Redshirt senior guard Joey Ramos emphasizes the team’s commitment to remaining united as Arizona State prepares for Fresno State following a series of injuries on the offensive line. (Photo by Jake Brown/Cronkite News)
TEMPE – Next man up.
That’s been the motto for Arizona State football coach Kenny Dillingham and his offensive line this season. Football is a game of attrition, and that message has been underscored by injuries decimating the Sun Devils’ offensive line. On Saturday, starting right tackle Emmit Bohle added to the injury woes with a season-ending leg injury in ASU’s 27-15 loss against Oklahoma State.
“You’re one play away from playing,” center Ben Bray said Tuesday after practice. “I’ve been here a couple years now. That’s the mentality I have.”
The offensive line gave themselves several nicknames, but One Snap Brotherhood, also known as “1SB,” stuck among the teammates. The meaning behind the nickname is simple.
“It’s to be more committed to ourselves every play,” Bray said. “[Bohle] was committed to us, he goes down, and that’s just tragic.”
The family vibe extends to the coaching staff as well. Bray said that offensive line coach Saga Tuitle has become like family, especially when he hands his players a goodie bag before each game.
“When I see that Twix in there I’m like, oh my gosh,” Bray said. “Coach cares for us. He’s on our bus all the time. It’s annoying at times but it strengthens the 1SB.”
Bohle was the rock of 1SB. The transfer from Northern State, a Division II school, started seven games last year before entering his graduate year with his veteran leadership. Now the team has more to play for than just the game but for one of the fallen leaders of the team.
Bohle’s injury is one in a long list of injuries that ASU’s offensive line has dealt with this season. Junior offensive linemen Isaia Glass and Cade Briggs didn’t dress for the game against Oklahoma State, and senior tackle Aaron Frost hasn’t fully recovered from his ACL injury from last August.
In his first year at the ASU helm, Dillingham faces quite the early-season coaching test ahead of Saturday’s game against Fresno State at Mountain America Stadium at 7:30 p.m. The Bulldogs come to Tempe after winning their first two games and carrying an 11-game winning streak dating back to last season.
“When you have the second longest win streak in the country, you’re doing something right,” Dillingham said. “You can tell that culture has been instilled there.”
ASU’s hobbled offensive line faces a stout defense headlined by senior linebacker Levelle Bailey, who is coming off a career-high 74 tackles last season.
While Fresno’s defense has allowed an average of 33 points this season, the team has 11 tackles for a loss of 28 total yards. ASU’s offensive line has allowed 12 tackles for a loss this season of 25 yards.
In last week’s game against Oklahoma State, after Bohle’s injury, the Sun Devils were unable to score in the second half while quarterback Jaden Rashada was sacked three times compared to just once against Southern Utah the previous week. Rashada also threw his first career interception, which came after the Bohle injury. The offense was also unable to score a single point in the second half as opposed to at least scoring a field goal in ASU’s first game.
Arizona State looks to bounce back against red-hot Fresno State, but it won’t be easy.
“We get to play against some of the greatest guys in the league,” redshirt senior guard Joey Ramos said. “When you do that it improves our game a lot and allows us to get better and find things we’re not so good at.”