Sun Devils Gameday
November 21st, 2007, 9:00 pm · Post a Comment · posted by Dan Zeiger
Southern California at Arizona State
When: 6 p.m. Thursday
Where: Sun Devil Stadium
TV/Announcers: ESPN/Chris Fowler, Doug Flutie, Craig James and Erin Andrews
Radio: KTAR (620 AM)
Records: USC 8-2 overall, 5-2 Pac-10; ASU 9-1, 6-1
Rankings: USC No. 11 Associated Press/No. 12 USA Today (coaches)/No. 12 Harris Interactive/No. 11 Bowl Championship Series standings; ASU No. 7/No. 6/No. 6/No. 6
Series: USC leads 14-9 and has won the last seven meetings
Last meeting: Oct. 14, 2006, at Los Angeles – USC 28, ASU 21
Tickets: Sold out
SUN DEVILS’ KEYS TO VICTORY
1. Win in the trenches: USC’s front seven – even minus leading tackler Keith Rivers, who is limited with an ankle injury – is the most talented ASU has faced this year and the catalyst for a Trojans defense ranked third in the country. End Lawrence Jackson and tackle Sedrick Ellis are pass-rush monsters. If the Sun Devils’ offense does not control the scrimmage line, they will not win.
2. Robert re-emerges: While steady in the last three games – he still leads ASU with 83 tackles – linebacker Robert James has not been the big playmaker he was early in the season. The senior is due for another high-impact performance.
3. Shore up special teams: Two weeks ago, missed tackles and deficient lane assignments by the Sun Devils helped UCLA break long returns on a kickoff and punt. USC freshman Ronald Johnson, who is averaging 25 yards a kick return, is capable of bringing one back far.
INJURY REPORT
USC
OUT: RB C.J. Gable (abdominal); WR Travon Patterson (foot); S Josh Pinkard (knee) QUESTIONABLE: OL Thomas Herring (knee); OL Kristofer O’Dowd (knee); LB Keith Rivers (ankle); DE Kyle Moore (hand) PROBABLE: OL Sam Baker (hamstring)
Arizona State
OUT: DL Saia Falahola (triceps); OL Zach Krula (knee); DL Tranell Morant (knee); QB Samson Szakacsy (elbow); RB Ryan Torain (foot) QUESTIONABLE: CB Travis Smith (foot) PROBABLE: QB Rudy Carpenter (thumb); DL Dane Guthrie (concussion); DL Jon Hargis (shoulder); DL Michael Marquardt (ankle); S Jeremy Payton (ankle); TE Andrew Pettes (ankle); DL David Smith (foot)
WHEN ASU HAS THE BALL
Quarterback Rudy Carpenter will try to keep his ailing right thumb safe against another defense that could throw everything but the kitchen sink at him. However, the Trojans do not need to; they are one of the rare teams that can get consistent pressure with a four- or five-man rush. It makes for perhaps the biggest challenge of Carpenter’s college career, but a golden opportunity. Some Sun Devil fans wonder why Carpenter is not mentioned in the same breath with the nation’s other elite QBs. A big, gutsy game on a national stage such as this – and help from running backs Keegan Herring and Dimitri Nance – could help get Carpenter that recognition.
With nary a California defender in sight, Chauncey Washington rushes for a chunk of his 220 yards on Nov. 10.
WHEN USC HAS THE BALL
The Trojans’ offense is not as flashy and explosive as in years past, but the unit has gotten more efficient in recent weeks as injured players have returned. USC will try to win with the run first, and Chauncey Washington, with 220 yards two weeks ago at California, has the hot hand. However, the sledding figures to be more difficult against an ASU defense allowing just 103.4 rushing yards a game. If quarterback John David Booty’s role is stewarding the running game and avoiding mistakes, USC is tough to beat. If Booty can add in a few big-play passes – something he could not do much of in the rain against Cal – an opposing team’s task becomes even more demanding.
THE INTRIGUE
In 1978, ASU did not have a national stage when it made a statement victory against a USC squad that went on to win the national title. That will not be a problem on Thursday, with ESPN beaming the game to the entire country. It is a chance at widespread legitimacy for the Sun Devils, who with a win could be outright Pac-10 champions as soon as Saturday, as an Oregon loss against UCLA would end the conference race. A USC victory means the race for the Rose Bowl goes down to the final regular-season weekend. The Trojans are 22-0 in November under coach Pete Carroll, and a chance to show the football world that USC is still USC should be powerful motivation.
TEAM REPORTS
USC OFFENSE: SE 1 Patrick Turner; LT 79 Sam Baker; LG 53 Jeff Byers; C 69 Matt Spanos; RG 66 Chilo Rachal; RT 60 Drew Radovich; TE 83 Fred Davis; FL 7 Vidal Hazelton; QB 10 John David Booty; TB 23 Chauncey Washington; FB 31 Stanley Havili
USC DEFENSE: DE 96 Lawrence Jackson; NT 49 Sedrick Ellis; DT 75 Fili Moala; DE 93 Everson Griffen; SLB 10 Brian Cushing; MLB 58 Rey Maualuga; WLB 43 Kaluka Maiava; CB 7 Cary Harris; CB 28 Terrell Thomas; FS 2 Taylor Mays; SS 4 Kevin Ellison
ASU OFFENSE: SE 1 Michael Jones; LT 62 Brandon Rodd; LG 67 Shawn Lauvao; C 76 Mike Pollak; RG 63 Paul Fanaika; RT 79 Julius Orieukwu; TE 87 Brent Miller; SLOT 3 Rudy Burgess; FL 13 Chris McGaha; QB 12 Rudy Carpenter; RB 24 Keegan Herring
ASU DEFENSE: LE 97 Luis Vasquez; DT 77 Michael Marquardt; DT 90 David Smith; RE 58 Dexter Davis; SLB 44 Travis Goethel; MLB 52 Morris Wooten; WLB 29 Robert James; CB 32 Omar Bolden; CB 4 Justin Tryon; FS 19 Josh Barrett; SS 14 Troy Nolan
