calling it now - arizona's defensive scheme is gonna be the most underrated unit in the big 12 this season. everyone is talking about the portal losses and the new faces, but the structural foundation they've built is legit. the base 4-2-5 they run is perfect for this conference because it forces offenses to be patient, and big 12 teams hate being patient.
look at the havoc they created last year, ranking in the top 30 nationally in tackles for loss per game. that wasn't a fluke, it was by design. the scheme allows the edge players to pin their ears back while the hybrid star linebacker/safety can freelance in the box. they lost some names to the draft, sure, but the system is what creates those stats. the new guys stepping in are being taught to attack, not just read.
the real proof will be on third down. last season they held opponents to a 35% conversion rate, which was top 25 in the country. if they can maintain anything close to that with new personnel, it means the coaching is elite. people sleeping on this defense are gonna be shocked when they're grinding games to a halt by october. the scheme doesn't rebuild, it reloads.