Arizona Daily Star: Wildcats get back to basics in drills

By Charles Durrenberger

ARIZONA DAILY STAR

With two weeks to prepare for their Pac-10 opener, the Wildcats are, in a sense, starting over.  Arizona (1-2) spent last week's open date returning to basics, tailoring workouts around blocking and tackling drills.  UA coach Mike Stoops has accepted the fact that his team's inability to stop the run effectively, and its habit of surrendering big plays, are keeping the Wildcats out of the win column.  "Big plays have really prohibited us from being a good defensive team," Stoops said. "We continue to give up big chunks of yardage. We'll play 40-50 plays the way we're supposed to, and then give up two or three big plays.  "We do some decent things and play well at times, but we're just very inconsistent."

Against Purdue, the Wildcats gave up a 55-yard touchdown run and a 46-yard pass that set up a score.  "You can't arm tackle," UA cornerback Antoine Cason said. "That's something we worked on all last week."  The open week also has allowed some of Arizona's walking wounded to get healthy.  Defensive end Copeland Bryan and linebacker Dane Krogstad are expected back for Saturday's game at No. 12 Cal (4-0, 1-0 Pac-10).

Bryan suffered an ankle injury in the first series of the season opener. Krogstad sat out Arizona's 31-24 loss to Purdue on Sept. 17 with a stinger in his shoulder and neck area.  Middle linebacker Ronnie Palmer still is sidelined with a broken foot, and outside linebacker Randy Sims still is nursing a sore ankle.  "Our linebackers haven't been in there as a group, and it's hard to overcome losing both of your starting defensive ends," Stoops added.