Pasadena, CA – The #17 ASU Sun Devils are in the position that Coach Todd Graham has spoken about since he stepped foot in Tempe two years ago. They’ve earned the chance to capture the Pac-12 South division championship outright with a win today against #14 UCLA.  

This game has been circled on the calendar with a thick, red marker since the Sun Devils lost in the final seconds at home to the Bruins last season. Trash talk and recruiting battles have raised the ire of fan bases and players on both teams, and the bad blood is ready to spill at 5 PM (MST).

The DieHard Storyline for the big game will include a battle in the trenches between the fast paced ASU offense and athletic UCLA defense, unpredictable play calling and strategy’s to keep outside containment on Bruin QB Brett Hundley.

ASU Faces Big Challenge With Fast and Athletic UCLA Defense

Offensively, the Devils haven’t put up the gaudy numbers in the past two weeks that we’ve become accustomed to this year. Facing an extremely talented UCLA front seven will prove to be huge challenge for the ASU offensive line and QB Taylor Kelly in his zone-read decision making.  

The Devils will still look to run the ball out of multiple formations to keep the athletic Bruin linebackers honest. I don’t foresee ASU being effective on the edges with their speed, as UCLA has the quickness on defense to match-up. It’s going to be a dogfight in the trenches in order for Marion Grice pound the ball up the middle.

5 PM (MST) Kick-off

Inexperienced UCLA Secondary

If there is a weakness in the Bruin defense, it would be their young and inexperienced secondary. Once ASU establishes their running game, look for play action passes from Taylor Kelly on multiple underneath and deep routes. 

Also look for Kelly to stress the Bruin defense by keeping the ball on zone reads and making throws on roll-outs. Some unpredictable play-calling by Mike Norvell will be designed to frustrate the Bruin front 7 and will go a long way in putting up points.

Sun Devil Receiver, #21 Jaelen Strong

The Blueprint for the Sun Devils on Defense

ASU’s “Hell’s Gate” defense will be facing a much more athletic and mobile QB in Brett Hundley this weekend. The defensive ends will have to contain the outside in order to limit Hundley’s opportunities to tuck and run. This is a tall order.

The UCLA running back core has been banged up recently, but LB Myles Jack has reinvigorated the offense. He rushes the ball with the same aggressive mentality he employs from his outside LB spot — with power, speed and determination. Look for Jack in short yardage situations and anything near the goal line.

If there is a blueprint for the ASU defense against UCLA, it would schematically be what they did against the Washington Huskies. They effectively shut down RB Bishop Sankey who was (at the time) the #1 running back in the country. They were also able to draw up blitz packages that kept the very mobile Husky QB Keith Price pressured and contained on almost every pass play. 

ASU must stifle the Bruin running game and force Hundley into long down and distance passing plays. The Devils secondary, who are affectionately named “Bird Gang” for their ball-hawking reputation, should have opportunities to make big plays if Hundley if forced to throw under duress.

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Today presents a defining moment not only for the 2013 Sun Devils, but for a football program that for years has failed to “take care of its own destiny.”

If ASU can beat UCLA, it will be monumental. The Devils will wrap up the South and head back home to their fans for the Territorial Cup game and a shot at a 10-win regular season. If not…

#TakeYourDestiny