Freshman linebacker Christian Sam practices in Tempe on Sept. 10. With Spur linebacker Laiu Moeakiola injured, Sam is stepping up. (Photo by Alexis Macklin)With its next game in just three days, the ASU football team is finalizing its gameplan as the practice week ends.
The Sun Devils will take on Stanford for the third time in 13 months Saturday and defensive coordinator Keith Patterson believes his team is going to succeed with the plan it has in place.
"I think (the preparation) is really good," Patterson said. "I think we've got a good, solid plan and I think our kids, especially in the last two days, have really executed. I think the extra week has helped and I think we have a really good grasp, all we have to do is take it to Saturday and refine it here over the next few days, but I feel good about it."
This season, the Sun Devils have forced just six turnovers from their opponents, all coming against Colorado and New Mexico. Patterson said that the inexperience of the defense as a whole is one of the factors that has kept turnovers down.
"There's been years when we're really, really good at turnovers, then the next year it might be tackles for loss and quarterback sacks, so it's kind of gone in cycles, at least over the last seven or eight years," Patterson said. "I think personnel obviously has something to do with it. When you have a young defense, there's a lot more thinking going on, so if you're thinking, you're not running to the football expecting good things to happen, you're trying to worry about assignments and responsibilities."
Despite the inexperience hurting in some ways, Patterson has been impressed with the progression of freshman linebackers DJ Calhoun and Christian Sam. He said he is happy with Calhoun's improvement, especially in recent weeks.
"I'm pleased with where he is," Patterson said. "Combine (dealing with a new environment) with a multiple defense: multiple coverages, multiple fronts multiple pressures, that's a lot to put on the plate of a young man and i think he's done extremely well. I thought he played his best game against USC and I think you'll see the same thing this week."
Patterson said that Sam has shown the same progress that Calhoun has, but he is still slightly behind.
"I think he's behind DJ obviously because he didn't go through Spring football," Patterson said. "They're both going to be tremendous players for us two or three years down the road. They've got unbelievable athleticism and size."
Reach the reporter at mtonis@asu.edu or follow him on Twitter @Tonis_The_Tiger
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