Ever since ASU head football coach Dirk Koetter and his staff took over the Sun Devils three seasons ago, fans have wondered why the defense appeared to use a nickel formation with an extra defensive back on every play.
Now, after utilizing the "4-2-5" defense, which incorporates an extra strong safety and one less linebacker, for the majority of two years, defensive coordinator Brent Guy has added a traditional "4-3-4" package with three linebackers to his defensive playbook.
After season-opening victories against pushover opponents NAU and Utah State, Guy consistently has used three linebackers in the Sun Devils' last six games, beginning with Iowa.
"The way you align, it changes blocking schemes for offenses," Guy said. "It's just something else [opposing offenses] have to prepare for us.
"We're not changing our philosophy [with the 4-2-5], but we'll always have the ability to [use the 4-3]. If teams have to prepare for two totally different alignments, it cuts down the practice time they can have just attacking one thing."
Guy said the Sun Devils will use a 4-3 defense only when the opponent lines up with two running backs on the field "because that way you know you're not going to get one of those guys, by formation, removed out of the box."
Guy added that he would never use it against a team that plays with just one running back.
Last season, the Sun Devil defense played the 4-3 only on special occasions. Guy said he used it for one snap that "nobody caught" in a season-opening 48-10 loss to Nebraska, as well as for a good portion of the team's 13-9 win over Oregon State and star tailback Steven Jackson, and for a little bit during a 45-42 upset of Oregon.
The most noticeable instance of the 4-3 came during a loss to option-crazy Kansas State in the Holiday Bowl when the Sun Devils utilized "man" coverage and played its three senior linebackers, Mason Unck, Josh Amobi and Solomon Bates, the entire game.
But Guy said he still had the Sun Devils run his trademark 4-2-5 for the majority of last season, even if the opposition regularly lined up with two running backs. Guy pointed to a lack of depth at the linebacker position as his reason for not using it more.
The emergence of redshirt freshman Jordan Hill, who has typically been the extra linebacker in the formation, and true freshman Mark Washington gave ASU two more quality middle linebackers, Guy said.
"Now I have more depth where I wouldn't be afraid to go into a game with the [4-3-4]," Guy said. "When you only have three guys that play a lot [like last season] and you go into a game with a three-linebacker defense, if one of those gets hurt, then all the stuff that you've practiced is out, and you're doing something you haven't practiced.
"You have to be able to feel good about staying with the package the whole game, and now because of depth we can."
Sophomore Jamar Williams and junior Justin Burks have been the two linebackers in the 4-2-5.
"We've all originated from 4-3 defenses coming out of high school and junior colleges, so it's a good feel for us," Williams said. "Just using another linebacker in there that's used to playing the run game more has helped us a lot against teams that want to run the ball."
Williams added that the 4-2-5 often gives the Sun Devils an advantage against the pass-happy Pac-10, but as a linebacker, "it's just a great feeling" playing the 4-3.
Guy said he will continue to add to the alignment to keep opposing offensive coordinators on their toes.
Williams thought it didn't matter too much if the other team knows the 4-3-4 is coming.
"To have the advantage of both, I don't think the surprise factor is a big deal," he said. "Every team runs a 4-3."
Reach the reporter at christopher.drexel@asu.edu.
