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The intensity and wisdom of ASU defensive coordinator Phil Bennett

Related Topics: Defensive coordinator

The oldest coach on the Arizona State practice field waits for the play to end and then takes a few steps, waiting to catch the player who had just messed up. There’s always someone.

Phil Bennett talks – sometimes yells – for a few seconds and then the defensive coordinator moves on to the next play, the next evaluation.

Six years ago, Todd Graham proudly announced that he wanted to build his program around defense, and for a while he set such a foundation. The Sun Devils were a quarterback-harassing, turnover-forcing group. But opponents soon learned to pick up the pressure.