Arizona State Football: What the Sun Devils Must Do To Compete in 2012

If things couldn't have turned any worse for the Arizona State Sun Devils, things really hit the fan when the Sun Devils lost at home to their in-state rivals, the Arizona Wildcats. Now that the 2011 season is pretty much lost, the time is now to focus on how to improve for next season.

The Sun Devils have a lot of great pieces, but there are many adjustments needed—most of which start at the top. The players are there though, and it was obvious from early on this season that this Sun Devils team is ready to win now.

If the Sun Devils wish to start off 2012 like they did this season, here's what they must do now in order to get back on track next season.

Fire Dennis Erickson

At the end of of the 2011 season, the Arizona State Sun Devils have to fire Dennis Erickson. That means Erickson does not leave on his own terms; he must be dismissed.

Arizona State didn't fail him, but he failed the Sun Devils time and time again. This most recent occurrence was dropping an essential and important win over the Arizona Wildcats.

This season, he had the Sun Devils off to a 6-2 start. Two of those games were huge wins over the USC Trojans and Missouri Tigers. Still, he failed to come through when the Sun Devils needed to most, and it is his shaky coaching and playing style that this team has continued to follow and struggle in time after time.

While it's hard to ignore the success this team had early on, its downfall has been too much for a team that had a wide opening to go to the Pac-12 championship game. With USC out of the race this season, the Sun Devils needed to make the most of the situation, and they just couldn't.

In the end, that sits on Erickson's shoulders, and the time is now to move on from a four-year process that just never took off.

Find a Ready Replacement

Earlier this week, I mentioned a few replacements the Arizona State Sun Devils should consider. In addition to those coaches, the Sun Devils could also consider these three possibilities.

Larry Fedora, Southern Miss Golden Eagles head coach

In four years at Southern Miss, Fedora has managed to put together a total record of 31-18. Being in Conference USA, Fedora could be looking to enter the higher coaching ranks within a bigger conference like the Pac-12. His teams have only improved every season, sitting at 9-2 this season. Fedora could be a great choice if the Sun Devils want to go after a young coach.

Kevin Sumlin, Houston Cougars head coach

Currently in charge of one of the only undefeated teams left in the country, the Cougars head coach will be one of the hottest coaching targets this offseason. He will likely get consideration from any school looking to recruit a new coach for 2012. Sumlin has definitely proven that he could take over a big-time program, and his recruiting presence in Texas would only help the Sun Devils for many years.

Mark Helfrich, Oregon Ducks offensive coordinator

The Ducks' current offensive coordinator is in charge of one of the most electrifying offenses in all of college football, and he could be ready to finally make the jump to the head coaching role. Helfrich was actually with the Sun Devils as their quarterbacks coach from 2001-05. Helfrich could possibly be open to listening to the Sun Devils if they came calling, but he may be unsure about leaving what is a great gig in Oregon.

Clean House

Once the Arizona State Sun Devils settle on a replacement, that coach must clean house. Everything that's Dennis Erickson must go. This team needs to be rejuvenated from every angle of coaching possible. That means that even offensive coordinator Noel Mazzone and defensive coordinator Craig Bray need to be removed.

Many may be skeptical at first of removing Bray, as this Sun Devils defense was extremely talented to begin the year. The problem is the fallout of this defense and how the secondary has failed to stop the opposing team's passing game the last three games.

It's inexcusable to give up nearly 500 yards to a freshman quarterback from Washington State and a game-winning touchdown to a backup from Arizona. The defense needs a new coach with a new plan. The talent is there, but the consistency isn't.

As for the offense, this team does not work week in and week out. Some weekends it looks like a top-tier offense, while at other times, it's absolutely ineffective. Often the Sun Devils rely on the screen pass, which can be extremely ineffective. The problem is that when it isn't working, they continue to go for it anyway.

With players like quarterback Brock Osweiler and running back Cameron Marshall, this offense should be threatening every weekend. Instead, it has become questionable and deflating.

Retain Juniors Vontaze Burfict and Cameron Marshall

Whoever comes in and takes over the Arizona State Sun Devils will need to try to make junior middle linebacker Vontaze Burfict and running back Cameron Marshall stay. Both players are easily the Sun Devils' best players on each side of the ball, and they will be important in the Sun Devils making a push for next season.

Marshall may be easier to retain; it will be Burfict who will be harder to keep around. Burfict is projected to be a first-round pick, but with his struggles and Sun Devils' losses, his stock could be dropping.

Burfict would have greatly benefited from the Sun Devils finishing the season off strong, and their losses have put the Sun Devils in a worse position for bowl selections. If Burfict's stock drops, he may be best served to stick around one more year. Money is key, and that value certainly drops from the first round to rounds beyond.

If whoever takes over this team in 2012 can retain both guys, the Sun Devils could continue to look to be the dangerous threat they were to start out the season. It won't be easy, but with the right motivation, it could be possible.

Play Consistently

Nothing is more important then consistency. The Sun Devils hardly ever look like the same team each week, and that's due to bad coaching. This team created a new look on the field with its attire this season, but its next goal is to create a look that will be consistent with Sun Devil football.

At the start of 2011, the defense was aggressive, killing it in the passing game. Towards the end of the season, it was as if the Sun Devils were playing without a secondary. What was once a defense that could stop any team was turning into a team that couldn't stop a high school team. 

In the Sun Devils' first eight games this season, they only allowed nine passing touchdowns. In their last three games, they allowed eight. The pass defense literally disappeared.

As for the offense, the passing game is where the Sun Devils need to gain consistency, mostly in who the Sun Devils' primary receiver is. In the Arizona game, Gerell Robinson looked to be the primary target, but considering he's a senior, the Sun Devils need to figure out who their "go-to" guy will be in 2012. Often, the Sun Devils failed to come through late in the game, and it seemed that quarterback Brock Osweiler just didn't know who to go to down the stretch.

Every great team has a receiver like that. The Sun Devils don't. Whoever takes over this team either needs to find that guy on his current roster or make that his No. 1 offensive recruiting goal.