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Editor's Note: This is the second in a two-part series previewing the ASU football team

It's no secret the fate of the 2006 ASU football team likely doesn't depend on who is under center, but on how well the defense plays.

A dismal performance in 2005 had ASU's defense ranked No. 114 out of 117 NCAA Division 1-A schools, as the unit gave up 35 or more points on five occasions.

"No one likes to have their name attached to a defense that was ranked where our defense was ranked," coach Dirk Koetter said.

But last year was defensive coordinator Bill Miller's first season in Tempe, and the Sun Devils hope to turn things around this fall.

Miller, who came from the University of Florida, was supposed to implement a new style of play at ASU that would reflect the stingy defenses of Southeastern Conference.

However, it may come down to two of Miller's new assistants to keep him off the hot seat.

Al Simmons will replace Mark Carrier as cornerbacks coach and will need all of his collegiate (Oregon State, California) and professional (49ers) coaching experience to improve the Sun Devils' pass defense.

Grady Stretz, a native to Tempe and a McClintock High School product, will oversee the defensive line. He held the same position at the University of New Mexico and played defensive tackle for four seasons at UCLA in the early 1990s.

ASU returns only four defensive starters in 2006 - senior defensive linemen Jordan Hill and Kyle Caldwell, junior linebacker Robert James and senior safety Zach Catanese.



Defensive line

The two returning linemen will play a huge role in bringing stability to a position that is seeing many changes.

Hill, who at 25 is the oldest player on ASU's roster, is one of only three Sun Devils to have played in every game since the 2003 season. He added nearly 20 pounds for his senior season and should be in contention for All-Pac-10 honors before turning an eye to a possible career in the NFL.

As for Caldwell, he will be looking to build on success he had as a sophomore (seven sacks) before being stifled in 2005 due to various injuries.

"The last year and a half has been a roller coaster ride, so proving something right now is definitely my goal," Caldwell said.

Three new additions to the defensive line make the position necessary to keep an eye on.

Transfers from other Division 1-A schools who sat out in 2005 are Michael Marquardt (BYU), Tranell Morant (Florida) and Loren Howard (Northwestern).

Marquardt has added 30 pounds to his 6-foot-4-inch frame and should be starting alongside Hill.

Morant and Howard will be on the edge of the line, playing the defensive end position.

Howard graduated from Scottsdale Saguaro High School in 2002 and has been named to the Lombardi Award Watch List (top lineman), the Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List (top defensive player) and invited to play in the 82nd East-West Shrine game in January 2007 after enjoying monster freshman and sophomore years at Northwestern.

However, Howard has spent most of the preseason sidelined with an injury and still may not be 100 percent following knee surgery a year ago.



Linebackers

Replacing the talented tandem of Dale Robinson and Jamar Williams will be no easy task.

Attempting to fill their shoes will be the job of several different players.

Senior Beau Manutai will be expected to be a force as he steps into the middle linebacker position.

The former junior college All-American is in his second season as a Sun Devil after transferring from junior college powerhouse Dixie State College in St. George, Utah.

The weak-side linebacker spot has most likely been claimed by James, who recorded 36 tackles, 17 of which were solo, one sack and one interception in 2005.

Senior Derron Ware, who is being converted from safety, had the defense's only big play in last week's scrimmage at Sun Devil Stadium when he flattened running back Keegan Herring after a short pass.

Catching the eyes of the coaches are two incoming freshmen, even though they are several years apart in age.

Freshman walk-on Mike Nixon, 22, is returning to football after spending the last couple of years playing professional baseball in the Los Angeles Dodgers' minor league system.

Nixon, expected to compete with Manutai at middle linebacker, attended Phoenix Sunnyslope High School where he played quarterback and set the state record for most passing yards (8,091).

Gerald Munns, a true freshman from Chandler Hamilton High School, has played so well so early, he is expected to play immediately. He was coached by current running backs coach John Wrenn at Hamilton.

Also making a name for himself early is freshman Travis Goethel, who likely won't redshirt either and should capture fans' interest with his long hair.

Junior college transfer Garrett Judah will see ample time too.

Sophomore Chad Lindsey is expected to contribute after playing on special teams in 2005.



Secondary

This area of the Devils' "D" has the most question marks as it lacks experience.

Competing for the starting jobs at cornerback will be returning senior Keno Walter-White, junior Chad Green and junior college transfer Justin Tryon.

Walter-White is most likely ASU's top cornerback, as he possesses great speed and has the length to cover the Pac-10's top wide outs.

Also competing for playing time will be junior Littrele Jones, junior college transfer Chris Baloney and redshirt freshmen Grant Crunkleton and Travis Smith.

The inexperience at cornerback could force multitalented Rudy Burgess to fill in another hole for ASU by playing some time in the secondary. He also plays wide receiver and tailback.

Roaming the "outfield" for the Devils at the safety positions will be Catanese at strong safety and junior Josh Barrett at free safety.

Both have linebacker-type bodies and weigh in at around 230 pounds.

Catanese averaged nearly nine tackles a game in 2005, and enters 2006 as the Pac-10's returning leading tackler. He earned honorable mention All-Pac-10 honors a season ago.

Timed as the fastest player on the roster, Barrett should be flying around the football field if he can stay injury-free. He played much of the last two seasons but is entrenched as the team's free safety after a dynamite preseason.



Reach the reporter at Christopher.D.Ramirez@asu.edu.


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