Arizona's defensive turnaround 'is unreal' in Year 2 under DC Johnny Nansen

Just over three minutes into Arizona’s players-and-coordinators media availability on Tuesday, as the 21st-ranked Wildcats turn their attention to 18th-ranked Utah, offensive coordinator Brennan Carroll answered four questions before veering the attention to his defensive cohort Johnny Nansen.

“Did you guys know that Johnny Nansen is nominated for the Broyles Award? Good lord,” Carroll said.

The Broyles Award is an annual accolade given to the top assistant coach in college football. Nansen, now in his second season as Arizona’s defensive coordinator, was named a nominee on Monday. Nansen is one of seven assistants from the Pac-12 nominated.

“Staff, players, that’s it. If it weren’t for my staff and my players believing in me, I don’t know, that award is a team award,” Nansen said. “It’s our staff, man. They’re unbelievable guys to work with.”

Carroll asked, “Have you seen what this guy has done with this defense? ... What Johnny has been able to do in Year 2 is unreal.”

Let’s examine the turnaround:

The Wildcats are fifth in the Pac-12 in total defense this season, allowing 335.1 yards per game; last season, they were 11th, surrendering an average of 467.7 yards.

Arizona has allowed 99.8 rushing yards per game; last year, it gave up 209.1 and was the eighth-worst team nationally stopping the run. As it stands, the Wildcats have the 13th-best rushing defense in college football — a 111-spot improvement from Nansen’s first season. Arizona has held four opponents this season to fewer than 100 rushing yards, including Colorado on Saturday, which had 77 yards. In the second half, Arizona outrushed the Buffaloes 121-29.

Arizona is 38th nationally in points allowed and has given up 20.9 points per game; last season, teams averaged 36.5 points against the UA. The Wildcats have allowed 209 combined points this season. At this part of the 2022 season, the Wildcats had allowed 372.

“The leadership and the way our coaches been pushing us. They’re a big part of our success,” said Arizona linebacker Jacob Manu, who is tied for the Pac-12’s top tackler. “Our leaders on the defense hold each other accountable day in and day out and we just love each other.”

An essential component to the upswing in Arizona’s defense is the depth the Wildcats have developed in a year. Underclassmen from the 2022 recruiting class, such as Manu, lengthy cornerbacks Ephesians Prysock and Tacario Davis, and defensive linemen Isaiah Ward, Ta’ita’i Uiagalalei, Russell Davis II and Jacob Kongaika have become mainstays, while the Wildcats added an influx of transfer defensive linemen — players with multiple years of collegiate weightlifting and game experience, like defensive tackles Bill Norton, Tyler Manoa, Tia Savea, and Sio Nofoagatoto’a, whom all weigh over 300 pounds and fill up gaps.. Plus edge rusher Taylor Upshaw, who leads the team in sacks, and defensive back Martell Irby. Coupled with the development of safeties Gunner Maldonado and Dalton Johnson, who leads the team with three forced fumbles.

Arizona’s potpourri of players added edge rushers Sterling Lane II and Dominic Lolesio, who both played critical snaps down the stretch for Arizona at Colorado. Lane, a former four-star recruit from Los Angeles, logged five snaps, while the true freshman Lolesio played 10. The Wildcats used 24 players on defense at Colorado.

“It was obviously one of those games we had to play a lot of guys. ... The only way they’re going to be great players is by playing. ... We just gotta keep developing,” Nansen said. “That’s what our program is about, it’s about developing these kids. That’s why we recruit high school kids to come in here and it’s our job to develop them, and I was proud to see those guys play.”

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With the added depth, Arizona’s defense has deployed multiple packages besides Nansen’s 4-2-5 base defense, like the “dollar” package with seven defensive backs, the “flex” defense introduced by assistant Duane Akina from his “Desert Swarm” days, or even inserting defensive back Martell Irby at “Mike” linebacker against UCLA and Colorado. Every wrinkle Arizona has thrown out of on defense, for the most part, has been effective for the Wildcats this season.

“He deserves everything that comes his way,” Manu said of Nansen. “The work that he puts in and out, it doesn’t go unnoticed. All the players notice it, and you guys are starting to see it on the field. He deserves it and more.”

Pulido plays first full game

Arizona freshman Raymond Pulido started at right guard at Colorado, the first complete game he’s played in his first season at the UA. The 6-6, 335-pound has missed seven games this season from injuries following a bicycle accident leading up to the season opener and an ankle setback in the Pac-12 opener at Stanford. Redshirt sophomore Leif Magnuson has played 386 snaps at guard this season in place of Pulido and briefly Wendell Moe. After returning to the rotation in Arizona’s win over UCLA, Pulido started and played 65 snaps at Colorado.

“He got through the whole thing?” Carroll joked. “It was really exciting for him to get through a game. He was a great energy on the sideline. A lot of things to work on and get better at, but he played really solid. It’s mostly timing that he needs to keep working on, which comes with time on task. We’ll just keep developing and get better.”

Since Pulido has played in three games, he can sit out one of the next two games and still play in Arizona’s bowl game while preserving his redshirt season; however, Arizona head coach Jedd Fisch said, “We’re not going to sit him out the next two (games.) He’s going to play.”

“It was nice to see him go the whole game. He brought some great energy to it. There’s a toughness about him. There’s a willingness to finish blocks. It’s contagious with him and (Moe), those are two good, aggressive guards. When you look at that offensive line, everyone is coming back but (left tackle Jordan Morgan). I’m looking forward to being able to have probably one of the best offensive lines in the country.”

Extra points

Nansen on Arizona linebacker Justin Flowe playing two defensive snaps at Colorado: “It all comes down to how well you practice. Practice is everything. If you don’t practice well on Tuesday and Wednesday, how can I put you in the game? The challenge for him this week is to have a great week of practice, because we’re going to need him. You’re probably going to see more of him (this week) because it’s more of his game.”

Morgan, on playing in a bowl game his last season at the UA: “Feels good. I’ve been here since 2019. Building it up from there, it was a long process, but I’m finally getting to a place where I’m pretty satisfied with what we’re doing, but at the same we still have to keep pushing and get to another level.”