It happens every game, no matter the opponent, no matter the TV network.
Whoever happens to be broadcasting Arizona Wildcats football displays a graphic detailing the weight disparity between the UA’s defensive line and the other team’s offensive line.
Sometimes the Wildcats are outweighed, on average, by more than 50 pounds. As Rich Rodriguez lamented after the Utah game, the UA defensive front is “woefully undersized.” It’s an unfortunate fact of Arizona’s 2016 reality.
“We can’t go mano a mano with the majority of the offensive linemen in the Pac-12 or in any other league that we face,” UA defensive line coach Vince Amey said Wednesday. “Every week we’ve been the smaller group. That just is what it is.
“But the guys continue to play hard through injuries, through the bumps and bruises. They continue to battle. That’s what I love about them.”
Every week Amey reminds his players of their size disadvantage, in part to motivate them, in part to make sure they execute all the necessary techniques to overcome it. This week is no different with Stanford coming to town.
Although the Cardinal’s projected starting offensive line is light compared to others the UA has faced — if you consider an average of 299 pounds light — Stanford adds extra linemen, tight ends and fullbacks to its powerful mix.
“They’re going to try to big-boy you,” Amey said. “That’s what they do.”
Two weeks ago against Notre Dame, Stanford started senior Chris Harrell at fullback. He weighs 246 pounds. Three of Arizona’s top defensive linemen — Parker Zellers, Justin Belknap and Jack Banda — are listed at 247.
“We’ve got to get bigger,” Rodriguez said. “We’re recruiting toward that end. Everybody wants ’em. It does start up front on the D-line. That’s the one position we’ve got to recruit well, and we’ve got to develop well.”
Failing to do one, the other or both created the Wildcats’ current predicament. Belknap, a walk-on, and Zellers, a former walk-on, are starting ahead of bulkier players who were much higher rated as high school prospects.
They all started with a clean slate under Amey, one of four first-year defensive coaches. He chose to play the linemen who played the best, regardless of their size or star rating.
“I went with who performed,” Amey said, “who was going to give us the best chance to win, who was going to be out there flying around.”
Arizona (2-5, 0-4 Pac-12) has tried multiple ways to compensate for its size deficiency — rotating players, moving before the snap, emphasizing pad level and leverage — with minimal success. It shows up the most the deeper the Wildcats get into games.
The UA has allowed an average of 75.8 rushing yards in the first halves of its four conference losses. That figure jumps to 176 yards in the second halves (plus overtime vs. Washington).
Arizona’s middleweights can go six rounds against other team’s heavyweights. They can’t go 12.
“It definitely has an effect,” Amey said. “But it can’t be an excuse. We have to mentally and physically battle through that. We can’t give in to that. The second half, we’ve got to play better. It’s mandatory.”
Zellers doesn’t believe size, or a lack thereof, is the cause of Arizona’s second-half erosion. His sense is that the Wildcats sometimes feel too satisfied at halftime. They were tied (Washington), within one score (UCLA) or had the lead (Utah) at the break in their first three Pac-12 defeats.
“We’ve just got to make sure we bring it for all four quarters and learn how to finish,” Zellers said. “That’s when we have to go all gas, no brake.”
As a 6-foot-1, 247-pound nose tackle, Zellers always goes up against bigger men. He constantly reminds himself to stay low and play low.
“That’s pretty much the only thing I’m thinking about,” he said. “I just embedded that into my brain.”
For Zellers and his fellow undersized linemen, it’s the only choice — and only chance — they have.
Ranking RichRod’s riches
Rodriguez ranks 41st among FBS coaches in total pay, according to a report released Wednesday by USA Today.
Rodriguez’s total compensation for the 2015-16 fiscal year was $2,860,000. That figure ranked ninth among Pac-12 coaches. USA Today did not have salary information for USC’s Clay Helton and eight other coaches who work for private institutions.
Rodriguez’s compensation includes an FBS-high $360,000 in “other pay,” which USA Today defines as “income from sources listed on the coach’s most recently available, self-reported athletically related outside income report.”
Rodriguez, basketball coach Sean Miller and AD Greg Byrne have retention bonuses in their contracts tied to a stock deal.
Rodriguez’s base salary, or “school play,” includes a $125,000 payment that Rodriguez will receive only if he remains coach on Nov. 30, according to USA Today.
Rodriguez’s total compensation was down almost $400,000 from the previous fiscal year, when he received a $650,000 performance bonus.
USA Today also calculated buyouts for coaches if fired without cause on Dec. 1. Rodriguez’s buyout, according to the report, would be $8,912,500.
Extra points
• Rodriguez said new Stanford QB Keller Chryst might be more apt to run than Ryan Burns, something the UA defense needs to be mindful of Saturday.
• Rodriguez doesn’t consider senior Samajie Grant’s move from receiver to running back unselfish. Rather, it’s typical of UA players’ team-first attitude. “They’ll do whatever we ask them to do,” Rodriguez said. Arizona seeks players who can play multiple positions in case situations arise like this season’s spate of injuries at running back and quarterback.
