(Photo: Nicholas Badders/WCSN)
A lot remains unclear for ASU football after a 52-45 loss to Texas Tech on Saturday. The result is undoubtedly disappointing, and fans have continued to express their vitriol on social media, but there are still reasons for hesitant optimism.
The Sun Devils trailed 35-17 at halftime and looked completely defeated. The defense couldn’t get a stop and the offensive line continued to struggle.
Whatever Todd Graham said to his team at halftime lit a spark.
ASU stormed back to tie the game at 45 with 9:52 to go. In the second half, the Sun Devils were able to contain a potent Red Raiders offense, and Manny Wilkins had enough time to find a rhythm with N’Keal Harry and Kyle Williams.
But questions remain about this ASU team and its inconsistency. Texas Tech’s game-winning scoring drive exposed the Sun Devil defense. ASU’s final offensive possession ended with a false start, a sack and an incompletion by Wilkins under pressure.
The problems still linger, and so does an identity crisis for the Sun Devils. Is the secondary improved despite an overhaul in personnel? Is there a serviceable combination along the offensive line? Is this really a run-first team?
Pac-12 play provides an opportunity to answer all of these questions. ASU is 1-2 and might be headed for 1-7 if it doesn’t define its identity and make significant strides.
Nic Shimonek threw for 543 yards and six touchdowns on Saturday in Lubbock. The quarterbacks ASU faces will only get better from here.
A sub-par Texas Tech defense was able to pressure Wilkins and stymie the run game. That can’t happen against the likes of Washington and Stanford, or you’re looking at a three-touchdown loss at least.
The Sun Devils have to bottle up the 28-10 run that made Saturday’s contest competitive again. It’s the best they’ve looked all season, particularly on the offensive end, so finding a way to maintain that for most of the game is their only shot at surviving their upcoming Pac-12 gauntlet.
Righting the ship starts with acknowledging your weaknesses and adjusting your philosophy based on personnel. Graham has said time and time again that this is a run-first offense, but with the way Wilkins is playing and the offensive line is struggling to run block, ASU is better off moving to a pass-first approach.
Defensive adjustments are necessary as well. Dropping linebackers into coverage hasn’t solved ASU’s problems defending the pass. If anything, it’s exacerbated those problems by leaving gaps in the middle of the field and forcing linebackers to stay step for step with speedy receivers.
Sun Devil fans are understandably frustrated with how this season has started. ASU slogged through a season-opening win against New Mexico State, fell flat against San Diego State and had an abysmal first half against Texas Tech.
That’s no excuse for harassing student-athletes on social media or calling for Graham’s head on a spike just three games into the season. The Sun Devils aren’t headed for the cellars of the Pac-12 just yet, but if they don’t recognize their shortcomings and adjust accordingly, it’s not going to get any easier.
