Arizona State quarterback Mike Bercovici isn’t Tom Brady, but that doesn’t really matter.
Bercovici primarily played in four games last season, and the Sun Devils finished 2-2 in those contests. However, head coach Todd Graham is prepared to change the team’s offense to fit his new signal-caller’s strengths.
“We have a quarterback that’s fixing to be able to do things that we’ve never really been able to do,’' Graham told AZCentral.com’s Doug Haller.
Graham’s ideal offense is an up-tempo system operating a breakneck pace. The next step is fashioning its passing attack after the reigning Super Bowl champions, the New England Patriots. Graham will mold a quick-passing attack around Bercovici.
“What we want to see is – 1, 2, ball’s out on 3,” Graham said.
“Getting people off of you is what they do with their quick passing game, and we’ve got a guy who has a lightening release. I mean, this guy can throw the football. We’re obviously adapting everything to that.”
Graham may be building around Bercovici, but tight end Kody Kohl and wide receivers Cameron Smith and Gary Chambers will benefit the most from the shift in philosophy.
Arizona State ran the ball 53 percent of the time in 2014. That number is expected to drop since the more athletic Taylor Kelly no longer behind center.
Plus, Bercovici’s ability to get the ball out quickly will help mask a rebuilt left side of the offensive line after Arizona State lost Jamil Douglas and Tyler Sulka to graduation.