Three thoughts following Arizona State football’s loss to Oregon

TEMPE, Ariz. — It was a rough afternoon in Tempe for Arizona State football as it fell 49-13 to Oregon. The Ducks scored touchdowns on each of their six first-half drives. Senior quarterback Bo Nix completed 22 of his 27 attempts for 381 yards and six touchdowns in the first half. Meanwhile, ASU was kept scoreless.

Three thoughts following Arizona State football’s loss

Despite the brutal loss, here are three thoughts on the game.

Missed tackles were an issue

The difference in the talent displayed on Saturday was evident. Oregon was just faster, stronger, and more elusive. The few drives ASU was able to stop Oregon was because of its tackling. But that wasn’t often.

The Ducks were able to drive down the field with ease because of the yards after the catch they created. Many screen passes went from three to four-yard completions, to 10 to 15-yard gains due to missed tackling.

Oregon’s fifth touchdown of the first half was a screen pass to redshirt sophomore receiver Gary Bryant Jr., who took it 71 yards for a touchdown. He broke at least four would-be tacklers and had Sun Devil defenders stumbling over each other along the way.

With a team as talented as Oregon, making one-on-one tackles in space is a key to having success. The missed tackles elongated drives and made it impossible for ASU to get off the field in the first half.

Cameron Skattebo can do everything

The junior transfer running back from Sacramento State has shown that he can and will do anything the coaches ask him to for Arizona State football. Skattebo, for the third game this season, had at least one rush, reception, pass, and punt.

Skattebo completed one of three passes last week in ASU’s win over UCLA. Saturday he was the quarterback for the first offensive play of the game and launched a deep ball over 35 yards that resulted in a pass inference call. Then, on the Sun Devils first third down of the game, Skattebo threw around a corner blitz to redshirt junior tight end Jalin Conyers who came out of the backfield as the running back, for a 31-yard catch and run first down.

The do-it-all running back has racked up quite a variety of stat lines this season. Skattebo has competed six of his 14 pass attempts for 130 yards and a touchdown. He now has eight punts for 338 yards, including three downed inside the 20-yard line. Then, for the more normal running back statistics. Skattebo has 24 receptions on the year for 286 yards and a touchdown, and 147 rushes for 680 yards and eight touchdowns on the ground.

This season has been a rebuild, full of many learning moments and injuries along the way. But, Skattebo has been one spot ASU has been able to count on week in and week out. He has shown that he’s one of the most talented players on the team.

Inconsistency at quarterback has been a backbreaker for Arizona State

ASU has had six different players play the quarterback position this season, only four of those six are actual quarterbacks.

True freshman Jaden Rashada started the season at quarterback for the Sun Devils, but two weeks in went down injured. From there, it was a mix of redshirt junior Trenton Bourguet, redshirt sophomore Drew Pyne, and redshirt sophomore Jacob Conover, along with Skattebo (RB) and Conyers (TE) mixed in.

Bourguet and Pyne have dealt with injuries throughout the season, and the fourth-string Conover has been the emergency quarterback for much of the season. However, Skattebo and Conyers taking a snap at quarterback every couple of games for a trick play is one thing, but they have combined for 20 attempts this season. The two combined for 10 of ASU’s 47 pass attempts tonight.

The inconsistency at quarterback has led to an inefficient offense that leaves a solid defense out to dry, making it hard for the Sun Devils to have success.

But it’s hard to keep a quarterback consistently healthy and successful when you have trouble putting together an offensive line to provide protection. ASU has struggled with health all season, but no position has been hit harder than the offensive line.

Regardless, not being able to trust the offense in the passing game has made success on that side of the ball harder to come by and forced the Sun Devils into some interesting formations and play designs.

Bonus thought

After the way Oregon performed Saturday, there’s one more thought from this game.

Oregon is a national championship-caliber team.

Oregon has been in the College Football Playoff discussion all year, led by Heisman Trophy favorite Bo Nix. But tonight, they showed just how complete they are on both sides of the ball.

Although many people may not look at ASU as that big of a test for the Ducks, the Sun Devils have competed in most games this season and were coming off their biggest win of the season over UCLA. The lone exceptions were the stomping by Utah and the home shutout against Fresno State.

But tonight, Oregon was in control from start to finish, and the game was over by the end of the first quarter. Bo Nix padded his Heisman Trophy resume and the defense played like the top 13 defense they are, including shutting ASU out in the first half.

Oregon has a big in-state rivalry game next week against Oregon State, but if they continue playing complete games like they did Saturday, they have a good chance of reaching the College Football Playoffs.

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