Arizona State Football: Why Todd Graham's Style Will Create a Pac-12 Surprise

In his first offseason at Arizona State, Todd Graham has already shown signs of turning around a team that showed severe regression last year. He burned bridges in his rapid exit from Pitt, but now looks to make his mark in the Pac-12.

What is worse than having angry fans is having a fanbase that gradually stops caring. That is what happened last year after the Sun Devils lost their last five games, culminating with a 56-24 thrashing at the hands of Boise State in the Las Vegas Bowl to finish 6-7.

Head coach Dennis Erickson was fired, and now it is Graham’s turn to turn around the program. Graham is no stranger to controversy, but here is why he has it in him to turn ASU back into a proud, and more importantly, winning program.

A New and Improved Team Culture

Devils fans unfortunately knew the drill when it came to discipline in the Erickson regime. Arizona State finished last in the nation in penalty yards per game two of the last three years. The poster child for controversy, the departed Vontaze Burfict, had 16 personal fouls on his own in 2010 and 2011.

Right now, there are no games to serve as a litmus test for how well Graham has improved the team’s discipline on the field. Yet, changes can already be seen in Graham’s practices. Trying to mimic a game-day atmosphere and intensity, players don’t take off their helmets in practice and sprint back to their spots after every play in scrimmages.

Off the field, Graham is also running a tight ship. For example, he does not allow hats, headphones or earrings in the school’s athletic center. While these rules might not result in more wins on the field, they will be a win in the eyes of Devils supporters and help to restore interest in a program that has lost 21,000 season ticket holders in the past three years.

A Flexible Spread

Graham’s fast-paced practices are not just for show. Unlike recent pass-happy Devils squads, his teams at Tulsa, and last year at Pitt, ran the ball on over half of their plays.

Now, Graham wants to install a two-back spread offense in the mold of a Pac-12 menace up north—Oregon. Running back Cameron Marshall, who tied the school record with 18 rushing touchdowns last year, will make this transition much smoother.

The quarterback spot is still undecided for 2012, but whoever wins the spot will also be expected to be a threat on the ground.

Graham may need a year or two to fully implement his system. However, when the offense reaches his goal of running plays at a tempo of 16 to 18 seconds per snap, opposing defenses will be run ragged struggling to catch up.

Defensive Craftiness

Designed to create a more attacking and versatile defense, Graham will be implementing two hybrid positions in Arizona State’s scheme.

The first will be the “Devilbacker”. Expected to be redshirt sophomore Carl Bradford in 2012, this position allows a player to switch between lining up in a 4-3 set or standing up as a linebacker in a 3-4. With this, the defense does not have to substitute players in for blitzes or coverage, but instead has a player on the field that can adjust to both.

The Devils were eighth in the Pac-12 last year in sacks, but the flexibility of the Devilbacker spot will add pressure on opposing quarterbacks for years to come.

The “spur” defender spot also coming into play is of a similar mold, as it combines safety and linebacker. Once again, the team is trying to create more versatility on the defensive side in order to create a faster-paced and dynamic unit.

Tight End Is Back

Eight catches for 76 yards would be a respectable game for No. 1 receiver Jamal Miles this upcoming season. Unfortunately, those are totals for Devil tight ends the past two seasons.

Fortunately, a new coaching staff means a rebirth of the position in Tempe. New tight ends coach Chip Long is implementing an expanded version of the position in the “3-back”. The starting tight end, expected to be junior Chris Coyle, will line up in the backfield, the slot, as well as in a traditional tight end spot.

While the position will be difficult for players to master in Long’s first year, the spot will be another way to puzzle opposing defenses. Do not expect the next Todd Heap or Zach Miller (both ASU alums) quite yet, but the spot is on the rise in Graham’s new system.

Keeping It Local

Another tragedy of the Erickson tenure was a failure to recruit Arizona’s top high school talent to Tempe. If early developments are any sign, it looks like Graham will try to cross state borders less in bringing in top recruits.

4-star recruit and Parade magazine All-American running back D.J. Foster committed to ASU in January, and will likely be involved in the offense this fall.

Even better is the prognosis further down the line. Chans Cox, arguably the top player in Arizona for 2013, decided to become a Sun Devil two weeks ago. Just yesterday, local tight end Grant Martinez also signed on for 2013.

Graham will still have to put in long hours to attract Arizona’s cream of the crop, but the foundation has been set to convince those recruits to stay in the state.