Arizona State Sun Devils 4-5 Overall (2-4 Conference)

This Week’s Score: USC 14 – Arizona State 9

Next Week’s Opponent: @Oregon

Can a 14-9 loss to USC be classified as a moral victory for this Sun Devil team? I for one do not think so. Like the Georgia and Cal games, ASU should have beaten USC but couldn’t because of offensive ineptitude.

In the week leading up to the ‘SC game, Dennis Erickson was quoted as saying two things that should bother Devil fans. First, he stated that while QB Danny Sullivan may not win many games for ASU, he doesn’t lose them either. After Will Harris’s game-changing INT TD, does that logic still make sense?

Second, Erickson stated that his reason for sticking with Sullivan had a lot to do with the fact that freshman QB Brock Osweiler “isn’t ready”. The true freshman may not be, but how ready is Sullivan? It seems clear to me that the “unready” Osweiler gives the Devils a much better chance to win than the much-maligned senior.

Will coach Erickson finally adopt Pete Carroll and Jim Harbaugh’s youth movement mentality by rolling the dice with an inexperienced but ultra-talented young QB? Don’t hold your breath.

While the loss to the Trojans was disheartening, there were some positives. Obviously, the defense was exceptional all game, holding an explosive offense to 258 total yards and 12 first downs (ASU had 23). I was most impressed with the two new secondary starters, as both S Clint Floyd and CB Deveron Carr locked down their assignments all night (Floyd had the lone Barkley INT).

QB Brock Osweiler’s numbers may not look great (11/27 153 yards 1 TD 1 INT) but he displayed phenomenal arm strength and his mobility was as good as advertised. WR Chris McGaha (9 rec. 118 yards 1 TD) made some incredible catches (no surprise of course) and he now leads the team with 613 receiving yards (4 TDs).

Next, ASU heads to Eugene to play an angry Oregon team. At 4-5 (2-4 in Pac-10), the Devils may have to win out in order to secure a bowl game, especially with six Pac-10 teams already bowl eligible. Once again, don’t hold your breath.

Cal Bears (5-2) vs. Arizona State Sun Devils (4-3)
Saturday, October 31, 12:30 PM PST
Las Vegas Favorite: Cal -6.5

Sam’s Take (36 – 14):

As it currently stands, there is a logjam in the middle of the Pac-10 that includes four teams with two conference losses. This Saturday, both Cal and Arizona State will look to separate from that jam and jump back into the top tier of the conference. This will be a match-up of strength vs. strength as the explosive Cal rushing attack faces off against ASU’s talented defense.

While Jeff Tedford’s squad will not reach the lofty goals set at the beginning of the season, the team is still in position to win 10 games and go to a high quality bowl. This week should tell us a lot about how far the team has come since the disheartening losses to USC and Cal. For the Bears to win in Tempe, they must establish the run early. Stanford was able to set the tone physically against a Devils D that is used to pushing offenses around. Cal does not have a 240-pound bulldozer at running back, so the onus will fall on the o-line to be extra nasty up front.

Jeff Tedford has stated that his offense will need to be patient in the running game, and I agree. Jahvid Best and Shane Vereen may not bust the big runs early, but I believe there will be room for them to maneuver later in the game. QB Kevin Riley must also stay patient, as the Devils are likely to throw a lot of blitz packages at him early on. Assuming Riley can weather the ASU surge, he should be able to attack a relatively vulnerable secondary.

For ASU, this is a season-defining game. Two weeks ago, the Devils were riding high after a dramatic win over U-Dub. One week later, the defense looked defenseless and the “bench Danny Sullivan” sentiments were as prevalent as ever. A win this week would put ASU right back on the path to Bowl eligibility, but the Devils will have to be substantially better in all three phases than they were in Palo Alto. Cal allowed WSU to throw the ball all over the field last week, so Chris McGaha and the ASU receivers could have a big day (especially if Syd’Quan Thompson doesn’t play).

I expect both Cal’s running game and ASU’s defensive front seven to be outstanding this week. So what does that mean? It means the winner of the battle between the Bears defense and the Devils offense will probably win this game. I believe Cal will win that battle, and while I expect a pretty tight game, the Bears will leave Tempe with a solid road victory.

Prediction: Cal 28 – Arizona State 20

Cal Player to Keep an Eye On: DE Cameron Jordan - Jordan can be flat out unblockable at times, and the Arizona native will be extra motivated to have a big game Saturday.

Arizona State Player to Keep an Eye On: RB Ryan Bass - Dennis Erickson has hinted that Bass will get more carries this week, and he gives the Devils a home run threat every time he touches the ball.

Dave’s Take (39 – 11):

I keep thinking back to Cal’s disastrous stretch against USC and Oregon, and the game plan for both of those defenses was simple; pressure, pressure, pressure. With the box stacked up and a ton of bodies flying into the backfield, it was difficult for either of the running backs to get any sort of a rhythm going, and it also forced Kevin Riley into making plenty of mistakes.

ASU’s front seven just might have the ability to emulate that defensive game plan when UCLA and Washington State were unable to. Considering UCLA put up 26 points and WSU put up 17 points, it stands to reason that even ASU’s sub-par offense should be able to get into the low 20s in scoring. Can they win the battle against Cal’s offense?

For some reason, I get the feeling that they can and will. Cal has looked great in their last two games, but they looked great in the first three games against soft opponents too (and actually, that Minnesota game was tied heading into the 4th). This is arguably the best defense left on Cal’s schedule; if they can prove me wrong and solve it, this offense just might power their way to a 10-win season.

As for ASU, this might be the weakest defense left on their schedule. If the offense continues to flounder and put way too much pressure on the defense to win them games, and they fall in this one, the road to bowling will be a lot tougher.

Prediction: Arizona State 23 – Cal 20

Arizona State Sun Devils 4-3 Overall (2-2 Conference)

This Week’s Score: Stanford 33 – Arizona State 14

Next Week’s Opponent: Cal

The road to bowl eligibility got a bit hazier after Saturday’s loss, especially with the troubling fact that the defense showed signs of being human. With a relatively anemic offense, ASU has leaned hard on their defense to win them games; will they be able to do so down the stretch?

A win over Stanford would have brought the Sun Devils to five wins, which would have given them five chances to get that last win to become bowl eligible. Even if ASU couldn’t pull the upset on one of the conferences’ four currently ranked teams (Cal, USC, @Oregon, Arizona), @UCLA was looking like a fairly winnable game. Now, UCLA becomes a virtual must-win, and ASU’s defense will have to regroup and steal one from one of the big four as well.

The offense only mustered up 290 yards, and the only player that really stuck out offensively was Chris McGaha, who had 6 of ASU’s 13 receptions for 80 yards and a touchdown. Danny Sullivan (12/33, 143 yards) also connected with T.J. Simpson for a touchdown. The running game was somewhat effective in averaging 5.2 yards per carry, but no one back stood out, and the running game quickly became obsolete due to Stanford’s big early lead. Brock Osweiler didn’t do much in his 1/7, 18 yard day to build much excitement for a QB change, either.

We’ve come to expect the sub-par offense from the Sun Devils, but what happened to the defense? Are they finally going to start to crumble after carrying the offense on their shoulders for long? Or was it just an excellent Stanford offense just getting the job done? No matter which it was, four of the last five opponents have offenses just as strong (if not stronger), so it isn’t going to get any easier.

Hopefully it was just an off day, which is my guess; this defense has a ton of talent in the front seven, and they’ll be fine. That said, it’s a moot point if the offense can’t find a way to put points on the board.

The Cal game should be very interesting; the Bears aren’t immune to a late slip up on the road, and the Sun Devils defense might be able to attack like the Trojans and Ducks did and cause some problems for Kevin Riley. Cal’s defense is also arguably the weakest left on ASU’s schedule; so if the offense ever plans on waking up, now would be the time to do it.

Arizona State Sun Devils (4-2) vs. Stanford Cardinal (4-3)
Saturday, October 24, 7:25 PM PST
Las Vegas Favorite: Stanford -6.5

Sam’s Take (31 – 14):

This game will not be for the faint of heart. Get your helmet strapped on tight, because there is going to be a lot of hitting. These two teams couldn’t have experienced more different emotions last week, as the Cardinal lost in devastating fashion and the Sun Devils won on one of the craziest plays of the year.

The story of this Saturday’s game on the Farm will be the battle between the ultra-physical Stanford offense and the ultra-physical ASU defense. I am particularly excited to witness what I am calling the “Battle of #7’s”, as RB Toby Gerhart and LB Vontaze Burfict will surely meet on multiple occasions.

As I see it, the team that gets better play at QB will win this game. While ASU’s Danny Sullivan has looked much improved lately, I am putting my money on Stanford’s Andrew Luck. Luck was incredible against Arizona (save that opening pick six), and he barely resembles a freshman at this point. Cardinal receivers are also starting to step up in a big way, as both Ryan Whalen and Chris Owusu have developed into all-conference caliber players.

Danny Sullivan is playing with great confidence right now, but this is the week that he must prove he can play well on the road. In his last away game against Wazzu, Sullivan was absolutely terrible, so it should be interesting to see how he performs this week. I expect Dennis Erickson to call some high percentage screens and quick outs at the beginning of the game so that Sullivan can establish some rhythm.

Ultimately, I expect a very tightly contested game that is played in the low to mid-20’s. The ASU defense will probably be strong throughout, but I think a couple of key Toby Gerhart runs mixed in with a big play from Luck to Owusu may be the difference.

Prediction: Stanford 24 – Arizona State 23

Arizona State Player to Keep an Eye On: WR Jamal Miles - Miles made his debut last week against Washington, showing great speed and explosion which is what the offense could use more of.

Stanford Player to Keep an Eye On: TE Jim Dray - Jim Harbaugh loves to use multiple tight ends in the running and passing game, and Dray is arguably the most complete TE on the team.

Dave’s Take (35 – 10):

It’s really difficult to get a grasp on Stanford at this point. There isn’t much doubt that the offense is clicking; Andrew Luck is a star in the making, as are his main wideouts  Chris Owusu and Ryan Whalen; and Toby Gerhart is one of the premier rushers in the country. Stanford’s 429.9 yards per game ranks 23rd in the nation.

The defense, however, has been a major disappointment. The Cardinal have given up 38+ points in two straight games (38 against Oregon State and 43 against Arizona). Yes, these are two high power offenses; but the performances have been inexcusably bad all the same. How will they fare back at home against the Sun Devils?

For the second straight week, Arizona State will have strength against strength when their defense takes the field, and weakness against weakness when their offense takes the field. Ironically enough, it was the offense that came up with the huge play to win the game against Washington; but all due respect to Danny Sullivan and Chris McGaha, that was thanks in large part to a major defensive collapse.

Arizona State hasn’t failed to score 17 points in a game this season, and they shouldn’t fail to do so in this one either. If ASU gets the 17-24 points I expect them to, it would mean that Stanford would have to get into the mid-to-high 20s in scoring. Will they be able to do so against this stingy ASU defense?

My head says yes, but for some reason, my gut says no. It will take a hell of an effort all around, but I think the Sun Devils have it in them; and I think they get away with the upset.

Prediction: Arizona State 23 – Stanford 17

Arizona State Sun Devils 4-2 Overall (2-1 Conference)

This Week’s Score: Arizona State 24 – Washington 17

Next Week’s Opponent: @Stanford

“We were trying to throw a 20-yard comeback to our outside guys and get in field-goal range. We took the tight end and Chris down the seams. I saw him (McGaha) by himself and thought that’s a hell of a play call, Dennis.”- ASU coach Dennis Erickson

The sarcasm in Dennis Erickson’s quote says it all. After all, how did Chris McGaha manage to get 15-20 yards behind the Husky defense? Certainly, Steve Sarksian and Nick Holt will take a lot of heat for the dramatic ending in Tempe, but you have to feel good for embattled quarterback Danny Sullivan. Just a few weeks ago, Sullivan was booed by the Sun Devil faithful as he exited Frank Kush Field after the Oregon State game, but on Saturday night he received thunderous applause for his game-winning 50-yard bomb with 13 seconds left to play.

Will the Devils use this win over the Huskies as a catalyst for a bowl game push? There is still plenty of work to be done, but the Devils appear to be improving each week and that is a very good sign.

The offense is starting to click in Tempe, as ASU racked up 464 yards of offense against the Dawgs. Sullivan played mistake-free, throwing for 263 yards and 1 TD on 21/35 passing. The offensive line continues to get better and better, and it was evident on Saturday as the unit paved the way for 170 yards on the ground while also giving Sullivan more time in the pocket.

Dimitri Nance ran hard on limited carries (13 car. 70 yards) and freshman Cameron Marshall flashed his explosiveness on a 75 yard run. The receivers had a fantastic game, and Kyle Williams even managed to throw a TD to T.J. Simpson (although Williams would later fumble on a sure TD at the goal line).

The defense played with the same fire and intensity that has defined the unit all year, and the night could have been better had it not been for a blown assignment on the first drive of the game (led to a Kearse TD) and the ridiculous penalties throughout the first half (Burfict was responsible for some and the officials were responsible for others). Still, the unit pressured Jake Locker all night and didn’t allow much in the running game.

Now the Devils will try to keep the momentum rolling as they head to Palo Alto for a date with an angry Stanford team. The Cardinal play as physical on offense as ASU does on D, and the battle of #7s (Gerhart vs. Burfict) should be great theater.

Arizona State Sun Devils 2-2 Overall (0-1 Conference)

This Week’s Score: Oregon State 28 – Arizona State 17

Next Week’s Opponent: @Washington State

The Sun Devils took a major step backwards last Saturday, losing a pivotal conference opener at home. While a bowl game is still possible, the road just got a whole lot tougher.

The numbers don’t tell the story for ASU in their loss to OSU. The Devils managed to outgain the Beavers 406-295 in total offense, and Danny Sullivan threw for a career-high 338 yards (1 TD, 1 INT). But none of that mattered because the score was 21-3 in favor of OSU before most fans had a chance to fully settle into their seats.

ASU looked lethargic, unmotivated, unprepared and altogether uninterested in competing against OSU from the outset. By the time the Devils started fighting, the hole was too deep to overcome.

The biggest storyline in Tempe right now revolves around the QB situation. Should Danny Sullivan still be the starter or does true freshman Brock Osweiler deserve a shot? For now, it seems Dennis Erickson is hell bent on sticking with the senior, though he did not rule out the possibility of playing other QBs. It has become painfully clear that the majority of ASU fans have turned on Sullivan, but he should not be blamed entirely for the dreadful offensive production.

The o-line continues to be ravaged with injuries, the running game was non-existent against OSU, and the receivers are not making nearly enough plays (except for Chris McGaha who had a ridiculous 15 catches for 165 yards against the Beavers). I also believe the play calling has been an issue, as there continues to be no creativity whatsoever. The zone read is great when a dual-threat QB like Colt McCoy is running it, but Danny Sullivan is no threat to take off and Dimitri Nance does not have the lateral quickness to make defenders miss (especially when it is obvious he will get the handoff).

Erickson and the rest of the coaching staff knew coming into the ’09 season that the defense would have to carry this team, and Craig Bray’s unit couldn’t do it against OSU. The defense was by no means terrible on Saturday, but the secondary struggled with James Rodgers and Demola Adeniji all night and the pass rush continues to be surprisingly weak.

The Devils should be able to regain a bit of confidence in Pullman this week, but sadly, a loss to WSU is not out of the question. The schedule is going to get really tough after this week, so ASU must find an identity soon or this could be another forgettable year in the Valley of the Sun.

Arizona State Sun Devils 2-0 Overall (0-0 Conference)

This Week’s Score: Arizona State 38 – Louisiana Monroe 14

Next Week’s Opponent: @Georgia

I was convinced that we would learn quite a bit more about this ASU team after the UL Monroe game. After watching the Sun Devils cruise to a comfortable win against an over-matched Warhawks team, I still can’t get a firm read on how the Devils will perform in the Pac-10. ASU certainly beat a better team than Idaho State on Saturday, but is anyone really sold on this team yet?

I did see a more consistent offense against ULM, as Danny Sullivan was able to throw for a career- high 220 yards (1 TD 0 INT) on 19/31 passing. Sullivan seemed to be more comfortable in the pocket and he delivered the ball on time for most of the night, but what will he do against better teams? I thought the offensive line played a little better as well, but again, we will learn much more about the potential improvement of the offensive front in ASU’s next game.

The running game was decent, as Dimitri Nance scored twice and gained 82 yards on 17 carries, but Nance is no home run threat, and I believe the offense could use some more explosion at tailback (more carries for Ryan Bass maybe?).

The highlight of the night (aside from Omar Bolden’s opening kickoff return TD) was Chris McGaha’s fingertip TD catch that has become his trademark in Tempe.

Defensively, the Devils dominated for most of the night, but I was a little surprised that the unit failed to record a sack. The ASU D will have to carry this team at times, so Craig Bray’s unit needs to be dialed in at all times. The secondary hasn’t had a whole lot to do through two games, so it should be interesting to see how the DBs perform now that the real schedule begins.

Next, ASU makes the trip to Athens, GA, where 92,000 Bulldogs fans will be awaiting at Sanford Stadium. At last, we will finally learn something about the Sun Devils. The offense will need to generate some big plays this week (something we haven’t really seen yet), while also continuing to play turnover-free football (no turnovers through two games for offense). The defense will need to be great (something the unit is capable of being), especially considering how well the UGA offense is playing right now. This litmus test is exactly what ASU needs before entering conference play the next week.

The Sun Devils return three of their top four receivers from 2008 (losing Mike Jones to graduation). All three are upper classmen, and should assist Sullivan in his transition as the new starting QB.

One of the conference’s most experienced receivers is sure-handed senior Chris McGaha. The 6-1 199 pound wideout has 112 career receptions for 1,569 yards and five touchdowns. Last season, he finished second on the team in catches and yards with 35 receptions for 501 yards and one touchdown. He had career highs in 2007 with 61 catches for 830 yards, which earned him honorable mention for All-Pac-10 honors.

McGaha is a fan favorite for the Sun Devil faithful because of his unique ability to make catches that seem impossible. The Phoenix (AZ) native has abnormally long fingers, which he uses to stab almost any ball in his area, often using only one hand. His crisp route running and deceptive speed make him ASU’s number one receiver.

Chris McGaha hauls one in by the fingertips

McGaha had a nagging toe injury for most of last season, but seems to be fully recovered. He ran very well during the spring and enters his final season in Tempe ready to make a big impact.

The most explosive Sun Devil receiver is senior Kyle Williams. Williams is an all-purpose threat, capable of scoring from anywhere on the field. The Chaparral High School (AZ) standout made 19 receptions for 364 yards and four touchdowns last season (19.2 yards per catch). His four touchdown grabs tied a team high from 2008, and all four of his scores were catches of 20 yards or more. For his career, Williams has 52 catches for 811 yards and 10 TDs.

Williams is an electric return man as well. He led the Pac-10 with 17.0 yards per punt return during 2008, and was named first-team All-Pac-10 as a returner in 2007.

At 5-10 186 pounds, Williams has tremendous speed and quickness, making him ideal for the slot receiver spot. He enters 2009 as the big-play threat in the ASU passing attack.

The third starter at the position is junior Kerry Taylor. Taylor is a cross between Williams and McGaha, possessing excellent hands and good acceleration. The 6-0 197 pound receiver made 27 receptions for 405 yards and three touchdowns. Taylor averaged 15 yards per catch and had a reception in nine of the team’s 12 games.

Last season was Taylor’s first as a steady contributor, playing in all 12 games and making six starts. He displays excellent route running technique, and is not afraid to go across the middle. The Chandler (AZ) native will be counted on to contribute quite a bit, as he is one of the Devils main receiving threats for 2009.

Kerry Taylor runs in for the score

The x-factor at receiver could be true sophomore Gerell Robinson. At 6-4 230 pounds, Robinson is a towering receiver with incredible natural ability. He played sparingly in 2008 and finished with only three catches for 26 yards. Robinson was one of Dennis Erickson’s signature recruits for 2008, and he’s worked hard in the off-season hoping to meet the high expectations that were set for him when he arrived in Tempe. He has next-level ability, and could be a perfect option in the redzone.

Assuming he progresses this season, Robinson will give the Sun Devils a tall receiving target similar to Michael Jones role with the team over the last few seasons. The Rivals.com 4-star prospect out of Hamilton High School (AZ) was a U.S. Army All-American selection as a prep star. He figures to see significantly more playing time this season than he did as a freshman.

Tight Ends

The tight end spot may feature a number of providers for ASU in 2009.

Versatile senior Jovon Williams lacks a significant body of work, but possesses the type of athleticism that could make him a receiving threat for Danny Sullivan to utilize. At 6-4 231 pounds, Williams also has the size to be a solid blocker. The Covina (CA) native has only four career catches for 44 yards, but should see a ton of action in 2009.

Sophomore Dan Knapp showed great promise early in 2008 before missing the rest of the season with an injury against USC. In his limited action, he had three catches for 29 yards and one touchdown. The Reno (NV) native has the best combination of blocking and receiving skills of all the ASU tight ends. He is also the tallest of the group, measuring 6-5 258 pounds. Knapp missed some of spring ball with injuries, but should be healthy and ready to contribute frequently this fall.

True freshman Chris Coyle could be called on for Arizona State in 2009. The 6-3 235 pound standout from Oaks Christian (CA) was selected to play in the U.S. Army All-American game as a high school senior, and was known as a great pass-catching tight end during his prep career. Coyle will attempt to work his way into the rotation this fall.

Other receivers and tight ends that could see time in 2009 are: seniors Brandon Smith and Stanley Malamala, sophomore T.J. Simpson, and freshmen Max Smith, A.J. Pickens, Allante Battle, Jarrid Bryant and Steven Figueroa.

My Take

The Devils have some proven commodities at wide receiver. I love McGaha’s circus-catch ability, and I’m looking forward to watching him play injury free. Williams is a dynamic all-purpose threat, and Taylor is a very good compliment to both of them.

The tight ends don’t have as much upside, and the unit must quickly develop an identity. Jovon Williams is talented but unproven, and the same could be said for Knapp. Obviously the offensive line will need help blocking from these tight ends, so it is important that a go-to-guy surfaces.

Gerell Robinson could be the most exciting difference between the 2008 receiving corp and the one debuting this fall in Tempe. He seems ready to make a splash, and I believe he will have a breakout year for ASU.

If Danny Sullivan has time to throw, this group of wideouts should help revive the Sun Devil’s offense in 2009.