ASU scouting report: Sun Devils counting on 4-man defensive front to amp up pass pressure
Michelle GardnerAs the 2020 football season approaches we continue our Arizona State position-by-position series.
Today: Defensive Line
Previously: Quarterbacks | Running backs | Wide receivers | Offensive Line | Special Teams | Linebackers
Overview
One area in which the Sun Devils excelled last season was in stopping the run. They ranked 26th out of 130 FBS teams, allowing only 125.1 yards per game. That was a significant improvement over the previous season when they were 74th (170.5 ypg).
ASU also placed 36th in red zone defense. Many of the contributors to that effort are returning, so there is reason for optimism.
The biggest area of concern the past couple of years has been lack of a pass rush. In 2019 the Sun Devils managed just 26 sacks, which ranked ninth in the Pac-12 ahead of only Washington State, Colorado and Arizona. The leader was Jermayne Lole, whose 6.5 sacks were two more than graduated linebacker Khaylan Kearse-Thomas.
The Sun Devils are in transition from the 3-3-5 defense they ran under previous coordinator Danny Gonzales to a more conventional four-man front. They hope this, along with some returning veteran players, will address the pass-rush problem. Lole (6-1, 310) will be in his third year as a starter, having moved from end to 3-technique tackle, and Shannon Forman (6-0, 300), the lone senior in the unit, who is moving from tackle to end. He played in all 13 games but was more of a rotation player.
Junior D.J. Davidson (6-5, 320) returns at the other tackle position and he is being backed up by junior T.J. Pesefea, whom the coaches are also high on.
The coaching staff has been pleased with freshman Amiri Johnson (6-5, 280), who showed some promise in limited opportunities last season. He has been slowed in practice due to injury, a bit of setback for the line.
Three questions to be answered
1. What has been the biggest surprise thus far? When the Sun Devils released their depth chart chart on Monday redshirt-sophomore Michael Matus (6-2, 260) was listed with the first team at defensive end while junior Tyler Johnson (6-4, 285) from Highland High School was listed as the backup. Johnson moved from linebacker to defensive end because he is regarded as perhaps the team's best pass rusher and he is finally healthy after a couple of injury filled seasons. Matus did play in all 13 games but it was in a limited role and he managed only three tackles all season. Despite what the depth chart lists, Johnson should see considerable playing time.
2. Will the coaching change make a difference? The Sun Devils are on their sixth defensive line coach in as many seasons so turnover there is something the players are probably getting used to. New coach Robert Rodriguez comes from the NFL, meaning there likely was instant credibility. Players were praising his teachings as early as March when the Sun Devils were able to get in seven spring practices.
3. Who could be the breakout star this season? Lole has become stellar and garnered some accolades in his two years but look for Davidson, a product of Mesa Desert Ridge High School, to make monumental strides this season. Last year he played well but was coming off a broken ankle, so he enters this season in the best shape he has been in since arriving. He says Rodriguez has worked with him on using his leverage power and athleticism.
About the newcomers
Strong side defensive end Joe Moore (Cardinal Ritter Prep, St. Louis) and defensive tackle Omar Norman-Lott (Grant Union, Sacramento, California) were in the last recruiting class.
Norman-Lott (6-3, 305), a four-star prospect, was named by Rivals the No. 27 defensive tackle recruit nationally and No. 29 overall prospect in California, while ESPN had him as the No. 29 defensive tackle recruit in the country and the No. 59 overall prospect in the West region. The 247Sports Composite ranked him No. 364 overall prospect and the No. 35 defensive tackle prospect nationally.
He finished his career with 110 total tackles, 32 tackles for loss, and 17 sacks according to MaxPreps in 21 varsity games over the course of three seasons, but he's been a limited participant in practices due to injury.
Moore (6-3, 250) is the son of former NFL running back Joe Moore, who was a first-round pick by the Chicago Bears in 1971 and is a member of the University of Missouri Hall of Fame.
He was tabbed a four-star prospect by Rivals, which listed him as the No. 14 weakside defensive end prospect in the country and the No. 8 overall prospect in Missouri. The 247Sports Composite rankings had him as the No. 17 strong-side defensive end prospect and the No. 411 overall prospect in the nation.
About the coach
Rodriguez is one of the handful of newcomers on the ASU coaching staff this season. He replaces Jamar Cain, who left for a position coach job at Oklahoma.
Rodriguez spent the last five seasons with the Minnesota Vikings, serving as the team's assistant defensive line coach where he worked closely with veteran defensive line coach Andre Patterson.
Rodriguez excelled at linebacker for UTEP from 2001-04, leading the WAC in tackles in three of his four college seasons and earning the conference's Defensive Player of the Year honors as a senior. He also coached at UTEP from 2008-14.
In his professional playing career, Rodriguez spent time with the Carolina Panthers and Tennessee Titans (2005), before playing for Cologne in the NFL Europe (2006) and the Calgary Stampeders of the CFL (2006-07).
From the coach
"I like what our guys are doing and the way they have bought in. “I really am motivated and driven to give this place a defensive line they deserve. It’s going to be a continued thing. We’re going to work through the season, continue to recruit, continue to get guys in here. But the guys in this room, because I’m so grateful for this opportunity, I want that to shine through with the way my guys play.”
—Rodriguez
Reach the reporter at Michelle.Gardner@Gannett.com or 602 444-4783. Follow her on Twitter @MGardnerSports.