The 2015 Sun Devil Offense

Arizona State loses one of the most productive quarterbacks in school history. Arguably the most talented receiver to ever play in Tempe left early for the NFL. Both starting tackles are gone, last season’s 1,000-yard rusher is now a wide receiver, and the No. 2 wide receiver is out for the year following knee surgery.

Yet many around the program feel that this year’s offense could be better than last year’s unit that averaged just under 37 points per game.

A major reason for that optimism is redshirt senior quarterback Mike Bercovici.

After losing the quarterback battle to Taylor Kelly in 2012, Bercovici spent the last three seasons as the team’s backup. When Kelly went down with a foot injury last year, Bercovici stepped in and led ASU to wins over USC and Stanford. He impressed coaches and fans alike with his strong arm, ability to push the ball downfield, and leadership qualities, so much so that much of the fanbase wanted Bercovici to remain the starter when Kelly returned.

Bercovici’s intangibles and knowledge of the offense are off the charts, but he will need to control his gunslinger tendencies that led to some devastating interceptions last season. If he can, he could challenge for All-Pac-12 honors.

Helping his cause is a very talented, but very young, backfield.

Atop the depth chart are a pair of true sophomores, Demario Richard and Kalen Ballage. Richard emerged as a powerful bowling ball-type runner last season, capping off his freshman season with a four touchdown effort in the Sun Bowl. Such was the staff’s confidence in his ability that it allowed them to move last year’s leading rusher, D.J. Foster, to wide receiver. Ballage was spring football’s biggest star, and his size (225 pounds), speed, and explosiveness led to him also seeing reps as a third down pass rusher on defense. De’Chavon “Gump” Hayes may be the team’s fastest player, and will see action both out of the backfield, in the slot, and as a returner.

Things are far more uncertain when it comes to the wide receivers and tight ends, especially with the departure of Jaelen Strong and Cam Smith’s knee injury. Foster has been one of the top pass catching backs in the nation during his career, and he is already fifth in school history in receptions. However, while he is sure-handed and explosive with the ball in his hands, he did show some struggles in the spring making the adjustment to receiver full time. Regardless, he projects to be Bercovici’s No. 1 target this fall.

Frederick Gammage, Gary Chambers, and Ellis Jefferson all saw action last season, and the 6-foot-4 Jefferson is primed for a breakout year after a strong spring. Former junior college transfer Eric Lauderdale is coming off a redshirt and ran with the starting offense during spring, and he offers a nice size-speed combination. The group also welcomed two post-spring additions that figure to help right away. Devin Lucien transferred from UCLA after catching 29 passes for the Bruins a year ago, and junior college transfer Tim White brings a speedy downfield element to help fill Smith’s vacated role.

At tight end, Kody Kohl is a solid, if unspectacular, option. Backing him up is athletic newcomer Raymond Epps and Grant Martinez, although both were limited throughout spring.

On the line, ASU should be formidable up the middle, with a pair of NFL prospects in center Nick Kelly and right guard Christian Westerman anchoring thee unit. However, there is concern as ASU looks to fill both tackle spots. Former four-star recruit Evan Goodman began spring, but was soon injured, replaced by redshirt freshman Sam Jones. Those two will battle for the job throughout fall camp. On the right side, long-time reserve Billy McGehee held down the spot, although he will battle Quinn Bailey and incoming freshman Zach Robertson for the job.

 

The 2015 Sun Devil Defense

What a difference a year makes.

Heading into last season, the Sun Devils were replacing nine starters on defense, leading to dire expectations. A year later, that script has been completely flipped, as nine starters and several key reserves return to a defense that gelled into a disruptive force over the latter half of the season.

The primary spring question was what formation the defense would utilize. In Graham’s first two years, they often played with three down lineman and a “Devilbacker” who represented a versatile edge threat. However, last year’s team saw no one provide a capable presence at that position, so the team flipped to a 4-3 base and had great success. That may again be the case, as incoming 5-star recruit Davon Durant, the expected new starter at Devilbacker, was arrested on a domestic violence charge on the eve of spring practices and is suspended indefinitely

If ASU does opt for a four-man front, they won’t have a lack of solid options. Tashon Smallwood and Demetrius Cherry were impressive throughout spring at tackle, and highly-touted newcomer JoJo Wicker will add depth in the fall. At end, Edmond Boateng had a very strong spring, but the team will need Renell Wren, Corey Smith, or lengthy newcomer Jalen Bates to develop behind him.

The depth is better at linebacker, where WILL backer Antonio Longino and SPUR backer Laiu Moeakiola had breakout 2014 seasons, each proving to be disruptive playmakers. During spring, with Moeakiola out with an injury, former safety Marcus Ball excelled at SPUR, giving the team valuable depth. At SAM backer, a good battle is setting up for fall camp, as returning starter Salamo Fiso will try to hold off sophomore Christian Sam, arguably the defense’s spring MVP. The prognosis continues to be grim at Devilbacker, where Ismael Murphy-Richardson has a wealth of talent, but is still raw.

The strength of the defense is clearly in the secondary. Safety Jordan Simone and cornerback Lloyd Carrington should be among the Pac-12’s best, and new starting safety James Johnson inspired tremendous confidence after a standout spring. Opposite Carrington, Kweishi Brown showed flashes of excellence last season, but rotated with the first-team throughout spring with a resurgent Solomon Means. Converted wide receiver Ronald Lewis has great upside, and two talented freshmen cornerbacks join the mix this summer in Kareem Orr and Scrappy Norman.

 

Buy or Sell?

After back-to-back 10 win seasons, can ASU make it three in a row?

They do have some things working in their favor.

Defensively, ASU should be very good. All three levels are stacked with capable playmakers, and the attacking mentality will be out in force once again. After a season-opening battle with Texas A&M, the schedule is favorable. Most of their toughest games—USC, Oregon, Washington, and Arizona—are at home, with the bye week prior to the Thursday night battle against the Ducks. They travel to UCLA early in the year, when the Bruins’ new quarterback may still be finding his legs.

Whether or not ASU can challenge for the Pac-12 South title will depend on the offense. Talent-wise, the Sun Devils have great potential, but significant questions remain.

Can Bercovici play within the system and avoid the turnovers that plagued him at times? Will the read option running game work as well with Bercovici, who is not the caliber of runner that Kelly was? Who will step up at wide receiver? Will the tackles provide enough protection for Bercovici?

If they do, this likely preseason Top 15 team could push for a playoff spot. If not, they should still be effective enough, in conjunction with the defense, to be an eight or nine-win team and be in the South division mix.

Prediction: 9-3

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Brad Denny of KTVK 3TV provided the information for our Arizona State football 2015 spring recap.  For more ASU football information, commentary and analysis, you can follow Brad on Twitter @BDenny29.

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