Arizona State aims to quell Michigan State’s revenge plot

“I love this challenge,” Arizona State offensive coordinator Rob Likens said during his Monday press conference ahead of playing No. 18 Michigan State. “They’re the number one rushing defense in the country and we can’t run the football, it does not get any better than that.”

After starting 2-0, ASU is in store for a gargantuan test in Week 3.

Freshman quarterback Jayden Daniels’ first snaps away from Tempe will be against a defensive powerhouse in front of a roaring Big Ten crowd.

Saturday’s rematch of the Sun Devils’ 16-13 home victory against the Spartans last year has all of the making to be another gritty affair due to ASU’s strong-looking defense. But Daniels and ASU’s offense will need to remain composed and find ways to move the ball in order to complete the upset.

Essential info:

What: Arizona State at Michigan State

When: Saturday, 1 p.m.

TV: FOX

Radio: ESPN 620 AM

About Michigan State

Michigan State led the country in rushing defense while allowing the ninth-fewest points per game in 2018. The Spartans have not missed a beat this season.

They have been menaces to opposing backfields early on with 19 tackles for loss. Edge rusher Kenny Willekes has been especially disruptive with 3.5 sacks so far.

That is a major problem for ASU, considering it has struggled to run against lesser defenses. Even halfback Eno Benjamin, who previously broke Arizona State’s single-season rushing record, has not been able to get going behind the Sun Devils’ largely inexperienced line. Through two games, he’s averaging 3.7 yards per carry.

MSU was not as strong defending the pass last year, and in Week 2, the Spartans allowed 285 yards through the air with a 66% completion percentage in a 51-17 win over Western Michigan. This could be a pressure point to expose, but ASU will need a much better performance from its pass protection to do so. If Daniels is running around for his life on each play, he won’t be able to take advantage.

“They have a tradition set on defense there,” ASU defensive coordinator Danny Gonzales said on Tuesday. “Negative three yards rushing allowed (per game) is pretty dang good. We have quite a challenge to match up, but that’s what we inspire to do here.”

How ASU matches up

The Sun Devils were overpowered throughout the first three quarters in last year’s matchup, but they did not make crucial mistakes and stayed in the game with strong defense. Because of that, they were just 10 points down entering the final quarter before they pulled off the comeback.

ASU’s defense may be even better this time around, and if the game becomes a field-position match, the Sun Devils have the FBS leader in yards per punt, Michael Turk, who after setting records in the opener punted it five times, averaging 47.6 yards last week against Sacramento State.

“This defense does not give you a lot of room,” ASU head coach Herm Edwards said Monday. “I think patience is going to be key. Just like last year, it wasn’t an offensive juggernaut game for either side.”

ASU has done well at stopping the run against Sac State and Kent State, but now it faces a rushing attack that is clicking. Spartans redshirt freshman Elijah Collins has busted into the starting lineup with 209 yards on 25 attempts.

Gonzales’ strategies to squash the MSU rushing attack worked last season, but he realizes that he must be creative now.

“You can never give somebody the same thing because they will practice it and have ideas,” Gonzales said. “It’s our job to do stuff that does not confuse our kids and looks different for the opponent.”

ASU’s offense has the potential to be a disaster against such a difficult defensive front.

The offensive line will need vast improvements in order to let Daniels continue his strong play, and the Sun Devils hope they get strong play out of starters Jarrett Bell and Steven Miller, who were dinged up against Sacramento State. Daniels has shown good composure and has put up big numbers (20th-most passing yards in the FBS). But that does not matter if he gets no protection.

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