Offensively and Defensively Speaking: Arizona State

As I watched and analyzed this game it became more obvious that this was a game we could’ve won. Admittedly the path to success was much narrower with Drake London gone for the season. He represented at least 40% of our offense and more than that in red zone and 3^rd down conversions. But still, this was a winnable game. So what caused the Trojans to be on the losing end of the score yet again?

• Our little guys couldn’t compete four quarters with their big guys…especially on defense
• Our unsuccessful running game couldn’t offset the lack of passing productivity 
• One too many major penalties especially those that offset a defensive stop or an offensive 3^rd down conversion…penalties while fewer in number were generally careless and killers
• We now have a full-blown QB controversy and no discernible criteria for permanency 
• Offensive Coordinator is in way over his head…and Donte Williams can’t help him.
• Defensive Coordinator is personnel and creativity limited which is particularly damaging to defensive effectiveness and run stoppage. His limitations are mostly self-imposed. I scream when I continue to see Drake Jackson trying to cover a running back on a wheel route up the sideline. Are you kidding me??!!
• Where has the sense of urgency gone from this team and staff? Does anybody really believe we can defeat an opponent as an underdog? 

Offensively Speaking

So where have all the receivers gone? Really, where are they? Put some people out there that want to play football.

Tahj Washington is ok but he’s 5-foot-9 and a clear mismatch for the fade routes at that size. There may not be a better fade route passer than Slovis but create a winnable mismatch for him. Better to put big guys on the field and try running the ball on something other than 3^rd and 1. Try a Wildcat, get closer to the line of scrimmage but for goodness sake asking Kedon Slovis to gain a 3^rd and 3 with an RPO keeper is bordering on criminal.

If I was Donte Williams I’d ask Harrell to coach the TEs and take over the offensive game planning and play calling. Why not? The ship is sinking so take on the role because you’re accountable for these abysmal results anyway. You know what you’re going to get with Harrell as OC. So I would put my chips behind a power run game and play-action passing to taller WRs/TEs and use Tahj Washington in the slot. And Gary Bryant for the deep balls. I guarantee you that 8 man zone defenses we keep seeing will start to disappear. Our longest run (24 yards) was two yards longer than the longest pass completion. This offensive coaching staff should be ashamed of that outcome while still burning up the eligibility and knee joints of these players.

Offensive Shoutouts

• Still looking…maybe Jaxson Dart for a running TD and Malcolm Epps blocking on the same play

Defensively Speaking

We have seen this too many times before. With a few exceptions, this is a defense that isn’t intense or high-motor. Whether it’s zone or man coverage the 3-4 (Tite or Tight) is not working, nor are the players providing the intensity and energy to make any scheme work. It just won’t matter. The defense cannot get off blocks quickly nor tackle while wrapping up. These are not new problems but they are persistent and lingering.

It doesn’t matter who we play. This is what we do and there’s no fixing it this season. We used a lot of zone coverage except with the CBs who man-pressed weak or boundary side. There were some really nice individual plays by Tuli Tuipulotu both tomahawking the ball from White and forcing a fumble and a turnover. I’ll give some credit here for Orlando for moving Tuli around to free him up and cause some line call issues for the ASU offensive line.

Also some really nice athletic and football plays by Xavion Alford with two interceptions and two solo tackles in space. Any team with a dual threat quarterback, a good O-line and some running backs is a formula for a long sad Trojan day (e.g. UCLA). I honestly don’t think Orlando knows what to do with Drake Jackson or Korey Foreman. I also hope So’oto teaches Gibbs to keep his shoulders square and move his feet more as he could be much more effective.

Defensive Shoutouts

• Xavion Alford – Two picks and two solo tackles
• Tuli Tuipulotu – Four tackles, one FF and .5 TFL
• Kanai Mauga – 10 solo tackles and a decleater against White. He missed a few but at least he was intense and playing hard.

Next up is Cal, which just lost to Arizona, snapping the Wildcats’ 20-game losing streak. I like our odds in this one…Fight on, please!