Pasadena, Calif. – Another year, another Todd Graham ASU squad dusts itself off after what could have been a season defining loss and displays enormous character and resiliency in the process. The Sun Devils travel to the Rose Bowl and in a 38-23 win hand no. 7 UCLA their first loss of the year. This shocking result gives ASU new life in this 2015 season and squarely puts them in the Pac-12 South championship race.
Offense
As we mentioned in our preview pieces, the UCLA run defense was clearly the Achilles’ heel of this Bruin team and ASU had no choice but the pound the ball early and often down their throats. 46 carries for 192 yards implemented that theory effectively.
We also talked about how there will be opportunities for quarterback Mike Bercovici to rush the ball against this defense, and while there were some plays where the offense would be better served if he kept the ball, especially in the first half, the Sun Devil signal caller scored on a 34- yard run to open scoring in the second half and also rushed for a first down gaining 11 yards on a first half play.
This wasn’t the cleanest game for Bercovici who on one play in the red zone took his eyes off the center, and fumbled the snap which he recovered. UCLA scored its last points of the game following a Bercovici interception although the ball was tipped at the line of scrimmage. There were some throws I’m sure he would like to have back, especially a couple back shoulder fade attempts and 3rd down conversions were hard to come by especially in the first half.
Nonetheless, he completed 61 percent of his passes, for 273 yards and a pair of touchdowns and more importantly just managed the game and didn’t take risks against a defense which again was a group that ASU’s ground attack was going to have to lead the way and it did so successfully.
We heard so much during the off-season how running backs Demario Richard and Kalen Ballage are the best 1-2 punch in the league, and on Saturday night we got a taste of that. Richard on the ground may have been somewhat quiet with 79 yards averaging 3.4 yards per carry. Yet, he did gain a couple first downs and his 16-yard run, the longest of the game for him, did set up a play later the aforementioned Bercovici touchdown run. Richard greatly helped with ASU winning the time of possession 37:47 to 22:13 keeping the ASU defense fresh as they played just 68 snaps.
What else can you say about Kalen Ballage other than how much he was missed the first three games, and how his 23-yard touchdown run will go down as one the most viewed ASU scores ever right there with the Jael Mary. 17 of those yards on that play came with his back to the end zone, dragging UCLA defenders who some of them were seen just giving up on the play and Ballage obviously had quite the cavalry with a few ASU offensive linemen giving him the needed push. Just amazing to watch that live on the field, let alone see it make SportsCenter as the no. 1 play.
The ball was distributed in a very efficient mater by Bercovici to seven different receivers, six of them gaining between 34 and 57 yards, which I thought really kept the UCLA defense off balance. 10 yard average per completion may have been a lower number than UCLA in that category, but with the running game success ASU had that stat is a formidable one. Tim White and D.J. Foster each had a touchdown reception. Both of Gary Chambers’ catches were for first downs: 26 and 12 yards, and more importantly his blocking has and continues to be invaluable. When UCLA crowded the line of scrimmage Bercovici found Richard repeatedly and he was ASU’s leading receiver with eight catches for 55 yards.
On the other hand, nine pass breakups by your opponent is probably a much higher number than you’d like to see and the receivers have to work better on separation from defensive backs, and in general be put in position for higher percentage plays.
It was a game where you finally got a look at what this passing offense could accomplish playing closer than ever this year to its full potential. The way the opened the second half, with 14 unanswered points in the 3rd quarter in my opinion was the difference in the game and gave itself and the defense the confidence boost that was needed for this hard fought win.
Offense
As we mentioned in our preview pieces, the UCLA run defense was clearly the Achilles’ heel of this Bruin team and ASU had no choice but the pound the ball early and often down their throats. 46 carries for 192 yards implemented that theory effectively.
We also talked about how there will be opportunities for quarterback Mike Bercovici to rush the ball against this defense, and while there were some plays where the offense would be better served if he kept the ball, especially in the first half, the Sun Devil signal caller scored on a 34- yard run to open scoring in the second half and also rushed for a first down gaining 11 yards on a first half play.
This wasn’t the cleanest game for Bercovici who on one play in the red zone took his eyes off the center, and fumbled the snap which he recovered. UCLA scored its last points of the game following a Bercovici interception although the ball was tipped at the line of scrimmage. There were some throws I’m sure he would like to have back, especially a couple back shoulder fade attempts and 3rd down conversions were hard to come by especially in the first half.
Nonetheless, he completed 61 percent of his passes, for 273 yards and a pair of touchdowns and more importantly just managed the game and didn’t take risks against a defense which again was a group that ASU’s ground attack was going to have to lead the way and it did so successfully.
We heard so much during the off-season how running backs Demario Richard and Kalen Ballage are the best 1-2 punch in the league, and on Saturday night we got a taste of that. Richard on the ground may have been somewhat quiet with 79 yards averaging 3.4 yards per carry. Yet, he did gain a couple first downs and his 16-yard run, the longest of the game for him, did set up a play later the aforementioned Bercovici touchdown run. Richard greatly helped with ASU winning the time of possession 37:47 to 22:13 keeping the ASU defense fresh as they played just 68 snaps.
What else can you say about Kalen Ballage other than how much he was missed the first three games, and how his 23-yard touchdown run will go down as one the most viewed ASU scores ever right there with the Jael Mary. 17 of those yards on that play came with his back to the end zone, dragging UCLA defenders who some of them were seen just giving up on the play and Ballage obviously had quite the cavalry with a few ASU offensive linemen giving him the needed push. Just amazing to watch that live on the field, let alone see it make SportsCenter as the no. 1 play.
The ball was distributed in a very efficient mater by Bercovici to seven different receivers, six of them gaining between 34 and 57 yards, which I thought really kept the UCLA defense off balance. 10 yard average per completion may have been a lower number than UCLA in that category, but with the running game success ASU had that stat is a formidable one. Tim White and D.J. Foster each had a touchdown reception. Both of Gary Chambers’ catches were for first downs: 26 and 12 yards, and more importantly his blocking has and continues to be invaluable. When UCLA crowded the line of scrimmage Bercovici found Richard repeatedly and he was ASU’s leading receiver with eight catches for 55 yards.
On the other hand, nine pass breakups by your opponent is probably a much higher number than you’d like to see and the receivers have to work better on separation from defensive backs, and in general be put in position for higher percentage plays.
It was a game where you finally got a look at what this passing offense could accomplish playing closer than ever this year to its full potential. The way the opened the second half, with 14 unanswered points in the 3rd quarter in my opinion was the difference in the game and gave itself and the defense the confidence boost that was needed for this hard fought win.
