited. I think it’s good because we’re on the same page with all that kind of stuff. (The receivers) all hearing one voice — I think that will probably help.

“I think we all feel really good about it.”

Chachere, 42, had coached the inside receivers at Arizona for the past two seasons. He has coached on both sides of the ball during his career, but the bulk of his experience before arriving in Tucson was on defense.

“I always wanted to get back on offense,” said Chachere.

“Running backs is something I always liked and was interested in. But what it really allows me to do is be more involved in the front and the protection, and that was my main focus. I really wanted to be more involved in the protection concept and how offenses decide to block things. The running backs allow me to do that more than the receivers.”

Chachere was a running back at Tulane in 1987 and 1988, although he says he was the kind of running back “who didn’t play.”

Keola Antolin was Arizona's leading rusher in 2010. Photo by Jason O. Watson-US PRESSWIRE

He was a walk-on who had to give up football after suffering a neck injury the summer before his third season.

“I always tell people I played the position of running back at Tulane, but ‘play’ is too strong a word. I was ‘at’ the position of running back,” he said.

“But I think that has helped me in coaching for the past 19 years. It has helped me at times to coach kids who maybe don’t have the best skill but have the desire, and to coach kids who do have great skill but don’t have a lot of motivation because it’s come easy to them.”

Overall, the changes are part of Arizona’s new plan to simplify.

“There are some new things to the guys, but it’s simpler,” Nichol said. “Nothing drastic, but we have tried to simplify terminology and formations.”

Last year, the Wildcats tried to balance a spread offense with power running sets … and late in the season, even Stoops talked about how hard it was to recruit ample personnel to drive both of those philosophies.

Given the team’s skill at quarterback and receiver, Arizona is going to be more spread-heavy this season while testing new ways to run the ball out of its power sets.

Littrell, Chachere, Nichol, quarterbacks coach Frank Scelfo and new offensive line coach Robert Anae will be in charge in finding ways to make it all work.

“It’s been good — really, really good,” Chachere said of switching to running backs. “It’s really got me going.

“Hopefully, we’ll run the ball better, catch the ball better and block better.”

Related: Knee injury threatens the season of running back Greg Nwoko

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Former Texas Tech coach Mike Leach might resurface at Maryland. Photo by Bruce Thorson-US PRESSWIRE

Arizona Wildcats football fans should keep an eye on a head coaching situation taking place about 2,300 miles away.

Maryland coach Ralph Friedgen, 63, has reportedly agreed to a contract buyout, with former Texas Tech coach Mike Leach emerging as a leading candidate.

Leach has ties to three Arizona offensive coaches — offensive line coach and co-coordinator Bill Bedenbaugh, running backs coach and co-offensive coordinator Seth Littrell and outside receivers coach Dave Nichol.

Leach was an assistant coach at Iowa Wesleyan in 1991 when Bedenbaugh played there. Bedenbaugh was on the same coaching staff as Leach in 1996 at Valdosta State under head coach Hal Mumme.

When Leach became a head coach at Texas Tech in 2000, he brought in Bedenbaugh, who stayed through the 2006 season before joining Arizona.

Littrell played for Oklahoma in 1999, when Leach was the Sooners’ offensive coordinator. Littrell coached for Leach at Texas Tech from 2005 to 2008.

Nichol was a Texas Tech student assistant in 2000 and 2001, later joining Leach’s staff as a graduate assistant in 2003 and 2005.

Leach, who was fired after a successful 10-season run at Texas Tech after last season amid allegations of mistreatment of a player, certainly would be looking to hire assistants familiar with his Air Raid passing offense should he get the Maryland job.

Another potential problem for Arizona head coach Mike Stoops is that Oklahoma State offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen will become the head coach in-waiting at West Virginia after the Cowboys play the Wildcats in the Dec. 29 Alamo Bowl.

Holgorsen is another former Texas Tech assistant who has strong ties to that trio of Arizona coaches. Even though he won’t become the West Virginia head coach until after the 2011 season, Holgorsen could begin to remake the Mountaineers’ offensive coaching staff this offseason.

Might there be a situation in which Leach and Holgorsen are each trying to hire their old coaching buddies? Sure looks that way, so it could get very interesting for Arizona this offseason.

QB Matt Scott tries to scramble for a first down against Toledo, but the play was called back because of holding in the end zone/Rick Osentoski-US PRESSWIRE

The big question from the Toledo game: Why did the coaches put in backup quarterback Matt Scott early in the second quarter when the Wildcats were backed up at their 4-yard line, leading only 7-0?

“That was kind of unfair,” coach Mike Stoops said. “I wasn’t really pleased with that decision.”

Which is an odd thing for a head coach to say — doesn’t he make all the decisions? — so I asked him if he had the chance to overrule that personnel decision.

Sounds like that one zipped right past the chain of command.

Chalk up to the coaching staff, with new co-offensive coordinators Seth Littrell and Bill Bedenbaugh still working through communication issues during the game.

“That is just stuff we have to work through, and we will,” Stoops said. “That was a mistake. Like I said, we had talked about putting Matt in early in the second quarter, but that wasn’t the ideal situation. …

“That is just something that has to be communicated better. That was my fault.”

Scott and the Wildcats ended up facing a third-and-11 when he scrambled and bulled his way to what appeared to be a first down. But maybe he wouldn’t have gotten started on that run without the hold in the end zone from left guard Conan Amituanai, which resulted in a safety.

Scott got more time late in the game when the Wildcats had a comfortable margin, and you could see what the coaches have been talking about — and we’ve been writing about — regarding the quarterback’s improved throwing. He was 5 of 7 for 53 yards and one touchdown.

Last season, when Scott came into a game in relief of Foles, everyone in the stadium knew he was there to run the ball. This season, defenses are going to have to be a bit more honest against him … or likely pay the price.

* * *

True freshman receiver Tyler Slavin entered the Toledo game as the backup to Juron Criner and it was expected that he would play, but Slavin did not make an appearance. Junior Gino Crump, who made two catches for 20 yards, played as the second-stringer.

Does that mean Slavin is headed to a redshirt season?

Not necessarily. Outside receivers coach Dave Nichol said the coaching staff will continue to get Slavin — and true freshman receiver Austin Hill — ready for action. Just in case. But no final decision has been made regarding a redshirt.

* * *

What’s up with ESPN’s Kirk Herbstreit? He picked Arizona at No. 22 in his preseason AP ballot, and then the Wildcats wiped out Toledo, 41-2. So, Arizona might have a chance to move up, right?

Nope. Instead, Herbstreit dropped the Wildcats out of his Top 25.

Even more curiously, USC, which struggled to put away Hawaii, rose from No. 24 to No. 18 on Herbie’s ballot. Hard to figure.

Nick Foles throws in spring ball under the watchful eyes of quarterbacks coach Frank Scelfo (left).
Photo by WildcatSportsReport.com

With the spring game looming on Saturday, Arizona coach Mike Stoops is ready to declare the strength of the team.

“I have been pleased with the progression of all three quarterbacks,” Stoops said after Wednesday morning’s practice. “I think there is a difference in every one of them when you look at them.”

It’s probably no coincidence that for the first time, Stoops has a quarterbacks coach who does not double as offensive coordinator, as Mike Canales and Sonny Dykes did.

Frank Scelfo, who tutored four NFL quarterbacks while at Tulane, can focus solely on improving the mechanics and the minds of Nick Foles, Matt Scott and Bryson Beirne.

“I think it’s a different aspect that we haven’t had for the quarterback position,” Stoops said of having Scelfo as a dedicated position coach. “You can have all the ability, but you still have to have the proper mechanics to throw the football accurately. Frank’s expertise in that area has definitely helped.”

**Here is more from Stoops about the quarterbacks:

“Nick really went to a different level this spring, along with Matt. I think both of them are much more polished players, just seeing things quicker, reacting quicker, getting the ball out of their hands, throwing the ball down the field better — every aspect of their game. Their intelligence. I just think they are much more confident players.”

**Beirne, a redshirt junior, has always been a good soldier, despite having only the slimmest prospects of playing time. In scrimmage situations, he has shown a good arm and good decision-making. It certainly wouldn’t be a disaster if he was forced into action by injuries.

“I think Bryson has made some positive steps as well in his limited reps,” Stoops said. “So we feel good. The quarterback position is probably the strongest position on the field.”

**It helps the quarterbacks that the receiver position is the “next position I feel really good about,” Stoops said.

Senior Delashaun Dean and junior Juron Criner are 6-4 outside receivers who combined for 87 catches for 978 yards and 11 touchdowns — nine by Criner — last season. They are givens. Stoops on Wednesday also singled out junior Bug Wright, who was limited by injuries last season, and redshirt freshman Richard Morrison, converting from quarterback.

“Richard Morrison is coming on. That has been a really positive move,” Stoops said.

He added: “Our skill is probably as good as it has ever been.”

**The big question on offense heading into the spring was identifying the play-caller after Stoops promoted Bill Bedenbaugh and Seth Littrell to co-coordinators. It was assumed that Littrell, by virtue of his game-day position in the coaches box, would be the one actually calling down the plays to the sideline, and it appears that will be the case.

“He and Bill set up the daily game plan, and then Seth calls it,” Stoops said. “Still, I’m not really worried about scoring points, really. I think we should be able to do that pretty consistently. I think we’re much better offensively than a year ago.”

**There isn’t a quarterback controversy, but Scott’s throwing appears to be improved, and perhaps the coaches won’t be afraid to let him wing it when he comes into the game as a running change-up to Foles.

“I think I have improved a lot,” Scott said.

“Since Coach Scelfo has been here, I have learned a lot and progressed a lot through him. I just feel like I am improving every day. I’m really confident.”

Earlier this spring, Scelfo said Scott’s throwing motion had gotten “too long,” and he had lost velocity and accuracy because of it. He also discussed how he was working on Foles’ footwork.

“Every time I don’t throw it how he wants it, he is going to let me know,” Scott said of Scelfo.

“He is going to tell me how it is. That is what I like about him. He’s a straight-up guy with you. He is going to give it to you straight. And I feel that is what I need.”

Bill Bedenbaugh

The identity of Arizona’s play-caller for offense is still a mystery. Which is not the same thing as it being a concern.

Coach Mike Stoops has two new co-coordinators — offensive line Bill Bedenbaugh and running backs/tight ends coach Seth Littrell. He also has a new quarterbacks coach in Frank Scelfo, who called plays last season for Louisiana Tech and has done so at other places, including Tulane.

Stoops’ message: It will all work itself out as Arizona goes through spring ball, which was set to begin Friday afternoon.

“We haven’t really worked through all that yet,” Stoops said. “It’s just about getting comfortable with who we are as a staff. A lot of will be determined as we move through the spring. That’s a process that will be ongoing.”

Stoops admits that the lack of a play-caller at this stage is “probably a little bit unorthodox.”

But Bedenbaugh is entering his fourth season at Arizona, Littrell is second season, and they coached together at Texas Tech. So, they each have a high level of comfort in this offensive scheme.

And the players have a high level of comfort with them, Stoops said.

“I think our players are as confident as they have ever been in our staff, that is for sure,” Stoops said.

“I think they have a great feeling of continuity. I think that is the biggest thing. There is not a lack of trust there. The big thing is to have chemistry among our staff and players. I think we have that. If we didn’t have that, then that would be alarming.”

Seth Littrell

Stoops met with the media Friday morning, and then his co-offensive coordinators and co-defensive coordinators (linebackers coach Tim Kish and new secondary coach Greg Brown) did the same.

As a practical matter on game days, Bedenbaugh said he will be on the field while Littrell will be in the press box.

“We have been in this offense; we know what we want to do,” Bedenbaugh said. “We think alike. We want to run the same things. Everything will be good.

Two other members of the offensive staff return — outside receivers coach David Nichol and inside receivers coach Garret Chachere — easing the transition.

“We have great position coaches,” Littrell said. “We are not going to have to be looking over anyone’s shoulder.”

Bedenbaugh said the playbook has been tweaked to reflect the team’s strengths and weaknesses. The team’s biggest strength at this point, Stoops said, is the experience on offense, where 10 starters return, including quarterback Nick Foles.

“I think it will be a much more confident group,” Stoops said. “I think they know they can move the football.”

One thing to work in the spring is to continue to explore the options with backup quarterback Matt Scott, including specific packages for his running skills.

“I think you have to,” Stoops said. “He’s one of our most talented players. I think you have to keep him involved. …

“He’s going to have a lot of opportunities. It will be his chance to show us what he can do and see if he’s matured through the course of the year.”

Now, all Arizona has to figure out is who calls the plays. The game plan typically is done by Tuesday of game week. On game day, it laregly will be a collaborative effort — as it was with Sonny Dykes as the coordinator the past three seasons — but somebody has to pull the trigger when things get crazy during games.

In spring and fall scrimmages, the coaching staff will have to work on communication and timing, as well as the play-calling.

“These guys are all in it together,” Stoops said.

NOTES

Stoops said three players are out for the spring — starting OG Vaughn Dotsy (back surgery last week), projected starting DT Dominique Austin (toe) and third-string RB Greg Nwoko (shoulder).