Junior cornerback Kweishi Brown makes a tackle of a Weber State player in a game at Sun Devil Stadium on Aug. 28. Coach Todd Graham said Brown and freshman Chad Adams are his two nickel backs. (Photo by Andrew Ybanez)Against Weber State, it was redshirt sophomore Jordan Simone and redshirt junior Solomon Means who started at bandit safety and boundary corner, respectively. At New Mexico, it was redshirt freshman James Johnson and freshman Armand Perry. In practice Tuesday, there was more change in the ASU secondary.
Simone is back in the starting lineup after taking over the game defensively in the second half against the Lobos. Still, coach Todd Graham said, there aren't four guaranteed starters in the ASU secondary. This week, the best player just happens to be Simone.
"(The starter) is going to be who ... the best safety is," Graham said. "I thought Simone played very, very well. Right now, he's starting at bandit safety. ... The best two safeties out of (Simone, Johnson, redshirt freshman Marcus Ball and redshirt senior Damarious Randall) are going to play."
The constant change in the unit isn't allowing for a group of four safeties and cornerbacks to bond as a group and have the chemistry it's looking for on the field. Mental mistakes against both Weber State and New Mexico have ailed the secondary and defense, as a whole.
Graham recognizes that, but because there hasn't been anyone who has stood out from the rest, he can't name a full starting secondary. As of now, it's bandit safety and boundary corner by committee.
"I like that we have five guys who are working," Graham said. "I just wish we had two that were a lot better than everybody else."
He's at least got Randall at field safety and redshirt junior Lloyd Carrington at field corner providing some sort of consistency in the secondary. Graham also added Simone to that list, at least in part.
"(The secondary) needs to merge with four guys," Graham said. "Lloyd is solid at corner, I think Damarious is solid at free safety, I think (redshirt sophomore) Laiu (Moeakiola) obviously is solid at our strong safety (Spur) position. And I think Simone is giving us some consistency (at bandit safety)."
Randall and Moeakiola lead the team in tackles after two games, with 16 and 13, respectively. Simone, despite only getting a scholarship this year and not working with the first unit through much of fall camp, is fourth on the team with 10. The defense hasn't been getting the turnovers it's wanted to, including none against Weber State, breaking a streak of 29 games with at least one takeaway for the Sun Devils.
The two turnovers ASU has this season have both been fumbles, one forced by Randall and the other by senior defensive end Marcus Hardison. The Sun Devils haven't gotten an interception this season after getting 21 last season, including two in the first two games.
ASU will hope to improve on those numbers on Saturday against the Colorado Buffaloes and quarterback sophomore Sefo Liufau, who threw eight interceptions to 12 touchdowns in eight games last season.
Additional notes:
— Ball was back at bandit safety Tuesday after practicing at Spur all last week in preparation for New Mexico. Graham gave two reasons why Ball temporarily switch positions: 1. To defend against the Lobos' triple option more effectively, and 2. Normal second-string Spur redshirt junior Ezequiel Bishop was unavailable to play. Right now, Ball is the backup bandit safety behind Simone.
— Graham named Moeakiola a defensive team captain after his play and leadership in the game against New Mexico. He made nine tackles, including two for loss. Graham said he's the best defensive leader he's seen, and one of the youngest, too. Although, he said, age doesn't matter much on a team that is as young as this one.
— Graham also said late-addition freshman Ismael Murphy-Richardson could see action this week rushing the passer. He practiced as the No. 2 Devilbacker on Tuesday, behind redshirt sophomore Edmond Boateng. Murphy-Richardson was cleared to play and practice just over a week ago.
2014 season in photos
[slideshow_deploy id='149980']
Reach the reporter at ewebeck@asu.edu or follow him on Twitter @EvanWebeck
Like State Press Sports on Facebook and follow @statepresssport on Twitter.
