Oklahoma
ASU football preps for true test in Oklahoma State QB Spencer Sanders
TEMPE — The Arizona State Solar Devils are about to seek out out precisely what kind of soccer workforce they’ve this weekend in Stillwater, Okla.
After ASU blew the doorways off the visiting Northern Arizona Lumberjacks 40-3 final week, head coach Herm Edwards and Co. on Saturday are paying a go to to the present No. 12 Oklahoma State Cowboys, who’re projected to crack the highest 10 of the AP ballot on Tuesday.
Regardless of solely permitting 120 yards, seven first downs and three factors, Arizona State defensive coordinator Donnie Henderson stated after follow on Monday that the protection towards NAU made “a ton of errors.”
“We actually did and if we’re going to win this sport (at Oklahoma State), we’re going to need to appropriate a few of these,” he stated. “That’s what confirmed up (on the tape). … It was elementary issues that you just work on day-after-day after which the warmth of the second, guys defer or get a little bit pissed off — these kind of offers. General, we have been fairly good however we did make lots of errors.”
Arizona State performed a “vanilla” protection towards the Lumberjacks for a mix of causes.
First, ASU’s line of defense dominated NAU in each the run and go sport, which meant the Solar Devils didn’t have to make use of unique packages to confuse the Lumberjack offense. The opposite cause, and possibly extra importantly, Henderson didn’t wish to give Oklahoma State any seems on movie that Cowboys head coach Mike Gundy might sport plan for.
Oklahoma State quarterback Spencer Sanders had a monstrous day within the workforce’s 58-44 win over Central Michigan at Boone Pickens Stadium. The QB accounted for six of the workforce’s seven touchdowns, 4 of which got here via the air with 406 passing yards on 28 of 41 makes an attempt (68%). Sanders additionally added two scores and 57 yards on the bottom on 11 carries (5.2 per rush).
“Athlete, extends performs, I’m scared,” Henderson stated of Sanders. “Actually jogs my memory of that man from Utah (Cam Rising) — he’s a reasonably good athlete, can transfer round, extends performs, is aware of the place the ball has to go, makes all of the checks, fairly good participant actually.”
“They defend properly, they’ll sit in seven- or eight-man safety. In case you’re bringing guys with the talent guys that acquired on the receiving core — they acquired some athletes there too — so you must decide your poison: down and distance formations, the place the sport is headed, the way you’re enjoying. However I do suppose you must combine it as much as hold them off steadiness. You possibly can’t simply sit there and be too conservative and suppose you’re going to beat a reasonably good soccer workforce.”
Henderson stated that Oklahoma State’s up-tempo offense can be a priority.
And in an effort to gradual the Cowboys’ offense down each actually and on the scoreboard, he should get the defensive play name in rapidly whereas additionally mixing it up and conserving them off steadiness with numerous blitz strain and zone schemes. The Solar Devils DC added that regardless of not garnering any sacks towards NAU, “strain and sacks are two various things” to him.
“It’s simply the conditions — third down you’d prefer to see guys rise up the sphere and be a little bit bit extra bodily and quicker and hitting the quarterbacks,” he stated. “However when it’s first and second down, you bought to play a little bit bit extra normal protection and be sure to management the road of scrimmage.
“Now if we get in these conditions the place it’s second or third and lengthy, we are able to open up the road a little bit bit and allow them to run some video games and issues like that. I’m rather more eager about hits than sacks. … You may get three or 4 sacks a sport, however you may hit the quarterback eight, 9, 10 instances and that’s simply nearly as good typically.”
ASU may also be getting a lift within the secondary, as beginning cornerback Timarcus Davis will probably be returning after lacking Week 1 regardless of warming up in full pads previous to kickoff towards NAU. Sadly, although, CB Ed Woods, who made his first begin final week, was dominated out by Edwards resulting from a lower-body damage.
The Solar Devils might additionally see defensive again Jordan Clark make his 2022 debut after he additionally sat out towards the Lumberjacks with an analogous knee damage that Davis had. Nevertheless, after Clark frolicked at each security and nickel nook in preseason fall camp, Henderson stated Monday that defensive again D.J. Taylor will stay because the workforce’s nickel nook and received’t be moved round to exterior nook or security.
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Edwards additionally stated Monday that he misspoke about OL Joey Ramos’ analysis of a high-ankle damage throughout Thursday’s postgame press convention and clarified that the offensive lineman is out for the season.
The top coach added that beginning proper sort out Des Holmes and defensive lineman Gharin Stansbury (hamstring subject), who each missed Week 1 towards NAU, are “questionable” for Saturday at Oklahoma State.