Pac-10 Position Breakdown: Quarterback – Arizona State Sun Devils
Believe it or not Sun Devil faithful, Rudy Carpenter is not back for another year as the ASU signal caller. After Carpenter’s roller-coaster run of four years, Arizona State will be breaking in a new quarterback.
Head coach Dennis Erickson now faces the task of trying to resuscitate an offense that was largely responsible for ASU’s disappointing five win season in 2008. Erickson visited with his good friend Mack Brown (Texas head coach) earlier this year about offensive philosophies and the new Sun Devil QB will likely be running a different offense than Carpenter did last year.
The off-season has been a busy one for Arizona State quarterbacks. The Sun Devils headed into April with five scholarship QB’s, but by the second month of spring, they only had three left.
First, redshirt freshman Jack Elway, son of hall-of-famer John Elway, decided to leave the football team and stay at ASU for his academics instead. Not long after Elway’s decision was made, sophomore Chasen Stangel decided to transfer. Neither player figured to be in the running for playing time, but now the Sun Devils face depth concerns at a position where there isn’t much experience to begin with.
Danny Sullivan drops back
The leader for the starting job so far is senior Danny Sullivan. The long time backup of Carpenter, Sullivan is a 6-4 242 pound gunslinger who has very limited experience despite being in Tempe for four years. He has played in a total of 24 games going 40-87 for 409 yards, with three TDs and three INTs. Sullivan has one of the strongest arms in the conference and had a relativley solid spring.
His biggest weakness is his inability to avoid pressure, especially when opposing defenses blitz. That could be a recipe for disaster if the Sun Devil offensive line plays like it has the last two seasons.
For Sullivan to have success, he must demonstrate that he can make the right decisions quickly and consistently in order to overcome his mobility issues. Sullivan really can sling it, so if ASU’s line finds a way to give him time, his deep ball would add an element to the offense that it hasn’t had since the Andrew Walter days.
Sullivan’s main competition is intriguing sophomore, Samson Szakacsy. The 6-4 210 pound Szakacsy has never taken a meaningful snap but possesses true 4.4 speed and has a unique skill set that is unlike recent Sun Devil quarterbacks. In fact, some folks around Tempe believe he most accurately resembles a rawer version of Jake Plummer.
With the read-option now in the playbook, Szakacsy is a multi-threat talent that would allow for an infusion of creativity into an offense that was brutally vanilla last season. If Sullivan is to be beat out of the job this fall, Szakacsy is likely to be the reason.
Tempe can’t stop talking about freshman QB Brock Osweiler. At 6-8 237 pounds, he was recruited by Gonzaga to play basketball before deciding he wanted to stick with football only. Dennis Erickson went all the way to Montana to get him, and since arriving on campus he has made a huge impact. Osweiler graduated high school early in order to compete for the starting quarterback position this past spring.
Many believe he is the next face of Arizona State football and the experienced Erickson cannot stop raving about his rare intangibles at such a young age. The remarkable thing about Osweiler is that at 6-8 237 he is a smooth runner that rushed for over 1,000 yards and 20 touchdowns in his high school career on top of throwing for 8,655 and 80 TDs.
My Take
I am skeptical of Sullivan. He is in the mold of an Andrew Walter and can therefore be very successful at the collegiate level, but I don’t think he is the right fit under center behind an offensive line as porous as ASU’s.
I am very high on both Szakacsy and Osweiler because of the unique upside that each has, but they are both still too green to be counted on. With former Michigan QB Steven Threet transferring in next year, and the continued development of the young Sun Devil quarterbacks, I think Erickson will have some great offenses in the next few years; just not this year.
Sup , I am making a new website and your articles would really fit in well. Would you let me copy your article?
One of the more impressive blogs Ive seen. Thanks so much for keeping the internet classy for a change. Youve got style, class, bravado. I mean it. Please keep it up because without the internet is definitely lacking in intelligence.
Hi there would you mind sharing which blog platform you’re using? I’m going to start my own blog in the near future but I’m having a hard time choosing between BlogEngine/Wordpress/B2evolution and Drupal. The reason I ask is because your design and style seems different then most blogs and I’m looking for something unique. P.S Apologies for being off-topic but I had to ask!
I want to thnkx for the time you earn on paper this blogpost. I’m hoping the same best work of your stuff later on as well. In fact your creative writing skill has inspired me to begin my very own blog now. Truly the blogging is spreading its wings quickly. Your article is really a fine illustration of it.
Exceptional site thanks
For everybody who is viewing this web page ideal now, you may be in all likelihood interested in precious hints regarding how to acquire a 6 pack. You have positively arrive on the appropriate put, the place you are likely to discover only the top six pack workouts and other ways that can allow you to enrich your six pack abs. The phrase “elusive 6 pack” is very likely not all that unusual to you, is it? The truth is this: a 6 pack is only elusive to folks that haven’t learned the tips and tricks that actually work for accomplishing well-sculpted abs. Even those who will probably know the techniques to accomplishing an remarkable 6 pack are both not applying the ways properly, or are also lazy to stay constant.
Perhaps you should update the php server on your webhost, Wordpress is kinda slow.;,.,”
For everybody who is viewing this page best suited now, you are very likely in need of worthwhile tips and hints concerning how to obtain a 6 pack. You’ve certainly come on the perfect area, where by you can find out only the most effective six pack exercise routines and also other techniques that can help you to boost your six pack abs. The phrase “elusive 6 pack” is possibly not all that unusual for you, is it? The reality is this: a 6 pack is just elusive to folks who haven’t uncovered the ideas and tricks that in actual fact function for reaching well-sculpted abs. Even those that may well know the strategies to reaching an spectacular 6 pack are possibly not applying the ways appropriately, or are as well lazy to stay regular.
I would really love to guest post on your blog.”‘~’,
I’m thrilled I had the time to check this out. It cleared up a few things for me. As a side note, you folks keep this place looking pretty darn good ;)
I just put the link of your blog on my Facebook Wall. very nice blog indeed.`’.;;
Your blog is GREAT! I always read new topics.
I always visit your blog everyday to read new topics.*,’*”
I see that you are using Wordpress on your blog, wordpress is the best.;”‘,”
Hello can I quote some of the information from this post if I provide a connection privately to your site?
I’m really loving the theme/design of your web site. Do you ever run into any web browser compatibility issues? A few of my blog visitors have complained about my site not operating correctly in Explorer but looks great in Safari. Do you have any ideas to help fix this issue?
You are getting dilemmas on your own number one dates with women. You just can not look to have all sorts of things right around the first date. No matter whether you’ve been in tons of relationships or are just starting your dating life, it is probable that at 1 level you have experienced some issues heading via it all. If you are acquiring any complications with your number one dates with ladies, then possibly you’re just obtaining difficulty in communicating together with your date. I’ve detailed on this blog site an array of only the right and most exciting field-tested 1st date problems that you can use to obtain to know your date more suitable.
You are acquiring challenges on your number one dates with gals. You simply can not look to have all the things correct around the foremost date. No matter if you’ve been in tons of relationships or are just starting your dating everyday life, it is most likely that at just one point you have skilled some issue going as a result of it all. If you’re acquiring any difficulties using your primary dates with gals, then probably you are just getting difficulty in communicating along with your date. I’ve outlined on this blogging site an array of only the best and most helpful field-tested 1st date questions that you simply can use to have to learn your date improved.
I’m a blog crazed person and i love to read cool blog like yours..’:;”
I’m a blog crazed person and i love to read cool blog like yours.~-~-,
I love blogging and i can say that you also love blogging.’*.*;
Isn’t it entertaining if we always talk about topics like that….-.
I always visit your blog everyday to read new topics.`*..`
I always visit new blog everyday and i found your blog..~,”`
I love blogging and i can say that you also love blogging.*-`,`
Have you already setup a fan page on Facebook ?`-:*`
I love reading your blog because it has very interesting topics.**,”.
I will invite all my friends to your blog, you really got a great blog.
You are so cool man, the post on your blogs are super great.:.”,~
A scary to get upward is definitely unequalled, and i ‘m loaded with awe every morning when i know that I have tried it.–Lytton Strachey (1880–1932), Engl