The Wildcats have officially wrapped up their first week of spring ball. Read what defensive coordinator Duane Akina, as well as linebackers Jacob Manu, Kamuela Ka’aihue, and Taye Brown had to say after Arizona Spring Football Day 3.
Duane Akina on how the defensive scheme has changed from last season:
“We’re probably a little more aggressive with the front. The secondary, we’ve added a coverage, you know, that was kind of the guts of us when I was at Texas and Stanford. Because when I got here, I just told Johnny [Nansen], hey let me just see how you’re matching, how we’re canceling gaps up front, and then I’ll work our way through it. So we’re probably canceling gaps a little bit differently, being more vertical, get up field. You know, I’m kind of wired a little more aggressive, so let’s just say we’re playing the run on the way to the quarterback, rather than sitting on the line of scrimmage maybe you could say. That may be a little bit of a change. We may add in a twist or two up front, but that would be the biggest thing.
The secondary stuff is going to be consistent, and then we’ll probably as time goes on we’ll be able to add a few more things because we’re blessed that we have incredible IQ. I mean, not good IQs on the back end. Gunner Maldonado, Treydan Stukes, get used to the name, nationally you need to get used to the name. I’ve been around a lot of really outstanding defensive backs. Dalton is the same way, that you can just do a lot of stuff because they’re concept learners, you know, they’re not memory learners. Manu is the same way.”
Akina on the continuity of Arizona’s secondary this upcoming season:
“It’s huge. Because a year ago when I was talking about some of this language, I don’t know if you’ve been out there, but I’m so big on communication and all, and you know basketball, screen right, screen left. I mean, so now, the language, they’re understanding the language and they’re understanding the reasons why. You know, I teach from an offensive side of the ball, being a quarterback, offensive coordinator, so I teach a lot of offensive theory. So now, they’re starting to understand how the defenses are built. Don’t just learn your position, learn how the structure of the defenses is built, what they’re doing, and why. So we meet together quite a bit, the back seven, the linebackers, the secondary. I did that last year quite a bit, and then we kind of would separate and linebackers can get into the run game.
Yeah, just having continuity, and that’s one reason why I chose to stay. You know, I enjoyed running with Bobo and Gunner and Dalton and Stukes, and you know we were hopeful, because then they were all coming back. And Manu and Flowe, and the two young backers, Taye [and Kamuela Ka’aihue], was a big reason why I chose to come back, because just being a part of them.”
Akina on the status of the defensive line:
“We’re really optimistic, because you’re correct, we lost a lot of major pieces, okay. But Bill Norton coming back has been stable for us. But now the guys, Chubba [Maae] and Isaiah [Johnson] and Keanu [Mailoto], they have been pleasant surprises for us. And then some of the pieces that we got Tre [Smith], and even Deuce Lane. It’s much like when I got here with Gunner, you know, when a new staff comes in, there’s some players that maybe were viewed maybe not a positive by some, okay. It’s a fresh beginning, it’s a fresh start, and that’s what I shared with all of them. There’s new coaches, it’s a fresh start, so they’ve been excellent on that.
And I’ll tell you, Joe Seumalo has done a great job, and Danny Gonzales has been a great add with us. Arce is going to be an outstanding young coach, that’s why he is where is he. We’re going to have to battle like heck to keep him. He reminds me of, well Brennan, you know I’ve had some great GAs over the years. David Fipp, who’s considered the number one special teams coach right now in the NFL, GA’ed for me, him and Brent were the GAs. I can throw a list at you of guys, and that’s where Arce, and Ty Nichols, and Teddy Bolin, all these guys are outstanding coaches. I’m really encouraged with our defensive staff.”
Kamuela Ka’aihue on the difference from Arizona’s defense last year to this year:
“Honestly we still have that same fight, we still have that same effort to the ball. We’re all flying to the ball. I’d say pretty much the same in terms of work ethic. We’ll just have to see.”
Ka’aihue on the transition to the new coaching staff:
“It was definitely a roller coaster of emotions. Especially coming in, being recruited by that old coaching staff, you know, you kind of get comfortable with them, and then after your first year they leave. But, it’s an experience for sure that I think – it’s a great learning opportunity. Football is definitely a business, it’s a business type mentality. I just think we did perfect in the way we transitioned into the new coaches.”
Jacob Manu on Duane Akina being the defensive coordinator at Arizona:
“Oh man, we love him. We’re glad he’s our DC. He’s the guy that’s going to push us, he’s going to lead us in the right direction, and he’s going to make sure that we’re always prepared.”
Manu on what he’s working on this spring to prepare for the upcoming season:
“More [of] the mental side of the game. Like always, I want to outsmart everybody. Everybody might have the speed and stuff, but if I know where they’re going before them, I can beat them there. So just more mental side, and just since I already know this whole defense, helping people around me, helping the young guys get it.”
Manu on how often Arizona watches the Alamo Bowl fumble recovery touchdown and the takeaways from the tape:
“We watch it quite a lot. Coach Akina likes referring to it. Just to see how our swarm is for the new guys, see what they’re coming into, and the standard.”