Colorado University Athletics
Buffs Know ASU Will Try To Pound With Run Game
October 13, 2016 | Football, Neill Woelk
BOULDER — When the Arizona State Sun Devils show up at Folsom Field on Saturday (6 p.m., Pac-12 Networks), Colorado head coach Mike MacIntyre and the Buffs know two things are a virtual guarantee:
One, Todd Graham's ASU defense will blitz. "They'll be blitzing when they walk off the bus, that's what he likes to do," MacIntyre said only half-jokingly earlier in the week.
Two, the Sun Devils will attempt to run the ball with their two big backs, Demario Richard (5-foot-10, 219 pounds) and Kalen Ballage (6-2, 227). " I definitely expect them to run the football," MacIntyre said. "When they've played really well, they've run the football well."
The Sun Devils have indeed packed a punch with their run game. They're currently fifth in the Pac-12 (57th in the nation), averaging 183.3 yards per game, just 15 less than Colorado. Richard is ninth in the Pac-12 in rushing, averaging 72.7 yards per game and 3.9 per carry. Ballage is averaging just 51.7 yards per game, but he's averaging 5.1 yards per carry and has scored nine rushing touchdowns (along with one receiving).
But given ASU's quarterback issues, the Sun Devils' run game could be even more of a factor Saturday. Regular starter Manny Wilkins is nursing a bad ankle, and his status for Saturday is still questionable. Wilkins is usually a dual-threat quarterback, but even if he plays Saturday, he's not expected to be anywhere close to full speed.
If Wilkins is unavailable, the Sun Devils will likely turn to true freshman Dillon Sterling-Cole, who threw one pass in relief duty of Brady White (now out for the season) last week against UCLA — and it was intercepted.
"There is probably a little bit more sense of urgency," admitted ASU running backs coach John Simon. "(We) understand that could mean there's going to be a little bit more workload for us. But we're ready for the challenge. We have three guys in the room ready to play and have a lot of depth back there. We're ready to run the football and look forward to having an opportunity to do it."
The Buffs have played relatively well against the run this year, giving up 146.8 yards per game on the ground (6th in the Pac-12, 50th in the nation). Maybe their best effort in that department came against Oregon State, when they limited the Beavers to just 126 yards on 34 attempts.
The Sun Devils have shown the ability to wear an opponent down. After scoring just three points in the first half in last weekend's 23-20 win over UCLA, ASU ground out drives of 57, 75 and 65 yards in the second half to collect the win.
"That third quarter is usually a big quarter for us to pound the ball because our guys are fresh, defenses start to wear down a little bit and all it takes is one seam, then we're ready to establish ourselves in the run game," Simon said.
The Sun Devils have also had good success with their "Sparky" formation, which involves a direct snap to Ballage instead of a snap to the quarterback and handoff. In a ASU 68-55 win over Texas Tech earlier this season, Ballage scored eight touchdowns in the game — with six coming from the "Sparky" formation.
The Buffs are well-aware of the formation, and MacIntyre and defensive coordinator Jim Leavitt have put a huge emphasis on tackling Ballage and Thomas all week in practice.
"They get him (Ballage) in situations where he just runs over guys," MacIntyre said "People aren't tackling him well, we've got to tackle him well. That's easier said than done. You've got to understand they're in the formation and understand what they're trying to do out of it. I feel like our guys do. I think they'll have some new wrinkles in it this week if they feel like they're not going to have their main quarterback. We've got to be prepared for that. The main thing is No. 7, he's pretty wicked."
FAMILIAR NAMES: If Sterling-Cole does start for ASU on Saturday, he'll become just the fifth-ever true freshman to start a game for the Sun Devils. The previous two should be very familiar to football fans in Colorado: Jake Plummer (1993) and Brock Osweiler (2009). Both went on to become starting QBs for the Denver Broncos.
CLIMBING THE TACKLE CHART: After a slow start in which he played only a handful of plays each week, Buffs linebacker Addison Gillam is moving up the Buffs' tackle chart. Gillam played 30 defensive snaps against USC — matching his season high from the previous week against Oregon State — and finished with five tackles and a sack. That gave him 12 tackles in his last two games, more than half of his season production of 22.
"It's exciting to me," MacIntyre said of the player who was a freshman All-American in 2013. "He made some big plays last Saturday and he'll make some big plays this Saturday. As the season's gone on, he's played more and more and that'll continue to happen. It's great to see him out there flying around."
Another player who has quietly moved up the tackle chart and snap chart is defensive end Leo Jackson III, who has seen 81 defensive snaps in CU's three Pac-12 games and has totaled eight tackles in those games.
CU IN 60: CU officials are encouraging Buffs fans to show up early for this week's 6 p.m. game, promoting a "CU in 60" effort, asking fans to enter the stadium at least 60 minutes before game time. The benefit is not only avoiding lines entering the stadium, but also a chance to enjoy the amenities and activities in CU's Indoor Practice Facility, where a variety of activities are available, including areas for kids. The IPF is inside the stadium "footprint," meaning fans can visit the facility for some pregame snacks and entertainment and not have to re-enter the stadium.
Tailgate and parking lots will open at noon Saturday and gates to the stadium will open two hours prior to kickoff. The traditional team arrival and Buff Walk down the east side of the stadium will occur at approximately 4:25 p.m.
Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu
