Sun Devils Gameday
October 3rd, 2008, 11:51 am · Post a Comment · posted by Dan Zeiger
Arizona State at California
Kickoff: 12:30 p.m. Saturday
Where: Memorial Stadium; Berkeley, Calif.
TV/Announcers: Ch. 15/Rod Gilmore and Eric Collins
Radio: KTAR (620 AM)
Records: ASU 2-2 overall, 1-0 Pac-10; California 3-1, 1-0
Rankings: Both teams unranked
Series: ASU leads 14-13, but has lost five of the last seven meetings
Last meeting: Oct. 27, 2007, at Tempe — ASU 31, California 20
SUN DEVILS’ KEYS TO VICTORY
1. Unearth the ground attack: Has it been mentioned in the last 10 minutes that ASU needs to run the ball with more consistency? Rushing production could be of extra importance if forecasts calling for showers during the game are accurate. Keegan Herring is expected to return to action, improving ASU’s ability to run outside.
2. Some pressure would help: The Sun Devils have five sacks, a somewhat surprising number given that defensive ends Dexter Davis and Luis Vasquez were considered the top duo in the Pac-10 before the season. Heat on the quarterback — as of Friday morning, California had not decided between Kevin Riley and Nate Longshore — might fluster an offense with injury replacements on the offensive line and at running back.
3. Fix the kicking game: ASU, which has had a kick blocked in each of the last two contests, cannot afford to miss assignments against California’s aggressive special teams. The Golden Bears have three touchdowns on blocked kicks this year, and last week against Colorado State, Syd’Quan Thompson returned a punt for a score.
INJURY REPORT
Arizona State
OUT: S Jonathan Clark (knee); S Angelo Fobbs-Valentino (knee); RB Jarrell Woods (ankle) QUESTIONABLE: LB Brandon Magee (pectoral) PROBABLE: LB Jeff Bereuter (elbow); DL Saia Falahola (hand); RB Keegan Herring (hamstring); TE Dan Knapp (concussion); K Thomas Weber (wrist)
California
OUT: RB Jahvid Best (elbow); DL Rulon Davis (foot); OL Chris Guarnero (toe); WR Marvin Jones (knee); DL Kendrick Payne (knee) DOUBTFUL: OL Mike Tepper (pectoral) QUESTIONABLE: S Bernard Hicks (thigh)
SCOUTING THE SUN DEVILS
ASU is probably in for another Saturday of trying to solve the Cover-2 zone defense, as opposing teams are likely to keep utilizing the formation until forced out of it. That means that the Sun Devils must run the ball and find creative ways for quarterback Rudy Carpenter to get the ball to receivers who — with linebackers dropping in coverage zones with the defensive backs — are outnumbered by defenders 2-to-1. Gerald Munns’ departure for a family matter has shuffled the linebacking corps, with Morris Wooten taking over in the middle and Mike Nixon likely to start on the weak side. Nixon, one of the Pac-10’s top tacklers (8.8 a game), needs to be on the field.
Syd’Quan Thompson has developed into one of the Pac-10’s best and most reliable cornerbacks. He has made 30 consecutive starts and leads the conference with three interceptions this season.
SCOUTING THE GOLDEN BEARS
Despite an offense that ranks 20th in the nation in total yardage, California has issues. The passing game has not clicked, necessitating the quarterback competition in practice this week. Running back Jahvid Best (elbow) is out, but, as usual, the Golden Bears have good depth at that position, meaning that Shane Vereen (8.0 yards a carry this season) should not be much of a drop-off. With one of the top linebacking units in the nation, the defense could be formidable in a Cover-2 situation. California needs to find someone who can kick off, as David Seawright and Jordan Kay combined to send three boots out of bounds last week against Colorado State.
THE INTRIGUE
The Nevada-Las Vegas loss has turned this into a must-play-well game for the Sun Devils, who — with Southern California, Oregon and Oregon State following — could see their current cut turn into a gushing gash that could eventually keep them home for the bowl season. Such true freshmen as wide receiver Gerell Robinson, safety Clint Floyd and defensive tackle Lawrence Guy could start playing bigger roles for ASU. Despite stubbing its toe at Maryland three weeks ago, California is still eyeing the Pac-10 title, and the Golden Bears would love to begin building momentum for back-to-back November games against Oregon and USC that could define their season.
TEAM REPORTS
ASU OFFENSE
SE 1 Michael Jones; LT; 59 Jon Hargis; LG 67 Shaun Lauvao; C 56 Thomas Altieri; RG 63 Paul Fanaika; RT 74 Tom Njunge; TE 88 Andrew Pettes; SLOT 5 Kerry Taylor; FL 13 Chris McGaha; QB 12 Rudy Carpenter; RB 31 Dimitri Nance
ASU DEFENSE
LE 49 Luis Vasquez; DT 50 Lawrence Guy; DT 90 David Smith; RE 58 Dexter Davis; SLB 44 Travis Goethel; MLB 52 Morris Wooten; WLB 25 Mike Nixon; CB 3 Omar Bolden; CB 31 Pierre Singfield; FS 14 Troy Nolan; SS 9 Clint Floyd
CALIFORNIA OFFENSE
WR 88 Sean Young; LT 72 Mitchell Schwartz; LG 70 Mark Boskovich; C 51 Alex Mack; RG 55 Noris Malele; RT 58 Chet Teofilo; TE 5 Cameron Morrah; WR 84 Michael Calvin; QB 13 Kevin Riley or 9 Nate Longshore; TB 34 Shane Vereen; FB 23 Will Ta’ufo’ou
CALIFORNIA DEFENSE
DE 97 Cameron Jordan; NT 76 Derrick Hill; DE 44 Tyson Alualu; OLB 56 Zack Follett; ILB 1 Worrell Williams; ILB 7 Anthony Felder; OLB 9 Eddie Young; CB 26 Darian Hagan; CB 5 Syd’Quan Thompson; S 25 Brett Johnson; S 29 Marcus Ezeff