Jake Plummer: Physicality, running the ball imperative for Sun Devils to defeat Stanford
Oct 15, 2014, 3:16 AM | Updated: 3:16 am
Two weeks after pulling out a miraculous Hail Mary win over USC, the No. 17 ranked Arizona State Sun Devils have another tough opponent ahead this Saturday in No. 23 Stanford.
Former Sun Devils quarterback Jake Plummer told Bickley and Marotta on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM Tuesday if ASU wants to win on Saturday, they will need to play a physical game.
“It’s tough playing a team like Stanford that’s so well coached,” Plummer said. “It’s going to have to be a really tough, physical, hard-fought game.
“The Sun Devils have the players to get physical with the Stanford Cardinal. The main thing is really trying to dominate that front seven, trying to create some creases for the running backs.”
While the majority of the attention surrounding the Sun Devils has focused on the quarterback situation, Plummer believes the key to victory lies in the ability to pound the rock.
“They probably won’t want to do this, but I believe they’ve got to hang their hat on the run game…if they want a chance to win,” Plummer said. “Even when you’re getting no yards off the runs, you’ve got to keep going back to it.”
Using the run to set up the pass could open things up for a big play against a stingy Stanford secondary.
“ASU has some stud receivers and if you can get them in space by having a little bit of play action to keep that secondary off balance, then there’s your chance.”
At 4-1, the Devils look to give their home fans a lot more to cheer about than the last time they played at Sun Devil Stadium — a 62-27 loss to UCLA in late September.
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