Thursday night was a two-for day as the media was able to speak with defensive line coach Iona Uiagalelei and linebackers coach John Rushing after practice. Kevin Sumlin has been changing the time for practice every day this week to get some work when the temperature is a bit warmer in as well as to keep the players on their toes with the hope of better preparing them for the trip to Hawaii so they aren't caught off guard by the conditions out there.
Thursday's practice was a little bit earlier than normal and finished when the sun was still out, which is a change from pretty much every other non-scrimmage practice of the preseason.
Uiagalelei and Rushing have two of the more intriguing groups on the defensive side of the ball, so it was a good chance to learn more about what to expect from the defensive line and linebackers from the two coaches.
Here's a rundown of the notable things each of them had to say Thursday.
Iona Uiagalelei
* One of the first things that Uiagalelei was asked about was the sudden depth he has at his position, which is drastically different than what the Wildcats have had in quite some time. UA now has a legitimate two-deep with the defensive line unit and an argument could be made that even the team's second unit could be better than most of the first groups the team has had over the last several years. That is how deep the group is shaping up to be right now. Having that kind of depth is new for Arizona and even with as talented as players like PJ Johnson and Dereck Boles were a season ago it is a different feeling for Uiagalelei as well.
"Definitely. Right now, I think we've got a solid three groups, you know, and now with the depth that we have it makes it easier for me compared to last year. It was tough because we were so thin up front, in terms of numbers. But this year, we got a great rotation. The first two groups, I mean there's no fall off. Those guys are competing. going into the third group, they're ready to roll. So we got a great rotation this year."
* A change that was made back in the spring and has continued heading into the season is that Sumlin has decided he wants a more traditional four-man front look from Marcel Yates' defense. It was agreed upon by both coaches and that means Uiagalelei has another group to work with up front.
"Big difference. These guys that I have this year is a little different because last year I didn't have a lot of the studs in my room. I only had the d-tackle, the nose and the end because we were a three-man front. Now we're going to a four-man front. I think coach [Yates] did a great job in terms of our strengths right now and finding that a four-man front, for me, is a strength of our defense. So, I've got all four of them in my room and it's looking good."
Uiagalelei coached a four-man front before he arrived to Arizona and while he said he can do both it is clear his preferred way of working is by having a four-man group along the defensive line. He also said that there are a lot of different packages the Wildcats have for certain situations such as a "fast package" that features no defensive tackles and is only made up of studs and defensive ends. There is also a big package that he can put on the field that features the tallest and biggest players Arizona has for its defensive line. So, there is plenty of flexibility there for the UA coach.
* Part of the depth that Arizona has been able to add this year is due to the addition of the two junior college prospects brought on board, Trevon Mason and Myles Tapusoa. Both players have moved up the depth chart over the last few weeks and despite conditioning being a concern for both there has been a lot of progress for both players with about a week to go until the season opener.
The progress Mason has made is particularly impressive because of how late he got to campus arriving to Tucson just a day before the rest of the team reported last month. Uiagalelei credits strength coach Brian Johnson for being on top of Mason to make sure he is ready to go and help contribute this year.
"That was mainly on our strength coach, coach B. He did a great job of watching him during our practice making sure that, you know, we don't overwork him. At the same time, do give him enough reps that he can get slowly get into the swing of things. So every day was we're pushing him, but we'll take it one step at a time.
Uiagalelei said Mason is 310 right now and not the 285 he is listed at on the official roster.
* JB Brown has shown that he is ready to take his production to a new level in the upcoming year. He has bounced around from the outside defensive end position to the inside defensive tackle spot during the spring and into training camp. Right now Uiagalelei says the junior is working outside, but no matter where he lines up he is going to be an important piece of the defense because of his versatility.
* Kylan Wilborn is somebody who looks like he has made a return to his freshman season form so far the last few weeks. He has dropped some weight and that has meant a return of some of the burst he showed his first year. The junior is a player Uiagalelei is pleased to have seen make some progress so far this year.
"Hard work, man. Kylan's out there, he's focused. He's fast. He's a speed guy. And he plays physical for size. So I see Kylan out there getting a lot of reps. He's battling in that first or second group. So, he's doing really well for us right now. "
* Finton Connolly is a bit of an unsung player of the defensive line group, but he is someone Uiagalelei has a lot of trust in. The redshirt senior is going to play a lot for the Wildcats this season and the UA defensive line coach as seen plenty of progress in the final year for Connolly.
John Rushing
* Arizona knows what it has with Colin Schooler and Tony Fields II, but Anthony Pandy is someone who has continued his rise this offseason. Rushing said Thursday that the junior linebacker wants to get on the field more, so he has put in the work this offseason to make that happen. He is friends with Schooler and Fields and the group all spends time together off the field making for a strong three-man unit.
* Rushing likes the group he has been able to work with now that he has moved over from coaching the safeties last year. There is some legitimate depth behind Schooler and Fields and that is something that is positive for Rushing heading into his first season coaching the unit.
"I mean, we got a great problem. We got it really good, strong room. We got a room full of good players. So I think it's a good problem have. There's not much drop off, like I said, I think they all bring something different to the table. It allows us to attack teams different ways by different personnel. So I think there's no drop off at all."
* Redshirt freshman Day Day Coleman is the backup to Schooler right now and Rushing calls him a "solid backup" at this stage in his development. The Texas native moved over from safety back in the spring and that will naturally bring an adjustment period, but so far he has transitioned well to his new position. There's still work to do, but so far he has picked up on the things he has needed to to have success at his new position.
* Derrion Clark is a freshman who has been talked about quite a bit over the last few weeks from players and coaches. He has been the third middle linebacker for the team, but he is expected to be a contributor on special teams and could see some time on the field at linebacker. He has impressed a lot of people and Rushing said there is plenty of potential for the newcomer of his group.
* Hawaii is going to be a team that will throw the ball a lot and that is something that has already been talked about this week. Arizona's linebacker group hasn't always been fantastic when it comes to its coverage skills so that will be part of the challenge for Rushing as he prepares his unit for the season opener in a little over a week.
"I'd say you have to be versatile, because they throw the ball so much. You can't just be an old school box linebacker. You gotta be able to get out and defend the pass, and they throw the ball a lot. So, just understanding route concepts and how to defend the pass is a lot different than playing some of these other teams that run the ball. So that's the difference, I think, playing Hawaii. And they also run the ball well when they do run it, so we just gotta be well rounded and ready to go."
* Someone that had not been talked about much during camp was mentioned by Rushing as a standout Thursday night. Redshirt sophomore Parker Henley was singled out by the UA linebackers coach for what he has shown when the staff gets together to watch film adding some more depth to the group. The walk-on player from Chandler High School is someone Rushing said Sumlin asked him about since he is standing out on tape.
"We finally got some depth in that room, so we're two-deep solid. Even with Parker Henley coming over, he's done a great job and had a great camp as far as a young guy, walk on coming on and being impressive to the coaches. I mean, he's jumping on tape where coach Sumlin's asking me, 'who's this guy?' with what he's doing. I mean, 48 is making plays. So, I think it's good overall to have that much depth in the room. It makes it solid on defense, it gives us some ability to do different things on defense."
Thursday's practice was a little bit earlier than normal and finished when the sun was still out, which is a change from pretty much every other non-scrimmage practice of the preseason.
Uiagalelei and Rushing have two of the more intriguing groups on the defensive side of the ball, so it was a good chance to learn more about what to expect from the defensive line and linebackers from the two coaches.
Here's a rundown of the notable things each of them had to say Thursday.
Iona Uiagalelei
* One of the first things that Uiagalelei was asked about was the sudden depth he has at his position, which is drastically different than what the Wildcats have had in quite some time. UA now has a legitimate two-deep with the defensive line unit and an argument could be made that even the team's second unit could be better than most of the first groups the team has had over the last several years. That is how deep the group is shaping up to be right now. Having that kind of depth is new for Arizona and even with as talented as players like PJ Johnson and Dereck Boles were a season ago it is a different feeling for Uiagalelei as well.
"Definitely. Right now, I think we've got a solid three groups, you know, and now with the depth that we have it makes it easier for me compared to last year. It was tough because we were so thin up front, in terms of numbers. But this year, we got a great rotation. The first two groups, I mean there's no fall off. Those guys are competing. going into the third group, they're ready to roll. So we got a great rotation this year."
* A change that was made back in the spring and has continued heading into the season is that Sumlin has decided he wants a more traditional four-man front look from Marcel Yates' defense. It was agreed upon by both coaches and that means Uiagalelei has another group to work with up front.
"Big difference. These guys that I have this year is a little different because last year I didn't have a lot of the studs in my room. I only had the d-tackle, the nose and the end because we were a three-man front. Now we're going to a four-man front. I think coach [Yates] did a great job in terms of our strengths right now and finding that a four-man front, for me, is a strength of our defense. So, I've got all four of them in my room and it's looking good."
Uiagalelei coached a four-man front before he arrived to Arizona and while he said he can do both it is clear his preferred way of working is by having a four-man group along the defensive line. He also said that there are a lot of different packages the Wildcats have for certain situations such as a "fast package" that features no defensive tackles and is only made up of studs and defensive ends. There is also a big package that he can put on the field that features the tallest and biggest players Arizona has for its defensive line. So, there is plenty of flexibility there for the UA coach.
* Part of the depth that Arizona has been able to add this year is due to the addition of the two junior college prospects brought on board, Trevon Mason and Myles Tapusoa. Both players have moved up the depth chart over the last few weeks and despite conditioning being a concern for both there has been a lot of progress for both players with about a week to go until the season opener.
The progress Mason has made is particularly impressive because of how late he got to campus arriving to Tucson just a day before the rest of the team reported last month. Uiagalelei credits strength coach Brian Johnson for being on top of Mason to make sure he is ready to go and help contribute this year.
"That was mainly on our strength coach, coach B. He did a great job of watching him during our practice making sure that, you know, we don't overwork him. At the same time, do give him enough reps that he can get slowly get into the swing of things. So every day was we're pushing him, but we'll take it one step at a time.
Uiagalelei said Mason is 310 right now and not the 285 he is listed at on the official roster.
* JB Brown has shown that he is ready to take his production to a new level in the upcoming year. He has bounced around from the outside defensive end position to the inside defensive tackle spot during the spring and into training camp. Right now Uiagalelei says the junior is working outside, but no matter where he lines up he is going to be an important piece of the defense because of his versatility.
* Kylan Wilborn is somebody who looks like he has made a return to his freshman season form so far the last few weeks. He has dropped some weight and that has meant a return of some of the burst he showed his first year. The junior is a player Uiagalelei is pleased to have seen make some progress so far this year.
"Hard work, man. Kylan's out there, he's focused. He's fast. He's a speed guy. And he plays physical for size. So I see Kylan out there getting a lot of reps. He's battling in that first or second group. So, he's doing really well for us right now. "
* Finton Connolly is a bit of an unsung player of the defensive line group, but he is someone Uiagalelei has a lot of trust in. The redshirt senior is going to play a lot for the Wildcats this season and the UA defensive line coach as seen plenty of progress in the final year for Connolly.
John Rushing
* Arizona knows what it has with Colin Schooler and Tony Fields II, but Anthony Pandy is someone who has continued his rise this offseason. Rushing said Thursday that the junior linebacker wants to get on the field more, so he has put in the work this offseason to make that happen. He is friends with Schooler and Fields and the group all spends time together off the field making for a strong three-man unit.
* Rushing likes the group he has been able to work with now that he has moved over from coaching the safeties last year. There is some legitimate depth behind Schooler and Fields and that is something that is positive for Rushing heading into his first season coaching the unit.
"I mean, we got a great problem. We got it really good, strong room. We got a room full of good players. So I think it's a good problem have. There's not much drop off, like I said, I think they all bring something different to the table. It allows us to attack teams different ways by different personnel. So I think there's no drop off at all."
* Redshirt freshman Day Day Coleman is the backup to Schooler right now and Rushing calls him a "solid backup" at this stage in his development. The Texas native moved over from safety back in the spring and that will naturally bring an adjustment period, but so far he has transitioned well to his new position. There's still work to do, but so far he has picked up on the things he has needed to to have success at his new position.
* Derrion Clark is a freshman who has been talked about quite a bit over the last few weeks from players and coaches. He has been the third middle linebacker for the team, but he is expected to be a contributor on special teams and could see some time on the field at linebacker. He has impressed a lot of people and Rushing said there is plenty of potential for the newcomer of his group.
* Hawaii is going to be a team that will throw the ball a lot and that is something that has already been talked about this week. Arizona's linebacker group hasn't always been fantastic when it comes to its coverage skills so that will be part of the challenge for Rushing as he prepares his unit for the season opener in a little over a week.
"I'd say you have to be versatile, because they throw the ball so much. You can't just be an old school box linebacker. You gotta be able to get out and defend the pass, and they throw the ball a lot. So, just understanding route concepts and how to defend the pass is a lot different than playing some of these other teams that run the ball. So that's the difference, I think, playing Hawaii. And they also run the ball well when they do run it, so we just gotta be well rounded and ready to go."
* Someone that had not been talked about much during camp was mentioned by Rushing as a standout Thursday night. Redshirt sophomore Parker Henley was singled out by the UA linebackers coach for what he has shown when the staff gets together to watch film adding some more depth to the group. The walk-on player from Chandler High School is someone Rushing said Sumlin asked him about since he is standing out on tape.
"We finally got some depth in that room, so we're two-deep solid. Even with Parker Henley coming over, he's done a great job and had a great camp as far as a young guy, walk on coming on and being impressive to the coaches. I mean, he's jumping on tape where coach Sumlin's asking me, 'who's this guy?' with what he's doing. I mean, 48 is making plays. So, I think it's good overall to have that much depth in the room. It makes it solid on defense, it gives us some ability to do different things on defense."
