After a lackluster performance against Texas-El Paso, UA coach Dick Tomey said the Arizona football team needs to keep a positive attitude and look to improve itself rather than focusing on the negatives.

"There are teams that had great starts that just fell on their face, and teams that started out lousy and became a good team," Tomey said. "I'm sure we're going to struggle, because most teams do. That's just the way it is in college football."

Tomey said the team will be psychologically ready to play because it has so many things to improve upon before its game against Iowa Saturday in Iowa City.

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Tomey said he will probably not alternate quarterbacks as frequently the rest of the season. Tomey said redshirt freshman quarterback Keith Smith was given a chance to play last Saturday in order to get him experience.

"It was probably a one-time deal because we wanted to get Keith into the game," Tomey said. "He hadn't played football in three years - three calander years. ... We didn't want to let that opportunity go by because we knew we were a stronger team than UTE P. We put him in at some situations that we won't in the future."

Tomey said Smith will probably be used as a short-yardage and goal-line quarterback as well as a more traditional backup.

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Arizona's kicking machine, Matt Peyton, was impressive in all three of his kicking duties against UTEP. Peyton, strictly a punter last season, averaged 43 yards per punt Saturday. He also debuted his field-goal kicking, hitting 3 of 4 on the night, includ ing his first attempt, a 52-yarder in the second quarter. The field goal was tied for fourth longest on the all-time Arizona list.

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After recording just one sack against UTEP, Tomey says the team will have to be more creative with its pass rushing this season.

The Wildcats are looking to fill the gap left with the departure of graduates Chuck Osborne and NCAA co-all-time sack leader Tedy Bruschi. The two accounted for 21.5 sacks last season.

"I thought Osborne developed into a real special guy and Tedy was certainly a special guy," Tomey said. "We don't have anybody of that description with this team, but we can still be a real fine team. But that (the pass rush) is something we're going to h ave to be creative with."

Tomey is looking to junior Mike Szlauko to make an impact there. Szlauko, a 6-foot-4 defensive lineman, got the most pressure on UTEP's quarterbacks.

"We think he might be the guy who can get there," Tomey said. "Mike Szlauko on defense - it was clear he needs to play more."

He said Szlauko didn't practice much last week, but should play more as the games progress. Arizona's defensive line leader, Joe Salave'a, recorded only one sack in the last game.

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