ASU Football: Edwards facing Sun Devils’ penalty issues once again

(Photo: Marlee Smith/WCSN)

Two weeks ago, ASU Football came out of a 41-14 win over Southern Utah underwhelmed.

The Sun Devils didn’t only not cover the spread placed on them by FanDuel Sportsbook, but only scored 41 points against the 44.5 they were projected to beat the Thunderbirds by.

Additionally, ASU racked up 11 penalties in the first half, and 13 total in the game, which went down as one of the worst showings from a flags perspective in program history.

A win was a win, sure, but head coach Herm Edwards and company knew ASU would not be able to get away with such a showing again, especially so as the level of the Sun Devils’ competition increased. On Saturday night against No. 23 ranked BYU – a team that could go down as ASU’s toughest opponent all year in 2021– it appeared that the Sun Devils hadn’t learned their lesson from Week 1.

In the 27-17 loss to the Cougars, ASU racked up 16 more penalties for 121 yards. The Sun Devils are currently No. 1 in the country for flags thrown against them, and rank fourth in penalties yards earned. For the second time in three weeks, Edwards finds himself reeling for answers.

“Our number is catastrophic,” he said. “We can’t survive that and play good football. We feel like we have a pretty good football team here and we can’t win games when you play like that – it’s very difficult [to do].

“The way we lost, that’s what bothers us and bothers me. We didn’t give ourselves a really good chance.”

On top of the foul problems, ASU’s offense experienced multiple lapses in assignments on Saturday night. Junior quarterback Jayden Daniels was seen using a wristband in the game, which has not been a common sight under second-year offensive coordinator Zak Hill.

“We had a long talk with the offensive staff – I won’t get into what was talked about, but I’m pretty sure we have that taken care of,” Edwards said. “I think we’re all on the same page with what transpired and what needs to take place.”

However, even if those issues are fixed, the majority of ASU’s three games this season have seen the Sun Devils be seemingly unprepared or undisciplined.

“We all hold each other accountable,” Edwards said. “We’re all involved in a loss, just like we’re all involved in a win. It’s the coaches, it’s the players, it’s everybody. It’s never one person. I think [Rachaad White and Jordan Clark, who posted on social media after the game that the loss was on them]], those are the kind of guys you want in your program.”

ASU has a serious course to correct after penalties have left an undeniable mark on two-thirds of its games, and doesn’t find itself making excuses along the lines of flukes or small sample sizes. The cause of the constant penalties, and their ability to be fixed, lie within the same principle, according to Edwards.

“It’s just focus,” he said. “Flat-out focus. And keeping a calmness about yourself. When you commit penalties, you’re either a step behind or your emotions get to you. When you do that, it hurts the team, and when you’ve compounded as many fouls as we have, it’s very difficult to get out of that situation. You knock yourself back.

“Football is too hard to do that.”

Edwards said that all of his players, most notably his veterans and captains, have to keep their energy levels not as high as they have so far in 2021.

“You assume that veteran guys would play a bit more calm, but for some reason they have not done that,” Edwards said. “I think it’s guys trying to force things and make things happen. There has to be a quiet peace in you when you play football.

“You like to play with a certain standard.”

ASU isn’t quite panicking yet – the Sun Devils are still 2-1 with two dominant wins and a loss against a good opponent. Edwards mentioned that he’s been in this situation before with ASU teams – where a bad, frustrating loss follows two wins.

“How do you react to it?” he said. “That’s the whole key. We have enough guys in this program that have been here long enough when we’ve gotten off to some good starts, lost a game and then found our way back.”

Edwards specifically mentioned ASU’s captains when discussing the penalty total, saying that the at-times inexcusable performances from them and their teammates has taken an emotional toll.

“They’re disappointed,” Edwards said softly before repeating the same words. “They’re disappointed.”

He continued after pausing.

“You’ve watched this team play for four years. The one thing I’ll say is that this team has never not played hard. They play physical. This team always competes and leaves everything on the grass. We got to play smart, and we have to get that fixed. If we do that, we got a chance.”

Other notes from Monday’s press conference:

Edwards announced that senior defensive end Travez Moore, who transferred to ASU from LSU over the offseason, is out for the year after sustaining a knee injury against BYU on Saturday.