Experience, depth underscore Arizona State Sun Devils defense

TEMPE, Ariz. — The quarterback is new, the running back is now a receiver and the two projected tackles have a combined zero collegiate starts.

Yes, there are several question marks facing the Arizona State Sun Devils offense this season.

The defense?  Not so much.

Nine starters return.

“It’s a great thing,” said senior safety Jordan Simone, an Honorable Mention All-Pac-12 performer in 2014.  “We’ve been able to just hit the ground running from where we were last year.  It’s just easy to step on the field and do what you do when everyone knows what they’re doing.”

Of course the two starters not back — safety Damarious Randall and defensive end Marcus Hardison, both of whom are now in the NFL — have left huge voids at their positions.

Simone, though, is confident in the players expected to fill those spots.  He pointed to sophomores James Johnson and Armand Perry — “two great safeties,” he said — and the depth along the defensive line, which many believe may be the deepest in four years under head coach Todd Graham.

“It’s really just re-loading,” Simone said Thursday, ASU’s second day of preseason practice.

To that point, Graham is especially excited about the front seven.

All three starting linebackers — Salamo Fiso, Laiu Moeakiola and Antonio Longino — return plus D.J Calhoun (five starts) and Christian Sam give Graham, in his opinion, five starters for three spots.

The line welcomes back Tashon Smallwood (seven starts), Demetrius Cherry (six), Mo Latu (six), Viliami Latu (five) and Edmond Boateng (four).

“That pass rush is going to be great,” Simone said.  “We’re still going to do what we do at the end of the day, but having four solid rushers up there is always great.”

The Sun Devils ranked fourth in the conference and 14^th nationally with 39 sacks last season.

Of course, 10 of those belonged to Hardison.

Still, Graham believes in his team’s ability to get to the quarterback with a four-man rush.

“That can really help us tremendously,” he said.  “How much more explosive we are upfront.  How much faster we are on the edges.  We made some modifications in some things, but I’m really pleased with their training; and I’m not talking about just the physical, I’m talking about the mental aspect of it.

“I think we’re just more seasoned.”

Overall, the depth defensively is what has Graham and his staff enthusiastic about 2015.

“We didn’t have any depth on defense here for three years and now we’ve got a little bit, and that’s something that we like,” he said.  “And what I like, depth creates competition.  There’s nothing wrong with playing 22, 23 guys on defense.”

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