* Rodriguez said Arizona “ran against the numbers a lot” against Colorado, meaning the Wildcats stuck with running plays even against stacked fronts. Expect UCLA to use a similar approach.

* Rodriguez said there’s no consistent pattern to Arizona’s five consecutive losses to UCLA other than the fact the Wildcats simply didn’t play well. He noted that with so many new players on the squad, this team won’t carry that baggage into Saturday.

* Rodriguez said freshman linebackers Tony Fields II, Colin Schooler, Kylan Wilborn and Anthony Pandy are “growing up, even though sometimes there are some growing pains with it.”

* Rodriguez said freshman safety Scottie Young Jr. was “focused all week” after “he went through some things” off the field. Young was arrested Sept. 28 on a misdemeanor domestic-violence charge.

* Asked if Tate’s performance and the win at Colorado might energize the UA fan base, Rodriguez said: “I hope so. I think every win energizes everybody.”

* Arizona played a very clean game against Colorado (one turnover, two penalties), and Rodriguez said the Wildcats probably would have lost if they hadn’t.