Suns Devils’ Foster: ‘We just have to continue to fight’

In games against Arkansas State, Idaho and Arizona State, the Trojans have forced eight turnovers and given up a combined 29 points — 12 less than they gave up to Stanford.

The next game, however, didn’t pan out so well as the Titans suffered a 6-1 loss to Boise State in the opening week of the season, while ASU kicked off its season with a 5-4 win over Weber State University. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET, with television coverage on FOX. There’s also concerns over whether Norvell is doing enough to play to quarterback Mike Bercovici’s strengths. Schechtman was named the Pac-12 Goalkeeper of the Week and to Top Drawer Soccer’s National Team of the Week last week for turning in a clean slate against the Ducks despite being peppered for a good chunk of the second half (she finished that contest with a career-high 10 saves).

Granted, UCLA is decimated at linebacker so perhaps this is the week that Norvell’s offense gets rolling.

Working in UCLA’s favor are two factors: It has a bye week after this, so there isn’t much to peek forward to; and coaches and players have lambasted the defense’s performance in Tucson despite a 56-30 win, putting an additional chip on the Bruins’ collective shoulder.

Arizona State is allowing 180.5 rushing yards per game – having played half their games against Cal Poly and New Mexico. And UCLA’s defense appears to be getting a preferable matchup with Arizona St’s offense, which is predicated on the pass, and not built to take advantage of what has been UCLA’s weakness on defense so far this year, defending the run.

The Sun Devils are 2-2 right now and 0-4 against the spread.

The limelight is always shining on you, and it’s basically win or go home for every game. “If you get everybody on the same page and knowing that what we did Saturday doesn’t satisfy us… if everybody can see that vision and that goal we’ll be a pretty solid football team”. If this game were lined before the season started, UCLA might only be favored by four or five points. “We’ve had discussions with them after that acquisition took place and ultimately our board rejected their proposal”. All signs heading into Saturday appear to be pointing squarely in Stanford’s favor. If it can just eliminate the mistakes, the Sun Devils might be ripe for a bounce-back effort this week. Paul Perkins is 10th nationally with 525 yards rushing. Nope, linebacker Kenny Young is angry.

That fumble all but took the life out of the Sun Devils, as they fumbled on the very next play leading to another touchdown. Bercovici has a big arm and can get the ball downfield, however ASU as a team has the second fewest plays of 20 yards in the conference.

WR D.J. Foster: Averaged 136 yards from scrimmage last season, but has fallen to 75 through his first four games as a senior. The Bruins had previously lost run-stuffing defensive tackle Eddie Vanderdoes and cornerback Fabian Moreau for the season. If I see another guy not performing at his best, I’m going to hop on him too, because I’m not very happy.