So after three weeks, three scrimmages (two public) and a full fall camp the big question is whether my opinion of the Arizona football team has changed. After the smoke has cleared, the answer is “not really.”

Biggest Concerns BEFORE Camp:
My two biggest concerns before camp were the offensive line and the pass rush. In both cases the Wildcats were not only replacing all of their starters, but doing so with inexperienced players. I said over the summer that if the offensive line and pass rush is good, Arizona can challenge for the Pac-12 South championship. If those did not come through, then it could be a long fall.

Last year I believed the offensive line was a problem. That experience did not equal talent. In the end that proved to be the case, the line was mediocre. This year overall talent is not in question. The group of players that Robert Anae is working with may be the most talented in over a decade. They just lack experience and overall strength.

After watching them for a few weeks I feel a little better about the group, but still caution fans that there will be a lot of growing pains. There will be breakdowns. There will be times they get overmatched. There will also be times they absolutely control the game.

I do believe they will be much better at pass blocking than run blocking, but that has been the case since Dick Tomey left.

As for the pass rush, they have looked good at times, but how good are they really. Two players who have really impressed me in camp are C.J. Parish and freshman Reggie Gilbert. Parish has proven to be a versatile, smart player who the Wildcats can use in a variety of ways. Gilbert is a terrific athlete, who I think will be second team by the start of the season. I see him passing Dan Pettinato, if he hasn’t already.

Muhammed Usman is also a specimen, but how can this group do against experienced linemen who are both athletic and strong? Again, I think this is a group that will have moments of brilliance and periods that completely frustrate Wildcat fans.

I must also add, that if some “talk” is true, then the Wildcat coaching will aid the defensive ends in the pass rush. Some of the things I have heard (and seen) are terrific, but until I see it on game day, I am not 100% convinced that Mike Stoops will leave his comfort zone.

Things I Was Confident About BEFORE Camp
Of course I felt great about Nick Foles and the receiving corps. I feel the same about Foles as I did before, and feel better about the receivers. Tyler Slavin had a great camp. Gino Crump looked like he can help and Juron Criner looks as good as ever.

 think Austin Hill is a player, though he is likely a year away from really helping. I wish Terrence Miller had been a little more consistent and I did not see a lot from Garic Wharton, though his best days are also down the line.

Things I Am Worried About AFTER Camp
I am still worried about the offensive line and pass rush, but add kicking game and defensive backs to the list.

None of the Wildcat kickers have really impressed. Alex Zendejas and Jaime Salazar look very similar in terms of leg strength and ability to make kicks. Neither has been bad, but neither has stood out. What we can’t tell from camp is the mental aspect. We know Zendejas has some issues upstairs, especially on extra points, while we have no idea how Salazar will react to real games. Kicking is 50% mental, and it is hard to duplicate the mental aspect in practices.

Punter Kyle Dugandzic has a strong leg, but still lacks consistency. That is troubling with the NAU game about 10 days away. John Bonano is still not impressing with kick offs, though I do like the Cats’ return men.

Overall the defensive backs are solid. The injury to Jourdan Grandon is a concern, as he was clearly in the lead to be the team’s nickel back. Early in camp there were some communication issues and Shaquille Richardson looked to have some issues covering deep, especially when filling in at nickel, but now that he is at corner replacing the injured Jonathan McKnight, he’ll have to correct those issues.

I really like freshman Cortez Johnson, and walk-on Jared Tevis will likely have a scholarship before he graduates.

Overall, the group WILL be better than last year. They are big and athletic, but still young.

Prediction
Before camp I though this was a team that could win as few as four games and as many as eight. The schedule does them no favors, but I think there is talent there, though it may really start to gel in 2012 and 2013. A safe bet is picking 6-6, but a gut feeling says a winning record is a real possibility.

For more great Wildcat coverage check out www.WildcatSportsReport.com

Less than a week into fall football camp it is hard to tell a lot about the team, but stories and themes are starting to emerge.

So far Nick Foles has been sharp and it is obvious that Matt Scott is attempting to redshirt this season, allowing him to battle for the starting job as a fifth year starter in 2012. Bryson Beirne has been getting the bulk of the snaps with the second team, while Scott, the back-up in 2010, works with the scout team.

Keola Antolin and Daniel Jenkins are holding down the top two spots at running back and the real competition seems to be for the third running back job. Sophomore Kylan Butler has the edge early in camp, but walk-on Terris Jones and true freshman Ka’Deem Carey are getting their opportunities.

Heading into fall camp we knew the Arizona receiving corps was deep, but this appears top be the deepest the unit has ever been. Juron Criner is back with the team after attending to some personal matters over the summer. He does not appear 100% in shape, but is still making plays. Once he improves his conditioning, watch out.

Newcomer Dan Buckner, the Texas transfer, appears as good as advertised, while Tyler Slavin has made play after play.

Terrence Miller has been a go-to guy during 2:00 drills and he gives the Cats yet another big target.

All eyes are on the offensive line and so far, so good. The starting five of Mickey Baucus, Fabbians Ebelle, Chris Putton, Trace Biskin and Kyle Quinn have been solid and early on have fended off challenges from second teamers.

The biggest news among the line is the addition of Jack Baucus, who moves from tight end to tackle.

Another position of interest has been the defensive ends who have to replace three players drafted by the NFL. So far Muhammed Usman and C.J. Parish have been very good and true freshmen Reggie Gilbert and Dame Ndiaye have shown that the future at the position seems very bright.

Junior college transfer David Lopez will start alongside Paul Vassallo and Derek Earls when the Cats go with their 4-3 base defense, but all indications are that the Wildcats will spend a lot of time in their nickel and dime packages.

So far the defensive backs have also played well. Shaq Richardson and Jonathan McKnight are in a real battle to start opposite of senior Trevin Wasde and Derrick Rainey is also showing well at corner.

There is less competition at safety where Rob Golden and Marquis Flowers have their jobs all but sewn up.

Alex Zendejas and Jaime Salazar are in a duel for the place kicking job. Many assumed that after last year’s disasterous finish that Zendejas would be out of a job, but he worked hard over the summer and the job probably won’t be decided early in camp.

So far the Wildcats have remained relatively injury free, which is especially good news after all of the injuries during spring ball. Two of those injured players, linebacker Jake Fischer and safety Adam Hall, appear to be ahead of schedule and may have a tough decision to make about whether to play this year or use a redshirt.

The Arizona football team has added three “surprises” to the 2010 recruiting class. Two players committed and signed with the program this morning, while a third made his two-month old commitment known Tuesday night.

For full signing day coverage including interviews, video and bios make sure you check out WildcatSportsReport.com.

Arizona received two surprises when Fabbians Ebbelle and Jonathan McKnight each faxed in Letters of Intent.

Ebbelle is a huge 6-8, 295-pound offensive lineman from Chicago’s Simeon High School. Ebbelle chose Arizona over Illinois and Kansas. He is a rare commit from Illinois, but is the fourth player from the state to commit to the Wildcats in the past two seasons.

Assistant coach Bill Bedenbaugh has worked hard to open up the area and so far it is paying dividends with the big fellas. The Cats have landed three offensive linemen and a blocking tight end from the area.

The Cats also ventured to another unusual area to land their second surprise of the morning. Jonathan McKnight hails from the New Orleans area and become the second player from the Crescent City to commit to the Wildcats in the Mike Stoops era. Linebacker

McKnight is an athlete who can play either cornerback or wide out and had some nice SEC offers, including Arkansas and Tennessee.

He is also the brother of USC running back although they are different players.

“They are two different types of players,” McKnight’s high school coach J.T. Curtis told NOLA.com in August. “Jonathan is a pure corner/receiver type.”

Honolulu defensive tackle Defensive tackle Sani Fuimaono has actually been committed since December but was just a “soft commit” and wanted to keep things quiet until he was sure Arizona was the place for him.

Fuimaono fell in love with Tucson and the school.

“The main reason is probably just the place, you know, Tucson,” Fuimaono said. “It’s a great college town and I fit in real well. I like the campus and everything just fits me.”

The Cats’ entire class was signed by 11:30 local time and we’ll have a full re-cap this afternoon.

One player who did not sign was OL Matthew Jakubiec, who will likely go the junior college route.