Big Game Devils

Sun Devil fans have what they want now. They have a team that is playing at a high level, winning, and making the fans believe that they can do something special at the end of the season. Saturday night at 8pm they will have their shot at continuing this great season.




When you look at their opponent in the Utah Utes you have a team that will try and run the ball on you. They have a very good running back in Devontae Booker who has had 100 yards in over four straight games and with a good game manager in Travis Wilson they will be a lot to game plan for. The defense of the Utes will be attacking Taylor Kelly and the offense. They sacked Brett Hundley 10 times, so Utah won't be intimidated by Sun Devil Stadium and the fans. They will bring the heat on the Sun Devil offense. They have won four of their road games, including one at The Big House in Michigan and one at The Rose Bowl, granted Michigan is not that good, but still for a team like Utah and the struggles that they have had since coming to the Pac-12 a win at Michigan is a great win for them. Then going to The Rose Bowl and winning says something as well. This is a team that can't be taken lightly by the Devils.




However, this is different type of Devil team. They have had to go through some rough times, losing Taylor Kelly to a foot injury, having to mesh with back up quarterback Mike Bercovici quickly, getting embarrassed at home by UCLA, and having Taylor Kelly come back to start while many fans wanted Bercovici to keep playing. I've been impressed the Devils ability to stay the course and do what they believe is right for the program and not what the fans want.




Last week up in Seattle they showed me something as well. The conditions at Husky Stadium were brutal to say the least with the high winds swirling on the field. You would figure that the Huskies would have been the team to be accustomed to dealing with adverse weather conditions, but it was the Devils who dealt with the high winds very well. Getting big plays, controlling the line of scrimmage, and playing solid defense is the recipe for success at any level of football.




Now, the Devils need to step up their game this week. I think the Devils can certainly win this game because I think their offense is a little more dynamic than the Utes. They have great wide outs, especially with Jaelen Strong, have a great combo back/receiver in DJ Foster, and have a very mobile quarterback in Taylor Kelly. There is a question with Taylor Kelly's availability because of  concussion protocol. The trainers had to take Kelly's helmet from him on Saturday night, but I expect him to be playing against Utah.




The next thing that needs to happen is that Sun Devil fans need to get into the stadium early, be fired up, and make things difficult for the Utah Utes. The fans have to be raucous, crazy, and nuts for their Devils. This is a big game and the fans have to act like it.




It's time for the big game Devils to get the job done and continue on this hot streak and see what heights they can attain in this 2014 season.