[tps_title]Jeff Casteel vs. Jonathan Smith[/tps_title]
Arizona defensive coordinator Jeff Casteel and Washington offensive coordinator Jonathan Smith have heard their share of criticism from fans this season.
Washington’s lackluster offense ranks last in the Pac-12 in total offense (334.1 yards per game), last in first downs (16.4 per game), 11th in scoring (24.0), 11th in rushing (122.3), 11th in third-down conversions (33.3 percent) and 10th in passing (211.9).
Arizona’s injury-riddled porous defense ranks 11th in scoring defense (32.4 points per game), total defense (451.8 yards allowed per game) and pass defense (281.8).
Some Wildcat fans have criticized Casteel’s use of the 3-3-5 defense, although on many occasions a four-man front is used. Rodriguez responded last month by saying he hears the criticism but doesn’t pay attention to it. The fact is Arizona has a void in the heart of the defense, in the middle with Scooby Wright out indefinitely with a foot injury and backups lost too.
Washington State’s Luke Falk exposed Arizona’s pass defense last week. Mike Leach said Casteel’s coverage scheme is to play loose off the line of scrimmage “to bait you with the short stuff”. The short stuff was actually 20-30 yards a catch routinely in the middle of the field. Not sure if playing loose with coverage is ideal.
Washington’s injured quarterback, true freshman Jake Browning (shoulder), and redshirt freshman backup K.J. Carta-Samuels do not have the high-powered offense Falk operates.
The game might come down to how these units performance against each other.
The Huskies had only 45 offensive plays last week at Stanford.
“I had not heard a ton (of the criticism) because I don’t look for a lot of it,” Smith told the Seattle Times. “I imagine it’s got to be out there. The one thing you like, is you like playing for a university that has a passionate fan base. And that’s what we got. We got some frustrations and so it’s understandable, but I have not followed it a ton.”
