ASU Football: ASU vs. UCLA Rapid Reaction
The Arizona State Sun Devils hosted the UCLA Bruins in a back-and-forth game that ended with ASU improving to 5-1 on the season with a 23-20 victory.
While the Sun Devils did improve on things during the week since their loss to USC, the team still struggled at times with some things. Here are my quick takeaways.
1. Coach Todd Graham needs to trust the starting quarterback with the playbook more
Tonight’s game from Brady White is an exact replica of what we saw from Manny Wilkins in his first start of the season. The first half was a very forgettable performance as there was really no down-field passing, just screen passes and short little dump off passes. Then in the second half, both White and Wilkins seemed more comfortable in the offense and began to air the ball out more.
These sort of half time adjustments, while good, need to happen sooner. If White was given the trust in the first half then it’s possible that this game could have been a blowout instead of a nail biter. If Graham could let go of the playbook and allow the quarterback to use all the plays to his disposal then this offense can be a dangerous one game in and game out.
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2. The secondary improved from last week’s embarrassment
The secondary is still an eye sore, but it did improve from last week. Broken tackles weren’t as big of an issue, and very few times was a receiver wide open. The secondary needs to take what they did in this game, and roll with it. If they can do that then not only will the defense benefit, but the offense will as well. When an offense doesn’t feel forced to get points because they know the defense won’t be able to stop the opposing offense, then the offense can stay calm on the field and the ability to score points will come with ease.
3. Manny Wilkins needs to be ready for next week
Next week is a huge game for ASU. They are facing a Colorado team that is surprisingly dangerous and who is actually vying for the Pac-12 south title. One way to continue the momentum from this win would be to get a healthy Wilkins back.
With a healthy Wilkins, the offense becomes a lot more dynamic. While Brady White did a good job of stepping in for this game, he is some of the reason why ASU only put up 23 points against UCLA. Wilkins makes the defense pay more attention to him, since he has the ability to run the ball effectively, and that opens up the running game with Kalen Ballage and Demario Richard.
The Arizona State Sun Devils have proven all the naysayers wrong this season. A season that started out with the mindset of, “They have a young team, and they will be lucky to win six games,” has become a season of excitement. The sky is the limit for the Sun Devils, and a victory next week would go a long way to giving them a solid chance at a spot in the Pac-12 championship game.