The Arizona Wildcats’ defense started the 2017 season in nearly the worst way possible, allowing a 45-yard pass deep down the middle of the field on the very first play of the game.
It set the tone for what would be a lackluster defensive showing, as the Wildcats surrendered 562 yards to NAU.
377 of them were through the air.
“The first play was a double move, and actually we called a blitz and we should have had somebody in the guy’s face,” said defensive coordinator Marcel Yates. “Jace (Whittaker) was playing him tough, the guy hit him on a double move, and I think with us bringing a blitz, he thought he probably wasn’t going to have time for the double move and actually if we came as hard as we should’ve he wouldn’t have had time for the double move.