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ASU Football: Midseason Report Card For The Defense

After examining the offense and handing out a mix of flattering and near-failing grades last week, it's now time to focus on the defense.

The unit has been ravaged by key injuries on all three levels, starting with cornerback Omar Bolden in April, then linebacker Brandon Magee was lost shortly before the season before defensive end Junior Onyeali went down earliy against Illinois. 

Add in a season of regression from much-hyped linebacker Vontaze Burfict and fundamentals that seem to change each series, and you have the recipe for a complete disaster.

However, the end result is a defense that more often than not bends but doesn't break. Thanks to a recent explosion in forcing turnovers, the ASU defense is now a playmaking force despite their many challenges.

So how do they grade out at the bye week?  Courtesy of House of Sparky, here now is the full review of the Sun Devil defense.