There are some positions in the game of football that really only require one or two people to man the job. Quarterback, running backs, linebackers are some of those positions.
Then there are positions that call upon an entire army. Wide receivers, offensive lineman, defensive backs all require a group of guys to get the job done.
In particular, being on the defensive line means you need as many players ready to go as possible. For defensive line coach Joe Salave’a, his group needs to have an “all
hands on deck” mentality.
Many of his players have different personalities, but the group as a whole will have one vision this season.
“I’ll let them have their different personalities, but we’re going to have the one mindset,” he said. “We’re going to share one mindset and one outlook on how to attack this thing. It’s so cool to see the group continue to work and demand more of themselves.”
Led by sixth-year senior Tre Smith, he is continuing to learn and improve his game along with the rest of the group, even though he is the elder statesman.
“I think, probably, the most awesome thing is he’s open to be coached,” said Salave’a on Smith. “It’s rare now to have an older player with a lot of college playing experience be that coachable. That young man there, he’s a bonafide leader.”
Redshirt juniors Leroy Palu and Julian Savaiinaea follow in the footsteps of Smith. They know that Smith’s consistency pays tenfold and want similar results.
“I mean Mr. Redline himself, watching him, his technique, his mannerism, is just so funny to see redline in breakfast, redline in meetings, redline on and off the field,” said Palu.
“He’s been trying to step out of his shoes and be more vocal, but he’s really a leader of action,” said Savaiinaea. “He leads by his actions, and man, his actions speak louder than his words.”
Salave’a has seen growth in both players and appreciates how hard each of them have worked on their bodies to be prepared for the hardships of the defensive front.
“Leroy trimmed his body down, he’s gotten stronger and quicker,” he said.
Savaiinaea has had to wait his turn to be part of the starting rotation, but the work he has put in since arriving in Tucson is soon to pay off.
“He’s one of those athletes that from the weight room to the classroom and to the field, he has great value and he’s created value for himself, and he’s going to be one of those guys that is going to fortify our front,” said Salave’a.
Even though the veterans are leading the charge, competition within the room is relentless. It’s something that Salave’a continues to push within his room.
“It’s been a phenomenal opportunity to experience the room kind of transformed from when we started with the seven week winter training in transitioning to the spring practice,” he said. “Now it’s been competitive. I think those are the things we continue to recruit at a high level in the room, because we need to. We’re not going to sit and then be content.”
That competition is coming from young guys like Keytrin Harris, Prince Williams, and Kaisi Lafitaga. While they probably won’t see the field a ton, they all need to be ready when and if their names are called.
“Those three are supposed to be still at high school level, and yet they’re here, but they bring an athletic trait to them and then they also are going to be pushing some of the older guys for playing time,” said Salave’a.
To Salavea’, defensive coordinator Danny Gonzales and other UA coaches, it’s been unanimous that Dominic Lolesio has been the most improved player this offseason.
His numbers may have dipped last season but that was mainly because he was thrown into action without necessarily being ready.
“Dominic had a play by default, right?” said Salave’a. “I don’t know if they had injuries, but he was a young man that came in and was thrown into the fire immediately when he got here.”
Now, Lolesio is going the extra mile to be prepared body wise, technique wise, and IQ wise. Putting in the extra time in the weightroom, film room, and taking his nutrition seriously has put him in a position to see on-field results.
“He understands that he needs to perform well in the weight training, in the nutrition piece, for that to be reciprocated on the football field,” said Salave’a. “That’s what you’re seeing now. He is constantly in a building. He looks at the film. He’s investing a lot in his craft.”
It’s going to take the entire room to build a strong front wall for Arizona. Even if some guys are not seeing the field, they still need to be pushing each other to become better.
