ASU Football: Taylor Kelly’s Leadership Essential for Sun Devils

With summer in full swing and camp looming in August, the focus of most ASU fans now turns to the anticipation of football.  It’s true across the country.  Everybody is getting excited for the upcoming season.

For ASU, much of the burden of success or failure rests on the shoulders of quarterback Taylor Kelly.  Anybody who knows football knows that the quarterback is the most important position on the entire team.  He touches the ball on every play.  He makes critical decisions on blocking assignments, pass protection, routes to be run and has the responsibility to change the play if necessary.  And he has to make this decision quickly and live with the consequences.

Oh and after all that, he has to throw a perfect ball to an open receiver.

In ASU’s system, it’s especially critical.  The hurry-up tempo offense doesn’t give Kelly a whole lot of time to read and adjust.  But this is year three for him.  Third year in the same system.  Third year as the starter.  He has to be ready.

But for Kelly, his leadership role must expand somewhat.  Not only must he lead this team with his performance on the field.  He must be a leader off the field.  He has to be the hardest worker in practice, the most dutiful film studier, the most committed athlete.  All eyes are on him.  With young players and new recruits all around, he must live and demonstrate coach Todd Graham‘s “Sun Devil Way”.

And he also has to become more vocal.  He’s got to be the one voice in the huddle.  He must be the calm guy with all the answers.  It’s the burden of leadership.  He has to figure out who to yell at and who to coddle.  And when.  He has to walk that fine line between cockiness and confidence.

Most people in the program acknowledge that Taylor Kelly is mostly a quiet, humble kid.  That’s fine.  Nobody likes a loudmouth.  But he’ll have to be more vocal now.  And he will have to handle adversity with resolve and determination to will his teammates to rally when victory is in doubt.

It’s tough duty.  Good quarterbacks are natural leaders.  And because of the nature of that position, especially nowadays with all the scrutiny, any quarterback has to live with the fact that his decisions and performance can directly lead to loss or victory and that his mistakes will be broadcast to the whole country.

ASU fans are hoping that Taylor Kelly steps up in a big way this year for the Sun Devils.  He should strive to find a way to rally his team to win every game.  He should drive and motivate his teammates to score 50 points a game.  He must foster that spirit that never makes excuses and never concedes defeat.  He is primed to do just that and Devils in Detail expects a big year from Taylor Kelly.