Arizona Football could play a lot of Nickel this season

With the Arizona Football team having seen numerous transfers this off-season, we should expect the Wildcats to play a lot of Nickel this season.

What do you do if you are a college football coach that has seen numerous defensive transfers before the season? Well, if you’re Kevin Sumlin and Arizona Football, I’ll tell you what he should do, and that is to make adjustments to his personnel.

Coming into the off-season, Arizona had done major work in performing a massive overhaul to their defensive staff. Replacing their entire group and changing schemes to run more of a 3-4, it seemed like a big win considering Arizona was returning Colin Schooler, Tony Fields II, Scottie Young, Jr., and a large swathe of other contributors on defense.

Arizona Wildcats

Well, fast forward a few months, and it is quite interesting how fate seems to always disadvantage Arizona Football.

With a new scheme that would have likely benefitted those players, naturally, Corona Virus and other factors have caused mass exodus, leaving the Wildcats in a tough spot personnel-wise.

As it stands, the Wildcats will have just Anthony Pandy, Jalen Harris, Kwabena Watson, Eddie Siaumau-Sanitoa (defensive line) and Derrion Clark returning. That’s also not including incoming freshmen Derrick Mourning either.

Pretty thin group if you ask me…

Now granted, this could turn out to be a solid group, however, it is indeed a group that is largely untested. Additionally, with the departures of Schooler, Fields II, and Kylan Wilborn, and the injury of Jabar Triplett, again that leaves Arizona in a tough spot personnel and depth-wise.

So what should Arizona do to combat that? Well, to me it’s simple. Ditch the 3-4 until next season, especially since their depth at linebacker will presumably be better at that point.

Have the team start running more of a Nickle defense. Meaning, the Wildcats would use five secondary players (defensive backs) and only two or three linebackers. To me, that would help alleviate and hide Arizona’s depth and inexperience issues at linebacker.

Certainly not ideal, since many fans like myself are longing for the days when Arizona finally has a serviceable pass rush, and with a Nickle defense, that becomes more challenging with just having six players in the box.

Nonetheless, the coaching staff is going to need to do what they need to in order to get through the season.

Personally, what I would like to see happen is for Arizona to move to a 4-2-5 defense just for the year. Convert Harris to more of an end rusher/ linebacker-hybrid, where he would play as an end rusher/ short coverage guy (to me his best fit as a player) alongside a rotation on the defensive line of Roy Lopez, Aaron Blackwell, Trevon Mason, Myles Tapusoa, etc.

Have Pandy, Watson, Mourning, Clark, and Siaumau-Sanitoa rotate at linebacker. Additionally, keep Lorenzo Burns and Bobby Wolfe at cornerback, move Christian Roland-Wallace to safety, playing alongside Christian Young, Jaxen Turner, and Jarrius Wallace.

Maybe not the most experienced group, but to me, it makes sense personnel-wise and at least hides some of the depth issues Arizona faces. Plus, I feel this allows the Wildcats to utilize their talent more efficiently.

Anyways, this is just how I feel. Have any different thoughts? Let us know and as always, Bear Down, Arizona!