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Arizona DC Danny Gonzales identifies stopping BYU's run game as the central defensive test and rates LJ Martin as potentially the best back Arizona will face. In last season's meeting, Martin ran for 162 yards and Bear Bachmeier for 89 as BYU totaled 258 rushing yards; those are historical matchup numbers, not a forecast.

Gonzales expects repeated quarterback-power tests from BYU. He highlights Bachmeier's ability to fall forward, stay composed after mistakes and operate behind a large offensive line; Arizona's ability to stop that concept is his stated concern entering the matchup.

On Arizona's NAU opener, Gonzales says tackling and coverage improved as the game progressed. He accepts some initial tackle misses when defenders attack aggressively because he expects multiple teammates to finish; he says Arizona allowed little yardage after contact. This is the coordinator's assessment, not an independent tackling grade.

Arizona's secondary rotation remains matchup- and practice-dependent: Gonzales views Lee Molette III, Gavin Hunter and Daylen Austin as interchangeable starters, despite Molette starting the opener. Quinn at Bear and Malcolm at Field Cat are his fixed starters. He contrasts Hunter's size/strength, Molette's experience and Austin's coverage ability; the opener does not settle this week's lineup.