Nick Aliotti on ASU’s Mike Bercovici: ‘I thought he’d play better’
Oct 8, 2015, 12:55 PM | Updated: 1:34 pm
Arizona State quarterback Mike Bercovici gestures to fans after they scored a touchdown during the first half of an NCAA college football game against UCLA, Saturday, Oct. 3, 2015, in Pasadena, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
(AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
As the quarterback goes, so goes his team. Arizona State can say as much through an up-and-down 2015 season.
Sun Devil coach Todd Graham helped build the hype behind quarterback Mike Bercovici before the season began, but Bercovici’s performances in his first two games last season of course did the talking for him. Against UCLA and then USC in 2014, Bercovici threw for 488 and then 510 yards with eight touchdowns and two interceptions in his first two full games of 2014.
So the rocky start for Bercovici in ASU’s 3-2 start to this season came as a surprise to many, including Pac-12 Networks analyst and former Oregon defensive coordinator Nick Aliotti.
“I haven’t seen Mike Bercovici on the weekly basis that I thought I would see this year,” Aliotti said Thursday on Arizona Sports 98.7’s Doug and Wolf show. “Mike right now has been a minor disappointment but there’s a lot of season to play. I thought he’d play better. But he hasn’t lived up to my expectations to this point, and mine were really high for him.”
Bercovici has completed 60 percent of his passes and averaged 6.7 yards per pass attempt, which is down a yard from last season’s average. He’s been inconsistent, but there’s a clear correlation between his strong individual performances and Arizona State’s success.
His worst two games by ESPN’s quarterback rating and adjusted quarterback ratings came in the Sun Devils’ losses to Texas A&M and USC. His best three performances have come in three victories.
Obviously, there are complexities beyond Bercovici’s control. ASU opened with inexperienced offensive tackles facing perhaps the nation’s best pass-rushing defensive end unit. The Sun Devils have struggled finding a go-to receiver. And it took some time for the team to determine how to best use the quarterback — known for his arm more than his legs — in zone-read plays.
“I was really impressed with Bercovici last year,’ Aliotti said. “In fact, I was one of those guys that said when Taylor Kelly went down that I would go with Bercovici because he has a strong arm and seems to throw the ball very well. But he’s been a lot like their team this year, Doug and Wolf. He’s been hot and cold.”
After leading the Sun Devils to a 38-23 win against UCLA, perhaps things are coming together for Bercovici, and with that, for Arizona State.
