(Photo: Scotty Bara/WCSN)
On Saturday against Texas Tech, head coach Todd Graham has the opportunity to ease some skepticism with a victory over a team that features the top passing offense in the FBS.
With Heisman contender Patrick Mahomes under center for the Red Raiders, however, a week two victory in Tempe is not going to come easy for Arizona State.
“This guy [Mahomes] is kind of like a Brett Favre type of quarterback,” defensive coordinator Keith Patterson said. “He has just an uncanny ability to get outside the pocket, will run across, throw back to the middle of the field, with most quarterbacks it’s a cardinal sin to do that, he does it with regularity.”
For a secondary that gave up 369 passing yards against Northern Arizona, growth is going to be instrumental against someone as dynamic as Mahomes. De’Chevon Hayes, a redshirt senior who will be starting in just the second game of his collegiate career at corner, understands the challenge that awaits and is ready to answer the call.
“We’re just going in with the game plan,” Hayes said. “Coach Graham’s been teaching us up every day what not to give up, you know, we’ve just got to put our hands on them and stay physical, like I said, stick to the game plan and we’ll be solid.”
Mahomes finished with 483 yards and six total touchdowns before being pulled late in the third quarter in Texas Tech’s season opener against Stephen F. Austin.
In the Sun Devils’ case, the offense will be led by Manny Wilkins, who proved to be an effective runner in his first start against NAU.
“I thought he handled himself really well,” offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey said. “I was really worried about him being too amped up, you know and too excited but I thought he handled everything in stride, even when he made the mistake he came right over to the sideline, got on the phone and said ‘hey, I should’ve gone here, it’s my fault, won’t happen again,’ that’s what you want, you know, wasn’t any bad body language, wasn’t any fussing and fighting.”
While his passing numbers, 20 of 28 for 180 yards and an interception, were serviceable, his team-high 89 yards on 14 carries highlighted an Arizona State rushing attack that proved to be both resilient and deep.
Five different Sun Devils finished with rushing touchdowns in the team’s 44-13 win over Northern Arizona last week. Regardless, junior Demario Richard wants to see more production on the ground Saturday.
The Red Raiders allowed 279.9 rushing yards per game in 2015, the second-lowest mark in the FBS.
“[We could have] ran for a lot more yards [against NAU],” Richard said. “Made our adjustments, us as a group, made our adjustments a lot faster but we did alright.”
For Lindsey, he believes the final seven drives of last Saturday’s game, which all resulted in points, are a sign of things to come for a Sun Devil offense that, in reality, might not have showed too much against Northern Arizona to begin with.
“We got some points, which is really good,” Lindsey said. “We love touchdowns instead of field goals, but really pleased with the momentum we’ve got.”
