is training sessions over the last few days to conserve energy as the

TEMPE, Ariz. -- Arizona State coach Todd Graham made bold statements before the 2015 season, touting the Sun Devils as national title contenders.After those aspirations fell flat, Graham has changed the notes this season.No boasting, no bravado. Just play hard and do the talking with actions on the field.The key for us is getting back to playing Sun Devil football, Graham said.Graham wasnt the only one to predict big things for the Sun Devils last season. Coming off consecutive 10-win seasons, Arizona State became a sleeper pick in the national-title conversation.Those predictions disappeared by the fourth game and the season sputtered away with a three-game conference losing streak.Arizona State still made a bowl game for the fourth straight season under Graham, but lost to West Virginia in the Cactus Bowl just 10 miles from its campus in Tempe.This season could be just as difficult.The Sun Devils will start a quarterback -- which one is still up in the air -- who has never thrown a collegiate pass, have to rebuild their offensive line and have questions in the secondary of a defense that was wrecked by big plays a year ago.Unless they come together quickly and get some breaks along the way, this could end up being a rebuilding season. Of course, Graham has found a way to win wherever hes gone, so dont count them out of a bowl game just yet.A few more things to look for from Arizona State in the 2016 season:QUARTERBACKS: Except for his first season in the desert, Arizona State has been steady at quarterback since Grahams arrival. Taylor Kelly won the job and kept it for three years, then Mike Bercovici took over last season after filling in for an injured Kelly the year before. This season, the Sun Devils have no quarterbacks on their roster who have thrown a collegiate pass. Arizona State started with a four-man race, but that could be down to two after an injury to redshirt freshman Bryce Perkins. Sophomore Manny Wilkins has worked with the first team in camp, but redshirt freshman Brady White change things if he plays well heading into the season.FINISH, FINISH, FINISH: The Sun Devils could have had a completely different outcome to their 2015 season had they been able to finish games. Arizona State had a difficult time holding second-half leads last season and lost three games by a combined 11 points. Win those and it would have been nine wins, not six. The Sun Devils must do a better job closing out this season to have success.DEFENSIVE STOPS: Arizona State has played an attacking-style defense since Graham arrived, using blitzes and pressure up front to create havoc in the opposing teams backfield. The Sun Devils plan backfired last season as they were repeatedly hit for big plays, causing ASU to be the nations worst pass defense, allowing 337.8 yards per game. Arizona State lost three starters in the backfield and Graham is hoping to get better pressure from a four-man front rather than blitzing so often. Defensive end JoJo Wicker could be the key to that with his explosiveness off the ball.KEY GAMES: Oct. 1 at USC; Oct. 29 at Oregon; Nov. 10 vs. Utah; Nov. 25 at Arizona.SEASON OPENER: Sept. 3 vs. Northern Arizona. Facing their smaller in-state rival could allow the Sun Devils to gain confidence right out of the gate. With a difficult conference schedule, Arizona State could use some to get rolling.PREDICTION: 6-6. The Sun Devils have a lot of questions and an unproven quarterback. Playing in the difficult Pac-12, that could be tough to overcome. Bobby Clarke Jersey . Instead of dwelling on the negative, Oates focused on what was good about the clubs recent play. It worked. Bernie Parent Jersey . John Lucas, signed as a mentor for rookie Trey Burke, showed he can score if required, scoring 12 points of his 16 points in the second quarter as Utah built an 18-point lead. http://www.hockeyflyersauthentic.com/ivan-provorov-jersey/ . Anthony Davis had 31 points and 17 rebounds in his seventh straight game with more than 20 points, but that was only enough to keep the Pelicans competitive into the final minutes. Andrew Bogut had 10 points and 15 rebounds for Golden State, which rebounded from a loss a night earlier in Oklahoma City and snapped a two-game skid. Michael Raffl Flyers Jersey . Haas said he "felt a lot of pain" in his right shoulder when he slammed his racket to the ground in frustration after losing his serve at 3-3 in the first set. Brian Propp Jersey . There was no hesitation from the 40th-ranked Pospisil, from Vernon, B.C., who admitted that he cut back on his training sessions over the last few days to conserve energy as the long ATP season finishes next week at the Paris Masters. Israel Folau has been revealed as the player who collided with Australia coach Michael Cheika, damaging his shoulder.Cheika reportedly attempted to field a high ball in training ahead of the Wallabies recent clash with New Zealand at Eden Park when he sustained the injury.He was not present on the team flight to England on Friday, instead travelling a day later, and is expected to wear a sling throughout the autumn internationals.The identity of the other party had been kept under wraps initially, but scrum-half Nick Frisby has given the game away.In an interview streamed via rugby.ddddddddddddcom.au, Frisby said: Im happy to give it away.It obviously wasnt me at 80 kilos. It was big Israel Folau. Came down on him on a high ball.I think Cheiks lucky it wasnt me, he probably would have done both shoulders.Frisbys teammate Sean McMahon added: Lets be honest thats what you get when Israel Folaus coming down on you with a high ball, someones shoulder is probably going downhill. ' ' '