
The Concerned Citizens of the Pac-12 should turn its efforts toward another cause.
Following Oregon’s 43-21 shellacking over ASU Thursday, there’s a bigger issue at hand than Puddles the Duck: the health of junior defensive tackle Will Sutton.
On the second play of the game, Sun Devil Stadium was the setting coach Todd Graham imagined when he wanted a rowdy, blacked-out home crowd.
Once Sutton went down, fans likely wished they blacked out.
Sutton, one of the best defensive players in the country this season, sprung into Oregon’s backfield to force a fumble. Junior defensive end Davon Coleman scooped up the loose ball, while Sutton grabbed his right knee.
“The Concerned Citizens of Will Sutton’s Health” quickly formed.
“It was like a high-low moment,” junior safety Alden Darby said. “We were excited about the turnover to start the game, and then we all looked down and we saw Will Sutton, one of our key players on the D-line and a great guy, go down.
“It kind of brought us down at the same time to see that happen all in one play.”
ASU (5-2, 3-1 Pac-12) scored on its first play on offense — a 28-yard touchdown pass from redshirt sophomore quarterback Taylor Kelly to redshirt junior wide receiver Kevin Ozier. But Sutton’s availability in one of the most anticipated games at Sun Devil Stadium was in jeopardy.
Those doubts were removed shortly after when Sutton appeared on the sidelines in crutches. The biggest impact on the ASU defense did not return.
“Will is a guy that plays every snap of the game,” Graham said. “In practice, he takes the majority of the reps because the game plan is such a big part of what we do.
“We were discombobulated, and they are not a team you want to be scrambling like that on. And then I did some stupid things — I tried to overcompensate and do some things that our guys couldn’t do right there.”
Such a promising start for the Sun Devils eventually led to a blowout on one play.
The Sun Devils aren’t deep at the defensive tackle position. Senior defensive tackle Corey Adams hasn’t played all season with a bad back. Junior defensive tackle Mike Pennel was suspended indefinitely for violating team rules for a second time.
It didn’t help that junior defensive end Junior Onyeali went down with a shoulder injury later in the game. It left Graham at times to place linebackers in at defensive end to fill in the void.
“That’s not an excuse, but we were scrambling and they did a great job of capitalizing on that,” Graham said. “Obviously we drop way off there, not that we don’t have other good players, but he’s just a dynamic player. That was tough.”
Sutton was still on the sidelines attempting to motivate the team, but the defense allowed 43 points in the first half. The Ducks (7-0, 4-0 Pac-12) had 329 rushing yards at halftime.
Oregon senior running back Kenjon Barner and redshirt freshman quarterback Marcus Mariota each had over 100 rushing yards.
The Sun Devils missed Sutton during the game, as Barner and Mariota had their way all night.
“He’s one of our impact players,” senior safety Keelan Johnson said. “He’s one of the guys on the line that can get pressure on the quarterback and make everybody’s job in the back end a lot easier when you don’t have to cover as long.”
Sutton showed in just two plays how valuable he is to ASU’s defense. Without him, it’s not as aggressive. And it surely can’t hang against championship-contending opponents like Oregon.
“You can’t,” Graham said when asked how he could replace Sutton. “You can’t replace a player that is that good. You have to move on and maybe make some adjustments.”
Graham did not have an update on Sutton’s injury after the game. He will get an MRI on his right knee Friday.
“The Concerned Citizens of Will Sutton’s Health” wait anxiously for an update on his status. The rest wonder how this team might look without “Sweet Tea” Willie.
Reach the reporter at mtesfats@asu.edu