Decision to sit Tate complicated for UA

Arizona Wildcats coach Kevin Sumlin acknowledged Monday that he has considered resting quarterback Khalil Tate, who has been playing on a sore left ankle for the past four weeks.

That doesn’t mean it’s going to happen.

The decision to make a change at quarterback – even if it’s only temporary, and even if it’s for injury-related reasons‚ is a complicated one. The situation with Tate is particularly complex.

Sumlin conceded after Saturday’s 24-20 loss to USC that Tate is “not 100 percent.” Tate, when asked about his health after the game, said: “I’m healthy enough to play.”

The upshot is a version of Tate that isn’t fully functional. He has not run with the frequency, electricity or abandon that he displayed last year, when he rushed for 1,411 yards in less than a full season. He has just 69 net rushing yards through five games.

Sumlin said the decision to play Tate, or any injured player, is made “in consultation with our trainers and medical staff.” There are two main considerations. The first is the player’s physical well-being.

“We’re never going to put anybody in harm’s way,” said Sumlin, whose team hosts Cal on Saturday night.

The second factor is what gives Arizona “the best chance to win the game,” Sumlin said.

“All those things are vetted during the week,” he said. “We’ve had those discussions, starting every Monday or Sunday, all the way up until game day.”

Thus far, Sumlin and his staff have determined that a somewhat impaired Tate is the best option. He has yet to miss any snaps because of the ankle, which he first injured in the first quarter against Houston on Sept. 8. Sumlin had to call a timeout against Oregon State to allow Tate to recuperate after an especially aggressive tackle.

Sumlin confirmed an ESPN report that Tate’s practice reps have been limited at times because of the injury. Sumlin said the backup quarterbacks have gotten more snaps than usual, although that’s partly a product of the new redshirt rule, which allows teams to use players in up to four games without it costing a year of eligibility.

Sumlin also said Tate’s physical limitations, such as they are, have reduced offensive coordinator Noel Mazzone’s play-calling options.

“It’s affected it,” Sumlin said. “I can’t give you a percentage.”

Tate still has had plenty of “wow” moments; they’ve just come with his arm instead of his legs. He threw seven touchdown passes without an interception against Southern Utah and Oregon State. He threw two more TD passes against USC – but also didn’t take advantage of some rushing opportunities that seemed obvious from afar.

“It’s easy to second-guess,” Sumlin said after the game. “It’s easy to do a lot of things when you’re sitting there watching. I get it. But he ran more tonight than he’s run all year.”

Tate notched season highs with 13 rushes for 38 yards. He had at least 13 carries in every game in which he played three-plus quarters last season.

Sumlin summed up Tate’s performance against USC as follows:

“Some good, some bad. You could tell by his body language after the game he was disappointed, frustrated. I know that everybody focuses on him. But as a team, we were inconsistent.

“He made some throws to get us back in the game at the end, giving us a chance. The consistency factor for everybody on this team is what we’re lacking.”

Sumlin likes what he has seen from backup Rhett Rodriguez in limited game action and from the other reserves in practice. Rodriguez, the son of former UA coach Rich Rodriguez, played late in the fourth quarter against Houston, Southern Utah and Oregon State.

He has completed 7 of 8 passes for 59 yards. “Statistically, he’s been pretty good,” Sumlin said. “He’s operated within the offense. He’s a leader. It’s been late in the game, but he’s taken care of the football and he’s moved it.

“We’ve got guys that are very capable to play. That evaluation, those kind of reps are happening in practice.”

One could argue that this week’s game would be the ideal time to sit Tate and let his ankle heal. The contest is at home against a Cal squad that just lost 42-24 to Oregon in Berkeley. Additionally, Arizona has a Friday game the following week — meaning one fewer day for Tate to recover.