Tackles, interceptions, sacks.
They're all stats that provide a limited look at defensive production. They're also usually only seen in the context of one player, which doesn't bring much context to how much value that player brought to the team as a whole.
I put a percentage on each player's contribution to the team in certain defensive categories. A percentage is a much easier number to look at and see how much a single player contributed in the larger picture of an entire season. Here's a recap of what the Sun Devils lose and return in interceptions, tackles and sacks on the defensive side of the ball from the 2013 season.
Total percentages are rounded to the nearest whole number, individual player percentages are rounded to the nearest tenth.
Interceptions last season by players who are no longer on the team: number (percentage of total team interceptions)
Total interceptions made by players not returning: 17 of 21 (81 percent)
Robert Nelson: 6 interceptions (28.6 percent)
Alden Darby: 4 interceptions (19 percent)
Osahon Irabor: 3 interceptions (14.3 percent)
Will Sutton, Grandville Taylor, Anthony Jones, Carl Bradford: 1 interception each (4.8 percent each)
Interceptions last season by players returning in 2014
Total interceptions made by returning players: 4 of 21 (19 percent)
Damarious Randall: 3 interceptions (14.3 percent)
Lloyd Carrington: 1 interception (4.8 percent)
Tackles last season by players who are no longer on the team (minimum 13 games played)
Number of total tackles in 2013 made by players not returning (minimum 13 games played): 598 of 786 (76 percent)
Chris Young: 112 tackles (14.2 percent)
Alden Darby: 72 tackles (9.2 percent)
Carl Bradford: 61 tackles (7.8 percent)
Davon Coleman: 58 tackles (7.4 percent)
Robert Nelson: 57 tackles (7.3 percent)
Osahon Irabor: 54 tackles (6.9 percent)
Will Sutton: 48 tackles (6.1 percent)
Anthony Jones: 38 tackles (4.8 percent)
Gannon Conway: 38 tackles (4.8 percent)
Steffon Martin: 34 tackles (4.3 percent)
Grandville Taylor: 13 tackles (1.7 percent)
Shane McCullen: 10 tackles (1.3 percent)
Kipeli Koniseti: 2 tackles (.25 percent)
Jake Sheffield: 1 tackle (.13 percent)
Tackles last season by players who are returning in 2014 (minimum 13 games played):
Total number of tackles in 2013 made by players who are returning (minimum 13 games played): 188 of 786 (24 percent)
Salamo Fiso: 71 tackles (9 percent)
Damarious Randall: 71 tackles (9 percent)
Lloyd Carrington: 25 tackles (3.2 percent)
De'Marieya Nelson: 16 tackles ( 2 percent)
Marcus Hardison: 5 tackles (.6 percent)
*Note: Alex Garoutte, Tyler Sulka and Richard Smith all recorded tackles and qualified here but I excluded them because they were mainly offensive players who made tackles on fumbles, interceptions by opposing teams or on special teams. Damarious Randall also got an exception to the 13 games played rule because he only played in 12 but made too much of an impact not to be counted.
Sacks last season by the players who are no longer on the team:
Number of total sacks in 2013 made by players not returning: 34 of 39 (87 percent)
Carl Bradford: 8.5 sacks (21.8 percent)
Davon Coleman: 8.5 sacks (21.8 percent)
Chris Young: 7.5 sacks (19.2 percent)
Will Sutton: 4 sacks (10. 3 percent)
Gannon Conway: 3.5 sacks (9 percent)
Anthony Jones: 1 sack (2.6 percent)
Osahon Irabor: 1 sack (2.6 percent)
Sacks last season by players who are returning in 2014;
Number of total sacks in 2013 made by players who are returning: 5 of 39 (13 percent)
Salamo Fiso: 3 sacks (7.7 percent)
Antonio Longino: 1 sack (2.6 percent)
Marcus Hardison: 1 sack (2.6 percent)
* Note: I did not include one "team" sack here
*All stats used were from thesundevils.com