This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2013, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

There was no mincing of words after Wednesday's practice: Defense won.

Aggies coach Matt Wells has been guarded about giving one unit the edge over another, but after watching the defense make plays and the offense unable to execute in morning practice, he was resolute.

"I thought the defense won from the very start," he said. "From period one to finish."

Although the offense regrouped to score on a two-minute drill at the end of practice, the other side of the ball set Wednesday's pace. Wells cited performances from the secondary as the defining factor that went into the solid effort: Brian Suite, Maurice Alexander and Tay Glover-Wright among them.

Overall, Wells said, he's happy with what the returning members of that unit have brought to the table this spring.

"There'y providing good leadership," he said. "They've meshed really well with coach [Todd] Orlando and they're walking around with a good air about them. It's continuing to be a learning process, but they're doing well."

Utah State wil have one more spring scrimmage prior to its April 20 exhibition on Thursday. Wells said he'd like to see the offense he's helped groom over the past two years rise up to the gauntlet thrown down Wednesday.

"A guy misses here, and guy makes a mistake here - on offense, if all 11 guys aren't working together, it's tough," he said. "I want to see them respond. They'll come back with a renewed focus and a renewed spirit tomorrow, and I want to see them execute."

— Kyle Goonkgoon@sltrib.comTwitter: @kylegoon