Q&A with State Press football beat writer


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A lot will be on the line for the 16th-ranked Trojan football team this Saturday, when USC hosts Arizona State in its first Pac-12 South matchup.

Local product Mike Bercovici will get the nod for the Sun Devils at quarterback, as their normal starter, Taylor Kelly, is out for the second straight week with a foot injury.

Last week, Bercovici set ASU football records by attempting 68 passes and completing 42.

Daily Trojan sports editor Aubrey Kragen sat down with Arizona State’s State Press football reporter, Evan Webeck,  to give Trojan fans a better picture of what to expect from this Sun Devil squad on Saturday afternoon.

 

Daily Trojan: How are the Sun Devils compensating for the loss of quarterback Taylor Kelly? What can we expect from backup Mike Bercovici?

State Press: Well, if everything goes as planned, Bercovici won’t throw the ball 68 times again. Although he didn’t lose the game for ASU, the Sun Devils aren’t going to consistently win when their backup quarterback throws more than twice as many passes as D.J. Foster has yards.

Foster, ASU’s star running back, ran only nine times for 30 yards against UCLA. ASU has to get its running game going if it’s going to keep up with USC.

DT: What areas of weakness did UCLA expose in its 62-27 victory over ASU last week?

SP: Defense. Tackling. Special teams. All areas where we knew there are potential holes, and almost every hole was exposed against UCLA, like only a 35-point loss can do. UCLA was the first real test for ASU’s inexperienced defense, and it showed. Todd Graham blamed it on his players getting too hyped, but the Colorado game hinted potential problems, and they were proven right when the Sun Devils faced a real opponent.

 

DT: The last time anyone scored 62 points at Sun Devil Stadium was last year, when ASU defeated USC, 62-41. How has ASU’s team changed then?

SP: It’s changed a lot, quite frankly. There aren’t any difference makers on the defense anymore, and it’s no longer a point of strength. The offense, however, is still totally capable of hanging 62 on the board, at least when Taylor Kelly is at quarterback. Obviously, Bercovici starting is a pretty big change, too. He’s turnover prone, unlike Kelly, but has a similar skill set otherwise. He’ll have to limit his turnovers in order to make up for the defense’s shortcomings.

DT: Each year, ASU seems to have one outstanding defense player — in 2013 it was Will Sutton and in 2012, Vontaze Burfict. Who is leading the Sun Devil defense this year?

SP: There isn’t really a standout player on the defense. If I had to pick a leader, it would be Damarious Randall, ASU’s redshirt senior field safety. Randall is the most experienced player on a young defense and is a player Graham was counting on to be a leader going into the season.

Generally, he’s met expectations. He’s third in the Pac-12 with 38 tackles and forced a fumble. Graham was asked on Tuesday to evaluate his play thus far, and he said he was pleased but still expects more from Randall.

 

DT: Who will be ASU’s impact player this Saturday?

SP: If it’s not D.J. Foster, ASU probably doesn’t win the game. ASU probably doesn’t win the game, period.

But if Foster for a second straight game isn’t able to get going, ASU won’t be able to put up the points to match USC. The first three games, Foster didn’t have less than 147 rushing yards, to go along with a handful of receptions.

Uncoincidentally, ASU won all three games. He’s the best playmaker ASU has, and possibly the best in the Pac-12. I expected him to step up last week, and he didn’t. But he gets another chance this week.

 

DT: Prediction?

SP: USC 38, ASU 27.