The Arkansas State University football team (6-3, 5-1 Sun Belt Conference) entered last Saturday’s game against Texas State with a stagnant run game and ineffective pass protection, which in the previous two games had contributed to the team’s second-lowest run production and its highest sack total.
In those two games, New Mexico State exposed the inability of ASU’s young offensive line to handle defensive stunts — post-snap alignment shifts made to confuse blocking assignments — and the Aggies sacked redshirt junior quarterback Justice Hansen a season-high seven times in the Red Wolves’ 37-21 victory. Next, South Alabama exploited the weakness in its 24-19 victory over ASU by holding the Red Wolves to 66 rushing yards and sacking Hansen four times.