ASU football coach, Todd Graham, coaching his players at the game against Utah on November 1. (Photo by Emily Johnson)The ASU football defense is coach Todd Graham's baby. ASU might be known for its potent offense and top-flight skill position players, but Graham is at heart a defensive-minded coach.
He works with numerous other coaches to prepare his players and work on schemes, having worked as a defensive coordinator himself.
When the Sun Devils' offense is on the field, Graham isn't pacing up-and-down the field directing them or encouraging them. He's back on the bench with his players: the defense.
And for five weeks, Graham witnessed his defense give up 308, 337, 545, 580 and 493 yards, respectively in each game. The first two numbers, which came against Weber State and New Mexico, skew the scale down, but the Lobos found success of their own with 207 yards on the ground.
It had to have been torture. Graham knew entering the season his defense was inexperienced — the Sun Devils lost nine defensive starters from last season. But he insisted on using what had worked in the past. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
But it quickly became broke(n).
The schemes were too complicated. The personnel wasn't right. There were constant communication issues.
"I get frustrated real easily," Graham said, after a third consecutive dominating defensive performance in a 19-16 win over Utah. "And what we do defensively is extremely complex, so I was really kind of frustrated and starting to shave it back."
But thankfully, defensive coordinator Keith Patterson stepped in and told Graham, "Look, coach, let's stick with it. Just keep teaching."
Rather than cut back the defensive playbook, the Sun Devils have adapted — a favorite word of Graham's the last few weeks. "Adapt or die," he said after last week's 24-10 win at Washington.
"We just don't have a person who can do all the things that Carl (Bradford) could do (at Devilbacker)," Graham said. "But we've got guys who are really, really good."
Video by Ben Margiott | Multimedia reporter
The first five weeks, Graham was forcing players into the Devilbacker role. It was a carousel of linebackers and defensive linemen — none of whom had what it took. First up was three-way player redshirt senior De'Marieya Nelson. Nope. Next, redshirt sophomore Edmond Boateng. Nope. Next, redshirt junior Antonio Longino. Nope. Rewind, and play again.
But with a bye week after the USC game, Graham shook up the defense. Part of it could have been just scheming for Stanford; part of it could have been big picture. But three weeks later, ASU is still running the same, bigger base defense it did against Stanford.
Graham hasn't faced much adversity since he arrived in Tempe two-and-a-half seasons ago. In the most crucial of situations, Graham's brilliant defensive mind came through again for the Sun Devils. This defense doesn't have a Carl Bradford or a Will Sutton. But it does now have chemistry (several players have offhandedly mentioned the chemistry on this year's team blows last year's out of the water), communication and, most importantly, players in their correct roles.
It's been a long time coming. A two-win improvement and a bowl win in his first season. Reaching the 10-win plateau and winning the Pac-12 South in his second season. And in his third, the most in-season improvement he can remember in his coaching career.
Graham has proven he can win with all-around talented teams. But facing his biggest challenge yet, not only has Graham's group met it head-on, the Sun Devils have overcome it and are thriving.
It's far too early to declare Graham NCAA or Pac-12 Coach of the Year. But he was named to the Bear Bryant Award watch list earlier this week, and he should remain on it for the rest of the season.
To win will be a challenge. Nine of the last 10 recipients have won at least 12 games (the one outlier is Bill O'Brien at Penn State in 2012, after the Jerry Sandusky scandal).
But there's no reason Todd Graham and the improvements he has made shouldn't be included in the discussion.
Reach the reporter at ewebeck@asu.edu or follow him on Twitter @EvanWebeck
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