Arizona Wildcats College Football Preview 2021: Defense
– 70 points, the fifth game in five allowing over 400 yards of total offense, and the fourth of those allowing over 470 yards. That’s what the Arizona defense allowed in the embarrassing loss to Arizona State to close out the 2020 season, but now …
Defense is going to be a priority.
It’s not that the previous coaching staff didn’t care about the defensive side, but it was hardly a plus as it was equal parts bad against both the run and pass.
New head coach Jedd Fisch is making a big deal out of having Arizona good on defense again, and in comes Don Brown from Michigan as the new defensive coordinator. Now he needs more parts.
– There’s experience returning, but there aren’t a whole lot of sure-thing playmakers. Safety Rhedi Short tied for the team lead in tackles, but he didn’t do anything when the ball was in the air. Two other starters return in the secondary, but no one made any interceptions.
Again, there’s experience – versatile option Christian Roland-Wallace was third on the team in tackles, and he broke up three passes – but there wasn’t much production against anyone who tried to throw. Notre Dame Isaiah Rutherford should help fix the corner situation – he needs to become an instant star on the outside.
The big call will be at the hybrid defensive back/linebacker/pass rusher Viper position in the Don Brown defense. 6-2, 214-pound Christian Young is back after missing most of last year hurt, and this is where Short might fit.
– Both interceptions came from LB Anthony Pandy – he tied Short for the team lead with 30 tackles – and he’ll have a whole slew of new parts around him. Western Michigan’s Treshaun Hayward was going to become a key part of the puzzle, but he’s no longer a part of the program.
A slew of other transfer portal types will likely fill out the linebacking corps, starting with Bowling Green’s Jerry Roberts who needs to take over a spot right away.
– The defensive line has a few good parts to a defense that needs as many as it can find. 6-5, 315-pound Trevon Mason has the size along with the quickness to be a force with the new defensive style, and 6-2, 289-pound sophomore Kyon Barrs is a rising tackle who should find a regular starting role.
Jalen Harris led the team in sacks and was second in tackles for loss in 2019, but he struggled last year. Getting back 6-3, 282-pound JB Brown is a big plus – he made 21 tackles with three sacks in 2019 – after opting out last year.
– What You Need To Know: Offense
– Top Players | Keys To The Season
– What Will Happen, Win Total Prediction
– Arizona Football Schedule Analysis