ASU has holes to plug after loss
Arizona State struggled in many phases in Saturday’s loss, particularly in the running game.
Arizona State on Saturday suffered its first loss, 30-20 to San Diego State at Sun Devil Stadium. It marked the Aztecs’ first road win over a Pac-12 school. They improved to 2-0, while the Sun Devils dropped to 1-1.
Let’s review:
3 takeaways
ASU has no identity. Through two weeks, the Sun Devils have no calling card. Nothing that they can count on each week, regardless of opponent. The most troubling issue is the running game. The Sun Devils rushed 31 times for 44 yards (with five quarterback sacks factored in) against San Diego State. While coaches often count quick passes to the perimeter as rushes, the lack of dominance up front complicates everything.
Have all the recent staff changes stunted ASU’s development? It’s reasonable to wonder. The Sun Devils are on their third offensive coordinator in as many years. In each of the last two seasons, coach Todd Graham has welcomed five new assistants to his staff. Some players have had a different position coach every season.
It’s early. Everyone has a tendency to take what they see and extrapolate it over the course of the season. Given ASU’s upcoming schedule (at Texas Tech, Oregon, at Stanford, Washington, at Utah, USC), that doesn’t paint a pretty picture. Understandable. Even so, there’s still time for the Sun Devils to figure some things out. How much of a difference will that make? Who knows? Maybe not much. In the meantime, ASU got national attention because its official football Twitter account asked fans not to tweet insults to players. Not a good look.
Offense
After the game, Graham had a simple answer for ASU’s weak rushing efforts: “We’re not getting people blocked,” he said. Actually, this has been a problem for a while. Over 10 games dating to last season, the Sun Devils have rushed for more than 100 yards in a game just three times. Of course, several things factor into this. Quarterback sacks negatively affect ASU’s rushing numbers. Also, coaches consider many quick strike passes as rushes. Another complication: Senior running back Demario Richard has missed most of this season with a right leg injury, and senior Kalen Ballage was limited in Saturday’s second half with an undisclosed issue . ... Entering Week 3, ASU has given up 12 quarterback sacks (ranking 128th nationally) and 23 tackles for loss (129th) . ... Junior QB Manny Wilkins completed 20 of 33 for 298 yards and two TDs. He was hit often and hard, causing him to limp for a few plays in the first half.
A key sequence: Trailing 20-14 in the third quarter, sophomore John Humphrey dropped a deep touchdown pass that would’ve given ASU the lead. Two plays later, Wilkins misfired on fourth down, giving the ball to San Diego State. The Aztecs capitalized on an 11-play drive that padded their advantage . ... ASU has gotten little from its tight ends – not in the passing game or with blocking. ... Redshirt-freshman WR Frank Darby was a bright spot, catching three passes for 111 yards and a TD. His 53-yard score – which came on 3rd-and-37 – brought the Sun Devils to within 30-20 with 8:34 left. (ASU went for two on the PAT. Offensive coordinator Billy Napier called a great play. The entire offense shifted right at the snap, except for junior TE Ceejhay French-Love. He broke off his block and flared left, catching a throwback pass from Wilkins. Junior LG Sam Jones and sophomore LT Cohl Cabral both were positioned to provide a wall for French-Love, but both missed a block and the attempt failed.) ... With three minutes left, the Sun Devils took possession with a chance to cut into San Diego State’s margin but they had no urgency. Once, ASU took 26 seconds to snap the ball because the sideline changed the play. Fans booed.
Grade: D+
Defense
In 2014, ASU went with a bigger defensive front to combat Stanford’s power rushing and it worked. The Sun Devils won 26-10. This season, ASU doesn’t have the personnel to do such a thing. As a result, San Diego State’s Rashaad Penny rushed for 216 yards, a bulk coming on a 95-yard TD run in the first quarter . ... Perhaps a bigger problem: ASU struggled getting off the field on third down. The Penny 95-yarder came on 3rd-and-6. The Aztecs also converted 3-and-8, 3rdand-21 and 3rd-14. Overall, ASU has a 54.55 defensive third-down conversation percentage, which ranks 124th nationally . ... Like Week 1, coordinator Phil Bennett mostly went with the same 11 guys, subbing only junior defensive tackle Renell Wren. ASU again went with a base defense the entire way. Junior LB Koron Crump had two quarterback sacks. His four on the season rank second nationally. In addition, senior safety Chad Adams made a couple nice open-field tackles and senior end Alani Latu posted 2.5 tackles for loss and batted down a pass at the line of scrimmage . ... ASU gave up five plays of 20-plus yards, four on the ground. The lone pass – the 33-yarder to Penny – came on a complete breakdown when a linebacker let Penny escape into the open . ... ASU forced no turnovers and just two 3-and-outs.
Grade: C-
Special teams
For the past two years, ASU’s special teams have ranked among the Pac-12’s best. Against San Diego State, the Sun Devils slipped back to their old ways. It was ugly. After knotting the score 7-7 in the first quarter, providing a little energy in Sun Devil Stadium, ASU kicked to Penny and gave up a 99-yard TD . ... Michael Sleep-Dalton also struggled. For the second consecutive week, the sophomore punted with his off (left) leg because of strained muscle in his right. In Week 1, Sleep-Dalton punted just fine. (He can punt with both legs). Saturday, he didn’t. His 12-yard punt at the end of the first half led to a San Diego State field goal.
Grade:F
Personnel
Senior running back Demario Richard didn’t play because of a right leg injury suffered in Week 1. First-team receiver Ryan Newsome also missed his second consecutive game with an injury. ... Senior RB Kalen Ballage (15 carries, 44 yards) was “dinged up” in the second half and played sparingly.
Up next
ASU visits Texas Tech on Saturday. The Red Raiders (1-0) beat Eastern Washington 56-10 in Week 1. They were off last week.