While, overall, it was a game to forget for Arizona against BYU last weekend, the defense continued to hold its own while battling through multiple injuries to key players in the secondary in addition to losing Jacob Manu to a targeting call in the opening minutes of the game.
The Wildcats (3-3, 1-2 Big 12) were able to hold BYU to 14 points in the first half before the game eventually got away from Arizona in what ended as a 41-19 defeat.
It will be another tough test for Arizona this weekend against Shedeur Sanders, Travis Hunter and the electric offense of Colorado (4-2, 2-1).
Defensive coordinator Duane Akina along with linebacker Taye Brown and defensive back Genesis Smith spoke to the media on Wednesday. Here are five takeaways from what they had to say.
Injuries impacting Arizona's secondary
Arizona had already lost Treydan Stukes for the season and Gunner Maldonado heading into last week's game against BYU, while Tacario Davis got banged up during the game and wasn't on the field late in Saturday's loss.
The Wildcats continue to go by the next-man-up philosophy, but it can become more difficult to do so as the injuries to key players continue to pile up.
"It has definitley affected us on the field, the leadership, but like I said next man up," Smith said.
One of the leaders on the defense continues to be safety Dalton Johnson, who has taken charge as he continues to work with a lot of new players on the field in the secondary.
"He has been super talkative," Smith said. "He keeps everybody calm. He is a really good dude."
