Arizona Wildcats coach Rich Rodriguez said last week that he’d like to have “seven or eight” defensive linemen who are ready to play. Given the state of Arizona’s defense – it’s a complete rebuild – that seems like a lot.
How close are the Wildcats to hitting that number? I asked new defensive line coach Vincent Amey that question and more in a recent one-on-one interview. The first players he mentioned were veterans Sani Fiumaono and Parker Zellers. Amey is hopeful their leadership and productivity in practice will rub off on the rest of the group.
Here are some highlights from our conversation:
(on how far Arizona is from having 7-8 viable D-linemen)
“Not too far, actually. Sani and Zellers, those are my guys right now. I need a few more guys to step up. I’m pushing them and working them to get to that point. I am happy with my group. They’re working their butts off. By the time camp comes around, they should be ready to roll.”
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(on Zellers not being very big for a nose tackle at 6-1, 247)
“No, he’s not. But I love that kid to death. He works his butt off. He plays with pad level. He gives O-linemen fits.”
(on what redshirt junior Calvin Allen needs to do to crack the rotation)
“Just continue to get better and improve. Hit the weight room hard, like he’s been doing. He has some bumps and bruises right now. But the kid’s mentally tough. He needs to keep coming along.”
(on the status of Luca Bruno, who missed the end of 2015 because of a foot injury)
“I don’t know where he’s at. I’ve told Luca, take your time. Because I need Luca. He’ll be another one, when he comes back, (who) should be a starter. I don’t have (any) official starters yet. Still a long ways away from that.”
(on whether Arizona will continue to use a three-man front)
“We’ll mix it up. There’s no real identity to our defense right now, which I really love. We’ll give the opponent fits. They won’t know what to prepare for.”
(on what it’s been like working with new coordinator Marcel Yates)
“Love him. We actually have a lot in common, growing up in the same area (Los Angeles). We know a lot of the same guys. Kind of the same personalities. His demeanor and his approach to the game – he’s open-minded, he lets us all communicate in the room.”
