5 questions with defensive coordinator Mark Stoops
Related link: Arizona holds closed practice Wednesday (ArizonaWildcats.com)
Related link: CBSSports.com Pac-10 preview; Cats picked seventh
By Anthony Gimino
As Arizona continues to try to sort out its quarterback battle between sophomores Matt Scott and Nick Foles, those two players have been put off limits to the media, as has offensive coordinator Sonny Dykes (at least for a few days).
Meanwhile, the defense, which got the better of the offense in Saturday’s scrimmage in Sierra Vista, seems to be humming along quite nicely. The defense should start specifically preparing for its first opponent, Central Michigan on Sept. 5, next week, but the coaching staff has been working on the Chippewas — and star dual-threat quarterback Dan LeFevour — since the spring.
Defensive coordinator Mark Stoops isn’t off limits, so WILDABOUTAZCATS.com caught up with him after Tuesday’s practice:
Q: What are your thoughts on LeFevour and how does Central Michigan use him?
Stoops: “Shoot, he’s just a very good football player. Some guys just have that feel, you know what I mean? He’s a big guy who can run very effectively and he has good instincts around the pocket. They have set-up run plays for him to keep defenses honest, and then also he will improvise. He can run and throw, and anytime you have a guy like that with experience, it’s a danger.”
Q: What can Earl Mitchell do now in his second year at defensive tackle that he couldn’t do last year?
Stoops: “He’s just more confident and can help with the leadership. Instead of worrying about himself, he’s helping other guys and learning how to take his game to the next level. We need him to be more of an impact player and continue to refine those pass-rushing skills. That is where we need him to be a bigger impact player — on those pass downs.”
Q: What young guys — freshmen or redshirt freshmen — are in the mix for playing time?
Stoops: “We really like this crew of freshman and we have a couple of guys who are getting some work. It’s nice to see (true freshman) Adam Hall getting a lot of work with the second team. Right now, we’re just playing him at free safety and getting him acclimated. (Linebacker) R.J. Young is a redshirt freshman who adds some good depth. We really like (freshman linebacker) Jake Fischer. We feel like Jake can physically do it this year; he just needs some more mental work and to learn the system. But we like his physical skills.”
Q: What’s your overall evaluation of the defense after more than two weeks of camp?
Stoops: “I’m encouraged. I really like our attitude. I love our work ethic. I love our speed. (As far as recruiting speed), we don’t run around with a stopwatch or anything like that. We just want to recruit good football players and just want to see guys who can run and move and have explosiveness. … All in all, I’m very pleased.”
Q: Does the improved speed allow you to tweak what you do scheme-wise?
Stoops: “Not too much. For the most part, we do what we do. We always add a few wrinkles each year, and for each opponents, but for the most part we are going to do what we do.”
Previously: 5 questions with assistant coach Jeff Hammerschmidt.
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Tags: Adam Hall, Earl Mitchell, Mark Stoops
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