TEMPE, Ariz. -- It is difficult to grade a team's play in the moments after a game. It often takes a second look at the film to truly gauge performance.
After a second look at Arizona State's defense in its season opener against Weber State, coach Todd Graham was encouraged.
"When I just went back and looked at the first half, I feel really good about where we're at," Graham said Sunday. "I thought for the first time out, for nine new starters, check. Good, met expectations for me. There's just a lot of things we've got to improve on. Our team's always done that."
The starting unit held Weber State scoreless in the first half. Once second and third team players were mixed in after halftime, breakdowns led to Weber State's two touchdowns. But Graham said the defense made only one critical error in the game.
Perhaps the biggest moment for the young defense came in the late first quarter/early second quarter, as the defense stopped Weber State from scoring from the two-yard line three times. Graham still seemed fired up Sunday about the goal-line stand.
"Huge, man," Graham said. "I couldn't have scripted that better. That's exactly what we needed: to have a young defense go out there and be able (do that). That was a big deal for us. I thought that gave our guys a lot of confidence."
Players agreed with the sentiment. Redshirt senior linebacker Marcus Washington made the big fourth-down stuff, while senior defensive end Marcus Hardison made the stop on third down and junior defensive tackle Jaxon Hood helped freshman linebacker D.J. Calhoun make a stop at the one-yard line on second down.
"That's huge," Hood said Sunday. "A goal-line stand -- no matter if you're young or you're all veterans -- that's just adding a badge. There's nothing more exciting than being inside the five (yard line) and getting those stops."
As well as Graham felt the defense fared in its first time out, there could be some changes to the starting lineup for Saturday's game against New Mexico in Albuquerque. Graham confirmed Sunday the boundary cornerback and boundary safety positions remain unsettled.
In Sunday's practice, freshman Armand Perry and junior Kweishi Brown worked with the first team at the cornerback spot where redshirt junior Solomon Means started against Weber State.
"They played good enough to warrant them (competing to start)," Graham said. "We've got a lot of guys in our depth. All the second team guys I feel good about. I'd just like to have a couple first team guys."
Graham said Means had a solid game, but made a few errors. At boundary safety, where redshirt junior Jordan Simone started Thursday, redshirt freshmen Marcus Ball and James Johnson competed Sunday for the first team spot.
"Marcus, I think, knocked some rust off, so we'll get him going," Graham said. "And James Johnson had a great game."
Ball has been cleared for full contact less than a week now, so he's catching up rep wise. Simone spent Sunday's practice backing up Damarious Randall at field safety.
The situation at Devil-backer could continue to evolve as well. Graham was content with what redshirt sophomore Edmond Boateng and redshirt junior Antonio Longino did in the opener but wants to see more from the position, particularly tackles for loss.
"They didn't do anything bad, they didn't do anything good," Graham said. "We've got to be a lot more active at that position."
The undisputed top performers in Graham's eyes: the linebackers (Calhoun and redshirt sophomores Salamo Fiso and Viliami Moeakiola).
ASU had a couple new bodies at practice Sunday, though was unclear if either can or will contribute this year.
After being cleared by the NCAA last week, linebacker Ismael Murphy-Richardson practiced for the first time. He hasn't been cleared to play, however, and will likely redshirt anyway. Murphy-Richardson, who projects as a Devil-backer, missed all of preseason practice due to eligibility issues.
The other new player was hard to miss, given his size, which was last listed at 6-foot-9 and 260 pounds. Paul Crawford, a walk-on defensive end transfer from Florida International, worked with the Devil-backers early in practice.
Crawford, a product of Hebron (Texas) High School, originally committed to Mississippi State in 2010 but signed with FIU. He'd also drawn interest from Arkansas and Colorado State. In his freshman season at FIU, Crawford played in six games and made six tackles, including 1-1/2 for loss and half a sack.
ASU should also have junior college running back De'Chavon Hayes soon. Hayes was cleared late last week after missing all preseason with eligibility issues, and he will likely redshirt this season.
-- It appears ASU may try to use a redshirt season on freshman receiver/defensive back Tyler Whiley after all. Whiley, a Scottsdale Chaparral product, started the preseason as a receiver and worked his way onto the two-deep depth chart before moving to cornerback. On Sunday, he wore a scout team jersey.
-- Jalen Bates of Kaplan (La.) High School, a 2015 defensive line prospect, attended Sunday's practices as part of an official visit. Recruiting services rank Bates as a three-star prospect. He also has interest from Michigan, Mississippi State and Texas Tech.
-- Graham again mentioned how poorly ASU punted and kicked off in the opener but expressed continued confidence in punter Matt Haack and kicker Alex Garoutte: "We punted and kicked off unlike I've ever seen us do it in a game. I told the guys 'Hey, whatever, put that behind you and go to the next game.' We just need to relax I think."
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