Arizona State Sun Devils 4-4 Overall (2-3 Conference)

This Week’s Score: California 23 – Arizona State 21

Next Week’s Opponent: USC

ASU’s bowl hopes are fading quickly. The miracle touchdown pass that beat Washington is now a distant memory, and the truth is, this Sun Devil squad has a lot of problems. In my opinion, the single biggest thing to take from Saturday’s incredibly frustrating loss is that Dennis Erickson is showing signs of losing his touch as a head coach. This ASU team really should have beaten Cal, but the team plays with absolutely no confidence in crunch time (forget the nutty U-Dub ending).

Erickson is coaching a group that is now the most penalized team in the nation, averaging 84.4 yards per game. Surprised? Of course you aren’t, and while the undisciplined play was not nearly as prevalent with his first two ASU teams, the boneheaded mistakes now seem unavoidable every week with this team. The penalties are unacceptable, and that is a direct reflection on the coaching staff’s inability to communicate a clear message to the players this season.

Erickson’s other big problem? He has become too conservative for his own good. He is afraid to embrace the youth at QB, even though Samson Szakacsy looked excellent on his one play Saturday and Brock Osweiler is still the peoples’ choice. Look, I respect Erickson’s football IQ, but I cannot understand how Danny Sullivan gives this team a better chance to win every week as opposed to the other two options.

The Devils defense played relatively well, holding Jahvid Best to only 63 yards rushing. But the unit still managed to give up 351 yards through the air, including 74 yards in the final 3:16 of the game. No one will question the strength of the front seven, but is this secondary a reliable group? Terrell Carr, Pierre Singfield, Jarrell Holman, and Ryan McFoy just don’t strike fear into an opposing QB’s eyes right now, and it has become clear that the defensive backfield desperately needs Omar Bolden to return.

Frankly, ASU could not afford the loss to CAL, as the Devils must now win two of their final four against the likes of USC, Oregon, UCLA and UA.