Redshirt senior quarterback Taylor Kelly carries the ball past Washington defenders. Taylor Kelly led ASU to a 24-10 victory against Washington on Oct. 25. (Photo by Andrew Ybanez)When redshirt senior quarterback Taylor Kelly went down, ASU football faced three tough Pac-12 opponents and emerged 2-1, maintaining its place atop the Pac-12 South.
Now that Kelly has returned, the team faces a new set of challenges as it faces two of the nation's best defenses in his first games back.
Kelly went 14-of-25 with two touchdowns and an interception in his return to the field against Washington. He said that one of the reasons for his mistakes was the fact that his timing was not at game speed yet.
"My timing was a little off with my pocket presence, the clock in my head was keeping the football, holding on to it a little bit," Kelly said. "I've got to get rid of it a little quicker and that's one of the things I've been working on this week: hitching up in the pocket."
On the game-winning touchdown pass to redshirt junior wide receiver Gary Chambers, Kelly took a big hit to the helmet and it was feared that he had a concussion. Wednesday, Kelly said that while he appeared to be dazed after the play, he is healthy.
"I just got hit pretty hard," Kelly said. "The doctor was just checking me out for precautionary (reasons). That's what their job is, to protect us and they did a great job with that."
Kelly later said that he was fully cleared medically and was back working out Sunday with no restriction.
Washington's defense has some strong similarities to the defense of this weekend's opponent: Utah. Kelly said those similarities will assist in game-planning for the Utes.
"They're very similar scheme-wise and talent-wise," Kelly said. "Their front seven is similar or better and their secondary is doing some great things, so we just have to keep preparing and it's going to be a battle this week."
Kelly isn't the only Sun Devil who cited the skill of Utah's defensive front. Junior running back DJ Foster said the Utes athleticism is something ASU is preparing for.
"They're front seven is very athletic, just like Washington," Foster said. "They're a very athletic and very sound defense, but we need to do what we do best and take care of our stuff."
Utah has 35 sacks this season, which ranks at the top of the nation, while ASU is currently in the bottom third in sacks allowed with 18.
Foster said the team has been working on pass blocking all week to prepare for the Utes and be able to stave off the defense enough.
"I think we've done a great job this week with our blitz pickups as a running back corps and as a offensive line group," Foster said, "Overall, I think we're doing a very good job."
Reach the reporter at mtonis@asu.edu or follow him on Twitter @Tonis_The_Tiger
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