ASU’s Todd Graham emphasizes consistency against Arizona
Nov 20, 2017, 4:39 PM
Arizona State coach Todd Graham, left, argues with an official during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Washington on Saturday, Oct. 14, 2017, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
(AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Trophies will be on the line for Arizona State in their remaining games, beginning this week against rival Arizona for the Territorial Cup.
“The most important game to the fan base, most important game to the coaches and staff and everyone. There’s very little said, just go in to work and prepare to win,” said head coach Todd Graham in his weekly press conference.
Winning is what the Sun Devils have been doing lately after dispatching Oregon State last week in Corvallis and having won four of their last six Pac-12 contests. Going up against Kahlil Tate and the Wildcats presents a unique challenge, however, as the sophomore Tate ranks second in rushing yards by a quarterback in the NCAA.
“What you want is consistency and obviously there’s unique challenges every week. There’s definitely some this week, so you have to make sure that you prepare to adapt to what you have to face that week,” said Graham.
Tate has been electric for the Wildcats this season, accumulating over 1,000 yards and 11 touchdowns rushing in just nine games, but the Sun Devils defense has been improving throughout the season.
ASU’s defense squashed then-No. 5 ranked Washington, holding the Huskies to 230 total yards of offense and only seven points. They also put the clamps on Utah, keeping them to just 265 yards, and Oregon State, limiting the Beavers to just ten points through three quarters until OSU added two touchdowns while the game was out of reach.
Projected to finish fifth in the Pac-12 South, ASU has the chance to wind up second place in the division with a win over the rival Wildcats.
“I think we’ve made tremendous progress,” said Graham. “I’m most proud of our players and what our players have done.”
Graham will rely on his junior quarterback Manny Wilkins to lead the offense. One aspect of the offense he has excelled at is ball security. The Sun Devils have only five intercepted passes thrown on 359 attempts.
“I’m really proud of Manny. I think he’s really grown and progressed and its his football team,” said Graham.
