Arizona Wildcats hope copying national-champ Clemson will give their pass rush an edge

The original plan was to have Brian Knorr coach special teams and only special teams. But as Arizona Wildcats coach Rich Rodriguez learned more about Knorr’s background — and further examined the current landscape of college football — a different plan evolved.

Knorr would be in charge of a group he calls “The Edgemen,” which isn’t the latest summer blockbuster from Marvel. Knorr coaches Arizona’s defensive ends and “Studs,” in addition to his special-teams duties. Vince Amey, who led the entire defensive line last year, coaches the interior players.

The Wildcats have embraced the new setup, intended to maximize the skill sets of players with different responsibilities and body types, through five days of training camp.

“It’s great to have a coach that narrows down the position,” senior defensive end Jack Banda said. “It’s a lot more focused on us. I feel like we’re getting a lot more done.”

It’s no secret that Arizona’s front needs to create more disruptive plays. The Wildcats ranked ninth in the Pac-12 in sacks last season (22) and last in takeaways (14) — major factors in their 3-9 record.

An influx of talent should help. The edge-rush group is deeper and more athletic, even with its senior leader, DeAndre’ Miller, currently out because of a foot injury.

Whether the young players — including freshmen Jalen Harris, Kylan Wilborn, Jose Ramirez and My-King Johnson — are ready to contribute remains to be seen. In the meantime, they are being coached in a way that proved highly successful elsewhere.

National champion Clemson divided its defensive line duties for years before Dan Brooks (tackles) and Marion Hobby (ends) left the program in January. Dabo Swinney is among Rodriguez’s friends in the coaching business. So RichRod borrowed the idea from his buddy.

“If you want to be the best, you try to see what the best is doing,” Rodriguez said. “I saw what Clemson and Dabo were doing there. He had two guys. It made a lot more sense. There’s so much that a defensive end has to do these days.”

Arizona primarily wants its ends to get upfield and attack the quarterback. But the position also requires discipline when defending the increasingly prevalent zone read.

Knorr and The Edgemen spent considerable time in the offseason working on the pass-rush element. The NCAA restricts what coaches can do with players in the summer; no footballs, no tackling dummies, no sleds. So the Wildcats placed hoops on the ground and ran along their edges to sharpen their pass-rush angles.

“Pass rush is a skill,” said Knorr, who joined the staff in March and has extensive defensive coordinator experience on his résumé. “It’s something that can be developed.

“Our guys worked tirelessly this summer, whether it was studying themselves, studying their opponents, watching film. It’s something that our guys are continuing to get better and better at.”

Knorr expects four players to regularly rotate at the two edge spots. (There are differences between defensive end and “Stud.” The latter sometimes will stand up and drop into coverage. But when Arizona is playing a four-man front, their duties are basically the same.) The identities of those four have yet to be determined, and Miller’s injury further complicates matters.

Banda expects to be part of that group. The fifth-year player from Grayson, Georgia, has had a couple of big games as a Wildcat — two sacks apiece against Colorado in 2015 and Washington in ’16. Seven of his 21 career tackles have resulted in losses. But week-to-week production has eluded Banda (among others).

“That was what coach Knorr gave as my biggest criticism,” Banda said. “He says he needs more consistency out of me.”

How does Banda go about satisfying that request?

“Doing my duty,” he said. “Doing it with intensity. Doing it full speed.”

Cecil speaks

One of Tucson’s favorite sons spoke to the media for the first time since returning to the UA.

Chuck Cecil chatted with reporters after Friday’s practice, and he seemed ecstatic to be back on campus.

“I’ve been welcomed back with open arms,” said the former UA All-American, who recently joined the staff as director of player development/defensive analyst. “The people of Tucson are wonderful, so I have much love for them. I’m just really blessed to be back, and back with my Wildcats.”

Cecil mainly is serving as an observer during the first week of training camp as he learns Arizona’s personnel and systems.

“It’s still early, but he’s a great guy,” Rodriguez said. “I’m glad he’s with us.”

Extra points

• The offense got the better of the defense as Arizona practiced in full pads for the first time. The Wildcats will go in pads again Saturday before taking Sunday off.

• Redshirt junior Brandon Dawkins, the favorite to start at quarterback, was the only QB to wear a red, no-contact jersey during the live-tackling practice.

• Rodriguez said Arizona’s freshman quarterbacks and safeties have made more progress in the first week of practices than any previous groups he has coached.

• Freshman wide receiver Drew Dixon practiced Friday but is dealing with an NCAA Clearinghouse issue, Rodriguez said. Dixon is a Sabino High School grad.