Arizona football: Rich Rodriguez responds to criticism of 3-3-5 defense

Don't start thinking this defense is going away anytime soon.

After giving up 111 points in their first two Pac-12 games of 2015, the Arizona Wildcats defense, and in particular, Jeff Casteel's 3-3-5 scheme, has come under a bit of fire.

Rich Rodriguez, who has final say on whether or not the 3-3-5 actually gets used, responded to the criticism on Monday in the only way that he could.

"I see a lot of criticism of it. I think it's almost natural and it's okay. I guess you could look at it in a couple different ways. When people complain about your schemes, or something like that, and they're sitting in the stands, and some of them have never played before or coached before, but you can also look at it like at least they care. They're talking about it right? So there's some passion for it. But the truth is, if they really studied it, the 3-3-5 is really not that much different from the 3-4. It's more closer to a four-man front than anything else you do."

"We want to be more multiple, and we have been and try to be, but when you can't do it because of injuries it hinders us a little bit. Nobody evaluates more of what we're doing than I do and the staff itself. So, those out there in the stands that are saying 'Hey, the 3-3-5's no good' I think at least they're talking about it, but do they really know everything that goes in and out of it, the whole history behind it? So I don't listen to 'em. I think it's okay for them to make suggestions because you're a fan, and you can talk about whatever you want, but they're not in my staff meetings."

Then Rodriguez was asked what he thinks when people say that a three-man front creates worse angles for the defense to get any pressure:

"Do you really know what you're talking about, but it's okay to bring it up, but a 3-4 is a three-man front too, right? So, the majority, just about 90 percent of the teams run some form of a three-man front, either wholly or partially. I don't think it's a scheme as much as it is if your guys struggle to get off blocks, whether it's a three-man front or a four-man front, it's still going to be an issue. Can we do more, or try to do more? Trust me, the defensive staff is trying as hard as they can to put our guys in position to make plays, and we gotta keep trying. It's not what we've been doing, whether it's personnel or teams that we're going against, whatever it is it's not working. We're not just going to sit there and give up. We're going to try everything we can, but I don't think you just wholesale say 'Okay, a three-man front, an odd-front is not the way to go'. I like odd-front defenses, and we'll see an odd-front defense every week this year, including this week. So to just blanket say the three-man front gives better angles, okay...say what you want."

I mean, he's right. It's not like Arizona's the only team going out there with three defensive linemen. I just don't think the personnel's there right now for any defensive scheme to work, whether it be 3-3-5, 3-4, 4-3, or that awful SWAT package Arizona runs out there on third downs.

The Wildcats coaching staff has not been able to bring in defensive playmakers up front with the exception of Scooby Wright III and Derrick Turituri, and both have been hurt the entire year. There's your biggest problem right there. Recruit better, and this doesn't happen. Develop better, and this doesn't happen. The coaching staff has failed at those two things for the time being.

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