Arizona football: Wildcats defense is lacking depth, playmakers from 2014 season

The talent level of this defense just isn't there for Jeff Casteel this season

The Arizona Wildcats defense has been pretty bad this season to say the least. And people are calling for Jeff Casteel's job, a change of the defensive scheme, and have completely given up.

But if you compare this defense to last year's, the level of talent isn't even close. Yes, Arizona lost Cody Ippolito for the season, Scooby Wright III has only played in one game, and the list of lingering injuries goes on and on, but that's not the excuse.

Jeff Casteel's 3-3-5 defense isn't the most ideal for the Pac-12, and has never been one to pitch shutouts to win Arizona football games. In 2012, the defense gave up 35 points a game. It significantly dropped to 24 points in 2013, and last year it climbed back up to 28 points a game. Now, with the lack of depth and plethora of injuries, it's up to 35 points this season, with two of those outliers coming from some of the best offensive teams in the Pac-12.

But just think back to last year and the talent that Jeff Casteel had to work with: Jared Tevis, Jourdan Grandon, Tra'Mayne Bondurant, Jonathan McKnight, and Dan Pettinato.

Tevis was a player who worked off of freakish instincts and attacked the ball, finishing second in tackles with 120. Grandon was severely underrated throughout most of last year, leading the team in interceptions and finishing 3rd in tackles with 84. Tra'Mayne Bondurant was a ball magnet, and always found a way to give the ball back to the offense. McKnight was actually an established corner, who had been playing since he was a true freshman. And then Dan Pettinato, who I felt was also under-appreciated all season long, made it down to the final cut for the Houston Texans roster.

On top of those senior leaders, you had the current depth that Arizona is burning through right now with all the injuries.

Now, you look at what Jeff Casteel has been working with this season, and the talent level isn't even close.

You have DaVonte' Neal, who just started playing corner this year, and opposite of him you have Cam Denson, who has had a rough transition at the next level. After that? There's Jarvis McCall, who hasn't been the same since he injured his hamstring, and then a true freshman in Sammy Morrison.

Anthony Lopez and Tellas Jones had plenty of experience last year, and have carried that over into this season, but there was just something special about having Tevis and Bondurant out there that's hard to replace. And as for William Parks, he isn't having the year that he was probably expecting as the senior leader. But maybe, he was the beneficiary of that playmaking secondary.

With the linebackers, it's former walk-ons and scout team defense members who are now being asked to step up against some of the Pac-12's toughest competition. Guys like R.J. Morgan, Tre Tyler, Haden Gregory and Brandon Rutt have had to play to replace guys like Scooby Wright, Cody Ippolito, Derrick Turituri and DeAndre' Miller.

The defensive line is having troubles of their own as well. Reggie Gilbert is the most polished of the group, and then it goes down significantly to Luca Bruno and Sani Fuimaono, who have recorded 10 and 11 tackles this season, respectively. Last year, it was Gilbert and Pettinato on both sides of the line, opening it up a bit for a guy like Parker Zellers.

Now, I'm giving the defense a pass for now, but the injuries, along with the core group of guys out there, just isn't going to cut it for this program.

The high expectations of this season and being the reigning Pac-12 South Champions probably put a burden on this team. Are we getting a little greedy because of the success last season? Possibly. But should we expect this team to make stops and stay competitive? Certainly.

Now, this is a key stretch for Arizona, going into three fairly winnable games hosting Oregon State, at Colorado, and then Washington State. If things keep going awry then, that's when we should start reevaluating the defensive situation.

from Arizona Desert Swarm - All Posts http://ift.tt/1Rrhm27
via IFTTT