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STORY: Recovery and Retention are keys for ASU's bye week

“I didn't feel like our guys played fast enough. So, we got to be able to shrink what we're doing to make sure our guys can play fast." Employing a more economical playbook in order to increase efficiency is a pragmatic solution to the issues in the Texas Tech loss

Dillingham believes that Kansas’ record doesn't reflect their talent level

“They don’t look like a team that’s struggling much. They’re the same team that was predicted to potentially win the league at the start of the season." Kenny Dillingham knows that a 1-4 record inaccurately portrays ASU's upcoming opponent

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Sunday Walkabout

Mornin Mates...

Today's Topic = The Power of a BYE

The only issue here is whether it becomes a STATEMENT like what happened with the Cats upsetting the Utes last night in SLC following a BYE week or whether it will become a QUESTION for other teams like ASU, that had a BYE this week before facing Kansas next weekend in SDS...

The Cats took full advantage of their BYE week to remedy some shortcomings on both sides of the ball in time to beat a Top 10 ranked Utes team on the road...

The question for our Sun Devils is will they look like a team that is coming off a BYE prepared to make a statement moving forward like the Cats or not..??

Right now, our Devils are without a win in the conference along with Oklahoma St, Baylor, Houston and Kansas...

The leaders in the conference include BYU, Colorado, Texas Tech, Iowa St, W Virginia, and AU (since their K-State loss was not counted as a Big-12 game)...

Yes, the season's still very young but the Devils, following this BYE week, are now facing the toughest part of their schedule and haven't looked like any sort of well run offense or defense, thus far...

Will that start to change this next game against the Jayhawks when they are well rested and healthier than they have been in awhile..??

Their remaining home games include Kansas, Utah, UCF and BYU and the Devils might be able to beat all of them if they have improved significantly over this BYE week...

Kansas has lost four straight games while Utah just lost and UCF was trashed by Colorao and BYU still has to face all kinds of conference challenges before they face the Devils later in the season...

But, the Utes have this next week off and will undoubtedly have Cam Rising back at QB when they face ASU in two weeks...

So, it looks like if the Devils have any chance for winning enough games to go bowling, at the end of the season, they have to beat Kansas next Saturday...

In other college football news,
Wyoming finally won a game when the beat the Air Force Academy yesterday and UNLV didn't miss a beat without their starting QB who basically quit the team over an NIL dispute...

As a matter of fact, the Rebels looked really good with their "second string" QB running their offense against Fresno St yesterday...

So, will the BYE week prove a real benefit for our Sun Devils or not this week against Kansas and beyond, in your estimation..??

I sure hope so as Cincy scored 41 pts against Texas Tech in a losing effort in Lubbock (41-44), a week after we only scored 22 pts...

The Kansas game looks like a toss-up type of deal even though we are 3-1 and they are 1-4, which tells me how the betting professionals see the game...

So, again, will the BYE transform our team the way it did for the Cats who were an 8 point underdog to the Utes..??

Stay tuned and Go Devils!!!

Know Your Foe: Kansas

Following a nine-win campaign, no one expected Kansas to win just one game nearing the season’s midpoint, still seeking their first Big 12 win. What are the challenges that are affecting the Jayhawks ahead of their road trip to ASU? Jayhawk Slant Publisher Jon Kirby discusses the Sun Devils’ upcoming opponent.

New Speak of the Devils Podcast: 1-on-1 with DL coach Diron Reynolds

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Diron Reynolds has put together a widely respected coaching career at the college and NFL levels, mentoring a host of star players—including new Hall of Famer Dwight Freeney—and earning a Super Bowl ring along the way. He also has been a key part of the Von Miller Pass Rush Summit, where the best pass rushers in the world gather annually to hone their craft. Through the early part of the 2024 season, his impact on the Arizona State line play has been significant. On this episode, we go in-depth on his coaching origin story, working his way from a GA to a Super Bowl champion, the finer points of trench play, why he came to ASU, the Devils’ D-line, and much more.

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Spring Snapshot: Kansas

Let's start getting familiar with the Big 12 teams ASU will face in the fall. First up is Kansas. The Jayhawks were one of the biggest surprises in 2023, but can they be comfortable now being the hunter and not the hunted? JayhawkSlant Publisher Jon Kirby offers his perspective

Theme of the week: Big 12 Road Blues

Last week, Big 12 teams were just 2-5 on the road against conference opponents. The only 2 wins coming from playoff contenders Utah and UCF.

Baylor and UofA have also lost road games to conference opponents in “non conference” games. So road teams are 2-7.

As the season moves into week 5, this will be my theme of the week. How well do road teams do?

Is there anything you will be watching this week?

STORY: Three-star Texas DL Daeshon Morgan finds home at Arizona State


Hey guys, Ben Golan with RedRaiderSports here (Texas Tech Rivals).

@Hod Rabino and the team are traveling to Las Vegas for Big 12 Media Days this week so he asked if I could help with this story. Just got off the phone with Morgan, hope you guys like it.

Preseason preparations are in full swing ahead of a challenging schedule

“I think they are playing together for the most part playing the right way, and we're not perfect. Competing means something to a majority of the guys in the gym right now.” Bobby Hurley's roster reconstruction is providing optimism for the 2024-5 season

Podcast: Bye Week mailbag addressing the fans’ questions

(55 minutes)

Even at a 3-1 record, there is plenty for the Sun Devils to fix over the bye week, and the questions ASU fans submitted to me revolved around that topic and are replied in great detail in this podcast’s episode

To listen, click play below, or

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What we think we know about the 2024 Sun Devils

With the "first season" of four games behind us, what do you think you know about us? In other words, what has solidified in your mind over the last four weeks?

I admit that I wasn't really sure what to expect at all this year. There is so much player turnover that it makes it difficult to rely much on last year when anticipating a new season. Also, last year was such a weird year with injuries, new coaches, etc. that I didn't really get a read on how good or bad we would have been if the full team was available most of the year.

With that, I'll throw out a few things I think we know about the 2024 Sun Devils. Reply with what you think you know and/or tell me why I'm an idiot for my thoughts:

1. We are more talented than last year, but still not talented enough to me more than a middle of the road B12 team.

2. We are not as deep at WR or RB as we thought we'd be.

3. Leavitt is good for a RS freshman, but isn't going to win games for us on his own. Someone else is going to have to take the lead for us in close games.

4. The OL is exactly what we thought - fine in the interior and weak at tackle.

5. Six wins should still be seen as a solid season, even with a 3-0 start.

STORY: Bye week gives ASU a chance to right the ship

"We've lowered the standard through a little bit of success, and that's my fault. I told them we got to get back to the standard that we had all spring and all summer." Aside from X's and O's refusing the team's mindset is also a goal during the bye week

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