CRONKITE SPORTS

Graham says ASU needs better blocking, tackling against Washington State

Oct 17, 2016, 8:55 PM

TEMPE – Arizona State’s football team hit a pothole Saturday and returned home with a 1-2 record on the road. Head coach Todd Graham blamed the lack of tackling for the 40-16 loss against the Colorado Buffaloes. But the good news, according to Graham: “We are 5-2.”

The better news: The Sun Devils play Washington State at home Saturday, where they are 4-0.

Washington State is 1-1 on the road and has recently beaten Oregon State, Stanford and UCLA.

“You can tell their kids play hard,” Graham said of the Cougars. “But mostly, they’re an attacking group that try to force you into quite a few errors. They’ve done well. I think that the big difference in their team has been how they have played defense. Obviously they’re going to put up the numbers and the yards on offense. But they’ve got them attacking and playing solid defense.”

The Sun Devils could have moved into a tie for first in the Pac-12’s South Division with a win but are ready to move forward.

“We have a big challenge ahead of us and we gotta figure out a way to get this one and then go to the next one,” Graham said. “There is just five left. This thing can go a lot of different directions, but all we can control is the one in front of us.”

Graham said the team has to work on winning on the road.

“Obviously, there is challenges but you have to be twice as focused,” Graham said. “We talked about all those things, we’ve tried different things practice-wise. I just think that you have to be mentally mature, mentally tough to play well on the road.”

ASU has road games left against Oregon, Washington and Arizona.

“Each week we have to bring it, period,” Graham said. “It doesn’t matter whether you are at home or away. Bottom line is, the key is every single week improving and getting better, being consistent. So we have to get back on track this week.”

Running the ball has been one of the Sun Devils’ weaknesses. Both loses on the road have been by at least 20 points.

“Obviously, we haven’t blocked very well,” Graham said. “I think other teams have played very well and have been controlling the line of scrimmage. We have to get better in what we are doing. They key is to win football games and winning football games is being able to run the football and stop the run on defense. That was something we did not do good on either side of the ball.”

ASU had one of its best performances two weeks ago in a 23-20 win against UCLA. Graham said the Sun Devils did their best tackling in the win. This win was followed by what he called, “probably our worst performance as far as tackling. The number one thing was communication. Communication, pursuit and tackling. We spend almost half of our individual time every day on tackling.”

Cronkite Sports

Cronkite Sports

Sports gambling in Arizona moves closer to reality

In the near future, the Arizona sports fan’s experience could include the ability to place bets inside sports venues while the action unfolds.

3 years ago

Higley quarterback Kai Millner committed to Cal this spring, despite visiting the campus just once ...

Cronkite Sports

Arizona high school football recruits still committing amid coronavirus

Despite visiting campuses few times if at all in some cases, class of 2021 high school football prospects from Arizona are committing at record rates.

4 years ago

(Photo via Cronkite News courtesy Mesa Community College Facebook)...

Arizona Sports

COVID-19 prompts junior colleges to push for cancellation of sports

The 2020-21 school year for Maricopa County community colleges may not include sports, schools await a decision by the district chancellor.

4 years ago

New Coyotes President and CEO Xavier Gutierrez believes outreach in the Arizona Hispanic market is ...

Cronkite Sports

New Coyotes CEO Xavier A. Gutierrez looks to reach Latino community

New Coyotes CEO Xavier A. Gutierrez is the first Latino president and CEO in NHL history and hopes to reach new fans in the Valley.

4 years ago

Shatori Walker-Kimbrough, who joined the Phoenix Mercury in the offseason, is ready to get the WNBA...

Cronkite Sports

Full pay, 22-game season in Florida on tap for Phoenix Mercury

Another league has agreed on a return-to-play plan in the month of July. This time it’s the WNBA, whose members include the Phoenix Mercury.

4 years ago

Phoenix Rising FC assistant coaches Peter Ramage (left) and Blair Gavin are awaiting details about ...

Cronkite Sports

Phoenix Rising players await news on resumption of USL Championship

Phoenix Rising FC and the USL Championship are set to resume play July 11 while players wait on more details for the return.

4 years ago

Graham says ASU needs better blocking, tackling against Washington State