Todd Graham determined to fix Arizona State’s defense

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.”

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Defensive duties

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.”

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Contact Doug Haller at 602-444-4949 or at [email protected]. Follow him at Twitter.com/DougHaller