ASU football focusing on improving discipline

Midway through the 2011 season the Arizona State football
team was 6-2, in line to make a push for the Pac-12
Championship. Five losses followed and the Sun Devils
season came to a close with an embarrassing 56-24 loss to
Boise State in the Maaco Bowl Las Vegas.

Perhaps the biggest issue that needed to be addressed was
the team’s discipline.

“We were always really close in a lot of ways. I think
with Coach Todd Graham, him implementing discipline in
everything we do and accountability really, we’ll
eliminate a lot of the mistakes,” running back Cameron
Marshall said at Pac-12 media day Tuesday.

The Sun Devils brought in Graham to take over
coaching duties after Dennis Erickson was let go and
Marshall said their new game plan is focused on avoiding
costly penalties.

“We’ve been one of the worst teams in the nation in the
last three years in getting penalties and that’s just
unacceptable,” Marshall said. “I think Coach has stressed
just how unacceptable it is.”

Indeed, the Sun Devils ranked dead last in the FBS last
season, racking up an average of eight penalties of almost
80 yards per game.

Linebacker Brandon Magee said that the intensity during
practices has been amplified, which will benefit players
even after they leave ASU.

“From observing from the sideline you sprint on and off
the field, high tempo and high energy. It was very
exciting for me to see,” Magee said. “It seems like it’s
going to get us ready as players for the NFL, because
everything in the NFL is so much faster than college
football.”

Magee added the Coach Graham will even crack down on other
coaches, if they’re being too lenient on disciplining
players.
“To have coaches involved like that is exciting,” Magee
said. “I look forward to the summer.”

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