I'm told that the USC game will sell out before Saturday so if you were planning to go I wouldn't delay your ticket purchase.

Here is the link

Mornin Mates...

Today's Topic = Don't Look Now...

But, both AU and ASU are tied with USC for first place in the Wacky PAC South race...

How improbable is that considering that both the Cats and Sun Devils were picked for the PAC South basement by the preseason media and each team looked pretty poor to start the season...

Now, the tables have seemingly turned and, even though both still have to play USC, one or both of those state teams could somehow be playing for the PAC South Title in the big Territorial Cup game that ends the season at ASU in late November...

The Cats still have to play Wazzu this weekend in Tucson while the Devils will host USC this Sat in SDS...the Cats then travel to USC, get Oregon St at home, before finishing the season at Oregon and ASU, while the Sun Devils host Colorado following their USC game and then have to travel to both UCLA and Oregon St before returning home to host AU in their final game...

Meanwhile, the Trojans just got hammered by Notre Dame in South Bend and it will be hard to figure out what their mindset will be when they play the Sun Devils next Sat...

Will they be really down or will they rally knowing that they still have a good chance to win the PAC South and move on to the PAC championship game..??

On the other side of that mindset coin, both AU and ASU will be riding high following their wins on Sat...

I'll be interested to see whether Wazzu can slow down the Cats ground game that is 1st in the PAC these days, averaging over 342 ypg and where they are also 1st in scoring at 43.1 ppg and total offense, averaging over 514 ypg...

I'll also be very interested to see whether the Devils can keep playing at their high level of performance, especially on defense, that seems to have recently turned things around almost totally from the ineptness that plagued them for the past 2.5 years...

When we ask what has changed, defensively, for us, the obvious answer is that Phil Bennett is the new DC and Todd isn't monkeying around with the D anymore during games, plus we seem to have a better secondary to compliment things and we don't seem to be blitzing all that much like we have done in the past...

On a related note, regarding coaching "hot seats" it would appear, barring a total collapse, that TG, Rich Rod and even Mora might make it, without getting fired this season, although Mora still has to face Wash, Utah and USC on the road...

Finally, you have to wonder whether Kyle Whittingham's decision to start Tyler Huntley at QB yesterday was the correct one since senior Troy Williams had been doing a pretty solid job running the Utes offense in Huntley's absence the past couple of weeks...

In any event, it worked out well for the Sun Devils who intercepted Huntley four times during the game and returned one INT for a TD to seal the win late in the game...

So, who do you think is going to win the PAC South and why..??

G'day Mates and Go Devils!!!

Short-term memory approach serving the resurging Sun Devils well.

Here's Jeff Griffith's article from today's press conference

Inadvertently, I kept ESPN on following USC's gag job tonight. The program featured some female analyst commenting on the implications of tonight's game regarding the CFP. Paraphrasing, "Washington was the biggest loser tonight. I see Bama, Clemson, the Big11 champion, and Oklahoma as the four teams making it into the CFP. The Pac12 is simply too weak this year. And UW has played a very unimpressive OOC schedule." This dumping on our conference by that network is never-ending, unless, of course, USC is dominating. On any given week, almost half the Pac12 is ranked. Currently, we have four teams in the top 25, with four teams receiving "other votes." How the hell does that constitute our conference being "weak?"

With regard to playing a weak schedule, why isn't ESPN scrutinizing the mighty Tide? At the end of the regular season, it may end up playing one good team - Auburn - prior to facing Georgia in the SEC title game. Two difficult games all year yet, no one dare utter a word about its pitiful schedule. The SEC is absolute garbage this year., just as its been for years. Why would an undefeated SEC champion get in over an undefeated Pac12 champion? Oh, I forgot, SEC fans sell-out their stadiums, even versus Middle Tennessee State in the middle of November. All I know about the SEC is this: If the God damn conference is so great, how is ONE team able to completely dominate it every stinkin' year? What I respect about the other P5 conferences is that they are incredibly competitive, difficult to win and have rarely ever been dominated by a single program. Bama wakes up every year, looks at its conference foes, laughs, and goes back to sleep. No team in Pac12, Big12, ACC or Big11 gets to enjoy such a luxury.

Sorry for this late night soapbox but that analyst's remarks about our conference really got my blood boiling.

Remains very committed to UCLA but visits to Washington and Arizona State could now happen:

https://n.rivals.com/news/ucla-commit-planning-some-pac-12-visits

Here's some research from ASU's Media Relations:

Navy 25.9
Georgia Tech 35.7
Army West Point 36.2
Arizona State 37.3
Air Force 38.0

He was supposed to commit today and said he's not anymore but ASU seemed to be his leader and it shows he's OV'ing next weekend...any news on this?

Doug Haller reports on azcentral that Bragg has 'left he team' but that the absence is excused for 'personal reasons'.

Given his history at Kansas, and especially given his association with Adidas and the timing of the 'personal reasons' being so close to the Adidas scandal breaking, this has me a bit concerned.

Will be interesting to see if and when he shows back up.

http://www.azcentral.com/story/spor...-roster-extended-look-bobby-hurley/784650001/

I was one who had given up on CTG after the Texas Tech game, if not sooner - and in an outspoken fashion within the threads of this forum.

Admittedly, I did so with a lot of disappointment, because I like so many things that CTG has done in building of our players into better human beings who are better prepared for life after football, doing a great job of raising funds, etc.

I just did not see how such a bad start 6 years in was an indicator of anything other than an immutable culture of losing and poor performance.

I am happy to say that it seems as though I was very wrong. I have seen other PAC-10 and PAC-12 teams "improve by leaps and bounds as the season goes on," but never at ASU. Those were always Mike Riley, Mike Leach, Stanford, or USC teams... never ASU. In fact, ASU typically started off hot and flamed out.

I am overjoyed by what looks to be an immediate U-turn on all fronts of this program for a change. With 18-22 year-olds, swings like this - in either direction - are attributable to coaching and teaching more than any other factor. So kudos to CTG and this staff. I don't think that I am alone at all in seeing a seemingly good man turn the ship away from the iceberg.

Steady on, Captain - all of the rest are winnable; I could not care less about how ASU wins them, as long as it does... with the exception of the Rats. There is not a margin of victory sufficiently large for me. No kneeling down during the final minute on that one, boys...

TEMPE, Ariz. – Arizona State freshman placekicker Brandon Ruiz was named the Pac-12 Special Teams Player of the Week, according to an announcement by the conference office on Monday.

Ruiz was recognized for his performance in the Sun Devils' 30-10 win at Utah on Saturday in which he had a perfect day making all three of his field goals (47, 40, 30 yards) and all three of his PATs.

Ruiz, who is tied for first in the nation among freshmen in field goals made with 11, was responsible for ASU's first nine points of the game in helping the Sun Devils come away with points on their first three possessions to take a 9-0 lead after one quarter.

In addition to his brilliant accuracy on FGs/PATs, Ruiz also contributed to ASU's defensive effort with his kickoffs as he sent four of them for touchbacks while the other three were returned no further than Utah's own 19-yard line. The Utes' average starting field position on the seven kickoffs was their own 21-yard line.

This is the second time Ruiz has won the award, also earning the honor following ASU's 37-35 win over then-No. 25 Oregon on Sept. 23. Ruiz punctuated his perfect night (3-3 FGs, 4-4 PATs) against the Ducks by connecting on a game-winning 41-yard field goal with 2:33 remaining. Ruiz was also successful on field goals from 29 and 24 yards against the Ducks.

Ruiz is the first Sun Devil to win Pac-12 Player of the Week honors twice as a freshman since former placekicker Zane Gonzalez accomplished the feat in 2013. Fellow placekicker Thomas Weber holds the schools record for most conference player of the week awards as a freshman with three in 2007.

Utah's sack on Devils
1)Q3, 3rd and 4, LB blitz and D Rich doesn't pick him up

ASU's sacks on Utah
1)Q1-Huge push by Wren forces the issue, delayed blitz by Calhoun and Rhodes and Wicker cleans up with sack for -4.
2)Late Q3 or early Q4-Great push by Wren forces the issue and delayed blitz by Calhoun gets the sack

This morning my phone contained a message about contenders and their chances of getting to the final 4. Needless to say their was a long write up on the Spoiled Childern and Sam Donaldson Quotes. They expect to win out right and get to the big games. The arrogant attitude never changes with those guys, No mention of up coming schedule. Hope they show up with that confidence, with the Devils chip on their shoulder if we continue to play as we have been since the Bye, Again we will win the point spread if not the game. Bennets schemes have been great.

Speaking of screams. JJ Willison's pick six must have occurred while we were running a zone Blitz. Its about time to see this four star recruit finding a place for his talent. When he moved to DE there was a lot of why post on the board. Heck as little as we use our TE as a receiver, It looked like French-Love was ignored in the 4th quarter by Utah

Another week, another game where the Sun Devils turn in a dominant performance versus a Pac-12 foe and having its fan base shake their collective heads again in amazement.

ASU at Utah Post Game Thoughts

i'm going to record some thoughts on the way home from Salt Lake City, happy to take any questions or hit on any topics that you would like to hear about. Post them below.

If we beat both Utah and SC we have a fairly easy road to the PAC 12 south championship. If we only win one of the two, the SC game is more important If we beat SC but lose to Utah, we still control our own destiny as we would have the tiebreaker with SC for the PAC 12 championship. Utah would have the tiebreaker over us but still needs to play the two Washington schools. Both the Devils and SC have the easiest part of their schedules coming up after we play each other. Bottom line is that we need to beat SC for sure and if we beat Utah also, we just need to go 3-1 in our last four games to win the south!
GO DEVILS!

"After last night, maybe we should take a little break from making predictions, sit back, and let the unexpected events that are the beauty of college football run its course."

That was my favorite line after the Udub victory

It could easily be used again this week......but I can't help myself....

Prior to the season, I had us going 7-5 (wins v NMSU/SDSU/TTU/CU/OSU/U4 and 1 of either UCLA or Utah on the road).

If we were to start the season over today, I think I would go with those same wins/record, but the great thing right now is that there is justifiable hope for something even better. (Truly amazing as after the TTU game it looked like we may not be favored in a game the rest of the season).

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After Arizona State's 30-10 win over Utah in Salt Lake City, Devil's Junkie Podcast Host Ralph Amsden shares his thoughts about the sudden resurgence of the program while driving back through Utah and Northern Arizona on the way to Tempe. How has Todd Graham and his staff accomplished this? Can they match up with USC? Here's a one-hour stream-of-consciousness on those topics and more.

Total Offense 72 394.9
Rushing Offense 106 127.4
Passing Offense 36 267.4
Team Passing Efficiency 40 142.84
Scoring Offense 61 29.4
Total Defense 88 416.6
Rushing Defense 67 164.9
Passing Yards Allowed 98 251.7
Team Passing Efficiency Defense 87 135.28
Scoring Defense 83 28.4
Turnover Margin T-39 0.43
3rd Down Conversion Pct 48 0.421
4th Down Conversion Pct T-32 0.636
3rd Down Conversion Pct Defense T-74 0.400
4th Down Conversion Pct Defense T-20 0.375
Red Zone Offense T-6 0.958
Red Zone Defense T-74 0.840
Net Punting 122 33.86
Punt Returns 113 3.56
Kickoff Returns 36 22.92
First Downs Offense 75 144
First Downs Defense T-63 143
Fewest Penalties Per Game 1 3.14
Fewest Penalty Yards Per Game 3 31.00
Time of Possession 12 33:08

Link: https://arizonastate.rivals.com/news/role-reversal-graham-goes-from-the-hot-seat-to-a-hot-streak#

Darnold already fumbled the ball. ND up 14-0.
USC is getting torched.

They ran 23 plays in the 1st half and 37 in the 2nd half. It felt as though their final drive 2 drives(13 plays/80yards....by FAR their most plays/yardage on a drive the entire game & 2 plays 25 yds) could have been very different if we did not bring in 4 backups and even more due to our PREVENT status.
In the 1st half we rushed more than 4 on a total of 3 of the 23 plays.

In the 2nd half we rushed more than 4 on a total of 8 of the 37 plays.

I did not count a 3 man front with a blitzing LB as a blitz (Which happened a couple of plays). I also did not count the 2 plays where we stacked the LOS on 4th & 2 and then 1st and goal even though Lucas blitzed and just missed a 5 yard TFL on Moss.

1)Delayed blitz by Calhoun on 2nd and 11. Wren with great push to pressure and Wicker cleans up with 4 yard sack!
2)Incomplete to Simpkins. Lucas with great coverage
3)1st and 10 at the 37 and Sam/Lea and the ever present turf monster take down Huntley for another sack! 1 yd loss (although I think they officially listed this as a TFL...running QB creates this???)
4)Moss-15 yard run to left
5)Moss-6 yds middle
6)Cole-3 yds middle
7)Cole 2- yds, 1st down. Not really a blitz. They had 2 TEs and we sent 5 on power run formation
8)Incomplete-Wilson hits Huntley's throwing arm as he releases
9)Moss 1 yd. Not really a blitz. Utah had 2 TEs and 3 RBs
10)Never seen this EVER in the CTG era. We put 8 on the LOS. EIGHT!!!! 3rd and 9 on our 45. Williams great coverage on Wilson. Lucas great coverage on his man. Das picked up the TE late and just in time. Inc.
11)Late blitz by Calhoun, complete to Carrington for 14 yards as Lucas in coverage makes the tackle


One thing I found very interesting was that although we were EXTREMELY successful in the 1st half with our 3 blitzes on 23 plays........Bennett immediately opened up the 2nd half with 7 blitzes in the first drive (12 total plays) that resulted in a 53 yd FG. He only blitzed one more time in the entire rest of the game (although I'm sure the score....23-3 and later 30-3....had something to do with that).

I was just watching the game again and at the 1:54 mark of the first half, right after the reply time out, Sam Jones is playing air guitar to Ozzy Osborne's Crazy Train which is playing over the stadium speakers. Talk about a guy who is relaxed out there. It is very funny.

Thoughts?