Before the season, Arizona State boasted so many options at wide receiver, it was suggested that one ball might not be enough for the Sun Devils’ sea of hands.

Indeed, the ASU receivers cherish when they get the ball — but not because catches need to be shared. Rather, making substantial gains has been a challenge because opposing defenses in Cover 2 formations are blanketing the receivers with defenders.

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The situation is not of their making, which is unfair. But until the Sun Devils can establish the run, forcing teams to come out of the Cover 2, that is life for the wideouts.

“It’s tough, because you look around, and you have one guy over you, one guy underneath you, and you look back and see the quarterback on the ground or scrambling for his life,” receiver Michael Jones said. “Our offense has to start clicking. If we can run the ball, that gives us more one-on-one matchups.

  

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