Arizona State must win special teams to win at Utah

TEMPE, Ariz. – The offense runs the football, protects the quarterback and is efficient inside the red zone.

The defense is stingy and opportunistic.

But it’s Utah’s special teams that has the attention of Arizona State head coach Todd Graham.

“Special teams is one of the big factors this week, and that’s been a strength for us.  It’s definitely a strength for them,” he said.

Among Pac-12 teams, No. 4 Utah is the only school ranked in the top three in both average kickoff return (25.3) and punt return (21.6) yards; the latter of which is sixth-best in the nation.

Their three special teams touchdowns are the most in the conference, with two coming via punt, including one by freshman Britain Covey, the Pac-12’s top punt returner.

Utah also boasts the best punter in senior Tom Hackett.

Last year’s consensus All-American and Ray Guy Award winner, Hackett ranks third in the nation in both net punting (44.3) and punt average (48.4).

Opponents have returned just four of his punts for 19 yards.

Against Cal last week, Hackett averaged almost 51 yards (50.8) on four punts, placing two inside the 10-yard line.  He was named the conference’s special teams player of the week, the second time he’s been honored this season.

“Their specialists are probably the best in the country,” Sun Devil junior kicker Zane Gonzalez said Thursday.

ASU’s specialists aren’t too bad, either.

Junior Tim White leads the Pac-12 with 28.5 yards per kickoff return, while junior punter Matt Haack ranks fourth with a 43.1 yard average.

Seven of his past 10 punts have been downed inside the 20-yard line.

“Matt is just killing it absolutely this year,” Gonzalez said.

And then there’s Gonzalez.  He’s been almost automatic this season on kickoffs.

In three Pac-12 games, Gonzalez has kicked off 19 times, 17 resulting in touchbacks giving opponents the ball at their own 25-yard line.

What’s been the difference in the improved Sun Devils’ special teams play?

“I would say effort, honestly,” said Gonzalez, who kicked the game-winning field goal to beat Utah in overtime last season.  “Before we never — a lot of people wouldn’t take special teams serious or wouldn’t put as much effort into it, but now that coach (Shawn) Slocum and coach Graham put a lot of emphasis on special teams, that’s been a huge turnaround for us.”

Slocum joined Arizona State as special teams coordinator after nine successful seasons with the Green Bay Packers.

“I think our guys have bought in and understand the importance of that,” Graham said, referring to special teams.  “Our whole deal is about desire and effort, and it shows up big time on special teams plays.  I think coach Slocum’s done a great job of getting our guys to understand the importance of that and it will be very, very important this week because that’s an area we have to win.  We have to win special teams.”

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