(Photo By: Spencer Barnes/ WCSN)
ASU Football (3-1, 0-1) has had a program resetting first quarter of the season. After two straight seasons of 3 total wins, ASU has raced to its first bye week at 3-1 already tying the win total of years past. The team has won almost every type of game possible giving evidence of what could be a complete group ready to make a bowl push. After three straight wins in which the team dominated, had to hold a lead, and then had to come back, the Sun Devils suffered their first loss of the season in week 4 against Texas Tech (4-1, 2-0).
The team’s early success was spearheaded by one of the nation’s premier and highest-ranked rushing attacks. Redshirt freshman quarterback Sam Leavitt hasn’t been a world-beating passer by any means but has added to the ground game being a dynamic runner scoring four rushing touchdowns. Workhorse bruising senior running back Cameron Skattebo has had an already award-winning year carrying the Sun Devils to their best start since 2019. Of 133 total D-1 FBS programs the defense ranks nearly halfway amongst all programs in scoring and is within the top 30 in total defense.
Here’s a breakdown of the numbers that have defined ASU’s season so far and where it ranks nationally.
Offense
Scoring offense — 32.8 points per game (49th)
Total offense — 409.2 yards per game (60th)
Passing offense — 213.8 YPG (85th)
Passing yards per completion — 13.15 yards per completion (40th)
Rushing offense — 195.5 YPG (32nd)
Red zone offense — 78.9% conversion rate (96th)
Third-down offense — 41.7% conversion rate (59th)
Fourth-down offense — 55.6% conversion rate (66th)
First-down offense — 95 gained (T-62th)
Interceptions — 2 (T-23rd)
Fumbles lost — 0 (T-1st)
Turnovers lost — 2 (t-5th)
Sacks allowed — 1.75 sacks per game (t-67th)
Synopsis
This offense comes and goes with the success of its rushing attack. The 32nd-ranked Sun Devil ground game has heavily leaned on the contributions of senior running back Cameron Skattebo and the aforementioned legs of Leavitt. The pinnacle was ASU’s week two 30-23 win against Mississippi State (1-4, 0-2) which was the program’s first ever against an SEC opponent. That night Skattebo galloped to a whopping 262 rushing yards which won him a multitude of awards including AP National Offensive Player of the Week. Skattebo’s 433 rushing yards are good for top-20 in the nation behind one of the more productive offensive lines in the country.
The anchor of the line being redshirt senior center Leif Fauatanu who was on the preseason watchlist for the Dave Rimmington Award for the Nation’s best center. The Sun Devils will likely continue to lean on their workhorse back running behind behind one of the more productive offensive lines in the country going forward.
The passing game on the contrary has been average to below average. Leavitt will look to develop his arm and trust in his top receivers. Explosive redshirt sophomore Jordyn Tyson returned to the field for ASU after a year off due to major knee injuries. His speed provides an ability to stretch a defense, paired with redshirt senior Xavier Guillory’s physicality at 6-feet-2-inches and 200 pounds provide a solid 1-2 punch at receiver. The offense Is built on the stretch zone scheme that essentially gets Skattebo running wide of the offensive line consistently. In theory, it should get defenses moving side-to-side or crashing downhill in anticipation of the run. That makes it easier for Leavitt to play action off of it, providing him more time and space to throw and find options. The top-half-ranked total and scoring offense still doesn’t rank in the top 45 in either category and will look to improve, balancing the air game with the ground game to keep up with opposing Big 12 offenses.
Defense
Scoring defense — 22 points per game (t-57th)
Total defense — 286 yards per game (22nd)
Passing defense — 203.8 YPG (62nd)
Rushing defense — 82.2 YPG (13th)
Red zone defense — 100% conversion rate (T-117th)
Third-down defense — 37.9% conversion rate (72nd)
Fourth-down defense — 57.1% conversion rate (T-78th)
First down defense — 71 allowed (29th)
Sacks — 2.75 sacks per game (t-26th)
Interceptions — 3 (t-72nd)
Fumbles recovered — 4 (t-17th)
Turnovers gained — 7 (42nd)
Turnover margin — 1.25 (t-12th)
Synopsis
The defense has been one of the nation’s premier units ranking in the top 25 in four of 13 categories including total defense and rushing defense.
The pass rush has been borderline elite with the 11 ASU sacks ranking tied for 11th best in the country. That dangerous rush has hurried opposing quarterbacks into making mistakes and creating turnovers for the defense. While the group isn’t exceptionally highly ranked in total turnovers, only one team in the entire country (SMU) has scored more than ASU’s three defensive touchdowns and only four teams have scored as many.
It’s not even just the secondary reaching the endzone, but the lineman up front picking up fumbles and rumbling to scores. Both lineman redshirt junior Justin Wodtly and sophomore C.J. Fite have scored fumble recoveries. Redshirt junior linebacker Zyrus Fiaseu scored a 29-yard pick-six two plays into the season-opener against Wyoming (1-4, 1-0). That game against the Cowboys was a scintillating performance for the unit. One where it held Wyoming to a measly 118 total yards, with 74 of those yards coming on the Cowboy’s last drive of the game in garbage time of an already 48-0 game at that point.
The red zone defense is a glaring issue considering ASU is allowing a resounding 100 percent opposing red zone scoring percentage. Against Mississippi State, the Sun Devils bolted to a 30-3 lead early in the second half before allowing two straight long Bulldog drives culminating in red zone touchdowns. After allowing a long Bulldog touchdown in the fourth quarter as well, ASU would end up holding out for a 30-23 victory.
Overall, the defense started fast stifling Wyoming to seven points in the season opener but has since slightly loosened allowing 24.3 points per game in the three games since. The unit has been porous but not completely permeable ranking in the top 40 in six categories out of 133 teams.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Net punting — 40 yards (T-50th)
Punt return — 9.50 yards per punt return (t-56th)
Punt return defense — 6 yards per punt return (t-53rd)
Kickoff return — 14.33 yards per kick return (T-123rd)
Kickoff return defense — 19.67 yards per kick return (82nd)
Field goal percentage — 77.8% (63rd)
Synopsis
Kicking accuracy has been nothing spectacular for the Sun Devils as their 77.8% field goal percentage ranks 63rd in the country. Redshirt sophomore kicker Ian Hershey has gone seven for nine with a long of 47.
Overall there has not been a lot of standout production from the special teams defensively or offensively as the group doesn’t rank north of 50 in any category. They are one of the worst kick return units in the country in terms of yards per kick return. More production will be needed from the return unit going forward to help the group’s young quarterback with favorable field position.
Overall
ASU will begin its next four-game stretch with a home game against Kansas (1-4, 0-2) on October 5th. Coming out of the bye week the offense will look to refine its passing game while continuing its dominant performances on the ground. The defense will still hope to perform at one of the country’s best clips while attempting to snag more turnovers and defensive touchdowns. The red zone defense will have to improve if the Sun Devils hope to survive their next three-game stretch.
