Arizona Football: Coach Kyle DeVan will straighten out the O-Line

With the Spring Practices over for the Arizona Football team, concerns for the offensive line are a little overstated and premature at this point.

Always an area of concern for any division one college football team, you got to have a good offensive line to open up holes. For the Arizona Football team, things are still a bit unsettled at offensive line.

If you watched the Spring Scrimmage on Saturday, you probably saw the Wildcats struggle at times along the offensive line. Naturally, that shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise.

Arizona Wildcats

First off, Arizona has had to replace former position coach Joe Gilbert. If you recall, Gilbert joined the Wildcat coaching staff last season, and after spending just one year in Tucson, he has returned to the NFL to join the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Gilbert’s experience and overall wealth of knowledge, did absolute wonders to an offensive line that was decimated by injuries, suspensions and attrition last year. The group ended up being quite solid by seasons end, but it certainly didn’t start out that way.

Well, now with Gilbert gone, the Wildcats will turn to newly hired position coach, Kyle DeVan. *Note, Kyle was one of my top choices to replace Gilbert, and I’m glad the Wildcats have done so.

DeVan has had a few solid pieces to inherit, but ultimately, he lost guys like; Michael Eletise (transfer), Nathan Eldridge (graduate transfer), Layth Friekh (graduation), Thiyo Lukusa (no longer on roster) and Alex Kosinski (no longer on roster).

However, he does have big time returners in Donovan Laie, Cody Creason, Josh McCauley, Steven Bailey and Bryson Cain most notably. DeVan does also bring in junior college transfers Paiton Fears and Josh Donovan, Robert Congel and David Watson become eligible, Edgar Burrola returns bigger and with more experience, and Mykee Irving has moved over from the defensive line.

So there is some talent, it just appears the experience is fairly limited, and the depth may be just a tad thin.

The challenge will be on, but I feel confident that coach DeVan will be able to get them turned around! Gelling takes a little time, and I am confident the Wildcats will get it done! As for now, we just gotta be patient.

Either way, gotta love the style of coaching that DeVan brings to each practice!

To me this is a group I feel will struggle a little early once again, but as they become more comfortable and gel with each other, they will get better and quickly.

Nonetheless, it’s just nice having a guy who’s bought in and committed to the guys on roster.

At Zona Zealots, we’re confident in this group, and I feel coach DeVan is going to be a heck of a coach, and will get it done this year. He has a couple solid pieces to work with, we just need to be patient! Bear Down, Arizona!