The Arizona football team moves into its next phase of preparing for the 2005 season, as team workouts ended Saturday with the annual Spring Game at Arizona Stadium.
Stoops said the 15-practice spring schedule allowed by the NCAA was important for setting a solid foundation and outlining the squad's strengths and weaknesses before it returns to the field in June.
"It was good work. We still need to be more physical at the point of attack in some areas. That's what we'll concentrate on in the summer," he said.
Stoops said Arizona's top priority was maintaining its collective health, and that, for the most part, the goal was met.
"Overall, we got out of the spring uninjured," he said.
The Wildcats did not come away completely unscathed, however.
Linebacker Spencer Larsen suffered a knee injury that required surgery and is expected to miss six months. He could return in September.
Safety Darrell Brooks, Arizona's top tackler in 2004, sat out the spring schedule because of shoulder pains, while back surgery sidelined quarterback Richard Kovalcheck.
Their injuries allowed other Wildcats to step into new roles.
Former walk-on Adam Austin manned the huddle in Kovalcheck's absence and earned the coaching staff's praise.
Stoops said Austin is the first quarterback he has seen who took every snap over a period as long as the team's spring workout schedule.
A group of newcomers, including redshirt freshmen
linebackers Ronnie Palmer and Brandon Lopez, used the practices as a springboard into contributing roles.
Junior college transfer B.J. Vickers turned heads as a wide receiver. Cornerback Wilrey Fontenot said Vickers' presence not only improved the receiving corps, but also forced the defensive secondary to elevate its performance.
Overall, Stoops said, the offense and defense showed balance over the four-week season.
"Our kids competed well throughout the spring. They went back and forth," he said.
"We have to pick up our strength on a daily basis to compete," he said. "We have to play at a certain speed. We're not quite there yet. But we're learning to play faster as a team."