just read Brad Cesmat's latest three dot thoughts, where he calls Brandon Ruiz potentially flipping to ASU the "worst kept secret."

I actually thought I was doing a pretty good job of keeping the secret. Haha. I did post in here that it was possible, as well as include a list of other kickers they're looking at if it doesn't happen, but when I was told, I was asked to keep it in confidence, so I did.

So now that it's out there, multiple sources told me on 10/28 that this might happen. I'm still not 100% sure that's going to be the case, but as I've written before, ASU is in a perfect position to market Zane's success, and Ruiz has changed his mind about leaving the state before.

Hod & Ralph, I'm curious your guys opinion on him and the job he's doing so far?

I have been thinking about our recruiting and maybe we are missing on players that can provide an extra edge. We seem to have lost the Corona Centennial pipeline and maybe CTG's plan of recruiting high character guys, is costing us a higher level player. Reminds me of Duke basketball when Coach K would not recruit one and done guys and started to slide off the basketball map. Coach K changed his ways, does CTG need to lower his standards a little ? I don't want trouble makers, but maybe slightly higher character. We need to shore up our trenches, on both sides.

Go Devils !!

Mornin Mates...

Today's Topic = Talent Is Destiny As Proven Once More

USC has more talent than any other team in the PAC and most other teams in the country for that matter and is why, once they found their QB, they have not lost a game and beat a good, solid Wash team yesterday in Seattle, no less...

If you are still wondering about ASU's defensive woes just ask yourself this question..??

Would the Trojans, Huskies, Utes and/or Buffaloes, trade any of their defensive personnel for anyone on the Sun Devil defense..??

Although you would hate to admit it, since it is painful to do so, you would have to answer that no, none of those teams would trade any of their defensive players for any of ours with, perhaps, one or two exceptions...

And, how damning is that given that this is Todd's fifth year at ASU and that he is supposed to be a defensive minded coach-guru or something to that effect, plus his recruiting has supposedly been pretty good if you believe those recruiting services that rank classes...

Luckily for him, both Rich Rod and Jim Mora are also having very bad seasons and for some of the same reasons...losses of QBs and having other key injuries that have really hindered things this season...

But, ASU is leading the world in defensive futility like no other program in existence and lack of talent most probably does not explain all of the futility, as many here and elsewhere have rightfully pointed out...

Which leads me to this key question..??

Do we trust Graham to figure out what is required to fix things..??

I used to think that he was up to that task but I'm not so sure these days as I think he is a "true believer" in his defensive philosophy and will either sink or swim with his beliefs in that regard...

On a different note, it was pretty amazing that the 2-3-4 playoff ranked teams all lost yesterday, especially the losses by Clemson and Michigan...

On another note, it's hard to watch those PAC games that don't start until 8:00 or 8:30 at night, even if it provides a lot of money to the conference...I don't even stay up any more to watch those games that should be played in the day or a lot earlier in the evening this time of year...

Additionally, the ratings of even NFL games is going down largely, I think, because people don't like all the commercial breaks and stoppages, when something is being reviewed, which spoils the continuity of the games and just plain makes them un-enjoyable...

Plus, the refs are throwing hankies all over the place if a QB is touched or if someone makes a hard tackle...I'm not for targeting but there are a lot of marginal calls these days in that area...

It's like watching The Price Is Right instead of football and I'm pretty sure that a tipping point of sorts has been reached where a lot of fans are concerned...

Anyway, do you trust Graham to fix what is ailing our defense whatever that may be..??

G'day Mates and Go Devils!!!

Sidebar by Fabian Ardaya on the wing player who has so far exceeded even the most optimistic preseason expectations

Via Justin Toscano

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Postgame comments following ASU's 96-74 win over Cal Poly via Justin Toscano

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He is announcing on Wednesday - anyone have a read on him?
I know we're in the mix for a while but I haven't heard anything lately.
Hod, I am going to go out on a limb and guess you have some sort of overall recruiting synopsis or overview due out soon.....true?

Story by Fabian Ardaya

ASU, Cal and USC

ASU hockey rebounded from a 4-2 deficit in the third period to beat UNH 5-4 in OT. ASU tied the game with a goal with 1:30 left and scored off a nice rebound in OT. Robert Levin got the start in goal and Jordan Masters was back for the first time this season. He has been out for some team violations and I didn't know if we would see him this year. He was on the third line and looked good. Quick turnaround as they get #3 BC tomorrow afternoon. Go Devils!!!

The result may have been expected but that doesn't soften the blow of last night's loss

Utah at ASU Postgame Thoughts

Hod
I have seen the start time for the men's basketball game tomorrow night at 600pm and 700pm. Which is it???
Pops

Game recap by Justin

I don't know how you give up a sack to a two man pass rush like what happened last night to the Sun Devils on one play against Utah...their two man pass rush, because the Utes dropped nine guys into coverage, beat how many "blockers" for ASU and sacked Wilkins as a result..??

What an embarrassment, as is the continuing woeful performance of our defense, and our offense wasn't much better, either...

You all know that I'm a Talent Is Destiny guy but our coaching has really left a lot to be desired as well this season and last...

That aside, this is Whittingham's 12th year at Utah and, although they never seem to have highly rated recruiting classes, they do have a lot of continuity with what they are doing that includes molding the players they do recruit into good, solid players and their teams generally are greater than the sum of their parts, it looks like to me...

The Utes had at least nine upper-classmen starting on offense and another nine upper-classmen starting on defense and both of their lines are much better than ours, as is their whole defense and their starting safeties are built like linebackers that is a huge plus...

We should not have this many defensive breakdowns, game after painful game, that give up big plays to our opponents that lead to demoralization and losses and has to stop, although the coaches seem at loss as to how to do that...

A lot of it has to do with a lack of adequate talent, as I've repeatedly pointed out, but it has also become painfully obvious that it also has to do with coaching and a lack thereof, on that side of the ball...

We've also had a lot of injuries but so has Utah and look at the difference in the programs right now...ours is in disarray while their program is not...

There needs to be a lot of soul searching going on by Graham, both now and after the season...

I know we don't have enough talent and depth, which shouldn't be a problem in your fifth year, but you should also have a better staff in place and it's obvious at this point that we don't right now...

I know renewal of my season tickets is going to depend on what Graham decides to do with his program in the coming weeks and months and I don't say that lightly for the Sun Devils are not "lovable losers"...

Is Utah really that much farther along than us because Whittingham has been in SLC for 12 years while Graham has only been in Tempe five years..??

What say you..??

Go Devils!!!

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In this episode Ralph Amsden brings in DevilsDigest.com publisher Hod Rabino to talk recruiting questions and concerns regarding the 2017 class, as well as Hod's memories of this year's group of seniors. He also talks with DevilsDigest staff writer Fabian Ardaya about the type of offense that Utah runs, and about Arizona State's chances of knocking off the ranked team.

At the half he was 15-26 215 yards 3 TDs. That was more passing yards than he averaged per game and a career high for TD passes.

In the 2nd half they only ran 24 total plays and that includes the victory formation.

So he only went 5-11 for 81 yds and 1 TD but that was enough to set his career mark for yards in a game and TD passes.

I continuously hear CTG blaming 'Blown Coverage's" for giving up the big plays. So who's at fault with that? I can't help but think that our defense is either too complex or the system we have of communicating what we want run is too ineffective. I can understand the 'blame' going to a player if it's early in the year or it's a player that you eventually have to replace. But hearing this time and again and this late in the season (again) is a Coaching issue IMO.

Also, I have a hard time understanding all the love for CTG yet hate for the side of the ball that he is most responsible for: The Defense. Anyone that watches the games and CTG orchestrating every minute detail on defense and thinks that this is Patterson's D is not paying attention IMO.

I wonder if this D is CTG's brainchild and he just can't see the inherent weakness in it so can't even fathom scrapping it for a system that actually has proven to consistently work; but the data doesn't lie. Our D sucks and has for some time now and it is CTG's direct responsibility (more than just "he's the head coach so he's responsible" this is his D in every detail).

Hoops season starts tonight. We are going to be a pretty decent team. We can no longer complain about the coach, a weak schedule, recruiting, or athleticism. We need to support this team and Hurley by showing up and talking about it on this forum. I know football rules here. But we can do both.

ASDE

What are the chances that a 5 star prospect at ANY position, (let alone WR or CB) that some had rated as the top WR in the 2016 class was going to:

1) arrive in the Summer (not an early enrollee) and grasp the playbook enough to start the 1st game of the season when there were redshirt juniors (and others with multiple years of experience in the program) that had been given tons of reps with the 1's in multiple camps at the WR position?

2)become a go-to guy as a tru frosh against some of the best defenses we face

3)Be a very hard worker

4)Be humble

5)Be a good blocker as a tru frosh
?????

6)Have that rare combination of soft but very strong hands

There aren't many like N'Keal

That said, for the first time last night I watched him stand there and do absolutely NOTHING.on a play very similar to his 31 yard TD run where someone (I think Ballage) made a lot out of nothing. Can't recall the period of the game, the play or much but I watched it a couple times at 1AM. It could be argued that the action was on the opposite side of the field and that just staying on his side would occupy at least 1 defender and create space....but at some point he needed to give some effort and never did.

Nobody ever has a perfect game

As I said, this is the first time I have seen this all season. He is a great player and a lead-by-example teammate that may become a vocal leader as well

The 16th ranked Lady Devils open up against Illinois State at 4pm today. Your ticket will get you into the men's game for free.