- Slug: Sports-ASU Tuesday,490
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By MARIA VASQUEZ
Cronkite News
TEMPE – Arizona State fans have been less than pleased with the team and its 2-2 record. They are not alone.
“I expect our fans to be disappointed. I’m disappointed,” Sun Devils’ coach Todd Graham said after Tuesday’s practice.
This is the second time ASU got blown out at home in the fourth game of the season. Last year the Sun Devils lost to UCLA 62-27.
The week after that loss, Arizona State went to Los Angeles and picked up a critical road victory over USC, a game that ended with Mike Bercovici’s Hail Mary pass to Jaelen Strong.
Coming off of another home loss to one of the two Pac-12 schools from LA, ASU is hoping for a similar result this time around as they head to the Rose Bowl to take on UCLA.
“We gotta play our best game and we know that,” Graham said. “Our guys know what we have to do. We’ve been here before and know exactly what’s expected, but we’re playing one heck of a football team.”
UCLA is currently ranked No. 7 in the AP Top 25 Poll and is coming off a dominating 56-30 win over Arizona.
ASU wide receiver D.J. Foster, who had just 81 total yards against USC on Saturday, understands the challenge ahead.
“We know what it’s like and what it takes,” Foster said. “It’s a long, long season. Especially in the Pac-12, a lot of stuff can happen. You’re never out and we just have to continue to fight every day.”
There’s been little connection between quarterback Mike Bercovici and his receivers, which is something that needs to change in order for the Sun Devils to succeed in Pac-12 play.
“There’s a lot where we can elevate our game on the offensive side,” Foster said. “We have a lot of stuff to clean up. We need to find what we do best, which is running the ball, taking shots and getting open. We got to work hard at the receiving end and make it easier on Berco and our line.”
USC and UCLA are third and fourth in scoring defense in the Pac-12. These similar defenses will make it hard for Bercovici and the rest of the offense to get going.
“Both are very athletic, great physical speed in the secondary and a great front seven,” Foster said. “They’re a great team and a great opponent and we just have to continue to work on what we do and perfect what we do.
UCLA is undefeated and sits at the top of the Pac-12 South despite losing three key defensive players to injury, including linebacker Myles Jack.
“This is the best football team,” Graham said. “How they play together, how they play special teams. Obviously the injuries don’t help but I’ve been impressed with how they’ve responded. Which tells you a lot about what type of team they have.”
