After losing its ninth consecutive FBS game dating back to 2009 and its third this season in which the ASU football team has seemingly repeated its errors, coach Dennis Erickson wrestled tired topics at Monday’s press conference.
He did, however, give what many could deem interesting answers.
It was reported by Arizona Republic columnist Paola Boivin that sophomore linebacker Vontaze Burfict “traded barbs” with the Oregon State crowd for “several minutes” in the third quarter of Saturday’s game.
Burfict head butted OSU sophomore quarterback Ryan Katz in the fourth quarter, but an offsetting personal foul negated a potential 15-yard flag, causing some outside the program to speculate that Burfict, with his now extensive history of personal fouls, could be disciplined by ASU’s coaching staff. Erickson addressed Burfict’s behavior Monday.
“I think his behavior is under control when he can control it,” Erickson said. “He will go along for 58 minutes and somebody will shove him or hit him from behind, and he reacts to it, and that is the biggest thing is he is reacting to things that are not important.”
Erickson said he did not see Burfict’s behavior as out of control last week and believes that opposing players baiting him, in part, causes many of his penalties after the whistle.
“I would bait him too,” Erickson said, “If you know a guy is going to react like that and get a 15-yard penalty and possibly get him out of the football game. He gets baited all the time. He doesn’t react to it well all the time, but a lot of times he does. He is getting better at it. He gets baited more than any player I have ever been around.”
Erickson added that Burfict has recognized his errors.
“After he has done something there is total regret,” Erickson said. “I am not a psychologist, but as soon as he [does something] he is saying ‘oh man I shouldn’t have done it.’”
Erickson said that he has spoken to Burfict on numerous occasions and that defensive coordinator and secondary coach Craig Bray and linebackers coach Trent Bray are “all involved” with talking to Burfict about his behavior.
Red zone
The Sun Devils stayed in their shotgun formation inside the 10-yard line on all but two snaps Saturday, much as they have throughout the season.
“It's the same thing — we are doing a lot of read-option when we are down there,” Erickson said. “Being in the shotgun is not our problem.”
The struggles, however, have continued.
“The mental mistakes and not making plays is the issue,” Erickson said. “Believe me, I am the one who has studied it and looked for answers.”
Erickson said that there are many reasons for the Sun Devils’ struggles in the red zone, some of which have to do with redshirt junior quarterback Steven Threet.
“He has to stay with his read and what we are teaching, and sometimes quarterbacks, because they are so competitive, find another way to get it in as opposed to going through the progressions,” Erickson said.
Erickson said he may make personnel changes, alluding to potential changes in the defensive secondary and the play of senior safety Max Tabach, but that Threet will remain his starter.
Threet has thrown 10 interceptions this year, the second-highest number out of the top 100 FBS qualified quarterbacks.
“He is not exactly where he wants to be or where I want him to be, but I can see some good things out there,” Erickson said.
Erickson was also asked about possibly feeling pressure mounting on the coaching staff as it seeks to break the nine-game FBS losing streak.
“Not really,” Erickson said. “We can’t even worry about it. We just have to go to work and get ready to win a football game. I have been in the business a long time, and there is no easy answer to it. You just have to keep plugging away, and I feel good about where we are at as a team, and we keep plugging away as a team, and we will get better.”
Injury report
Redshirt sophomore cornerback Deveron Carr, a standout through four games this year, reinjured the same shoulder he tore last year against Southern California and will miss three to four weeks. “They are looking at it, and they are rehabbing it,” Erickson said. “He will probably need surgery whether it is after the season or during.”
Erickson said he plans to move freshman Alden Darby back to cornerback and that redshirt freshman Osahon Irabor will start in Carr’s place as he did against OSU when Carr went down.
Redshirt junior receiver Aaron Pflugrad suffered turf-toe and is not likely to play against Washington. Freshman running back Deantre Lewis is questionable next week with sprained acromioclavicular joint.
Reach the reporter at nick.ruland@asu.edu
