By Craig Morgan, thesundevils.com Writer
TEMPE, Ariz. -- Todd Graham laid down a challenge for defensive back Kareem Orr at the start of spring ball.
"I always tell him there's a big difference between being a freshman All-American and being a true All-American," the Sun Devil football coach said. "He had a great freshman year and had a lot of interceptions. The next step is to continue to get better."
Orr set an ASU freshman record with six interceptions last season that started with a pick against USC, included a late pick-6 against Arizona that sealed the Sun Devils' 52-37 win, and ended with an interception in the Cactus Bowl against West Virginia. Following the season, he was named a USA Today freshman All-American.
Orr's role figures to grow this season following the losses of three seniors in cornerbacks Lloyd Carrington, Kweishi Brown and safety Jordan Simone, but the Sun Devils' lack of depth in the secondary has Graham taking a different approach this spring and summer. Players such as Orr, Armand Perry, Chad Adams, and J'Marcus Rhodes are training at multiple positions.
"Last year, we'd get a guy hurt and we'd have to move a guy over who's never played that position," said Graham in explaining the new thought process. "Kareem might play corner; might play safety. You've got to put your best guys on the field."
Orr insists he has no preference, but he believes one poses a greater test.
"I personally think that corner is a little easier when you're playing press man (coverage) on the outside," he said. "Sometimes at safety, I have to come down and guard the slot man to man. With the coverage we play and the scheme that we play, that can be a challenge."
Fortunately for Orr, he has a deep well of confidence that new defensive backs coach T.J. Rushing noticed the first day he met with the secondary.
"I think he's good for our room because he's a competitive dude," Rushing said. "Hopefully that confidence rubs off on everyone in the DB room. If you don't have confidence it’s a hard position to play."
Orr's ball skills, athleticism and instincts all jumped out at Graham last season. The first quality is something Orr honed at Notre Dame High School in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
"I have always loved catching the football and tracking the ball and I've always had a skill for it," Orr said. "I used to stay out there on the field in high school catching about 100 balls each day."
There are myriad responsibilities for a defensive back, and Orr believes he still needs to work on his tackling and consistency in his technique, but those ball skills are an asset Rushing said few players possess.
"In recruiting, you look for guys who have that 'it'," Rushing said. "I call it guys who can make the mad play; the make-a-difference play. Third (down) and short they get the stop, they get the PBUs (pass break-ups). (Cardinals defensive back) Tyrann Mathieu is a guy I use all the time as an example.
"There's a premium on those guys. You can't have too many playmakers in the secondary. When the ball goes up I don't want to be panicking, wondering if he's going to catch the ball or not."
Orr hasn't set any specific statistical goals for the 2016 season, but wants that All-American status Graham has dangled in front of him and he is paying close attention to everything Rushing preaches because Rushing achieved something else Orr wants.
"Coach Rushing played in the NFL and he has a lot of knowledge from that," Orr said. "I wouldn’t say there are big differences between him and the last coach but since he was in the league he knows what he's talking about and guys listen. Street cred always counts."
Rushing played three seasons for the Indianapolis Colts (he spent another on injured reserve) after a college career at Stanford. He tries to downplay that experience, but he knows his players will not.
"Your first job is to earn the trust of the room so if being an ex-player helps gain trust that's great, but with that comes responsibility," Rushing said. "The worst thing a coach can do is gain their trust and then tell them something that's wrong so I've got to stay on top of my game, stay on my knowledge and stay two steps ahead of these guys to give them good information.
"It's not like I'm coming in with a bunch of new stuff. We're still the same defense, but I know it's my job to take it to another level."
In the latter respect, Orr and Rushing have the same goals.
"I want to be an overall complete player so I'm going to do what I've got to do to improve," Orr said. "I want to be an animal on the field next year."