Pac-10 Position Breakdown: Defensive Line – Arizona Wildcats
Comments (5,249) Despite breaking in four new starters on the defensive line, the Arizona Wildcats defense preformed pretty admirably in 2008, finishing 33rd nationally in scoring defense, 39th in rushing defense, 23rd in passing defense, and 24th in total yardage defense (giving up 313 yards per game).
The Wildcats ended their decade-long postseason drought with a 31-21 win over BYU in the Las Vegas Bowl. Now they hope to build on last year’s success and move on to bigger and better things in 2009.
Losing Willie Tuitama is certainly a big blow to the offense, but bringing back a defensive line that gained valuable experience last season should make the defense even better this season. Despite the respectable overall defensive numbers, the Wildcats finished tied for 60th in the nation with 24 sacks and tied for 67th nationally with 69 tackles for loss.
The defensive line will have to do a better job getting to the quarterback and disrupting plays in the backfield this year if Arizona wants to crack into the Pac-10’s top tier.
Brooks Reed with a crushing tackle
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