In 2005, ASU registered a Pac-10 low 22 sacks, but with a few new faces moving up the depth chart and a new defensive line coach, the Sun Devils hope to be putting opposing quarterbacks into the turf a little more often.
"We have a chip on our shoulders," sophomore defensive end Tranell Morant said. "Last year the weakest point was our defensive line. That has to change for us to be able to win ballgames."
The spring practices have gotten off to a rough start for the defensive line, as senior Kyle Caldwell and Morant, a transfer from Florida who sat out last season, are both injured. Morant has a nagging hamstring injury that has limited him through the first two practices, but he said he expects to be back to normal on Saturday.
"It's making me mad because there are a lot of expectations out of me and I haven't got my hamstring right," Morant said.
New defensive line coach Grady Stretz comes from New Mexico with a new attitude that has his players ready.
"He's all about business and he wants to get this D-line ready to get more sacks," Morant said.
Fellow transfers Loren Howard and Michael Marquardt will help boost a line that was outmanned at times last year.
Leader of the pack
Last year at this time, senior safety Zach Catanese was an unknown junior college transfer doing all he could to stay up with the fast-moving spring practices.
Nowadays, with the graduation of seniors Josh Golden, Jamar Williams and Dale Robinson, he will be one of those looked upon to take upon more of a leadership role -- something Catanese says will be a bit of an adjustment.
"I'm not much of a talker, and I try to lead by example on the field by letting my actions speak for me," he said. "But I am going to work on being more vocal out there. I'm taking some speech classes right now, so we'll see how that goes."
Catanese finished last season second on the team with 107 tackles and added two sacks and an interception.
In his second spring as a Sun Devil, Catanese said he's looking forward to less stress this time around.
"Last spring was kind of crazy," he said. "Everything was new to me, and it was really fast-paced. I wasn't ready for it mentally. I'm more prepared now. I know what's going to happen and I think it's going to be a lot more fun for me."
Sir, yes, sir
On Tuesday, former ASU standout and second round draft pick Jeremy Staat spoke to the football team. Staat recently followed in the footsteps of his former teammate Pat Tillman by giving up his NFL career and going into the military.
"He just talked to them about enjoying their time at ASU because it goes by quick, and to have a plan for the future because football isn't going to be there for everybody," ASU coach Dirk Koetter said.
Earlier this month, Staat graduated from Marine boot camp in San Diego. He graduated from ASU in 1998 and went on to play for the Pittsburgh Steelers and the St. Louis Rams.
Double Threat
Suffice to say, Mike Jones will be a busy man this spring.
The backup wide receiver to Terry Richardson was at practice Monday and Tuesday as he continues to work for playing time in the fall. On his days off, though, the sophomore can be found at Packard Stadium playing for the baseball team.
Koetter said that Jones' primary focus will stay on football, but can play baseball when time permits.
"I have been really, really impressed with how he's handled two sports," Koetter said. "He did an awesome job in a dual role in our off-season program."
Reach the reporters at thomas.j.kelley@asu.edu and kyle.odegard@asu.edu.