(Photo: Scotty Bara/WCSN)
When Arizona State and No. USC square off, ASU will have to rely on its defense to stop redshirt senior quarterback Cody Kessler, who hasn’t tossed the ball to the wrong jersey in 101 attempts, and he has All-Americans ready to protect him from ASU’s blitz-heavy defense.
With sophomore Armand Perry still down with an ankle injury, freshman Kareem Orr has been called upon to take on the responsibility-filled field safety spot. Orr, the No. 56 rated cornerback in his class by Scout.com, played well in his debut, accounting for four tackles and half a tackle for loss.
While that job could be stressful for a true freshman, for Orr, it’s about keeping things simple and straight-forward.
“For me, it’s just keeping my head focused,” Orr said. “Stay focused, don’t get too nervous, make sure I do my job.”
After the game and throughout this week of practice, Graham was complimentary of his freshman safety.
“Kareem is, wow.” Graham said. “I told Kareem, ‘I wish I was you. I’d have a lot better (of a) future.’”
The 5-foot-11, 195-pound product from Tennessee chose the Sun Devils over the likes of Ohio State and Oklahoma, and although Orr was admittedly nervous to make his debut, but it didn’t seem to show.
“He doesn’t get flustered about anything,” ASU safeties coach Chris Ball said. “He’s very calm. He’s very confident. He’s got all the traits the rest of the guys we have here.”
He also impressed his teammates in the game and during the week of practice, including redshirt sophomore safety James Johnson who is his roommate on the road.
“He’s amazing,” Johnson said. “He’s a great athlete, great cover guy. He has no fear. A lot of young guys come in timid, but we have all the confidence in the world with him out there.”
Johnson came in for Orr at field safety in the middle of last week’s game, but after New Mexico ran up the middle for a 65-yard touchdown run, Orr was reinserted into the position. However, that direct competition hasn’t jaded the relationship between the two at all.
“In the hotel, we’re going over gameplans late at night,” Johnson said. “We’re helping each other out. Two minds are greater than one. I’m helping him out, making sure he’s lining up right, communicating, the whole deal.”
Orr’s performance was only a small sample size, but he showed the ability to make a few stops in the open field, something critical in ASU’s defensive scheme that exposes the very position Orr plays. Being able to prevent big plays can often fall on the field safety when ASU brings five and six-man pressure, but if Orr takes care of his assignments, it wouldn’t be a shock to many.
“I knew he had some great talent when we recruited him and was capable of doing some great things on the field,” Ball said. “He’s a special player. He’s doing everything I expected him to do and more.
“He’s way ahead of the curve, and he’s spending a lot of time on his own learning the things necessary to be a good safety.”
If ASU wants to have success in the Pac-12, that means squaring up against some of the most talented and diverse offensive attacks in the country. After playing two consecutive triple-option attacks, it’s hard to foresee how ASU will fare, and it has only snagged three interceptions so far, but ASU’s opponents have only thrown 73 passes in three games.
That won’t be the case against the Trojans and Kessler, but as always, the ASU secondary is a confident bunch, and that confidence has relayed itself to its freshman safety.
“I feel like I see myself balling this week,” Orr said. “I got the first game out of the way, but I see myself balling… Flying around, doing what I got to do – interceptions, tackles.”
You can reach Zac Pacleb on Twitter @ZacPacleb or via email at zacpacleb@gmail.com.
