ASU Football: Likens embraces challenge as Sun Devils prepare for No. 18 Michigan State

(Photo: Brady Klain/WCSN)

Rob Likens heard the noise. When Arizona State’s offense stuttered on Friday night – and it stuttered frequently – Sun Devil fans booed loudly. Not only did ASU’s offensive coordinator hear the noise, he understood it.

“I know what a fan thinks. I get it, I understand,” Likens said. “I’d be angry, too. I heard boos. I would’ve booed. I booed myself.”

Arizona State’s offense scored just 19 points against Sacramento State, an FCS program which had allowed just 19 points to Southern Oregon, an NAIA program, just one week prior. Still, after the game Friday night and again on Monday, Likens expressed an enthusiastic mindset toward fixing ASU’s most glaring issue.

“It’s not a quick fix,” Likens said. “I know people don’t want to hear that. Fans don’t want to hear that. It just is what it is.

“This is a great challenge. I’m excited. As the older I get, you find out that you don’t shy away from problems. Those problems actually bring perseverance… It’s going to be a tremendous challenge for the coaches and players to overcome this and get better.”

For what it’s worth, head coach Herm Edwards said the offensive output wasn’t as bad as it was made out to be. Edwards and Likens cited A.J. Carter’s fumble at the goal line and Frank Darby’s 68-yard score, negated by a penalty, as examples of how close the game was to a possible blowout.

“Even though it wasn’t fun, those two touchdowns come off the board,” Edwards said. “Then you’ve got 33 points… and everybody’s OK. But when that doesn’t happen then this cloud becomes part of it.”

“The thing that bothers me the most, that gives you sleepless nights is our inability to punch it in inside the 10-yard line,” Likens said. “I’ve gotta find a way, we’ve gotta find a way to punch the dang football in inside the 10-yard line. If we do that just two times, it’s a whole different attitude and everything this week.”

After a question was posed to Brandon Aiyuk on Friday night asking what Sun Devil wide receivers could do to help Jayden Daniels out, the freshman quarterback intervened, taking responsibility for the shortcomings of the offense. Despite those struggles, Likens said Daniels is making strides and has shown that maturity throughout his time at ASU.

“Today we had a great talk after practice walking off the practice field,” Likens said. “I thought maybe he was a little down, and he was like ‘ah coach it’s a long season, man. We gotta just get better.’ I’m like, hold on who’s coaching who?

“He has a realistic outlook on what’s going on and that’s what I love about him.”

As the Sun Devils prepare for a trip to East Lansing this weekend to take on No. 18 Michigan State, everyone knows the level of competition is improving. Michigan State’s defense thus far has allowed just 12 points per game, with Tulsa and Western Michigan combining to have rushed for -6 yards in weeks one and two. With many expecting ASU’s offense to wilt under the Spartans defensive pressure, Likens said it’s a chance to change the narrative.

“This is going to be awesome. We get to go up to Michigan State, nobody thinks we’re any good on offense, and they are the number one rushing defense in the country and we can’t run the football,” Likens said. “It doesn’t get any better than that.”

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