UCLA faces an Arizona State football team hit hard by COVID-19

UCLA and Arizona State have cleared enough players through testing and are on track to play, according to the Bay Area News Group’s Jon Wilner.

The Bruins had nine players who missed the last two games because of coronavirus concerns. Quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson was among that group and expected to return this week. Defensive back Quentin Lake, receiver Jaylen Erwin, running backs Keegan Jones and Kazmir Allen have also been absent the last two weeks. Their status for Saturday’s game remains unknown.

UCLA announced Friday evening that one member within the program had tested positive this week.

For ASU, the game against the Bruins will be the Sun Devils’ first home game in more than a calendar year and just the team’s second game this season. The Sun Devils had three consecutive games canceled because of a COVID-19 outbreak.

ASU head coach Herm Edwards also tested positive for COVID-19.

UCLA coach Chip Kelly, who tested positive before the season, reached out to Edwards, after hearing the news, to check in with him.

“I talked to Herm one time and texted him a couple of times,” Kelly said. “(Edwards) seemed like he was handling it well. Just when it first came out. I called him to see how he was doing and make sure he was okay. I think the virus affects people differently, but he seemed like he handled it.”

WHEN UCLA HAS THE BALL

With ASU (0-1) having played just once, there isn’t a lot of footage for the Bruins (2-2) to evaluate when preparing for the Sun Devils’ defense. Demetric Felton and Brittain Brown are expected to continue as the Bruins’ top options out of the backfield while Thompson-Robinson settles back into the offense.

The Bruins’ running game was particularly effective against ASU last season when Joshua Kelley rushed for 164 yards and four touchdowns.

Thompson-Robinson was sacked three times by the ASU defense in that game, but the offensive line has shown improvement this season, allowing just three sacks all season (two against Oregon).

UCLA has more depth on the offensive line this season too and rotates linemen in and out of games in an attempt to wear down opposing defenses.

The Bruins must keep tabs on ASU linebacker Merlin Robertson, who had 10 tackles, a fumble recovery and an interception in the season-opening loss against USC. ASU forced four turnovers in that game.

UCLA is coming off a turnover-free game home victory over Arizona in which its defense intercepted two of Wildcat quarterback Will Plummer’s passes.

“We were negative in the turnover category from our standpoint offensively, and we got two away from them,” Kelly said. “To be plus-two, usually, you have a pretty good shot at winning, and we talk about that, and that’s a constant thing, but if you’re plus-two, you’re going to win 78 percent of the time.

WHEN ASU HAS THE BALL

There’s still some unknown about what the Bruins can expect to see from the ASU offense after several changes this offseason. The Sun Devils brought in a new offensive coordinator, Zak Hill, and feature two running backs, DeaMonte Trayanum and Rachaad White, to replace Eno Benjamin. Hill did not consider the lack of footage available to UCLA an advantage for the Sun Devils, considering the situation they’re still trying to recover from.

When talking to the media this week, Hill acknowledged that it has been “tough to get into a groove”  because of the lack of games played this season.

Jayden Daniels, a San Bernardino Cajon High alumnus, is back as the starting quarterback and provides some stability to the offense with his dual-threat skills. He had 111 of ASU’s 258 rushing yards against USC, as the Sun Devils reeled off several big gains.

“We have to keep him in the pocket,” UCLA defensive back Qwuantrezz Knight said. “He’s going to try to take off running and we have to be ready for that.”

Daniels played a key role in ASU’s comeback attempt against the Bruins last season, throwing three touchdown passes in the fourth quarter of a 42-32 loss. The Bruins have not been presented with that situation this season, outscoring opponents 28-3 in the fourth.

“They play hard and fly to the ball and have good team speed,” Hill said of the UCLA defense. “It’s going to be a good challenge for us. … They like to bring pressure and we have to be ready for that.”