ASU Football: Defense contradicts itself in USC loss

(Photo: Marlee Smith/WCSN)

One could tell two different stories about Arizona State’s defense Saturday.

The first one encapsulates a group that, in its first game under a new scheme, held an intimidating USC offense to just 14 points in the first half thanks to two turnovers, allowed just a 36.8 percent third-down conversion rate, put pressure on Trojans starting quarterback Kedon Slovis, got an impressive surprise performance from redshirt freshman defensive end Michael Matus and finished the day with a +1 in the takeaway margin.

The second story is a darker one. It journeys through a group that blew a 14 point lead in four minutes and 28 seconds, allowed the sophomore Slovis to throw for 381 yards while completing 72.7 percent of his passes, let the Trojans convert five of their eight fourth down attempts and gave up 556 yards across 95 total plays.

A non-happy ending prevailed.

ASU’s defense for most of the 28-27 loss bended but didn’t break. Prior to the collapse at the end, the Sun Devils allowed just one long touchdown drive: a 13 play, 80-yarder with 10:39 left in the second quarter which USC took a 14-10 lead on. ASU didn’t get the three and outs they might have hoped for, but every other drive resulted in a Trojans punt, turnover or failed fourth-down conversion.

The lack of three-and-outs ultimately hurt, according to head coach Herm Edwards.

“I have never been involved in a game where we had 95 plays defensively,” he said. “Some of that had to do with missed opportunities to get off the field.”

The Trojans ability to extend drives by converting on fourth down was ASU’s dagger. If the Sun Devils didn’t get a stop after the first three downs (they did so just three times), USC was able move the ball downfield and put miles on the ASU defense before coughing it up.

“Ninety-five plays is a lot of opportunities that you give to an offense that’s very explosive,” Edwards said.

USC looked like the offensive force they were supposed to be on their final two drives of the game. Slovis threw for 87 yards on the Trojans drive that cut the game to one possession, including a 36 yard pass to junior wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown. After USC recovered the onside kick, Slovis dropped a dime into sophomore wide receiver Drake London’s hands over two ASU defenders for 21 yards. The Air Raid had finally gotten to the Sun Devils.

The positives, even in a loss so unthinkable and devastating, still exist. ASU stopped USC in its tracks to such a degree that the Trojans had to go for it on fourth down eight times, putting them in a tight spot.

“Third down, we got off the field,” Edwards said. “But the fourth down really hurt us.”

The Sun Devils pressured Slovis significantly as the game went on. ASU had three sacks in addition to seven tackles for loss. Matus accounted for half a sack and half a TFL. Two deflected passes completed his day.

“He did a nice job,” Edwards said. “Think about him, he didn’t play a lot last year at all. He had an opportunity to start and did a nice job of rushing the quarterback. We put pressure on him [Slovis].”

Slovis was able to navigate the pressure once, as ASU gave up a 24 yard scramble to the sophomore, but his other five rushing attempts gained him negative three yards.

Games where a defense nabs four turnovers aren’t commonly lost, but the takeaways could be pinned more on USC themselves than ASU’s defense. Junior linebacker Merlin Robertson had a diving interception on a sharp throw from Slovis, but USC’s three fumbles were all self-inflicted. The Sun Devils found themselves in the right place at the right time.

Ups and downs should have been expected in Week 1 for ASU as a whole. New schemes on both sides of the ball showed their potential and their floors, respectively. But the swing that took place defensively Saturday is not a pendulum the Sun Devils want to be riding on. It might just be a case of more time being needed, but in the middle of just a six game season that’s teetering due to COVID-19, time isn’t a luxury that can be had.

“Everyone is crossing fingers as you sit back and understand that the virus is heading in the wrong direction,” Edwards said. “What that does to us, we don’t know. We’re going to prepare to play every week. We’re just hoping that it doesn’t hit us or affect us. If it does, we’ll have to deal with it.

“I’m nervous. It’s going in a bad direction.”