Search

ARCHIVES
CONTACT US
WORLD NEWS

9 starters return to UA defensive line

Wildcat File Photo Arizona Daily Wildcat UA senior linebacker Marcus Bell (40), chases down an Iowa player during last year's game. Bell, one of nine returning starters on defense, is a Butkus Award semifinalist this season.

Last season the UA defense held opponents to only 18 points per game and finished second in the Pacific-10 Conference in total defense.

For the 1999 season, the Wildcats return nine defensive starters, only losing All-American cornerback Chris McAlister to the NFL and defensive tackle Daniel Greer to graduation.

The UA defense has potential All-Americans in senior linebackers Marcus Bell and DaShon Polk, as well as on the defensive line with sophomore Keoni Fraser and Joe Tafoya.

Besides the returning starters, the 1999 defense will feature much more depth than last year's squad.

New faces on the defensive line, in the secondary and joining the linebacking crew will provide the Wildcats with many options for the defensive packages, according to junior defensive lineman Mike Robertson.

"I think our depth will make it more interesting, because we'll have fresh legs on the field all the time," he said. "Plus, we are a little bit older and are comfortable with the defensive packages."

The UA defensive line wants to put more pressure on the quarterback this year, and it has the experience and talent to do so. The Wildcats return three starters - sophomore tackle Keoni Fraser, who was a freshman All-American, junior ends Joe Tafoya and Mike Robertson. Robertson didn't play a full season last year because of injuries, but he still finished with 13 tackles after starting four games.

Fraser is a big, versatile lineman who can stop both the run (21 tackles last year) and rush the passer (two and-one-half sacks). Leading the defensive line with 34 tackles last season was Tafoya, who is quick for his size and has two years of experience under his belt.

Junior Anthony Thomas, who saw considerable action last year as a backup, is nursing a sore ankle and might redshirt. In his place is senior J. J. Joppru, who played eight games on the defensive line last season.

Robertson has noticed the commitment that Joppru made to the team during the summer.

"So far he's doing a great job," Robertson said. "Over the summer, he hit the weight room and got a lot faster. He's really playing mentally-sound football."

Junior college transfer Austin Uku, who played both running back and defensive end at City College in Long Beach Calif. last year, will come in as a pass rush specialist on third downs.

"As far as what kinds of newcomers will play, Austin is really the only one that is going to add something to the package," defensive line coach Marty Long said. "We expect a lot out of him."

The linebacking crew at UA, one of the best in the conference and arguably one of the best in the nation, will return three starters from last year. All-Conference linebackers Bell and Polk anchor the defense that is reminiscent of the "Desert Swarm" defense of the early 1990's. Bell had a Pac-10 leading 139 tackles last season, and Polk had 13 tackles for a loss.

Senior inside linebacker Scooter Sprotte was third on the team in tackles with 58 and was second on the team with three interceptions. Junior linebacker Antonio Pierce has shined in practice and adds some depth to the UA linebacking corps., along with junior Adrian Koch and senior Stadford Glover.

Polk feels confident that the linebacking position is solid with both the starters and backups able to step up.

"We're looking pretty good with a lot of strength at the linebacking position," Polk said. "We have backups that are reliable and that we can put in anytime."

Bell also commented on the depth at the linebacking position for the Wildcats along with the starting crew.

"We have a few young guys like Antonio Pierce doing a really good job and stepping up for us," Bell said. "It's also really nice having DaShon and Scooter back. We know what each other is going to do, and we are all comfortable."

Up front on the line and at the linebacking position, the Arizona defense will be more menacing than last year's squad and has the ability to change defensive packages with the added depth this season.