After this week’s final full length practice leading into Arizona State’s showdown with the Wisconsin Badgers on Saturday, ASU head coach Todd Graham made it apparent he and the team know what they’re facing.
“We’re not going to play against a team that runs the ball any better than they [Wisconsin Badgers] do.” Graham said.
The Badgers feature an offensive line full of guys over six feet four inches, and all of them are over 300 pounds. ASU, on the other hand, will need to use their strengths in this one.
“We’re explosive, power and speed,” Graham said. “That’s what we’re all about.”
Defensive tackle Will Sutton is relishing the chance to play against a team known for their top-notch running game.
“People say we can’t stop the run. It’s just music to our ears,” Sutton said. “We’ve just got to go out there and prove them wrong.”
Sutton said the biggest difference the team will have in helping stop the run this year is the team’s improved experience. With the Sun Devils returning more than a few starters on the defensive side from last year, they are expecting to know better how to stop the plays that they’ll see from Wisconsin on Saturday.
Graham emphasized again the importance of ball control, being mistake free and limiting penalties, saying that for the Sun Devils, playing a tough Wisconsin team and winning will be a big step forward.
“We’ve got some pretty good players,” Graham said. “I’m excited to see how our guys match up against one of the best teams in the country, and see how we do.”
