ASU football head coach Todd Graham was adamant that his team needs to improve its tackling and run blocking in his weekly press conference on Monday.
Despite the concerns, Graham began the press conference by acknowledging the positive news that broke today involving senior kicker Zane Gonzalez.
Gonzalez was named Pac-12 Special Teams Player of the Week for a school-record fourth time this season after his performance against Colorado — yet another record broken by the NCAA's all-time leader in career field goals.
Congrats to @FootballASU's Zane Gonzalez on being named #Pac12FB Special Teams Player of the Week! pic.twitter.com/h9mtsOfuk6
— Pac-12 Network (@Pac12Network) October 17, 2016
Graham went on to discuss the issues that plagued the Sun Devils (5-2) in a 40-16 loss to Colorado — a game in which Gonzalez and the special teams unit were the lone bright spot. Among the issues was consistency in tackling, something that showed up as a glaring weakness for ASU against the Buffaloes and has been problematic all season.
"We came off our best performance the week before and did not respond well," Graham said. "Communication, pursuit and tackling — we spend almost half of our individual time every day on tackling. So much of it was just a lack of fundamental technique."
One area in which technique has also been an issue, according to Graham, is the run game. He attributes the lack of production in recent weeks to poor run blocking and not providing enough opportunities for junior running backs Demario Richard and Kalen Ballage.
Graham on the run game: "Obviously we haven't blocked very well...We've just gotta get better in what we're doing"
— Ryan Clarke (@RyanTClarke) October 17, 2016
With Washington State on the docket this Saturday at Sun Devil Stadium, run blocking will be of the utmost importance against a Cougar defense that Graham described as "attacking."
"They move, they try to create havoc," Graham said. "I think that's been the big difference in their team is just how they've played defense."
A big difference for the Sun Devils in recent weeks has been health, particularly on the defensive side and at the quarterback position.
With redshirt freshman quarterback Brady White done for the year, redshirt sophomore quarterback Manny Wilkins hobbled and redshirt junior linebacker Marcus Ball recovering at a "turtle's pace", injuries are coming at an inopportune time for an ASU team looking to separate itself in the Pac-12 South.
"We need to get healthy, and then we need to play well, be disciplined and be fundamentally sound," Graham said. "We're hoping (Wilkins) will be a little bit more healthy this week."
Wilkins and company will face Washington State on Saturday at Sun Devil Stadium, hoping to maintain a 4-0 home record this season. The same can't be said for road bouts, where the Sun Devils are 1-2 this season including two blowouts and a narrow victory over an inferior opponent.
ASU's next road game will be in Eugene against the Oregon Ducks (2-4). Kickoff was announced on Monday for 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 29.
Reach the sports editor at rclarke6@asu.edu or follow @RyanTClarke on Twitter.
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