ASU Football: Arizona State vs. San Diego State rapid reaction

Unlike the 2016 season, ASU football was humbled early as they lost to the San Diego State Aztecs 30-20.

With the loss, the Sun Devils have to take a long look in the mirror and realize that if they don’t fix things, they will be in for a long season. While the game was mostly negative for Arizona State, there were some positives. Here are my takeaways from the game.

1. The offensive line of Arizona State looks lost

After the New Mexico State Aggies got to Manny Wilkins seven times in the home opener, it was apparent that the offensive line was going to be a rough spot for ASU football.

While not a lot of improvement can take place in one week, it is possible that the line looked even worse than they did against the Aggies.

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The offensive line ended the night giving up six sacks and putting Wilkins in a lot of situations where he was trying to evade pressure.

If this team wants any chance of having a successful season it starts up front with the offensive line. Games are won in the trenches, and Arizona State is in for a lot of losses based on their performance in the trenches the first two weeks of the season.

2. N’Keal Harry needs to be a bigger part of the offense

Harry was the prized recruit of the 2016 draft class. The five-star recruit had to play wingman to Tim White in White’s final season but now it is Harry’s show, but he is still being treated like a sidekick.

In an offense that has looked better in the air than on the ground, there is no reason why Harry shouldn’t be targeted at least 10 times a game.

Against the Aztecs he was only targeted eight times, with five of those targets being completed. Harry ended the night with 49 receiving yards and one touchdown.

If he becomes the focal point of the offense, it isn’t unrealistic to imagine him with a touchdown and 75 receiving yards a game. He was brought in to be the next great ASU receiver, start treating him like it.

3. The defense isn’t really to blame

For the past two years, the Arizona State bad defense has been the narrative. This year, it looks like that may be changing.

Now, they aren’t going to be considered one of the best defenses, but they have shown improvements from past years.

Missed tackles in the open field is no longer an issue. A defensive line that can’t penetrate the backfield is no longer an issue.

The defense is on a track for improvement but there will be growing pains. Against the Aggies, there was an issue in the secondary when it came to limiting completions. Against the Aztecs, there was an issue with stopping the run game.

Every team has a offensive scheme, and with that comes a different area that Arizona State’s defense will improve on.

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