Fans and bloggers alike are calling for a change in the current quarterback situation at Arizona State University.
“ASU faithful have lost belief in their senior quarterback,” wrote Dan Bickley, a blogger for the Arizona Republic. “And the head coach can’t be far behind.”
The quarterback controversy has been a sore topic in the ASU football community. The so-so performance of senior quarterback Danny Sullivan came under fire after the 28-17 loss to Oregon State at home on Oct. 3. Fans booed Sullivan out of the stadium, but the quarterback remained composed and maintained the support of ASU Head Coach Dennis Erickson.
“Danny Sullivan did not lose the football game by any means,” Erickson said in his weekly press conference. “Everyone was involved in that; everybody on our football team.”
Erickson planned on keeping Sullivan the starter for the matchup against Washington State last Saturday, although true freshman Brock Osweiler did see some play time.
The 27-14 victory over Washington State looks good on paper, but had the game been televised, the visual aid would have told a different story.
Sullivan completed 19 of 29 passes for 169 yards, three interceptions, and a touchdown. More interceptions in this game than he has had all season. But Sullivan can’t take all the blame for the abysmal offense; ASU ball carriers fumbled three times.
“If we turn it over like that again, we will not beat anybody,” Erickson said. “That is ridiculous. Ball security is job security. That is what we try to tell our players. To have three interceptions, to have a high snap, to fumble it twice; you cannot beat anybody doing that.”
Osweiler took to the field late in the first quarter. He completed 3 of 4 for 21 yards, but came up short on a third-and-nine.
But fans are hoping that a change comes to the ASU football program, whether it’s a new quarterback or exciting performances from the current one.
“Sullivan plays very passive. It appears that he’s afraid half the time he’s playing,” said sophomore ASU fan Nathan Meacham to College News. “If the offense doesn’t find a groove on Saturday, they need to look for a spark. That could be Osweiler.”
Erickson said that the freshman will see playing time on Saturday against Washington, though how much time is unknown.
In the meantime, Sullivan is keeping a positive attitude and looking forward to his future performances.
“Every game from here on out is going to be a grind. We have to make sure that we’re ready for a long haul. We wish that every game would come easy, but if you look at the schedule and the way the conference is going, there are no easy games anymore,” he said, according to USA Today. “We have to be ready to play four quarters of football through and through.”
Our Take
Although Sullivan’s performance has not been terrible, giving up three interceptions on Saturday against Washington State is not acceptable. His overthrowing and passive playing make fans shake their head and call for Osweiler. I will give him one more game before I hop on the change-the-quarterback bandwagon, but if Sullivan performs against Washington like he did last weekend, the game can’t be won for the Sun Devils. I hope he can get it together before this weekend and prove the critics wrong.
