A shifting of roles

Ian Mayer Arizona Daily Wildcat UA senior tight end, Mike Lucky (88), watches as running back Kelvin Eafon (38) barrels through the Iowa line last Saturday. The Wildcats will defend their unbeaten record this Thursday against San Diego State.

One would think that coming into this year he would have remained a favorite target for the Wildcats' quarterbacks.

But through three games, he has only two receptions for a total of 40 yards.

And it doesn't bother him one bit.

"I like winning, and if blocking is what it takes for us to win, I'll just block," Lucky said.

Giving Arizona an extra man on the line to protect Ortege Jenkins and Keith Smith has become Lucky's primary role this season, though it doesn't mean he'll stay a blocking tight end all year long.

"We need to," Smith said when asked if he and Jenkins should get the ball to Lucky more. "He's got the good hands to make it happen."

For now, Lucky is content in whatever role he is put in.

"Whatever they (the coaches) want us to do is what I'll do," he said.

Lucky said that a major factor in his drop in receptions has to do with the improvement in Arizona's wide receivers.

"If they're (the opposition) leaving Jeremy (McDaniel) or Dennis (Northcutt) one-on-one, then it's the quarterbacks' jobs to get them the ball," he said.

With the passes going out to the receivers, Lucky has kept his 6-7, 274-pound body on the line, blocking the pass rush and laying down blocks for Arizona's cadre of running backs.

Smith said Lucky's presence on the line is especially important when the team is looking to throw the ball deep to Northcutt and McDaniel.

"I think that when we try to single out the receivers down field we need him to stay in there and block," Smith said. "It's a different role but he's doing a great job."

Head coach Dick Tomey sang the praises of Lucky and fellow tight end Brandon Manumaleuna after the Iowa game.

"Our tight ends are doing a terrific job (blocking) as well," Tomey said. "The fact we have two tight ends who can block has been great for us so far."

Lucky had 13 receptions for 154 yards and two touchdowns last season. In 1996, he had 14 receptions for 168 yards and two touchdowns.

As to whether or not he'll reach similar numbers at the end of this season, Lucky is taking a wait-and-see attitude.

"I expect myself to make great plays," he said. "I'm tall so you'd hope I'd catch most of the balls thrown toward me."

One thing that did not get Lucky down was the ball that grazed him and wound up in the hands of Stanford defensive back Jamien McCullum two weeks ago.

"I got my fingertips on it, and if you do you should catch the ball," he said. "It was just a bit too high. Coach Tomey says the most important thing for you to do is to come back and make the next catch, and that's what I did."

Smith also said that a lot of the passes he's sent Lucky's way have been out of his reach.

"A lot of the balls I've thrown have been too high," Smith said. "He expects to make those catches, but I'm not helping him."

Because Lucky has not seen much action around the goal line yet, Tomey has hinted that he might be used later on in the year to catch other teams by surprise.

"I don't know about (being) a secret weapon," Lucky said. "We've gotten opportunities already, but it's either not been the right ball or a broken play."

Smith said that Lucky could be a key to the team's success down the road.

"Throughout the season a lot of teams will tend to forget about him," Smith said. "We just have to remind them that he's there."

Chris Jackson can be reached via e-mail at Chris.Jackson@wildcat.arizona.edu.