By
Ryan Finley
Arizona Daily Wildcat
UA defense stifles SDSU offense in 17-3 win
Sometimes, a team's best offense is a good defense.
In what is becoming as much a part of UA football as the "Bear Down" legacy, the UA defense managed to save its offensive counterparts for the second time in the young season. In Saturday's 17-3 victory against San Diego State, the Wildcats managed to stifle a hungry SDSU offensive attack.
In losing, the Aztecs were admittedly out-manned.
"We had a very good idea of what we wanted to do with the football," Aztec head coach Ted Tollner said. "(But) their defense was really good. I knew we weren't going to get many shots."
SDSU running back Larry Ned - whom Tomey lauded in the week prior to Saturday's game - managed just 85 yards on 29 rushing attempts.
"His numbers aren't impressive," Tollner said of his running back. "We felt we had to run the ball to be able to keep them under control. A lot of our runs were for losses. We were trying to get four yards on a first down, not minus-three."
Ned, a 210-pound tailback, was limited to just 2.9 yards per carry.
"The goal was to keep pounding and pounding," Ned said. "They bring a lot of guys."
According to Tollner, it was the team's "double flex eagle" defensive scheme that flustered the Aztecs most.
The Wildcats' defensive scheme, best described as an adjustment-style defensive set that relies on heavy motion on the defensive line, seemed to confound SDSU's offensive line and blocking backs and led to three UA sacks.
"They're like a trick defense," Ned said. "You could line up against a defensive lineman, but he could really be a safety. You could block who you think's a safety, but they're really a D-lineman. It's a mind game."
Tollner agreed.
"Sometimes, there's just more people to block than blockers," he said. "We were bringing people, (and) we were out-manned."
Arizona, the only team on SDSU's schedule that plays a flex-style defense, manhandled the Aztec blockers and allowed just 1.9 yards per carry.
Despite scoring just three points, Tollner was hesitant to congratulate UA's personnel.
"Their scheme dictates (the game), not their defensive line," Tollner said. "They put great pressure on the quarterback."
Quarterback Lon Sheriff, who learned on Thursday that he would be starting instead of injured senior Jack Hawley, felt SDSU was manhandled by what has been called a "Desert Swarm" scheme.
"They got us out of our game plan. I think we prepared really well for the scheme," Sheriff - who finished the night 15-for-29 with an interception - said. "I mean, we knew what they were going to do. There wasn't much more I could have possibly done."
UA linebacker Lance Briggs - who finished the night with eight tackles and an interception - credited the team's preparation for the defensive-oriented win.
"Our coaches game-planned us well for San Diego State," he said. "(Ned) ran really hard, but our defense did a great job swarming. As a whole, the defense is doing a better job every game."
Tollner, whose Aztecs fell to 0-3 in the loss, was not ashamed of his team's effort.
"Utah couldn't move the ball on them, we couldn't move the ball on them, and I'm not so sure Ohio State could move the ball on them."
