JONESBORO -- Ja'Von Rolland-Jones has been one of the Sun Belt Conference's best pass rushers in each of the past two seasons. There are times, though, when he can't even stay on the field.
There have been plenty of instances over the past two years when Rolland-Jones was on the sideline rather than on the end of the defensive line during obvious running downs.
Climbing the list
• Ja’Von Rolland-Jones’ main focus this season is improving his run defense. If he does, he’ll be on the field more to rush the passer. His 17 career sacks put him third among active FBS players, and tied for sixth on ASU’s all-time list. Below is ASU’s all-time sack list.
PLAYER, YEARS;SACKS;
Marvin Neloms, 1983-1986;28
Alex Carrington, 2006-2009;21½
Clarence Williams, 199-1998;21
Charlie Fredrick, 1984-1987;21
Robert Speer, 1973-1976;19
J. Rolland-Jones, 2013-now;17
Brandon Joiner, 2010-2011;17
Bryan Hall, 2006-2009;17
Glen Koenig, 1976-1979;17
"It's not a good feeling at all," he said.
It's the one thing the junior from Mesquite, Texas, is trying to change during fall camp.
Rolland-Jones is easily ASU's best option at defensive end when a Red Wolves' opponent is facing an obvious passing down. He's made 17 sacks over the past two seasons, which is tied for sixth on ASU's all-time list with half of his career still to go. He's a first-team all-Sun Belt pick this season and his nine sacks last year led the league.
But when a running play is anticipated, ASU defensive coordinator Joe Cauthen and defensive line coach Brian Early aren't sold on Rolland-Jones being the best option.
"He's thinking he's going out there to rush the passer all the time and it hurts us against the run," Cauthen said. "So, he's got to be better at being a normal guy. He should be. We want him to be. But he's got to prove to us that he will do that."
Rolland-Jones has been slowed by a sore lower back, but Coach Blake Anderson said earlier this week he hopes he can return for the team's first scrimmage this morning.
If so, Rolland-Jones said he is ready to tackle the challenge of playing better run defense.
"It has to get better," Rolland-Jones said of his play against the run. "I'm too worried about pass rushing and getting up field, and sometimes, you've got to put the breaks on, stop and get right. It's just something I need to stop and evaluate and get right."
Early has the luxury of taking Rolland-Jones out in rushing situations because defensive end is one of ASU's deepest positions. Senior Chris Odom, who has played in 37 career games; junior Caleb Caston, who has played in 24; sophomore Griffin Riggs and senior Chase Robison rotated at defensive end in practice earlier this week.
The presence of others can spark the urgency to improve, Early said.
"When we first got here, Ja'Von was the most gifted player that we had over there and he didn't really have to work very hard at it," Early said. "Good, healthy competition, that makes them all better."
Rolland-Jones said he knows that, and he also knows he has at times shown an ability to play the run. Along with his nine sacks last season, Rolland-Jones had 12½ tackles for loss, tied for seventh-most in the Sun Belt.
Early has seen it at times, too.
"Hes' certainly physically capable of doing it," Early said. "He has shown he can be a dominant run defender when he wants to be. It's more about taking pride in that, and embracing that and wanting to be that."
Rolland-Jones said he understands that playing better against the run is a way to do what he prefers -- rush the passer -- even more.
He's counting on 10 more sacks this season, which would put him one shy of the 28 Marvin Neloms accumulated in 1983-1986 to establish a school record. To get there, he'll have to take on run-blocking linemen just as well as he flies past them headed to a quarterback.
"When I get my run defense down, there's no limit to what I can do," Rolland-Jones said. "I think I can be a top-guy in the league."
Sports on 08/13/2016