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ASU football's defense looking to maintain its edge with experience gained last year

After an inexperienced defense in 2014, this year's ASU team returns nine of 11 starters on that side of the ball.

Football summer Jordan Simone press conference
Redshirt senior defensive back Jordan Simone takes questions during ASU football's last summer workout on Friday, July 24, 2015 at the the Verde Dickey Dome in Tempe.

BURBANK, Calif. -- Last year, ASU football's defense was inexperienced and looking to find its way amidst a tough conference schedule. Now, it retains nine of 11 starters and looks to retain the tenacity and energy that surprised many for parts of the 2014 season. 

With nine starters coming back, senior redshirt safety Jordan Simone said the depth on this year's defense is impressive. 

"Our summer workouts are the best they've been at Arizona State since (Todd Graham) got here," Simone said at Pac-12 Media Days Thursday. "If we can hold teams scoreless, I know our offense can put up points. Our goal is to get after teams, pressure them and see how they react."

Since walking on with the Sun Devils after leaving Washington State, Simone has become a leader on the defense. He said his leadership role varies based on the situation, but he can lead vocally or silently. 

He described his role as being the quarterback of the defense. 

"If you ask our linebackers, they will think they're the leaders of the defense," Simone said. "But we're the ones calling out coverages, talking to linebackers, saying something to the defensive line occasionally, and communicating everything."

One of the aspects ASU's defense is known for is frequent blitzing. In the Pac-12 where the spread offense is common, Simone said the blitzing isn't necessarily a counterbalance to the spread, but forces opposing offenses to react quickly. 

He noted the pressure-heavy defense is also effective against a team like Stanford, who runs a pro-style offense.

"It gets you ready for the next level for sure," Simone said about playing in a conference with many talented quarterbacks. "At that next level, every quarterback can play. It doesn't matter who we're playing or what week, we're going to do our stuff and worry about what we do."

ASU head coach Todd Graham said the attacking mentality on defense does its job in forcing the big turnover, but acknowledged that the team needs to improve in an area that was arguably its biggest defensive downfall in 2014 -- giving up big plays. 

"You can't attack and not give up big plays, you're going to have some of that," said Graham, who is entering his fourth year at ASU. "We don't worry about total yards, we worry about turnover ratio...the games that we lost, all three of those were marked by that big play."

Graham credited the success in his scheme to the continuity in the coaching staff and the circumstance with players who gained experience at the perfect time

"Knowledge breeds confidence, and that's why it's so big to have that experience in there," Graham said. 

Reach the reporter at Justin.Toscano@asu.edu or on Twitter @justintoscano3

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