ASU Football: Bercovici’s Time

In Saturday’s victory over Colorado, the ASU Football team appears to have lost Taylor Kelly for a couple of games.

The word is not official.  In fact, an official word may not come for a while.  It’s common for football programs to keep injuries to quarterbacks a secret.  But it seems unlikely that the program could keep this development a secret for very long.  It also seems unlikely that Kelly will be able to play for the UCLA game.  The body language from Kelly himself coupled with the reaction of the coaches to his condition during the game suggest he is not playing for some time.

Now, all eyes turn to back-up quarterback, Mike Bercovici.  The redshirt junior from Calabasas, CA will presumably be in the starting lineup for what will be, at this point, ASU’s biggest game of the year.  The Sun Devils have a bye this weekend, but they tee it up the following Thursday, Sept. 25th at home versus UCLA.  Incidentally, the Bruins have somewhat of the same situation brewing in Westwood.  Saturday, UCLA starting quarterback Brett Hundley left the game with an injury to his non-throwing arm.  Backup Jerry Neuheisel had to finish the game for UCLA.  In all likelihood, Hundley’s injury is not that serious and he’ll be ready to play in Tempe.

Bercovici is not your typical backup quarterback.  This is his fourth year in the program, having been recruited by former coach Dennis Erickson.  In 2011, Bercovici was the backup for former starting quarterback, Brock Osweiler.  (now with the Denver Broncos)  In 2012, when current head coach Todd Graham took over the program, Bercovici was actually neck and neck with Michael Eubank for the starting job.  But during fall camp, Taylor Kelly impressed the coaches and leapfrogged both Eubank and Bercovici for the starting role.  Bercovici has been Taylor’s backup for more than two seasons.

Given that background, Bercovici is quite comfortable with the offensive system and offensive coordinator Mike Norvelle.  ASU fans should take some comfort in that.  The players should, as well.  (skeptics need only to look at Arizona Cardinals back-up QB Drew Stanton’s performance on Sunday)

Most observers describe Bercovici as having a better arm than Kelly.  However, he struggles with his accuracy.  In fact, it was Bercovici’s tendency to be risky with the ball that essentially lost him the starting job.  Finally, he is not as mobile as Kelly, and therefore not the running threat in the zone-read option that Kelly is.

There will be plenty of time to observe and discuss this quarterback situation for ASU.  Hopefully, this development won’t turn into a circus of media inquiry and uncertainty.  More importantly, ASU fans are hopeful that Mike Bercovici is ready to lead this offense and give his team a chance to win this huge PAC-12 South showdown in Tempe next week.  It’s never ideal to have a backup quarterback for such a marquee matchup, but Bercovici is quite capable.  His teammates believe in him.  His coaches believe in him.  Now he just needs to show the world why they do.