Watch: 8 best things Marcel Yates, Tony Fields said after Arizona Wildcats' practice

Focused on the front seven

Arizona was ranked No. 118 in total defense and coughed up 34 points per game last season. The Wildcats' opponents averaged 6.3 yards per play and 471 yards per game. That's not good. 

The glass-half-full side of it? The Wildcats started six freshmen on defense, including freshman All-American linebackers Colin Schooler and Tony Fields. Those two return as the leaders of a growing defense that remains young, but experienced considering all of the returners were baptized by fire in 2017. 

Despite a new coaching staff, Kevin Sumlin retained defensive coordinator Marcel Yates, who is entering his third season at UA. Yates overlooked the secondary for the last two seasons, but is now only coaching the defensive line and linebackers. 

The defense for the most part isn't new.

UA added PJ Johnson, a 6-foot-4, 330-pound defensive tackle from San Francisco College. With Dereck Boles back as a defensive tackle, the linebackers and safeties back in the fold, plus Jace Whittaker and Lorenzo Burns returning as cornerbacks, Arizona could put together a sound defense if it can stay healthy.

Yates and Fields spoke to the media after Arizona's practice on Thursday, here's what they had to say: 

'Beef'

Arizona defensive coordinator Marcel Yates on adding size to the defensive line: “The beef is always gonna help, but if the beef is in the wrong place, it won’t help.” pic.twitter.com/czLanzOADV

— The Wildcaster (@TheWildcaster) August 9, 2018

Freshmen learning

Marcel Yates on Arizona’s freshmen earning snaps last season: “Being thrown into the fire, I thought they did a good job of handling it.” pic.twitter.com/K9mFz6H8if

— The Wildcaster (@TheWildcaster) August 9, 2018

'Another me'

Tony Fields on the chemistry with Colin Schooler: “When I look at Colin, I look at another me. It’s almost like we’re the exact same person. ... That’s my dude.” pic.twitter.com/96Sjj46Qn8

— The Wildcaster (@TheWildcaster) August 9, 2018

Standouts in camp

Marcel Yates says Lorenzo Burns, Dereck Boles, PJ Johnson and Justin Belknap have stood out so far during fall camp. pic.twitter.com/WEobSNHK5E

— The Wildcaster (@TheWildcaster) August 9, 2018

Improving as a sophomore

Sophomore linebacker Tony Fields on what he learned from his freshman season: “I made a couple of plays, but I felt like I could’ve helped the team more.” pic.twitter.com/af50DbsJCJ

— The Wildcaster (@TheWildcaster) August 9, 2018

Growing up

Marcel Yates on linebackers Tony Fields and Colin Schooler development: “They were babies last year and now they understand the game.” pic.twitter.com/edL6ST8Cu2

— The Wildcaster (@TheWildcaster) August 9, 2018

Yates' plan

Marcel Yates says he gave himself 3-4 years to master Arizona’s defensive rotation: pic.twitter.com/9ee8TaHfJh

— The Wildcaster (@TheWildcaster) August 9, 2018

Addition of JB Brown

Marcel Yates on defensive end JB Brown: pic.twitter.com/OnsVTonNGu

— The Wildcaster (@TheWildcaster) August 9, 2018