Know Your Opponent: UCLA Football vs. Arizona 2018

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TUCSON, AZ – SEPTEMBER 01: Wide receiver Talon Shumway #21 of the Brigham Young Cougars is unable to catch a pass defended by cornerback Lorenzo Burns #2 of the Arizona Wildcats during the first half of the college football game at Arizona Stadium on September 1, 2018 in Tucson, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

Arizona Defense

If the offense is Arizona’s strength, then the Wildcats are in trouble as their defense is not exactly a top-tier group. Arizona needed to improve off of their dismal numbers from last season as they gave up 471.2 total yards and allowed 34.4 points per game, both stats were 10th in the Pac-12.

Third-year defensive coordinator Marcel Yates has done a slightly better job of that but he is still allowing numbers he would like to see lowered. For the most part, Arizona’s defense has improved, but they are still getting beat through the air and on the ground.

"DID YOU KNOW? Arizona’s student section is called the “ZonaZoo”. That’s all I have."

The run defense is 101st in the nation. Simply, they are not good at stopping the run. Arizona barely gets into the backfield as they have only recorded 11 sacks on the season, something that will benefit the Bruins offensive line. That does not bode well for them when facing UCLA who has made tremendous improvements in the run game in the last few contests. UCLA has not broken the 200 rushing yard mark yet this season, but if Arizona cannot keep up, they just might on Saturday.

2018 Arizona Defensive Stats

Total – 437.9 | Rushing – 202.0 | Passing – 235.9 | Scoring – 28.7

Arizona’s pass defense is decent and this is where they might have a chance at slowing down the Bruins. If last week’s game against Cal (and Arizona’s horrendous run defense) is any indication of what the Bruins are going to try and execute, then UCLA might stay away from the pass and keep the ball on the ground as much as possible.