(Photo: Scotty Bara/WCSN)
There’s a certain level of disappointment now attained for Sun Devil football. They have yet to become bowl eligible, their biggest goals have been shattered, and all they can do at this point is work towards improving every week.
No matter what the outcome of each game, offensive coordinator Mike Norvell thinks the program is about much more than that.
“One day doesn’t define what this program is,” Norvell said. “One game does not define this program. What it is is how we respond to it. That’s been a part of the challenges of years that we won ten games… The difference between us being in first place and where we are right now is little things, details, execution, being able to finish off those games.”
Despite what this year has brought, ASU is still capable of being competitive in every game remaining on their schedule. Its next opportunity to bounce back is against Washington, a much-improved, young, and defensive-minded team from the Pac-12 North.
Stopping Jake Browning
One of the reasons the Washington Huskies have surged as of late is due to the play of their true freshman quarterback, Jake Browning. He got off to a rough start, but big wins over USC and Arizona have built his confidence and many are now starting to see why he deserved the starting nod to begin with.
ASU defensive coordinator Keith Patterson sees comparisons to another freshman quarterback the Sun Devils have faced this season–a game in which ASU ultimately persevered.
“He kind of reminds me a lot of (Josh) Rosen (of UCLA),” Patterson said. “I mean he spreads the ball around; he’s being very selective when he does throw the ball down the field, making good choices. But he’s done a good job of just taking what most defenses are giving him, hitting the underneath. He’s being very patient.”
Similarly, Patterson thinks keeping Browning uncomfortable, like his defense did to Rosen, will be a key to shutting him down.
“We’ve got to make him move his feet and try and throw the ball on the run because when it gets chaotic on him, I think he has a very difficult time,” Patterson said. “But we’ve got to keep him in the pocket and force him to throw under duress and get him to play for us.”
One aspect of the Washington offense that can take the pressure off of Browning’s shoulders is everything the Huskies do pre-snap. Whether it’s audibles, motions or hard counts, it is something the program has become known for throughout the conference.
“(They’re) basically just trying to distract you,” Patterson said. “And get your eyes off your keys or you get out-flanked or out-gap so it’s going to be big that we’re sound in our motion adjustments, and make sure that we don’t allow them to out-flank us and give up cheap plays.”
Pre-snap tactics are one aspect coach Chris Petersen and his staff have implemented and used to their advantage at Washington. In his short tenure Petersen may not have had the success he envisioned, but ASU’s experience against the Huskies will tell you the Washington coaching staff causes plenty of problems for opposing teams.
“We’ve been coaching against these guys for the better part of 15 years and I’ve always thought that that group of coaches are some of the best coaches in the country,” Patterson said. “In all three phases of the game. So we have a great respect for what they do and it’s going to boil down to who creates turnovers and takes the ball away from the other.”
New and improved Washington defense
For Norvell, he has to worry about Washington’s most intimidating unit, its defense. Going up against the No. 1 scoring defense in the conference, Norvell has his hands full in trying to expose a defense that has gotten much better–despite having to fill a lot of holes created by players departing for the NFL Draft a season ago.
“They do a great job, they have 11 guys playing as one,” Norvell said. “You look at their defense and there’s not any weaknesses that jump out. They’re really good on the back end with guys that are long, athletic, physical, can cover, and then up front you’ve got some really explosive players who can get to the quarterback.”
With the way sophomore running backs Demario Richard and Kalen Ballage have provided a one-two punch for the Sun Devils in recent weeks, it will be a strength-on-strength matchup worth monitoring.
“I think they’re giving up 3.3 yards a carry this year which is best in our league,” Norvell said. “They defend the pass well, they defend the run, and then they’ve done a good job at getting the ball out.”
Washington has forced 18 turnovers on the year, which is third in the conference. But with Browning perhaps being turnover-prone under pressure, Patterson’s defense could have a field day in forcing turnovers of their own.
Regardless, ASU’s back is against the wall, and it will have to take advantage of the winnable games in order to obtain bowl eligibility.
“It’s going to be a tremendous challenge,” Norvell said. “We got a lot of respect for these guys, got a lot of respect for the job that they do and the way that they play. But we’re excited about the challenge and the opportunity. It’s going to be a great game. It’s going to be a great battle there Saturday, but it’s one we’re definitely looking forward to.
