Todd Graham determined to fix Arizona State’s defense
[ad_1]
CLOSE
WATCH THE LATEST ASU FOOTBALL VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSDoug Haller at Pac-12 Media Days in Los Angeles | 2:58
Doug Haller from azcentral sports and Paul Myerberg from USA TODAY Sports discuss the Pac-12 Media Days and Arizona State’s chances in 2017. Video: USA TODAY Sports
1 of 33
CLOSE
WATCH THE LATEST ASU FOOTBALL VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSPAC-12 media days: Washington has bullseye on its back | 1:53
USA TODAY Sports’ Paul Myerberg breaks down Day 1 of the PAC-12 media days. USA TODAY Sports
2 of 33
CLOSE
WATCH THE LATEST ASU FOOTBALL VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSASU wide receivers John Humphrey and Ryan Newsome | 2:22
Transfers talking about ASU wide receiver depth and new defensive backs. Video: Jeff Metcalfe/azcentral sports
3 of 33
CLOSE
WATCH THE LATEST ASU FOOTBALL VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSASU Head Coach Todd Graham, OC Billy Napier and QBs talk after practice | 2:00
Quarterbacks Manny Wilkins and Blake Barnett, offensive coordinator Billy Napier and coach Todd Graham discuss the first day of practice. By Sam Caravana/azcentral sports
4 of 33
CLOSE
WATCH THE LATEST ASU FOOTBALL VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSCoach Todd Graham gives tour of new Student Athlete Facility | 2:51
Members of the media were given their first look at the new Student Athlete Facility in the north end zone of Sun Devil Stadium. The facility is state of the art, according to Head Coach Todd Graham. Tom Tingle/azcentral sports
5 of 33
CLOSE
WATCH THE LATEST ASU FOOTBALL VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSASU football: Breaking of the rock | 1:12
ASU football ended summer workouts on Wednesday, July 19 with its tradition of breaking a rock.
6 of 33
CLOSE
WATCH THE LATEST ASU FOOTBALL VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSImportant dates for ASU football’s 2017 preseason | 1:16
Fans of Arizona State football should keep these key dates in mind as the Sun Devils’ preseason approaches. Wochit
7 of 33
CLOSE
WATCH THE LATEST ASU FOOTBALL VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSPaying homage to ASU legend Frank Kush | 1:29
Raul Monreal, 45, Chandler, brings flowers to the statue of Arizona State University Head Coach Frank Kush outside Sun Devil Stadium, Thursday, June 22, 2017. Monreal, from ASU Class of 1995, is a big fan of Kush. Tom Tingle/azcentral.com
8 of 33
CLOSE
WATCH THE LATEST ASU FOOTBALL VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSASU football legend Frank Kush passes away at 88 | 1:51
Former ASU coach Frank Kush leaves a lasting memory for Sun Devil fans. Wochit
9 of 33
CLOSE
WATCH THE LATEST ASU FOOTBALL VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSASU’s West Side Club at Sun Devil Stadium | 0:49
Ray Anderson (ASU Vice President for Athletics) talks about ASU’s new club level seating at Sun Devil Stadium on June 23, 2017.
10 of 33
CLOSE
WATCH THE LATEST ASU FOOTBALL VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSMixed emotions: Kush’s death; draft excitement | 1:55
Jay Dieffenbach and Dan Bickley give tribute to former ASU football coach Frank Kush and discuss the NBA draft in our Shot Clock video.
11 of 33
CLOSE
WATCH THE LATEST ASU FOOTBALL VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSBreaking down Arizona State football’s 2017 schedule | 1:47
A look at each game in the Sun Devils’ 2017 season Wochit
12 of 33
CLOSE
WATCH THE LATEST ASU FOOTBALL VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSASU football – 10 players to watch in 2017 | 2:05
Here are 10 Arizona State football players whose performance in 2017 will go a long way toward determining if the Sun Devils will have their first winning season since 2014. Wochit
13 of 33
CLOSE
WATCH THE LATEST ASU FOOTBALL VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSASU football: 5 areas of concern | 1:00
azcentral sports’ Jeff Metcalfe takes a look at some pressing issues for the Sun Devils heading into 2017. Wochit
14 of 33
CLOSE
WATCH THE LATEST ASU FOOTBALL VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSWho will be the starting QB at ASU? | 0:43
Jay Dieffenbach and Doug Haller discuss: Will it be newcomer Blake Barnett, or will Manny Wilkins hold on to the job? Video: azcentral sports Wochit
15 of 33
CLOSE
WATCH THE LATEST ASU FOOTBALL VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTS5 observations from ASU spring football | 1:18
Jeff Metcalfe takes a closer look at some of the top issues surrounding the Sun Devils football team. Video: azcentral sports Wochit
16 of 33
CLOSE
WATCH THE LATEST ASU FOOTBALL VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSEarly preseason top 10 college football teams for 2017 | 1:02
The college football season doesn’t start until the fall but it’s never too early to start looking ahead. USA TODAY Sports
17 of 33
CLOSE
WATCH THE LATEST ASU FOOTBALL VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSWide receivers shine in ASU football spring game | 2:52
Wide receivers, including John Humphrey and Ryan Newsome, were the headliners Saturday at the Arizona State football spring game.
Credit: Jeff Metcalfe, David Kadlubowski/Arizona Republic Wochit
18 of 33
CLOSE
WATCH THE LATEST ASU FOOTBALL VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSASU shows off some offense in spring game | 0:54
Offensive highlights from ASU’s spring game on Saturday.
19 of 33
CLOSE
WATCH THE LATEST ASU FOOTBALL VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSSights from ASU football’s spring game | 0:53
Hyperlapse of ASU’s spring football game.
20 of 33
CLOSE
WATCH THE LATEST ASU FOOTBALL VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTS2017 ASU Spring Game & Fan Fest | 0:49
Here’s what you need to know before you head to ASU’s Spring Game and Fan Fest on Saturday. Wochit
21 of 33
CLOSE
WATCH THE LATEST ASU FOOTBALL VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSTodd Graham: ‘The big thing is to get better fundamentally’ | 2:37
Arizona State head football coach Todd Graham talks about his team’s second spring scrimmage on Friday, April 7. Video: Jeff Metcafle/azcentral sports
22 of 33
CLOSE
WATCH THE LATEST ASU FOOTBALL VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSASU coach Graham on Richard, Hill and more | 3:15
ASU football coach Todd Graham talks about Demario Richard, Christian Hill and more after spring practice on Wednesday, April 5.
Credit: Jeff Metcalfe, Nick Oza/Arizona Republic Wochit
23 of 33
CLOSE
WATCH THE LATEST ASU FOOTBALL VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSASU defensive line coach Michael Slater gives instructions at practice | 0:27
ASU defensive line coach Michael Slater gives instructions to his players at Monday’s workout in Tempe. Video: azcentral sports
24 of 33
CLOSE
WATCH THE LATEST ASU FOOTBALL VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSTodd Graham speaks after ASU holds first spring scrimmage | 2:28
Coach Todd Graham says defense came out ahead by limiting big plays during ASU’s first spring scrimmage on Wednesday. Jeff Metcalfe/azcentral sports
25 of 33
CLOSE
WATCH THE LATEST ASU FOOTBALL VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSASU football completes second week of spring practice | 3:14
Arizona State football completed its sixth spring practice Friday at Sun Devil Stadium with nine practices remaining over the next three weeks. The spring game is April 15. Wochit
26 of 33
CLOSE
WATCH THE LATEST ASU FOOTBALL VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSTodd Graham on new consultants White, Christensen | 2:11
ASU football coach Todd Graham discusses hiring Danny White and Dave Christensen as consultants. Jeff Metcalfe/azcentral sports
27 of 33
CLOSE
WATCH THE LATEST ASU FOOTBALL VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSASU QB Blake Barnett on starting spring | 2:36
Quarterback Blake Barnett, a transfer from Alabama, is in his first year at Arizona State. He is competing with four returners to be the starting QB.
Credit: Jeff Metcalfe, Rob Schumacher, Nick Oza, Thomas Hawthorne/Arizona Republic Wochit
28 of 33
CLOSE
WATCH THE LATEST ASU FOOTBALL VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSTodd Graham on opening of ASU spring practice | 0:57
Arizona State head coach Todd Graham discusses the first day of football spring practice on March 14, 2017 at the Kajikawa Practice Facility in Tempe, Ariz. By Rob Schumacher/azcentral sports
29 of 33
CLOSE
WATCH THE LATEST ASU FOOTBALL VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSASU football opens spring practice | 1:33
ASU football begins sixth season under coach Todd Graham with five new assistant coaches. (Jeff Metcalfe/azcentral sports)
30 of 33
CLOSE
WATCH THE LATEST ASU FOOTBALL VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSTransfer QB Blake Barnett on coming to ASU to compete | 1:10
Transfer quarterback Blake Barnett talks about coming to ASU to compete for the starting job on Wednesday. Thomas Hawthorne/azcentral sports
31 of 33
CLOSE
WATCH THE LATEST ASU FOOTBALL VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSBilly Napier discusses first day of ASU practice | 1:05
Arizona State offensive coordinator Billy Napier discusses the first day of football spring practice on March 14, 2017 at the Kajikawa Practice Facility in Tempe, Ariz. By Rob Schumacher/azcentral sports
32 of 33
CLOSE
WATCH THE LATEST ASU FOOTBALL VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSTodd Graham talks staffing challenges, 2017 season | 3:01
ASU football coach Todd Graham talks about the challenge of hiring “good people” and losing them to other schools entering ASU’s 2017 season on Wednesday. Thomas Hawthorne/azcentral sports
PAC-12 media days: Washington has bullseye on its back
ASU wide receivers John Humphrey and Ryan Newsome
ASU Head Coach Todd Graham, OC Billy Napier and QBs talk after practice
Coach Todd Graham gives tour of new Student Athlete Facility
ASU football: Breaking of the rock
Important dates for ASU football’s 2017 preseason
Paying homage to ASU legend Frank Kush
ASU football legend Frank Kush passes away at 88
ASU’s West Side Club at Sun Devil Stadium
Mixed emotions: Kush’s death; draft excitement
Breaking down Arizona State football’s 2017 schedule
ASU football – 10 players to watch in 2017
ASU football: 5 areas of concern
Who will be the starting QB at ASU?
5 observations from ASU spring football
Early preseason top 10 college football teams for 2017
Wide receivers shine in ASU football spring game
ASU shows off some offense in spring game
Sights from ASU football’s spring game
2017 ASU Spring Game & Fan Fest
Todd Graham: ‘The big thing is to get better fundamentally’
ASU coach Graham on Richard, Hill and more
ASU defensive line coach Michael Slater gives instructions at practice
Todd Graham speaks after ASU holds first spring scrimmage
ASU football completes second week of spring practice
Todd Graham on new consultants White, Christensen
ASU QB Blake Barnett on starting spring
Todd Graham on opening of ASU spring practice
ASU football opens spring practice
Transfer QB Blake Barnett on coming to ASU to compete
Billy Napier discusses first day of ASU practice
Todd Graham talks staffing challenges, 2017 season
HOLLYWOOD – When he gets going, Todd Graham can make just about anything sound good. The Arizona State football coach is nearly peerless when it comes to “speaking victory,” a mindset he brought to the desert six years ago.
But during Thursday’s Pac-12 Media Day events, Graham admitted: Last year was miserable, the worst of his coaching career. With perhaps the country’s worst defense, the Sun Devils suffered through their second consecutive losing season. As a result, Graham enters this season with his job security in question.
His response:
“First and foremost, nobody puts more pressure on me than I do,’’ he said. “I’m pissed about it. I’m disappointed and I take full accountability. Two, I don’t want to be in a place where mediocrity is tolerated. I came here – I’m not joking – because I thought I could build a championship program. The whole deal is we got to get back to where it needs to be.”
During a 45-minute chat, Graham outlined areas where he feels the program has slipped and how he plans to lift it back up.
Defensive scheme
Graham is who he is. He knows exactly where ASU ranks nationally in quarterback sacks and tackles for loss. He’s still going to attack on defense. “What are we going to do, go out there and play 4-3, cover 4? You’ll get killed!” he said.
Problem is, Pac-12 opponents have learned how to handle the pressure and capitalize. ASU last season gave up more big plays than any other team. For the second consecutive season, they ranked last in pass defense. Most of the problems stemmed from the secondary.
“Not that we had bad personnel, our personnel couldn’t execute what we were doing,’’ Graham said. “And it’s hard to vacate something that’s made you extremely successful.”
This season, Graham wants to adapt the scheme to his defensive backs rather than have the defensive backs adapt to the scheme. That’s part of the reason he hired Phil Bennett as defensive coordinator. Bennett is a secondary specialist.
“I feel good about the first two days (of practice), so we’re going, ‘OK, maybe we’re going to play more of this, or this technique or that technique because it fits this guy. He’s the best that I know at doing that.”
Graham always has had a heavy hand on the defense. Last year, however, he backed away, giving play-calling duties to then-coordinator Keith Patterson.
How it worked: Up in the press box, Patterson sent the defensive plays to Graham, who signaled them onto the field. At times, Graham couldn’t help himself, thinking, “What? Why is he calling that?’’ It just didn’t work out the way he had hoped.
“That was a bad idea,’’ Graham said. “And then I got frustrated.”
This season, Graham promises he won’t get distracted. Bennett will be “running the guys.” And then they’ll talk after every series.
Instilling discipline and toughness
In the spring, Graham and his coordinators watched the New England Patriots during offseason team activities. The ASU coach was blown away with the discipline he saw.
On the field, Graham didn’t spot anyone with bad body language, “and I saw guys getting their butt chewed,” he said. In the classroom, he noticed quarterback Tom Brady sat in the front row during every meeting, taking notes.
“It reinforced what I believe,’’ Graham said. “There has to be total buy-in.’’
For Graham’s first four years, ASU ranked among the country’s Top 15 in fewest penalty yards. Last year, however, the Sun Devils slipped to 52nd. Some of it had to do with ASU’s injuries, which forced inexperienced players onto the field.
It also was a coaching issue, Graham said.
“I think you had some changing in what (they were) being taught every day,’’ said Graham, who this season has five new assistants, including both coordinators. “I can sit here every day and say this, but if (a position coach) sitting in his room ain’t reinforcing that, that’s a big deal.”
Over the offseason Graham watched film of his ASU teams from 2012, 2013 and 2014. He saw a toughness that last year’s team lacked. That’s been a priority all summer, started at the top and emphasized in every position room. Graham wants ASU to be the hardest-working team in the Pac-12.
He’s convinced he has the right culture in place. He’s convinced he has the right plan, and he’s determined to get the program back to where he believes it belongs.
“When I came here there was all the stuff about, ‘Ah, man, you’re going to be here and leave,’’ Graham said of his old job-hopping reputation. “I could’ve done that if I wanted to, (but) I came here with the right intentions that I was going to build something special.
“I’ve sunk my heart and soul into this place. Me and my wife have given our own money to this. Two of my kids go to ASU, one of them graduated. I haven’t cut a corner, I haven’t taken a shortcut. I’ve built this thing. It’s personal to me. I’m disappointed that we took a step back. Life is like that. I’ve been knocked on my can before. You get your butt back up and go at it.”