I hope everyone survived the bye week. I know it’s always a tough week for us when we can’t get out on the field and prove ourselves, so I’m glad we can get back to playing and everyone can get back to watching us and cheering us on.  

WIth a short week because of our game against Colorado on Thursday, combined with WAY too much homework, I haven’t had a chance to write a blog for you. However, I did write down the answers to some of the questions I was asked in the first-ever Sun Devil Football Roundtable that I did with two members of the Phoenix media last week. If you missed it, make sure to join in on the next one. You can ask me questions via twitter (@BMagee8 or @FootballASU) or hop on Oncam.com to ask me a question face-to-face (virtually, that is). 

I hope you like my answers and can’t wait to get back with everyone next week. I’ve heard rumors that a Blackout might be rolling through Tempe…so get your TICKETS to the OREGON game if you haven’t already! 

On the MLB playoffs:

“My pick, I can’t even say my pick. I don’t like anybody but the Red Sox. I’m not even going to watch it.” 

On how intelligent the defense has been and execution:

“Defense…I think we do it very well. We adjust to the opposing teams’ schemes and we switch up our schemes every single week. Every game, we plan for the other team and ways to attack them. Whether it’s in blitz opportunities or in the passing game or on third down situations. That’s why we do so well on third downs and get off the field. Different packages like dime, nickel, 30-front, stacked front, 3-3-5 stuff all makes you more intelligent and a smarter football player. But I just feel like we had a few little mishaps in the Cal game and the game before with the run and stopping the run with some inside zone. Coming into this week we’re just working on the fundamentals and getting back to the basics. I feel like in the game against Colorado we’re really going to improve in stopping the run. The sky is the limit with the defense and if we stop these critical errors, we’re going to be just fine.”

On how the team avoids being a “trap game” victim against Colorado:

“I’m really not worried about it because the coaching staff tells us day in and day out about how good Colorado is and how they have the potential to beat anyone in the Pac-12. It’s keeping us on our toes, keeping us hungry and wanting to win this game. We know going into it it’s a Thursday game on ESPN, and it’s their blackout game and they’re playing at home. They’ve lost some close games and they are hungry just like we are hungry. So we have to go out there and be intense, get some three-and-outs on defense and put some points on the board on offense. We have to get ahead early and keep them down there. I think we will be just fine - we’re not overlooking anybody this year.”

On the high tempo offense and how practicing against it makes the defense better:

“It makes the defense a lot better because our offensive tempo is ridiculously fast. You get tired and out of breath, and then you still have to think about the scheme. They do so much motioning and they have a lot of skill players that it’s a big switch up, especially for us on defense because we play against huddle teams like Utah and Cal. So it’s a lot slower than playing against our offense. We’re in a lot better shape than everyone thinks we are and as you can tell in the fourth quarter — we gave up our first fourth quarter touchdown last week against Cal. So that’s the proof in the pudding right there.”

On Taylor Kelly looking like a veteran commanding the team:

“Taylor Kelly has been huge for our team this year. The way he came in from the NAU game and then all the way on, he gets better every week. I can say as a defensive player, I do look on the big screen and I see Kelly avoiding defenders in the pocket and then coming out and throwing a bomb down the field for a touchdown or a big gain. And on third downs and second and longs, to see that as a defensive player it’s exciting. It gives us a chance to get some more Powerade and water and relax a little bit and talk about the scheme. But Taylor Kelly is a great team player and a great teammate, and the sky is the limit for him. He gets better every game and every week and has a great work ethic.”

On the funniest coach on the staff:

“Either Coach Randolph (Senior assoc. head coach/def. coord./def. line coach) or Coach West (co-def. coord./linebackers coach) because they can be one way and then all of a sudden flip completely.”