Arizona State football upset Texas Tech last week and looked great for the majority of the game. However, there are some things that the Sun Devils will have to clean up as they face Houston.
1. Who will be the top receiver now that Jordyn Tyson is out?
Redshirt junior wide receiver Jordyn Tyson is the top target for redshirt sophomore quarterback Sam Leavitt since the arrival of Leavitt. Redshirt sophomore Jaren Hamilton had his breakout game last week, and redshirt sophomore Derek Eusebio has looked good as well. Leavitt will have those two and over a half dozen other targets to find.
2. Can the defense stop Houston quarterback Conner Weigman?
Two weeks ago, the Sun Devils faced a dual-threat quarterback who chewed up the defense. Weigman is a dual-threat quarterback who is averaging almost a touchdown a game on the ground. The defensive line in particular, will have to step up.
3. Can special teams improve?
Last week, special teams underperformed except for redshirt senior kicker Jesus Gomez. Sophomore punter Kanyon Floyd averaged 39.2 yards on four punts. The Sun Devils allowed seven returns for 166 yards on punts and kickoffs.
4. Will the run game be effective minus Tyson?
The last time Tyson missed time was in last year’s Peach Bowl. Running back Cam Skattebo had 30 carries for 143 yards and two touchdowns. Skattebo is in the NFL, and it will be interesting to see if redshirt junior Raleek Brown can hit triple digits as well.
5. Can the red zone offense improve?
The red zone offense scored touchdowns on only two of its five drives last week, continuing the struggles the unit has faced this season. With Tyson out, Leavitt will have to rely on other targets there; look for redshirt senior tight end Chamon Metayer to be a top target.
The Sun Devils will likely figure out the answers to the questions and beat Houston this Saturday.