KEVIN KLAUS/Arizona Daily Wildcat A WSU defender deflects a pass intended for receiver Andrae Thurman during Saturday night's Arizona loss.

It's comforting to know that if Arizona doesn't win another game this season, it won't be for a lack of effort by the coaching staff.

Instead of succumbing to the hubris that afflicts many men of his position, defensive coordinator Larry Mac Duff scrapped the scheme he created ÷ the double-eagle flex ÷ and switched to a simpler, more secondary-friendly set.

It was nothing more than a basic 3-4 defense. No whip linebackers, no rolling tackles on the line. It was the same defense that is run at the vast majority of high schools in this country, because it's simple and flexible.

The result? Arizona held one of the most explosive offenses in the conference to its second-lowest output of the season. It was classic "bend, don't break" football. It was, as quarterback Jason Johnson said after the game, "a winning effort."

The loss had nothing to do with senior linebacker Lance Briggs, who might have played his finest game in an Arizona uniform Saturday. Fourteen tackles ÷ 10 of those unassisted, three for a loss ÷ a fumble recovery, two pass deflections and a sack.

UA wide receiver Bobby Wade, when asked about Briggs, pretty much summed it up: "Lance is an amazing player."

But Briggs wasn't alone. Safety Clay Hardt came through as well, with nine tackles and an interception. The much-maligned defensive line gave its best performance of the year, forcing WSU quarterback Jason Gesser to at least consider the possibility he might get sacked.

And for a half, all the Cougars could muster against the unit was a field goal.

Of course, there's still plenty that needs to be improved on the defensive side of the ball. Mac Duff admitted that tackling was a problem, but that was to be expected when many of the players out there were on the scout team a few months ago. In addition, the defensive line needs to get better at pressuring the opposing quarterback and corners need to keep receivers in front of them. And the team can't give up 433 yards of total offense and expect to win consistently.

But it's clear that if the Wildcats are to win another game this year, it will be because of the defense. The offense has faltered of late, scoring only 19 points in the last two games. The magic is gone for the passing game, which somehow managed to keep putting up numbers without the threat of a running attack for six weeks. Head coach John Mackovic finally admitted yesterday that a balanced attack isn't possible, considering the current state of the running game, which is bad and not expected to get much better.

So it will be up to Briggs ÷ a former running back, ironically ÷ and a defense that resembles "Desert Swarm" not in style, but substance, to lead the Wildcats through the desert the remaining four games this season.