Arizona State has not had back-to back losing seasons since 1946-47. Dennis Erickson has not had back-to-back losing seasons in his 21 years of coaching college football. If the Sun Devils are going to keep those streaks intact, the defense will have to be as good as advertised.

There is no denying the impressive talent that Erickson and defensive coordinator Craig Bray have assembled on the defensive side of the ball, especially at the linebacker position.

With an intriguing mix of accomplished veterans and explosive underclassmen, the linebacking corps at ASU has a chance to be one of the best units in the Pac-10.

Ultra-productive senior Mike Nixon will lead the LB group in 2009. Nixon had a tremendous 2008 season, totaling 90 tackles, eight tackles for loss, and five interceptions (tied for most in Pac-10). He was an Honorable Mention All-Pac-10 selection as well as a First Team All-Academic selection, and he will be returning to the weakside spot again this season.

The 25-year-old Nixon started his career by signing a letter of intent with Bob Toledo’s UCLA Bruins in 2002, but never enrolled. Instead, he signed a contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers out of high school and played in their minor league system before finally joining the Sun Devils in 2006.

Since his arrival in Tempe, Nixon has become one of the team’s top playmakers. The Phoenix (AZ) native is a cerebral player that is always in the right place. At 6-3 224 pounds, he is solidly built and possesses good quickness for an outside LB. He is also a very savvy cover man, and he put those skills on display last season (five INTs and five pass break-ups). Nixon enjoyed a solid spring, and will be one of the team leaders for the Sun Devils in 2009.

Another veteran linebacker, senior Travis Goethel, will join the seasoned Nixon as a starter in 2009. Goethel has started 25 straight games for the Sun Devils and finished a productive 2008 campaign with 71 tackles (3rd on team), 7.5 tackles for loss, and two interceptions. He has spent his entire career at outside linebacker, but will move to the middle this season.

At 6-3 237 pounds, Goethel is an extremely physical defender who plays with reckless abandon. He is always looking for the big hit, and moves very well downhill. He will have to adjust to inside linebacker, which could take some time, but he has all the physical tools necessary to become a very good MLB. There is also a chance that Goethel will move back to the strongside depending on how the young players fit into the rotation.

Regardless of where he ends up, the Vista (CA) native should continue to be a force for the Sun Devils in 2009.

Goethel’s move to the middle has opened the door for sophomore Shelly Lyons at the strongside. Lyons played a reserve role in all 12 games as a true freshman last season, finishing with 36 tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss. He has an explosive skill set, and is particularly effective as a run-stopper. Lyons enjoyed an excellent spring, working with the first-team defense for the majority of his reps.

At 6-2 225 pounds, Lyons has a nice combination of size and strength, as well as tremendous closing speed when pursuing the ball carrier. He entered the program in 2008 as a very raw prospect, but has developed quickly. Lyons is a rangy linebacker that covers space in a hurry, which makes him a perfect fit for the Devils’ defensive scheme. The former Corona-Centennial High School (CA) standout has entered fall camp atop the depth chart at the strongside linebacker spot.

One of the best athletes on the entire ASU roster is sophomore Brandon Magee. Magee played as a true freshman in 2008, but injuries limited him throughout the season and he finished with only 11 tackles. After an impressive spring, Magee is once again in the mix for playing time at outside linebacker. He is a natural fit for the weakside, but it may be tough for him to cut into Nixon’s playing time. Still, his tremendous speed (4.42) should be perfect for blitz packages, and he could become a terrifying edge rusher.

At 6-0 226 pounds, Magee is a great tackler in the open field with good coverage skills as well. He was a high-school teammate of Shelly Lyons at Corona-Centennial High School (CA), and may join Lyons in the lineup at some point this season. He is currently listed as Nixon’s main backup on the weakside.

Over the last few months, most of the buzz in Tempe has been centered on true freshman linebacker Vontaze Burfict. Burfict is the highest-ranked prospect ever to sign with Arizona State, and Dennis Erickson has compared the super-recruit to Ray Lewis (Erickson coached Lewis at Miami). He will have a chance to contribute right away, and has recently started practicing with ASU at the team’s fall camp.

At 6-3 245 pounds, Burfict is one of the most physically developed true freshman in the country. He possesses ideal size for an inside linebacker and plays with a rare blend of power and speed. Burfict is a do-it-all linebacker who can blitz, stop the run, or cover in space. He has also developed a reputation for being a devastating hitter, who routinely sheds blocks on his way to the ball carrier.

Burfict was unanimously rated as the number one linebacker of the 2009 class by Rivals.com, Scout.com and ESPN. The 5-star prospect is yet another Corona-Centennial High School (CA) product on the ASU roster, joining Lyons, Magee, RB Ryan Bass, DT William Sutton, and WR Jarrid Bryant.

The Sun Devil coaching staff may elect to move Travis Goethel back to the strongside if Burfict progresses at middle linebacker this fall, because it is highly unlikely that the heralded true freshman will redshirt this season. Burfict will have an opportunity to play a big role on the Arizona State defense in 2009, and could become a mainstay in the middle of the defense for years to come.

The other inside LB that could make an impact for ASU this fall is senior Gerald Munns. Munns started the first three games of the 2008 season at middle linebacker, but left the team for personal reasons. In his brief 2008 campaign, he flashed great ability by making 16 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, and one interception over the three game-span. His return will greatly bolster the linebacker depth for the Devils this season, giving the unit another productive veteran to go along with Nixon and Goethel.

At 6-4 242 pounds, Munns is an intelligent player with great size and toughness. He is versatile enough to play the strongside, but will start the year at MLB. The Queen Creek (AZ) native is looking to end his career on a high note, and he should see plenty of action this season.

Other players competing for time are: sophomores Oliver Aaron, Colin Parker, Derrall Anderson, and freshman Anthony Jones.

My Take

Defensive Coordinator Craig Bray has one of the deepest lienbacking units in the Pac-10 at his disposal; now he must figure out the right combination before the season starts.

The way I see it, there are two distinct styles present within this unit: fundamentally sound/error-free playmakers and explosive/dynamic playmakers.

The veterans like Nixon, Goethel, and Munns fit the fundamentally sound mold, as they are hard-workers who make great things happen, but not off-the-chart athletes. Lyons, Magee, and Burfict are all incredibly explosive athletes with tons of upside, but they must gain experience and limit mental errors. Bray’s job is to figure out how to gel these two styles into a successful corps of linebackers.

I believe the best combination will ultimately be Nixon on the weakside, Burfict in the middle, and Goethel moving back to the strongside. I also believe Magee has the potential to be a big-time player, but questions remain about whether he has a firm grasp of the defensive scheme.

Bottom line: the Sun Devils versatile linebacking unit will be one of the major strengths of the team in 2009.