Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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Game Preview: arizona state total that includes the 158 they stacked 24 passes for 330 yards — both team up against Football Championship highs — in his first three games at the Subdivision school Sacramento State. NCAA level. Haller expects Strong to Junior quarterback Taylor Kelly threw be a major impact player as he mamore than 50 passes in games against tures in the next few years. Wisconsin and Stanford, setting back"I told you watching his film that he to-back career highs in that category. was as good as I have seen on film at Meanwhile, Marion Grice, the team's what he does," Graham told reporttop offensive threat a ers after the Wisconseason ago, is averagsin game. "He still is ing only 3.6 yards per working on undertouch. standing how to do "Without question some things. He is they're going to have only going to get betto start running the ter every week." ball," Haller said. "… Arizona State I think that's an emhopes to rely on him phasis going forward less while he climbs in the Notre Dame that learning curve during the middle of game. They have to the season. find a way to establish Playing against the run." bulky defenses built Kelly is holding his to clog up the line of own with the increased workload that landed Fifth-year senior defensive tackle Will scrimmage has forced on his shoulders dur- Sutton was off to a slow start in 2013, Graham and Kelly to ing the past couple a year after he racked up 23.5 tackles the air more often that weeks. The second- for loss (ranked second nationally) and they would like. It also year starter has com- 13.0 sacks (third in country) en route led them to prepare in pleted 59.9 percent to Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year a new way on defense this offseason. To beat of his passes and has honors. photo courtesy Arizona State University Stanford and Wisconthrown eight touchdown passes compared to three inter- sin, the Sun Devils knew they would ceptions against a couple talented de- have to improve drastically in stopping the run. fenses. In 2012, Arizona State allowed 182.9 The biggest question mark for the Sun Devils offense heading into rushing yards per game, 85th among their recent gauntlet was the receiv- Football Bowl Subdivision schools. An ing corps. Kelly seems to have found explosive front seven added some noan answer in junior college transfer ticeable bulk during the offseason to Jaelen Strong. The sophomore caught try to better hold its ground.