After a less-than-stellar performance in its first two games of the season, the ASU football team looks to wrap up non-conference play in a positive way at Sun Devil Stadium.
The Sun Devils host the New Mexico Lobos Friday at Sun Devil Stadium, facing a short week for the only time this season.
That lack of preparation time should not be too much of a detriment to ASU, as the Lobos run a very similar offense to the Sun Devils's last opponent: Cal Poly.
Against the Mustangs last week, ASU played tight for most of the game, allowing a couple big plays to keep the visitors in the game. Coach Todd Graham said that the defense was trying to do to much against a scheme where losing assignments will kill you.
"It was very simple and you can see at halftime we came out and got some things corrected," Graham said at his weekly press conference. "We were just basically running up the field and doing a little freelancing and you can't do that, especially against a triple-option team. The dive is the first thing you've got to stop and all of that."
The New Mexico triple-option offense has been vastly effective in two games this season, racking up 563 yards on the ground on 99 attempts. A key difference from the Cal Poly offense a week ago, however, is the passing game. Sophomore quarterback Lamar Jordan and junior quarterback Austin Apodaca have combined to complete 57.5 percent of their passes, giving another dimension to the offense.
The other change is the way the offense attacks with the run. While Cal Poly has a more traditional triple-option set where plays go through the middle, the Lobos attack more to the outside and from out of the shotgun or pistol formations, making teams spread outside.
Defensive coordinator Keith Patterson said he believes his team is built to better stop this style of offense due to the offenses Pac-12 teams run and the fact that the Sun Devils employ some triple-option styles in their gameplan, making it easier to prepare for from the ASU perspective.
This game means a lot more to the Sun Devils than just getting one more win in the books. It means a chance to grab momentum moving forward.
"Obviously this game is important to us to gain momentum going into conference play," Graham said. "It starts off in a big way. Our big thing is hopefully getting guys healthy so we can practice a little bit the next two days and then coming out and playing to our potential."
Reach the reporter at mtonis@asu.edu or follow @Tonis_The_Tiger on Twitter.
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