After two weeks of spring practice, the Arizona football team is no closer to naming a starting quarterback.
The soft deadline for having a depth chart, set for two weeks after practice began, has come and gone. But the Wildcat coaching staff has still not decided who will be its signal caller; instead, it has set a new date.
"We are going to wait until the final week on possibly determining a quarterback. We want to give them some more practice time and see where that takes us," head coach Mike Stoops said. "It has been hard for them to get into a groove, but someone has to separate himself."
Redshirt sophomore Nic Costa, redshirt freshman Ryan O'Hara and freshmen Kris Heavner and Richard Kovalcheck are the four contenders for the quarterback job.
"I would like to come out (of spring practice) with at least the top two and have the three and four guys continue to battle and compete," said Mike Canales, offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. "When we come back in the fall, I think you've got to have the one-two guys down. You've got to give the one ample time."
Both Heavner and O'Hara said they are learning the new coaching staff's offense.
"I feel like I'm grasping the offense pretty well," Heavner said. "I feel comfortable at this point, but not where I think I should be."
"It's a complicated new offense, so I think I'm doing all right," O'Hara said. "I'm pretty comfortable with the offense now. We ran it a lot before we came out here, on our own, just trying to learn it. ... We've still got a long way to go."
Canales said a lot of the spread offense has yet to be implemented and that when a depth chart is decided, the starter will get 70 percent of the snaps in practice. The second-stringer will get 20 percent to 25 percent, with the other two getting the rest.
But Canales stressed that all four need to stay focused.
"That's why I'm always testing them and quizzing them every day ÷ so much of it's mental," Canales said. "When they get on the field, if they've got it down mentally, at least they know what people are supposed to do."
After each practice, the quarterbacks have worked out with Canales ÷ work that Heavner said is voluntary.
"I think as a group, we're progressing. We learn from our mistakes, and the big thing is you can't keep repeating the mistakes. But as a whole, we decrease those mistakes every day."
Stoops said he could hold off on announcing a starter until 10 days before the first game, which is Sept. 4 at home against Northern Arizona. But Canales said the starter will be decided by the Spring Game.
"All of them have shown signs of being able to be the guy," Stoops said. "We would like to name a quarterback by the end of spring practice, but if not, we will just keep moving."
Saturday's scrimmage was rough for the offense and the quarterbacks. The QBs combined to throw five interceptions, two of which were returned for touchdowns. Kovalcheck had the best day, going 5-for-7 for 71 yards and throwing for the lone TD, a 44-yard strike to sophomore receiver Mike Jefferson.
Heavner completed 5-of-10 passes for 37 yards, but threw two picks. O'Hara, who began with the first-team offense, threw for 51 yards on 6-for-11 passing Saturday, with one pick. Costa went 4-for-9 for 46 yards and an interception.
"We are looking for someone who can move the chains consistently. We are looking for someone who can protect the ball," Stoops said. "We need him to be solid in all areas, and we need someone who can move this team and lead this team. We have to find the right guy."
Canales said the Wildcats will be running an abbreviated offense by then.
"We'll know (who the starter is), and in the spring game we'll be so vanilla, it will probably be boring to watch," he said.
The Spring Football game is April 17.