Arizona State College Football Preview 2021: Keys To The Season
Arizona State Biggest Key: Offense
Play the full four quarters. The Sun Devils were terrific against USC. They moved the ball well in the first half, they had a 24-14 lead going into the fourth, and …
They couldn’t close. The D couldn’t hang on late in the 28-27 loss, but the O only managed a field goal.
They were able to take an 18-17 lead against UCLA in the fourth quarter, but the D couldn’t hold, the O stalled at midfield, and it was a 25-18 loss. There wasn’t any need to do much else in in the fourth in the 70-7 win over Arizona, and the cake was baked after three in the 46-33 win over Oregon State. Now, though, with so much talent and so much experience, this is the year the offense needs to be able to take over late and win all of the close ones.
There have been several close wins under Herm Edwards, but out of the 13 losses, ten of them were by a touchdown or less, and there were moments in the other three games when the offense could’ve taken over.
This year, the offense has to keep its foot on the gas and keep on scoring.
Arizona State Biggest Key: Defense
Third … down … stops. The Sun Devils haven’t been totally miserable at getting the D off the field, but like the offense, they haven’t been able to do enough in key moments in the fourth.
But coming up with a big play on third downs would be helpful during the rest of the game, too.
There was a time when Arizona State was a brick wall on third downs, allowing teams to convert fewer than 30% of their chances in 2009 and then fewer than 40% in each season between 2010 to 2016.
The 2017 defense allowed over 42% on third downs, and it hasn’t slowed down since with the first three teams under Herm Edwards allowing 41% in each year.
It was only four games, but the 2020 D allowed teams to convert 45%.
It didn’t matter in blowout wins over Arizona and Oregon State, but it was a problem late in the two losses.
Arizona State Key Player To A Successful Season
WR Geordon Porter, Soph.
Or LV Bunkley-Shelton, or Curtis Hodges, or Ricky Pearsall, or Bryan Thompson, or Elijah Badger, or any one of the very deep, very good ASU receiving corps.
Of course, Jayden Daniels is good enough to spread the ball around and keep everyone involved, but it would be nice if there was one go-to No. 1 guy who could step up and make defenses worry. If there’s one top target who needs attention, all of those other parts should blow up.
The 6-2, 200-pound Porter has the size, deep speed, and upside to be that guy with 13 catches for 203 yards and a score, but he’s in a fight for a spot. That means it could be Bunkley-Shelton, or Hodges, or …
Arizona State Key Game To The 2021 Season
at UCLA, Oct. 2
The Bruins might have struggled over the last few years, but not against Arizona State. The Sun Devils were able to pull out a 31-28 win in 2018, but Herm Edwards’ last two teams lost to UCLA – last year’s 25-18 battle was one of the most fun games of 2020 – in a run of three losses in the last four in the series.
This time around, it’s a road game coming after a date with Colorado and before dealing with Stanford. Win, and there’s a chance at a huge start with a trip at Utah up in late October.
– Arizona State Schedule Analysis
2020 Arizona State Fun Stats
– Fumbles: Opponents 9 (lost 8) – Arizona State 8 (lost 4)
– 3rd Quarter Scoring: Arizona State 51 – Opponents 12
– Field Goals In 4 Game Season. ASU 3-of-5 – Opponents 1-of-1