It’d be easy for the ASU football team to get ahead of itself.
The No. 21 Sun Devils are fresh off a much needed bye week, and sit at 5-2 through the season’s first seven games.
But now is not the time to look too far ahead, nor is it a time for contentment. ASU has adopted a “one game at a time” mentality and returns to action this weekend when it hosts Colorado at Sun Devil Stadium on Saturday.
The Buffaloes aren’t exactly a high profile opponent compared to the likes of Missouri, Southern California and No. 7 Oregon. Yet the Sun Devils know not to overlook or even discount Saturday’s contest.
“I think in the game of football, sometimes you’ll see a team looking past another team,” junior quarterback Brock Osweiler said. “(This week) it will be a good test for us, but I think a lot of that credit needs to go to Coach Erickson. He keeps us very focused on just that, one week at a time.”
Osweiler also said that offensive coordinator Noel Mazzone has also helped reiterate the importance of approaching one game at a time.
With five wins already recorded, the Sun Devils are just a single win away from becoming bowl eligible, something they haven’t accomplished since 2007.
They also currently sit near the top of the Pac-12 South standings and are in a prime position heading into a favorable schedule down the stretch. But none of that matters this week as ASU maintains its focus on CU.
“We have some goals that we can achieve,” ASU coach Dennis Erickson said. “We will not achieve them if we do not win the next game and the next game and the next game. There are a lot of tough games ahead of us in our division and in our league. We just have to focus on Colorado right now and then go onto the next one.”
Willie emerging as go-to threat
Much has been made about ASU’s depth at wide receiver this season. Both senior wide receivers Gerell Robinson and Aaron Pflugrad have posted multiple standout performances.
During that time, senior Mike Willie’s name appeared to get lost in the conversation. However, the senior wide out is suddenly among the Sun Devils’ top targets.
Willie has reeled in 22 receptions for 313 yards and three touchdowns this season. He collected five catches for 79 yards and a score two weeks ago. In the Utah game, Willie amassed 98 receiving yards and a pair of touchdown catches.
Osweiler mentioned that ASU aimed to look toward the perimeter receivers against the Ducks, and to guys like senior George Bell, Pflugrad, and of course Willie.
“It wasn’t that those guys weren’t capable of playing well at the beginning of the year, especially Mike,” Osweiler said. “It’s just when you have so many weapons on a football field at once, sometimes guys are only going to get two or three catches a night and have a quieter night. But that next game, Mike can step up and definitely put on a show for everyone.”
Burfict heating up as season progresses
Junior linebacker Vontaze Burfict entered his third season in Tempe with plenty of expectations.
He received a variety of preseason accolades and was expected to breakout in 2011. After an uncertain start, Burfict is back to playing at a high level. He has made 5 1/2 tackles for loss, four sacks, and an interception this season.
“He started getting the feel the last three or four games,” Erickson said. “He’s played really well. The last half of the season I expect to see him playing better and better. Leadership-wise, there are a lot of things he’s better at than he’s ever been.”
Reach the reporter at greg.dillard@asu.edu Click here to subscribe to the daily State Press newsletter.
