Sun Devil offense facing obstacles in Vegas Bowl

TEMPE, Ariz. — The Sun Devils got one of the first games of the 2018 college football bowl season. But they did not get an easy opponent.

Arizona State (7-5) will square off with No. 21 Fresno State (11-2) in the Las Vegas Bowl on Saturday afternoon. And it will do so without NFL-bound receiver N’Keal Harry, who wrapped up his college career following the Territorial Cup victory over Arizona last month to focus on the draft without risking injury.

Harry is a likely top-15 pick in that draft, with some mocks even listing him as high as No. 3 overall. This was a discussion he and Herm Edwards have had for awhile now, so it’s not like ASU was blindsided by the decision. But it leaves a huge hole in the offense that needs filled now. And it probably doesn’t help that the Bulldogs boast one of the better defenses in the nation.

“I’ll tell you this – and I’m not afraid to say it – they might be the best defense we’ve faced all year,” offensive coordinator Rob Likens pointed out. “They really might be. If not, they’re really, really close.”

Fresno State comes into the game allowing just 13.7 points per game, tied with Clemson for No. 2 in the country in that category. They have the top red zone defense, allowing opponents just a .609 success rate inside the 20, and surrender just 323.8 total yards per game — good for No. 17 overall.

The Bulldogs have also scored six defensive touchdowns, one off the national lead. And Likens explained that they’re a difficult defense to plan for – similar to San Diego State, who the Devils struggled to move the ball against for a good chunk of their meeting back on Sept. 15. They’re also coached well with attention to detail, meaning they follow through and execute on the elements that make them so tough in the first place.

So the Sun Devils are going to have their hands full here. On paper at least, this has all the makings of a low-scoring, grind-it-out sort of game. And that’s where a strong running game comes into play, meaning we may see even more of Eno Benjamin than usual.

ASU’s All-American sophomore running back ranks fourth in the nation, averaging 127.0 yards per game on the ground. And he got better as the year went on. The Sun Devils as a team rank a modest No. 52 overall in total rushing (185.7 yards per game) though, so Benjamin’s essentially been a one-man show.

Beyond that, Arizona State will need some other receivers to rise to the occasion in Harry’s absence. Kyle Williams, Frank Darby and Brandon Aiyuk have been the Devils’ second, third and fourth options in the passing game this year, combining for 1,266 yards on 85 receptions. Those are fine numbers, but they also highlight just how impressive the 1,088 yards on 73 catches that Harry put up by himself were.

Likens did note that the offense itself will actually be simplified, as they won’t have to shuffle so much up and move as many pieces around before the snap to get just the right matchups now. But he quickly reminded everyone that’s a small silver lining. He’d rather complicate things if it meant having his No. 1 option in the lineup.

“Don’t misquote me and say it’s better – it’s not!” he reiterated. “I’m just saying it’s a little more simple to call the plays without the long verbage.”

Likens also expressed confidence in the seniors stepping up for ASU on both sides of the ball. And stressed the success the Sun Devils have had because the offense and defense work well together on a more all-encompassing game plan under Edwards. Rather than just going their own separate ways and focusing only on trying to stockpile points without regard for clock management or game flow as some college teams do, Arizona State’s offense and defense have formed a strong tandem this season, under Likens and defensive coordinator Danny Gonzales.

“I like coaches with energy,” Edwards explained. “For some reason, I don’t know… maybe because I don’t have enough? I just think we all play off each other, and I like their energy, I like their passion for the game of football. It helps you as a head coach, because you can’t be everywhere.”

Meanwhile, there’s a decent chance Harry might still show up at the game on his own, playing the role of fan to support his former teammates.

“He wants to come to the game, so it’ll be nice. If we see him there, I’ll maybe put another number on him, get him in there,” Edwards joked. “No, I’m not going to do that.”

If he makes it to Vegas, it won’t be the first time Harry has shown up to cheer on Sun Devil athletics. The future NFLer appeared behind the Curtain of Distraction at ASU’s women’s basketball game against Southern on Friday.

“He went in the Curtain, huh?” Edwards asked. “He’s got nothing else to do. He’s bored. Poor guy.”

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