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Know Your Opponent: UCLA Football vs ASU Sun Devils
Oct 1, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Arizona State Sun Devils quarterback Manny Wilkins (5) throws the ball during the first half against the Southern California Trojans at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports
Last week the UCLA Football team knocked off an Arizona team that was reeling from injuries especially at the quarterback position. This week UCLA travels to Tempe, Arizona to square off with a Sun Devils team that has it’s own injury concerns at quarterback.
The 2015 match up of these two teams saw the UCLA Football team come into this game with an injury riddled defense and a young, although impressive, freshman QB in Josh Rosen. On the other side the Sun Devils were looking to bounce back after a blowout loss to the Trojans.
The Bruin defense was overmatched as it attempted to figure out just how to function without Myles Jack, Eddie Vanderdoes, and Fabian Moreau.
Without those stalwarts on defense the ASU offense was able to move at will. Then Sun Devil QB Mike Bercovici dazzled with his arm and his legs and breaking off long runs including a scoring run of 34 yards. He wasn’t alone in his running success as both Demario Richard and Kalen Ballage were able to take advantage of an ineffective UCLA run defense to the combined tune of 138 yards and a score.
The Bruins rebounded last week from a tough loss to Stanford by taking care of business against Rich Rodriquez and the Wildcats. Although Colorado sits atop the PAC-12 South, there’s still plenty of season to be played and the Bruins will get their chance to face off with the Buffs later.
Just like last year the Sun Devils come into this game after a tough loss to the Trojans where they were simply shown up by new starting QB Sam Darnold. Will that loss help to spur them to consecutive victories over the Bruins or will they continue their losing slide?
2016 draws a lot of parallels to last season in that one team is woeful in one aspect of their defense and is dealing with numerous injuries. The catch is that this season that team is the ASU Sun Devils.
Sep 24, 2016; Tempe, AZ, USA; Arizona State Sun Devils quarterback Manny Wilkins (5) runs with the ball against the California Golden Bears at Sun Devil Stadium. The Sun Devils won 51-41. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
ASU Offense
This team, despite having the ability to really spread you out, is heavily focused on running the ball. If you run the ball well you burn clock which limits the opposition’s offensive possessions.
This forces their offense to become one dimensional with a heavy emphasis on passing the ball which plays right into the blitz happy Sun Devils’ hands. Geez what a mouthful.
This season the run game has continued to be the emphasis evidenced by Ballage’s 8 scores against Texas Tech earlier this season.
Pairing him with Richard makes for a lethal one two combination with both having the power to bowl you over and enough agility to shake you in the open field. Pair that with quarterback Manny Wilkins’ ability to create magic with his legs and you’ve got a myriad of ways this team can move the ball.
Hold on did I say Wilkins? Because he’s doubtful for this game with a leg injury. By doubtful I mean pretty much out. Enter back up QB Brady White. A mobile QB who isn’t afraid to sling it downfield, White brings a lot of the same type of play as Wilkins to the backfield but isn’t nearly as polished. Of course neither was Wilkins so that should tell you something.
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White won’t be asked to be too much especially in the running department since the Sun Devils can ill afford another QB injury. Bryce Perkins who is the younger brother of former UCLA RB Paul Perkins is out for likely the season with a neck injury so ASU only has three healthy options at QB with two of them being true freshmen nowhere near ready for action at this level.
When White throws the ball he should be looking for both Tim White and N’Keal Harry who have combined for 48 passes caught this season. White has caught 28 passes to Harry’s 20 but has been kept out of the endzone. Potential offensive weapon TE Kody Kohl has been limited to just three catches this season as this offense isn’t designed to feature the versatile tight end.
The Sun Devils want to pound the ball forcing defenses to play closer to the line of scrimmage and devote more guys to the box to stop the run. By doing that they get a chance for their athletes on the perimeter to be isolated one on one and will utilize the bubble screen game in hopes of breaking a long one. This will draw the safeties up but also causes them to widen leaving the middle of the field wide open for a deep shot or two.
It’s a lot to digest but trust me, this offense has the potential to hurt teams if it can execute. That’s a big if at this point.
Oct 1, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Southern California Trojans running back Justin Davis (22) runs the ball defended by Arizona State Sun Devils defensive back Armand Perry (13) during the first half at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports
ASU Defense
If you are somehow unaware, the Sun Devils blitz. It doesn’t seem to be a phase with them either so long as Todd Graham is the head coach. His aggressive style can force big plays and turnovers for his defense but can also leave them exposed to the big play as well.
In years past the back end of this defense was secured by safety Jordan Simone and corner Lloyd Carrington. However both of those players have moved on and the secondary has struggled for it. The Sun Devils have struggled so much in fact that they rank dead last in college football up to this point in the season by allowing almost 400 yards through the air per contest.
When you take a look at the run defense for the Sun Devils it is substantially better. It isn’t just because teams can throw on them at will either. If you look closely you’ll see the Sun Devils are holding opponents to 3.4 yards per rush meaning that when opponents decide to try and be more balanced, ASU is managing to slow them.
The front seven of this defense isn’t anything to shake a stick at. They still feature active players like Tashon Smallwood upfront and he is aided by sophomore JoJo Wicker who is showing plenty of improvement in his second full season at defense end. Gifted with impressive size and athletic ability, Wicker is the kind of piece you can build your defense around.
In the linebacking group, D.J. Calhoun plays like he’s been fired out of a cannon and he’s built like a cannon ball too. Not overly tall, he uses his 230lb frame to force fumbles from ball carriers and is a deadly blitzer.
However his small frame means he can be engulfed by blockers who reach the second level and he would rather go around offensive linemen rather than through them which can mean he isn’t in the best position to make a tackle or simply runs himself out of the play.
Sep 24, 2016; Tempe, AZ, USA; Arizona State Sun Devils head coach Todd Graham stares at Sun Devils defensive lineman Edmond Boateng (97) after a penalty against the California Golden Bears during the first half at Sun Devil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
Final Analysis
This is a game tailor made for a passer like Rosen. The young UCLA QB has all of the talent in the world and given his perceived slow start to the season could really capitalize on this exposed secondary if his receivers catch the ball (another topic for another time).
This Bruin team has most importantly been playing much better defensively with defensive coordinator Tom Bradley seemingly getting his feet under him. That will play a vital role in the Bruins being able to impose their will on the Sun Devils and not be surprised by the young back up QB.
ASU has seemingly too many holes on the defensive side of the ball and now with a key injury to their starting QB, will likely be forced to call a more conservative gameplan in order to keep their backup upright.
Look for ASU to try and come after Rosen early and often as they look to gain extra possessions and keep the Bruins off balance. Forcing UCLA into offensive miscues will be the only saving grace for a Sun Devil team that has more questions than answers at this point.
That being said, everything looks to be lined up for a UCLA victory in Tempe behind Rosen and his receivers. UCLA wins 38-20.
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