Arizona defense hopes to replicate the late success it found against USC

About halfway through the third quarter of last week’s game against USC, something clicked for the Arizona defense. The Wildcats suddenly went from soft to sturdy.

After taking a 24-0 lead, the Trojans didn’t score another point. They barely gained any first downs.

“Our defense in the second half, in the fourth quarter, was as good as it’s been all year,” said UA coach Kevin Sumlin, whose team hosts Cal on Saturday night.

All of which begs two questions: What changed for the defense? And can Arizona replicate it for a full game seven more times?

The simplest answer to the first question is that the Wildcats were tired of getting gashed by USC’s run game. The play that made it 24-0 was a 69-yard touchdown by Aca’Cedric Ware.

“There was just a whole bunch of communication on the field that we’re not going to let it happen again,” cornerback Lorenzo Burns said Tuesday. “That we’re going to come together … and give the offense the ball back so they can score and we have a chance of coming back.”

Arizona actually started playing better defense the previous week against Oregon State. The Wildcats held the Beavers to 14 points and 97 net rushing yards.

Sumlin cited personnel and schematic changes. Defensive lineman PJ Johnson’s return to the lineup has made a huge difference, and his move from defensive tackle to end gave the Trojans a look they weren’t expecting. Arizona also has used four-man fronts much more often. The UA has seven sacks in the past three games after failing to record one in the first two.

“We went with our three biggest, best guys in this last game,” Sumlin said of Johnson, Dereck Boles and Finton Connolly, who joined Kylan Wilborn up front. “In the end, in the second half, it paid dividends.”

Kevin Sumlin on PJ Johnson: “He’s an anchor. He’s a guy that can move and he’s a guy that is hard to move.” pic.twitter.com/dkO258AqEk

— The Wildcaster (@TheWildcaster) October 1, 2018

The 69-yard touchdown run, which came on third-and-1, upped the conversion rate for UA opponents to 44.9 percent. Afterward, USC converted only 1 of 7 third downs.

The Wildcats also forced and recovered two fumbles in the fourth quarter — as many takeaways as they had in the previous 19.

“We played a little more aggressive than usual,” said linebacker Jacob Colacion, who played most of the second half in place of the injured Tony Fields II. “We had a lot less loafs. More guys were running to the ball. More guys were getting in there, making plays.”

Which brings us to question No. 2: Why hasn't Arizona been able to play with that same energy and urgency from the outset?

The offense struggled in the first halves of the Houston and USC games, and that didn’t help; Arizona trailed by a combined 48-0 at halftime in those contests.

Whether the game plan was inadequate, the execution was lacking or the adjustments were too slow to come, the defense did not aid the offense by forcing turnovers or three-and-outs. The Wildcats see no reason they can’t start doing that this week. They just proved to themselves what they’re capable of.

Arizona’s scoring comparisons by half:1st- Opponents outscore UA 79-482nd- UA outscores opponents 110-63Lorenzo Burns: “You have to come in locked and loaded.” pic.twitter.com/i5xELSqzJ3

— The Wildcaster (@TheWildcaster) October 2, 2018

“In order to continue on for an entire game with that mindset, you have to come in locked and loaded,” Burns said. “There are going to be things that happen. We might throw an interception. We might give up a touchdown. But as long as the leaders come together, communicate and keep everybody in check … we’re going to get this right.”

Cal began the season with incumbent Ross Bowers at quarterback. Since then, Chase Garbers and Brandon McIlwain have shared the job. Their differing playing styles present a challenge for the UA defense.

Garbers, a redshirt freshman, has completed 65.3 percent of his passes while showing plus athleticism; he has rushed for 150 yards on 31 attempts. McIlwain, a redshirt sophomore, leads the team with 252 rushing yards. Against Oregon last week, McIlwain became the first Cal quarterback to rush for more than 100 yards in a game since Joe Kapp in 1958.

“They’re a little bit different in style and scheme,” Sumlin said. “They have done separate series, but they also insert quarterbacks at different times. That does affect your preparation. In any defensive scheme, you want to take away an offense’s strengths.”

Cal coach Justin Wilcox doesn’t have a strong desire to settle on one quarterback. He likes the way Garbers and McIlwain complement each other.

“We’re utilizing the guys and trying to do what they do best and what’s best for our team,” Wilcox said. “Both Chase and Brandon have grown as players and will continue to grow with more experience.

“I’m proud of how they’re competing. It’s a team effort right now across the board — no different with them. Their attitude’s been great. Both those guys have brought us something different, and it makes our team better. That’s all we’re really concerned with.”

• UA quarterback Khalil Tate rushed for 137 yards in last year’s matchup. Running hasn’t been a big part of his game this season. But that won’t change the Golden Bears’ approach to defending him. “He’s a dynamic athlete,” Wilcox said. “He’s really developing as a passer. You see the growth from Week 1 until now. … We know what kind of talent he is. I think everybody does.”
• Arizona’s top two tight ends, Bryce Wolma and Jamie Nunley, have just two receptions apiece. Wolma had 28 catches as a freshman last year. They’ve been heavily involved as blockers, not so much as receivers. “They’ve had some opportunities. We missed them a couple times,” said Sumlin, who coaches the position. “Those things are there. They’ve been open. But we’ve thrown the ball down the field a little bit more.”
• Left tackle Layth Friekh earned fellow lineman Cody Creason’s respect by playing through a painful ankle injury for two-plus quarters against USC. “You’d have to ask him how much pain he was in, but he’s definitely a battler,” Creason said. “He was definitely not a hundred percent. For him to go out there and fight for a half and part of the third quarter means a lot to the O-line.”
• Redshirt junior Alex Kosinski made his first appearance on the depth chart this week, as the No. 2 right guard. Projected as a possible starter, Kosinski missed considerable time in August for undisclosed reasons. “It’s definitely nice having him back,” Creason said. “He can definitely step in at either guard position, or at tackle if we need him there. If someone goes down, he’ll have a really important role this week.”