Know Your Foe: Arizona State Hobbling Into Lubbock

The Texas Tech football team will look to move to 2-0 on the season Saturday when Arizona State comes to town.  Here is a first look at what to expect from the Sundevils.

Texas Tech fans have lived with the nightmare of last season’s embarrassing loss to Arizona State for over a calendar year.  The 68-55 loss was one of the more painful in recent program history because of the manner in which the Texas Tech defense was demoralized and bullied by a physical ground game, once again opening an old wound in the psyche of Red Raider supporters.

ASU running back Kalen Ballage tied an NCAA record with eight touchdowns in the game (7 on the ground) as the Tech defense offered little resistance as the Devils amassed 652 yards of offense.  Despite the performance of Patrick Mahomes, who was able to keep Tech close most of the night with 540 yards passing and five touchdowns, the Red Raiders ultimately wilted in the desert setting the tone for what would be a second losing season in three years.

One year later, Kliff Kingsbury’s team has the opportunity to exorcise the demons of Ballage while making a statement to the rest of the Big 12 that 2017’s Texas Tech football team is finally different.  To do that, Tech will have to knock off an Arizona State team that will likely be angry and   a bit desperate.

That is because the Sundevils are smarting after falling at home 30-20 to San Diego State.  Big plays haunted ASU as San Diego State star running back Rashaad Penny had a career night.

Penny had a 95-yard touchdown run, a 99-yard kickoff return touchdown and a 33-yard touchdown reception as part of his 353 all-purpose yards.  On the night, the Aztecs rushed for 279 yards and physically dominated the line of scrimmage.

This was the second shaky performance on the season for the ASU defense.  In the season opener, the Devils gave up 549 total yards (398 passing) to New Mexico State in a 37-31 win.

The defense must be troubling to head coach Todd Graham, a defensive-minded coach who is considered by many to be on the hot seat.  The problem for the Devils’ defense seems to be self-imposed mistakes and blown coverages.

"“Defensively, ASU is an uneven mix of budding stars and complete unknowns. Trailing 20-14 late in the third quarter, the Sun Devils forced San Diego State into 3rd-and-21, only to watch an uncovered receiver out of the backfield sidestep a defender for a 33-yard touchdown. This group won’t dominate anyone – not anytime soon, anyway…” writes Doug Haller of azcentralsports.com."

The top play-maker on the ASU defense is linebacker Koron Crump who has recorded four sacks already in 2017.  Fellow LB Alani Latu has 2.5 sacks this season as does DE Tahon Smallwood.  Also, Tech fans should keep an eye on sophomore DE JoJo Wicker, a former 4-star recruit who chose ASU over Texas Tech out of high school.  He had four tackles and a pass deflection in last season’s game.

And while the Sun Devil defense should have the Texas Tech offense licking its chops, the Arizona State offense is also yet to get untracked this year.

"According to Haller, ASU is searching to an offensive identity.  “The Sun Devils at this point don’t do anything well. Behind their third offensive coordinator in as many years, they haven’t run the ball well in some time. (They rushed for just 44 yards against San Diego State.) They have playmakers on the perimeter but lack the protection to take advantage. After Saturday’s contest, junior quarterback Manny Wilkins had the scratches on his neck to prove it.”"

But if there is one thing fans can count on heading into this game, it is that Arizona State will know what it wants to do against Texas Tech, run Kalen Ballage.  The Devils likely see this week as a great opportunity establish their offensive identity as a powerful running team.

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However, Ballage has yet to get going this year like he did against Texas Tech.  He has averaged just 3.7 yards per carry this season while racking up a mere 130 yards total on 33 carries.  The 6-foot-3, 230-pounder does have three scores on the season though proving he is still a force in the red zone.

In fact, since his career night against Tech, the Colorado native has been just a pedestrian running back.  He had only 343 yards in 10 games following his outburst against Tech in 2016.

ASU QB Manny Wilkens has been steady completing 70% of his passes this year.  He has passed for 598 yards and 4 touchdowns with no interceptions thus far.  Four ASU receivers have at least 100 yards receiving on the year with all four having also found the end zone so the revamped Texas Tech secondary will face a tough challenge again this weekend.

Texas Tech looks to be catching Arizona State at a good time.  The Devils appear to be struggling to find their footing this season and they are headed into a hostile environment to face a team bent on revenge and redemption.

Next: Texas Tech Football Wants Balance On Offense

Though the memory of last season’s game still haunts Texas Tech fans, this year’s matchup has a much different feel to it. Now it will be up to the Red Raiders to make sure that history does not repeat itself.