Response to performance against USC:
You've always got a lot of improvement to make. There are many things in all phases that we can do better. But, the win (against USC) was a start to being a good team.

We played hard, and we had a better result with our effort. We had a chance to have a really big day, but to get the win coming from behind reinforces a lot of good things.

Arizona's defense:
It (pass rush) doesn't carry over from one week to the next. You have to re-establish it again. I hope we can build on that.

The guys in the back did a good job, and the guys up front got some heat on them. We denied the run, and we got them into a lot of predictable passing situations..

The key to playing defense is that if the other team can't run the ball, you give yourself a much better chance to play defense, and that's where we have improved the most.

We've been playing hard on defense, and the intensity is not that different. But, we made more plays, and it was more evident yesterday. The defensive intensity bore more fruit in this (USC) game.

We had a lot of guys step up, and that has to be the case every week. We have to keep getting better because if you stay the same, people pass you up.

Arizona's kicking game:
He's (Mark McDonald) one for two in my mind. He's doing better. Just to make one is really hard, but that's a start.

Arizona's quarterbacks:
Ever since Keith (Smith) has come back, we feel his legs are a real factor. I think yesterday it was a matter of circumstances when we decided we were going to stay with him. But, we won't hesitate to substitute, and we are not locked into anything.

O.J. (Ortege Jenkins) is going to take some turns at wide receiver, and Keith (Smith) is going to take some turns at receiver in practice. We can't afford to have either one standing on the sideline if he is not playing quarterback, and they both understand that. They need to do more, and they're very willing to do more.

A look at UTEP:
UTEP is an impressive team. They are playing with a lot of confidence, and they really have something going right now. I have great respect for Charlie Bailey, and every since I was at Hawaii, they have always had really good players, physically, and they do again.

We have to improve in the areas that we can, and we just have to come out (against UTEP) and play an outstanding football game.

We need to understand that all of these games are important. It's not a conference game, but when you start talking about whatever you want to do at the end of the season, your overall record counts, whether it's a conference championship or a bowl game.