UA football has some uncertainty on offensive line
When Anu Solomon takes his first snap of 2015 Thursday night, he’ll do it behind an offensive line carrying loads of questions.
But Solomon, Arizona’s redshirt sophomore quarterback, isn’t worried. In fact, he has plenty of confidence in the big boys up front for one simple reason.
“Those guys gave me time this camp against our defensive line and Scooby,” Solomon said, alluding to UA All-America linebacker Scooby Wright. “Scooby is a tough guy to block and they did a good job on him. So I think they’ll handle the games fine.”
Fair enough.
But the Wildcats will still open the season with some uncertainty up front.
The UA must replace three starters: Mickey Baucus, Fabbians Ebbele and Steven Gurrola. Two of Arizona’s returning players, Cayman Bundage and Lene Maiava, are learning new positions.
“Offensively, that’s certainly the group,” coach Rich Rodriguez said when asked if the line was the group he was most unsure about. “Obviously there’s a couple of guys that will be playing for the very first time and other guys in different roles. So it’s a little nerve-wracking.”
The UA’s projected starting lineup up front reads like this: Freddie Tagaloa at left tackle, Zach Hemmila at left guard, Bundage at center, Jacob Alsadek at right guard and Maiava at right tackle.
Only Bundage and Alsadek were full-time starters last year. Maiava has seven career starts in three seasons and Hemmila and Tagaloa have never started a game for Arizona. Bundage is also making the move from left guard to center for the first time in his career.
“What we do isn’t that complicated,” Rodriguez said. “Scheme-wise, I don’t think they are going to be taxed mentally at all. They just have to go out there and execute.”
Solomon said it took about a week for him to get on the same page with Bundage. Since, there haven’t been many errant snaps or any miscommunication between the two.
“He’s doing better on his snap placement and just recognizing calls for the offensive line,” Solomon said of Bundage. “I think the line has the potential to be better than last year.”
Here’s a closer look at the UA’s starting five:
Freddie Tagaloa, left tackle
Year: Junior.
Height/weight: 6-8/316.
Previous experience: Played in 23 games over two seasons at Cal, making seven starts. Tagaloa played both right and left tackle and was voted as a team captain as a sophomore in 2013.
The lowdown: Tagaloa has been penciled in as the starter at left tackle since he transferred. Coaches are ecstatic about his potential and athleticism, but there’s still some uncertainty about how he’ll perform in Rodriguez’s system. He’ll certainly need a few weeks to adjust.
Zach Hemmila, left guard
Year: Junior.
Height/weight: 6-3/293.
Previous experience: The redshirt junior didn’t see any game action as a freshman in 2013. Last year, he played in all 14 games, but mostly on special teams. His only meaningful snaps came at Oregon.
The lowdown: Hemmila beat out T.D. Gross for the left-guard spot once Bundage moved to center. Rodriguez said Hemmila — a fourth-year player in the system — has been around long enough to earn a shot. If he’s shaky at all, expect to see Gross get some reps.
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Cayman Bundage, center
Year: Senior.
Height/weight: 6-2/281.
Previous experience: Bundage has loads of experience, starting 26 games — all at left guard —over the past three seasons.
The lowdown: Bundage is Arizona’s best run blocker and has the ability to control the line from the center spot. Arizona coaches are confident he will succeed there, but there could still be a bad snap or two Thursday as he gets used to his new spot.
Jacob Alsadek, right guard
Year: Sophomore.
Height/weight: 6-7/298.
Previous experience: Alsadek started 11 games last year at right guard and played in 12. He battled an ankle injury early in the season but was a stalwart during the Pac-12 season. He was named a USA Today Freshman All-American.
The lowdown: Alsadek is the only player up front who will start at the same position for a second straight year. He’s developing into one of Arizona’s better all-around linemen and should hold down that position with little issue.
Lene Maiava, right tackle
Year: Senior.
Height/weight: 6-5/301.
Previous experience: The fifth-year senior has been a super sub for most of his career but has never held a full-time starting job. He played in all 14 games last season and made five starts at guard when Alsadek and Bundage were battling injuries.
The lowdown: Maiava has played some tackle in his UA career, but most of his reps have come at guard. He’s had a good camp and will benefit from playing next to Alsadek.
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