Freshman defensive back Armand Perry hits Utah quarterback Travis Wilson during ASU's 19-16 overtime win. (Photo by Andrew Ybanez)In its last four games, the ASU football team's defense has undergone a change that very few people expected following its 62-27 loss at home to UCLA.
Just over a month later, defensive coordinator Keith Patterson said it doesn't even feel like the game was this season.
"Seems like last year, it really does," Patterson said. "The last four games of the year there's been such a transformation and it seems like their not even the same people. I've never seen anything click and just fall into place like what I've seen and experienced over the last month."
ASU has not given up 300 yards in a game since Oct. 4 at USC after starting the season with five straight opponents reaching the plateau.
This new found consistency has come in spite of the fact that the defense has dealt with a number of personnel changes week to week.
Against Utah, redshirt junior Demetrius Cherry didn't play due to a suspension and this week junior defensive lineman Jaxon Hood is not expected to play.
Cherry is expected to return Saturday, but Patterson said that he is expected to stay at defensive end instead of moving back inside with the absence of Hood.
"We've got plenty of depth inside that we feel good about," Patterson said. "(Sophomore) Ami (Latu) has stepped in and really moved inside and found a home there and looks very explosive. Obviously we like the size of (redshirt junior) Mo (Latu) and having that tighten everything inside."
Hood has been arguably the Sun Devils's best interior lineman this year, making two and a half tackles for loss and batting down two passes.
With Hood gone, freshman lineman Emanuel Dayries has been getting action during practice this week and Patterson expects him to get into a game for the first time, but does not thing it will impact the team too much.
"He's one of those young men that's very explosive, big, athletic," Patterson said. "It's just like last week. We were missing a man and somebody steps right in and that's the characteristic of a team defense."
Reach the reporter at mtonis@asu.edu or follow him on Twitter @Tonis_The_Tiger
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