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.

Arizona linebacker Hank Hobson is carted off the field with a neck injury at UCLA on Nov. 3. Photo by Andrew Fielding-US PRESSWIRE

RELATED: Arizona likely to seek medical hardship for Terrence Miller

The Arizona Wildcats’ injury problems started during their spring game. That’s when safety Adam Hall tore his ACL for the second time in a year.

The bad news kept coming for Rich Rodriguez in the summer and fall camp.

Four players never made it to the start of the season, including sophomore linebacker Rob Hankins, who had to give up football because of a concussion. Senior Greg Nwoko, who moved from running back to linebacker in camp, suffered a career-ending hip injury.

Injuries hit hard at offensive tackle. Jack Baucus, a converted tight end who might have been able to help, succumbed to a knee injury and is no longer on the roster. Promising redshirt freshman Jacob Arzouman suffered a torn ACL in August practice. Another redshirt freshman tackle, Lene Maiava, played in four games before tearing his ACL.

The offensive line further had to be a mix-and-match unit to cover for in-season injuries to guard Trace Biskin, center Kyle Quinn and guard/tackle Chris Putton.

“I don’t look at it as a patchwork deal,” offensive line coach Robert Anae said a couple of weeks ago.

“Guys who are playing have earned that. They earned that. To me, if you have a patchwork approach, the guys are playing out of default. We’ve had some injuries, so there has been some of that, but I don’t like to look at it as a guy is playing out of default.

“I like to look at it as a guy has earned his time to play and deserves to be on the field.”

Said Rodriguez: “That group probably has as much pride as any group we’ve had.”

Injuries also made Arizona (more) vulnerable at every level of defense. Freshmen and walk-ons have had to step in at linebacker and at safety. Arizona’s most productive defensive lineman early in the season, senior Dominique Austin, won’t be back after suffering a foot injury in the fifth game, Rodriguez said.

The big question for this week is whether quarterback Matt Scott — as well as Putton and safety Jourdon Grandon — will return for Saturday’s game at Utah. All three starters missed last week’s 56-31 win over Colorado because of concussions.

Arizona will release its official injury list Thursday afternoon.

Looking only at guys who did or could have impacted the two-deep, here is a list of how many games Arizona players have missed (or in the case of those who won’t be back will miss) this season because of injury. Total games lost so far: 112.

*Projected

Terrence Miller couldn’t come up with this catch at Stanford, which was the last game in which he played. Photo by Cary Edmondson-US PRESSWIRE

The Arizona Wildcats likely will pursue a medical hardship for senior receiver Terrence Miller, who just barely fits the criteria allowed by the NCAA.

“He is one we are hopeful we can get,” coach Rich Rodriguez said after Tuesday’s practice.

To qualify for a football medical hardship, restoring a full year of eligibility, a player must not previously have redshirted before, suffered a season-ending injury, played in no more than four games and not played after the halfway point of the regular season.

Miller started the first three games, then missed two because of a shoulder injury, returned to start the sixth game of the season — the halfway point — and was since been out because of a foot/ankle injury.

Rodriguez said he had been hopeful of getting Miller back for the final couple of games of the regular season, but that does not appear to be the case.

So, Miller should qualify for a medical hardship if the Arizona appeals his case to the NCAA.

Returning in 2013 would be a perfect scenario for Miller, who probably should have redshirted as a true freshman.

Not only did he hardly play enough to justify burning his redshirt, appearing in only seven games and making two catches, he was younger than most freshmen when he arrived. Miller did not turn 18 until after his freshman season.

As a current senior, he still won’t be of drinking age until Jan. 16.

Miller (6-4, 226) started to emerge late in his sophomore season, making 22 catches in the final four games. But he was buried on the depth chart last season (11 catches) before earning a starting role for Rodriguez this season.

Miller has 13 catches for 143 yards and two scores in four games.

Arizona’s receiving corps should be deep next season, losing only senior Dan Buckner and led by Austin Hill, who is a semifinalist for the Biletnikoff Award this season.

UA is redshirting four freshmen, including Trey Griffey, and has more help coming in the 2013 recruiting class, including junior college running back Mario Alford, a versatile offensive player who could end up in the slot.

That would be starting receiver Terrence Miller, who is questionable for Saturday night’s game at Oregon because of a shoulder injury. Miller, a senior, has 10 catches for 106 yards and one touchdown.

His backup is sophomore Tyler Slavin, who had his biggest game — five catches for 48 yards — last week against South Carolina State.

The other player on the injury list is linebacker Greg Nwoko, who remains out because of a hip injury.

Arizona’s Matt Scott gets ready to fire the winning touchdown pass as Toledo’s Danny Farr unsuccessfully tries to drag him down. Photo by Matt Kartozian-US PRESSWIRE

Matt Scott couldn’t find anyone open. It was third-and-goal from the 10 in overtime, the Arizona Wildcats trying to overcome a mountain of mistakes against Toledo.

Scott rolled to his right, signaling to his receivers downfield. Danny Farr, a 295-pound defensive lineman, broke free and chased Scott to the sideline, grabbing the back of his jersey.

The play looked dead. Arizona was going to have to settle for a field goal attempt, which was scary enough since John Bonano had missed from 25 yards minutes earlier on the final play of regulation.

But then …

“At the last second, I saw Terrence out of the corner of my eye,” Scott said. “I just kind of slung the ball to him, and he made a great catch.”

Scott had just enough time left to fire to receiver Terrence Miller at the goal line for a touchdown. The UA defense made the lead hold up by stopping Toledo on downs on the ensuing possession, and the Wildcats made Rich Rodriguez a 24-17 winner in his first game as the Wildcats coach.

One of the themes of Arizona’s preseason: Matt Scott gives the Cats a chance.

That’s what everyone saw Saturday night at Arizona Stadium.

The redshirt senior, in his first start Oct. 30, 2010, completed 30 of 46 passes for 387 yards and he ran 14 times for 74 yards. He threw for two touchdowns — the first being a 30-yarder in which Austin Hill made a spectacular diving catch in the end zone — and was intercepted once.

And this was just his first game in Rodriguez’s read-option offense.

“He was making great decisions,” Rodriguez said.

“He missed a couple of throws, which he would want to have back. In our offense, the quarterback has to make decisions on just about every play — run or pass. Matt was really sharp with that tonight. Really sharp.

“He’ll fix some of those throws that he needs to have back. He’s a competitive guy. Matt’s competitiveness, everybody else feeds off that.”

His 461 yards of total offense was the third-highest total in school history, trailing Willie Tuitama (517 vs. Washington in 2007) and Keith Smith (502 vs. Cal in four overtimes in 1996).

Arizona gained a staggering 624 yards and squandered so many opportunities that Rodriguez said, “It almost makes you think it could have been 800 easily.” The offense was like a soccer team most of the night — they moved the ball around a lot but there was little scoring.

The inventory of awfulness: Two touchdowns called back by penalty; three turnovers in Toledo territory, including one in the red zone; a dropped slant pass near the goal line; a 24-yard field goal attempt that went off the right upright; the 25-yard missed field goal that Bonano pulled wide left at the end of regulation.

Cue the nightmares of Arizona’s recent kicking woes …

“We all got together on the sideline and basically kind of made a pack, saying, ‘Who cares,’” linebacker Jake Fischer said of the missed field goal at the end of regulation.

“I mean, one play doesn’t define the whole game. There’s so much pressure put on that one play, but on both sides of the ball, we could have done so much better.”

Scott could have done better, too. He missed wide-open receivers down field on a few occasions, but some of that is going to happen when you throw 46 times.

For his next trick, Matt Scott might try throwing lefty in a game, not just in warmups. Photo by Matt Kartozian-US PRESSWIRE

Yes, 46 times in a Rich Rodriguez offense. It can happen. Rodriguez said his offense (which usually skews two-thirds to the running game) is adaptable. And Scott has been saying he usually doesn’t get the proper credit for his passing.

Future games won’t necessarily break down with more passing than running — Arizona had 41 attempts on the ground vs. Toledo — but if it’s working …

“I wouldn’t see myself as a runner only,” Scott said. “I would rather just sit back there and throw the ball, and run the ball when I need to.”

Arizona needed all his passing and his running to overcome its sloppiness.

“We know we’re going to be half-sick watching film because of the opportunities we squandered offensively,” Rodriguez said. “But our guys hung in there.”

And Matt Scott gave the Cats a chance.

If there had been a sliver of doubt before Saturday, there is none now: This is Scott’s team.

“I came to Arizona to be that guy,” said Scott, who had to watch for most of the past three seasons behind Nick Foles, including redshirting last season.

“It was hard for me to sit out last year, but coming back this year was important to me. I couldn’t have it any other way.”

David Roberts (left) and Juron Criner celebrate after Criner's touchdown catch against Arizona State last season. Photo by Rob Schumacher/The Arizona Republic

Here is the fifth 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: Wide receivers (I talked to receivers coach Dave Nichol this week, so there are some fresh quotes in this preview):

INTRO

Big and tall. Short and quick. Proven and promising. And deep. Very deep.

Arizona’s receiving corps, led by potential All-American Juron Criner and with an intriguing combination of route-runners and run-away threats, pretty much has it all.

This is the Wildcats’ best position group and one of the best in the nation, as the receiving corps is ranked No. 5 by Lindy’s and Phil Steele’s preseason magazines. The team will look to Texas transfer Dan Buckner to add another element of danger.

But receivers coach Dave Nichol says he wants to “tap the brakes” on any of the hype.

“Whenever we turn on the film from last year, for however talented people think we are, we realize we have a lot of stuff to work on,” he said.

Juron Criner

Criner has a chance to be the best Arizona receiver ever; certainly, the Wildcats haven’t had this combination of size, skill and passing offense at the same time. Coach Mike Stoops says Criner should be a “100-catch guy” this season.

Criner, 6-foot-4, was a unanimous All-Pac-10 selection as a junior, when he caught 82 passes for 1,233 yards and 11 touchdowns while playing through an assortment of injuries.

“Juron’s greatest attribute is he’s a very complete player,” Stoops said. “He has the ability to break short throws into big plays, to break tackles. He has great strength. He has separation speed. He has great timing, so he can up after jump balls.

“He is going to have every opportunity to make a play.”

Dan Buckner

The Texas transfer gives Arizona a 6-foot-4 bookend to Juron Criner, potentially setting up a pick-your-poison scenario for secondaries who can’t double-cover both wideouts.

Buckner caught 44 passes for 445 yards and four touchdowns in 2009 as the Longhorns advanced to the BCS title game against Alabama. He was especially effective early in the season when Texas was using more of a short passing game, the kind that Arizona figures to lean on this year.

Stoops has said that Buckner has first-round talent, but the goal in the offseason was to improve his timing with quarterback Nick Foles.

“We want to be the best receiving corps in the nation,” Buckner said in the spring. “We have a lot of good guys returning. Hopefully, I can add on.”

Coaches know they will get a consistent effort from David Douglas. Photo by David Kadlubowski/The Arizona Republic

David Douglas

Douglas was the team’s second-leading receiver last season with 52 catches for 515 yards and five touchdowns. He can play outside in UA’s four-wide spread offense but is set to return to an inside position this season with the addition of Dan Buckner.

Douglas gets tagged as a “possession” receiver, although he’s more athletic than most think. But having good hands is part of his skill set; coaches use him at punt returner when all they want is for someone to catch the ball.

“It’s just a consistency thing with him — how he shows up ready to work in the weight room, on the practice field and in games,” said Nichol. “He’s a great example for the rest of our group.”

David Roberts

Roberts has been a reliable option for the past two seasons, mixing in some big games (12 catches for 138 yards and a touchdown against Washington in 2009) and big plays (stretching for a 38-yard reception on the game-winning drive against Iowa last season).

Roberts, who caught 43 passes in 2009 and 44 last season, is much like the receiving corps’ other David — David Douglas. They are consistent and lead through the example of their work ethic.

“Even when he’s a backup, he is going to find a way on Saturdays to do the right thing,” Nichol said. “It’s simple: He tries really hard. He has a personal pride and a team pride.”

Richard Morrison stretches to catch a pass in spring practice. Photo by Michael Chow/The Arizona Republic

Richard Morrison

It wasn’t considered much of a big deal offensively when senior-to-be Bug Wright was dismissed from the team in the offseason; that’s because Morrison is ready for a bigger role.

Morrison, a converted quarterback, becomes the team’s shorter, shiftier threat at slot receiver — kind of like Mike Thomas was a few years ago. Morrison’s development was slowed in 2010 by a midseason shoulder injury, but he finished with six catches for 66 yards in the Alamo Bowl (and had a 44-yard TD reception nullified by penalty).

In the spring game, Morrison made four catches for 63 yards and two scores.

“I think I’ve matured a lot more and I’m starting to read the defenses better,” Morrison said. “I’m really comfortable at the position.”

Terrence Miller

Tight end Rob Gronkowski sat out the 2009 season because of a back injury and then turned pro, so Arizona was without a middle-of-the-field threat for much of the past two years — until Miller emerged late last season.

Miller, at 6-foot-4 and 225 pounds, will serve as Arizona’s big target from a slot position. He started to put it all together late last season, when 25 of his 29 receptions came in the final five games.

“He is definitely a different body type,” said Nichol, “and many plays in our system really fit him.”

Miller’s best game last season came against USC when he made seven catches for 116 yards.

Austin Hill breaks free from cornerback Trevin Wade in a spring scrimmage. Photo by David Kadlubowski/The Arizona Republic

Austin Hill

Hill might have been the most ready of Arizona’s three true freshman receivers last season, but coaches were able to preserve his redshirt season. Hill flashed the ability to make difficult catches in camp last season.

At 6-3, 205 pounds, Hill is a little bigger than fellow redshirt freshman Tyler Slavin — a high school teammate at Roosevelt High in Corona, Calif. — and both have good speed from an outside receiver position.

“Boy, if they raced, I don’t know,” Nichol said.

Like Slavin, Hill’s playing time this season likely will come only in spot duty, barring injuries to other receivers. But both figure nicely into the team’s long-range plans.

Tyler Slavin

Slavin made the two-deep for parts of last season after an impressive fall camp — and he was on the travel squad — but he never played as a true freshman.

“He’s really smooth,” said Nichol. “His pad level and the way he sinks his hips coming out of cuts … he does that naturally. But he probably had a few more drops than I like in the spring.”

The thing with Slavin and fellow redshirt freshman Austin Hill is consistency, Nichol said, and soaking up the leadership from the veteran receivers.

“Guys like Austin and Tyler, I need to feel good about, ‘Hey, man, you can go and do it,’” Nichol said. “We’re getting there.”

Garic Wharton

Wharton might be the fastest player on the team, and he’ll at least show that speed on kick returns, where he will replace the departed Travis Cobb. On offense, Arizona hopes Wharton will be a breakaway threat in the slot.

“We have to get his hands on the ball five to eight times a game,” Stoops said.

That could mean by Arizona’s usual variety of short passes, or on end arounds or other sorts of handoffs. Wharton recorded a 100-meter time of 10.39 seconds in high school.

“The thing with him is having great ball security,” Nichol said.

Gino Crump

Crump, based on his 2010 performances in spring and fall camps, seemed to be on the verge of being a rotation player, although that didn’t materialize last season. He had four catches for 39 yards in the first two games, but no catches after that.

Crump will be battling in fall camp for a backup role at outside receiver.

“We have a lot of competition,” Nichol said. “He is right in the mix. He has done everything we have asked of him. He played some important plays for us last year.”

Crump walked on in August 2009 after redshirting at West Virginia in 2008.

Flipping over on your head without catching the ball: Bad.
Photo by Chris Morrison-US PRESSWIRE

Football life is good for Arizona Wildcats receivers coach Dave Nichol.

He has an All-American in senior Juron Criner.

He has more trustworthy seniors in David Douglas and Dave Roberts.

He has a touted junior transfer from Texas — Dan Buckner.

He has promising inside receivers of differing sizes — junior Terrence Miller (big) and sophomore Richard Morrison (small).

He has three redshirt freshmen he can deploy this season — Austin Hill, Tyler Slavin and super speedy Garic Wharton.

He has, to sum up, one of the best receiving corps in the country.

“We need to tap the brakes on that,” Nichol said.

For as good as this position group might be, for all the preseason praise it might be hearing, Nichol is taking a glass-half-empty approach to the spring. He took some of the receiving corps’ worst moments from last season and cut up a video entitled, simply, “Bad.”

Poor blocks. Dropped passes. Misalignments. Wrong assignments. Substandard routes.

“It was too darn long, I’ll tell you that,” Nichol said of the length of the video. “Every now and again, when they get all ‘whatever,’ I’ll just remind them of that tape.”

Said Douglas: “Yeah, there are quite a bit of plays on there. We had way too many mistakes last year. It makes you see, man, we have a lot of stuff we have to get better at if we want to be as good as they’re talking about us as a group.”

Call it some preventative medicine. It’s not that Nichol is seeing signs of his receivers growing out-sized egos — not that an out-sized ego is the worst thing for a receiver. It’s just that he wants to keep the temperature turned up on the competition in Arizona’s four-wide spread offense.

“They know what it takes,” Nichol said.

“They know you can’t just show up. If you just show up, you’re going to be average. That goes for Juron, too. He’ll get covered up in a heartbeat if he doesn’t work. That’s a fact.”

Criner showed up last season to the tune of 82 catches for 1,233 yards and 11 touchdowns, despite often battling injuries.

Douglas had 52 receptions for 515 yards and five scores. Roberts made 44 receptions for 487 yards and two touchdowns.

Coaches know what these guys can do.

Then there’s Buckner, whom coach Mike Stoops has said has first-round talent.

Miller emerged late last season as an inside receiver; 25 of his 29 catches came in the final five games. He’s not big enough (225 pounds) for a tight end role, but, at 6-4, he’s potentially the target over the middle that was missing for much of the past two seasons.

“That’s a work in progress quite honestly with us as coaches and him at practice in terms of how we use him,” Nichol said. “There are things he can do, there are different things he can’t do.”

Slavin (6-2) and Hill (6-3) are outside receivers. They will be, at worst, insurance against an injury to Criner or Buckner.

“We’re a play away from them playing a lot,” Nichol said.

“There were times last year when I left Juron in because Juron at 70 percent was still better than other guys at 100 percent. … Where I want to get is if Juron is huffing and puffing, I can give him a breather. I didn’t feel like I could do that all the time last year. That’s where their playing time, I think, comes in.”

Wharton, who should see ample time as a kick returner, might be the fastest player on the team. Coaches are giving him a long look this spring, or, as Nichol put it, “I’m repping the dog out of him.”

“He is so fast, but guys don’t always play fast. It ain’t track,” Nichol added. “He has got to play fast.

“He’s willing to learn and he’s competitive. That’s what I like about him. He’s probably tougher than people would think he is being a quote, unquote, track guy. He’s hungry.”

As much as anything right now, that’s what Nichol wants to see from the entire group.

And if the guys aren’t listening, he’ll just point them to the new addition to his video collection: “Bad.”

It just might help them be great.

NOTES
Stoops said after Monday’s practice that safety Adam Hall and running back Greg Nwoko were scheduled for surgery next Tuesday to repair torn ACLs. As for the shuffle in the second, Stoops said Robert Golden will move back to strong safety, which leaves free safety as something of a question mark for now … With a few offseason departures (WR Bug Wright, LB Trevor Erno, LB R.J. Young), Stoops has some scholarships available. He said those could go to walk-ons who prove themselves; he added that the coaching staff is also keeping its eyes open for transfers or late additions to the recruiting class.