Redshirt junior defensive end Carl Bradford tackles a quarterback at a home game in Tempe. According to Bradford, ASU's defense has begun to come out faster and more agressive in the first quarter of games this season. (Photo by State Press Staff)For most teams, -3 total rushing yards allowed over a two-week span would be the best performances of the season.
ASU co-defensive coordinator Paul Randolph doesn’t subscribe to that philosophy. In fact, Randolph believes his run defense is barely at the cusp of what it can accomplish.
“(The production) is still in spurts,” Randolph said. “The guys work hard, and it’s no secret in the offseason that we had to get better at this phase of the game. Naturally, I think the guys have had an intense focus and intense purpose about getting better at it.”
Randolph’s run defense struggled early in the season, giving up 231 and 240 yards to Wisconsin and Stanford, respectively.
Recently, the tide has turned and the Sun Devils have looked better, allowing just -5 rushing yards to Washington and two to Washington State.
Leading the charge is redshirt junior Devilbacker Carl Bradford, who has three tackles for loss and two forced fumbles in the past two games.
Bradford, like Randolph, believes the Sun Devil defense has yet to show its best form.
“It looks like we are doing good, but there are still a lot of mistakes out there,” Bradford said. “It is nice to get our defense rolling and everyone involved, but it’s still not the best we can play.”
Randolph and Bradford both think the early season struggles against teams like the Badgers and the Cardinal have allowed for continual growth against adversity.
Randolph believes Bradford’s personal improvements have been parallel with the run defense’s.
“He had some growing pains early,” Randolph said. “Truthfully, we played teams with a big, physical tight end and offensive lineman, and he was battling, doing what he could do. I think what it did was help him get confidence to play where there’s a little more space and maybe only one guy. That’s given him the confidence to be a better run blocker in the Devilbacker position.”
Randolph said the recent conference stretch has been kind to his defense matchup-wise, with guys like Bradford facing simpler coverages and getting more opportunities to make plays.
It’s paid off in the statistics too, as the Sun Devils now rank 21st nationally in run defense, allowing just 126.3 yards per game.
The Sun Devils next opponent, Utah, is a run-first team so Randolph said it’s key for the defense to have its third straight quality performance and hopefully it’s best performance of the season.
For Bradford, it’s all about sticking to what has brought the Sun Devils to the top of the Pac-12 South.
“Our scheme really hasn’t changed, but we just started attacking more,” Bradford said. “We started being more aggressive, starting out faster in the first quarter.”
Practice Notes
– Senior cornerback Osahon Irabor wasn’t in the Tillman jersey for the first time since fall camp. Irabor was instead in a green no-contact jersey but was participating fully.
– The ASU home matchup versus Oregon State on Nov. 16 was selected for the 7:30 p.m. time slot and will air on Pac-12 Networks.
Reach the reporter at dsshapi1@asu.edu or follow him on Twitter @DsShapi
