Blogging with the Devils

Georgia at Arizona State

Kickoff: 5:13 p.m. Saturday
Where: Sun Devil Stadium
TV/Announcers: Ch. 15/Brent Musberger, Kirk Herbstreit and Lisa Salters (sidelines)
Radio: KTAR (92.3 FM)
Records: Georgia 3-0; ASU 2-1
Rankings: Georgia No. 3 Associated Press/No. 3 USA Today (coaches); ASU unranked/No. 24
Series: First meeting
Tickets: Sold out

SUN DEVILS’ KEYS TO VICTORY

1. Stop the run: The ASU players and coaches have made it clear this week that their cross hairs must be on star Georgia running back Knowshon Moreno. The defense will try to pinch the gaps of Georgia’s offensive line to limit holes for Moreno and the other Bulldogs backs.

2. Get on the blocks: This is the game where the Sun Devils learn how much progress their offensive line has made since the end of last year. Georgia’s front seven, led by defensive tackle Geno Atkins and linebacker Rennie Curran, is very active.

3. Feed off the energy: Yes, this game lost some national luster when ASU lost last week, but fans have been drooling with excitement over the Georgia visit for months. Sun Devil Stadium will be full of electricity, which the home team must use to its advantage.

INJURY REPORT

Georgia
OUT: S Quintin Banks (knee); DL Roderick Battle (neck); DL Jeff Owens (knee); OL Trinton Sturdivant (knee); LB Charles White (Achilles’ tendon) QUESTIONABLE: WR Kenneth Harris (ankle); OL Chris Little (foot); FB Brannan Southerland (foot); LB Marcus Washington (shoulder) PROBABLE: CB Bryan Evans (thumb); TE Bruce Figgins (shoulder); OL Kiante Tripp (ankle); OL Vince Vance (knee)

Arizona State
OUT: S Angelo Fobbs-Valentino (knee); OL Matt Hustad (knee); DOUBTFUL: RB Keegan Herring (hamstring); LB Brandon Magee (pectoral) QUESTIONABLE: DL Spencer Gasu (back) PROBABLE: DL Saia Falahola (hand); TE Andrew Pettes (groin); LB Gerald Munns (finger); RB Dimitri Nance (thumb)

Running back Knowshon Moreno, here making his celebrated hurdle of a Central Michigan defender two weeks ago, is averaging 6.7 yards a carry this season. (University of Georgia photo)

SCOUTING THE BULLDOGS

Georgia’s offense has the skill-position power with quarterback Matthew Stafford and running back Knowshon Moreno, but if the offensive line (no synergy) and receivers (drops) do not have their issues settled, the Sun Devils have a chance to least hang around. Coach Mark Richt has suggested a line shakeup but as not disclosed his starters; the five names listed below were atop the depth chart at the beginning of the week. The defense has been opportunistic but, cornerback Asher Allen said, inconsistent is pass coverage; as a result, the Bulldogs’ secondary is eager to prove itself against a school from the throw-crazy Pac-10. Richt’s Georgia teams are 26-4 on the road, including nine wins in 11 games against ranked opponents.

SCOUTING THE SUN DEVILS

ASU would love to regain the passing proficiency it showed in the first two games, but it is possible that Georgia could copy the two-deep coverage that was successful for Nevada-Las Vegas. If the ground game cannot get going — a task that could be especially challenging against a Georgia defense that is 12th in the nation against the rush — Carpenter will have to be at his smart, accurate best. The defense allowed UNLV to control the ball during the second half, something that caused Georgia’s methodical offense to smile. The Sun Devils say that the execution and intensity in practice has been better this week. They need to be right.

THE INTRIGUE

What is at stake? ASU can regain its confidence by making a huge splash on the national stage, build momentum for a tough three-game Pac-10 stretch of California, Southern California and Oregon and bring back some of the honor the conference lost a week ago. For Georgia, a loss likely gives them no margin for error in its objective of winning a national title. The Bulldogs need to iron out their kinks on offense, especially with the SEC schedule kicking into high gear next week. Other than that, not much.

TEAM REPORTS

GEORGIA OFFENSE

SE 1 Mohamed Massaquoi; LT 75 Kiante Tripp; LG 72 Vince Vance; C 63 Chris Davis; RG 71 Cordy Glenn; RT 60 Clint Boling; TE 86 Tripp Chandler; FL 8 A.J. Green; QB 7 Matthew Stafford; TB 24 Knowshon Moreno; FB 49 Shaun Chapas

GEORGIA DEFENSE

DE 99 Jarius Wynn; DT 95 Corvey Irvin; DT 56 Geno Atkins; DE 58 DeMarcus Dobbs; SLB 50 Darryl Gamble; MLB 33 Dannell Ellerbe; WLB 35 Rennie Curran; CB 3 Bryan Evans; CB 2 Asher Allen; FS 9 Reshad Jones; SS 5 CJ Byrd

Georgia 2008 schedule

Georgia 2008 statistics

Georgia NCAA ranking summary

ASU OFFENSE

SE 1 Michael Jones; LT; 59 Jon Hargis; LG 67 Shaun Lauvao; C 56 Thomas Altieri; RG 63 Paul Fanaika; RT 77 Adam Tello; TE 84 Jovon Williams; SLOT 5 Kerry Taylor; FL 13 Chris McGaha; QB 12 Rudy Carpenter; RB 31 Dimitri Nance

ASU DEFENSE

LE 49 Luis Vasquez; DT 77 Saia Falahola; DT 90 David Smith; RE 58 Dexter Davis; SLB 44 Travis Goethel; MLB 47 Gerald Munns; WLB 25 Mike Nixon; CB 3 Omar Bolden; CB 31 Pierre Singfield; FS 14 Troy Nolan; SS 22 Rodney Cox

ASU 2008 schedule

ASU 2008 statistics

ASU 2008 NCAA ranking summary

Georgia at Arizona State
5:13 p.m. Saturday; Sun Devil Stadium

Thanks to improved passing touch and decision making, Georgia quarterback Matthew Stafford has developed into a top NFL prospect.

The fact that his team keeps dropping in the polls as it keeps winning is, at least for now, of no concern to Georgia coach Mark Richt.

The Bulldogs were a preseason No. 1 selection that fell to the second spot after the opening Saturday of the season, then descended to third after winning at South Carolina last week.

“It hasn’t been that hard to deal with,” Richt said. “Outside our locker room, yes, it’s hard to get people to calm down. Look, the preseason polls are a stab in the dark, and as the season rolls on, people have a better idea of who they want to vote for.”

Richt can speak with such confidence because his team is part of the SEC, which is considered the best conference in the country. And the respect that commands among pollsters and the Bowl Championship Series computers is substantial.

Five of the top 10 teams in the current Associated Press rankings are from the SEC. Last year, two-loss Louisiana State was tabbed for the national-title game.

As a result, Georgia controls its own destiny — win the conference, and it has a pretty good chance of playing for No. 1.

“We all know we have the type of schedule that will put us back in business if we’re able to take care of business,” Richt said. “The question is: Are we going to take care of business? But that’s the case for everybody.”

BURNING ISSUE: When you are ranked third in the country, loaded with playmakers on both sides of the ball and a popular pick to win the national championship, you do not have much to worry about. If there are some kinks remaining to be worked out, it is on the offensive line. The Bulldogs’ best blocker, left tackle Trinton Sturdivant, is out for the year with a knee injury. Kiante Tripp was tabbed to take Sturdivant’s place. Tripp and both guards, Vince Vance and Cordy Glenn, are new starters. Center Chris Davis moved from guard. Last week, South Carolina’s defense held the Bulldogs to just 3.0 yards a rush and blitzed effectively, particularly from the cornerback spot.

OFFENSIVE SNAPSHOT: The Bulldogs boast two of the top players in the country at their positions. Quarterback Matthew Stafford, a junior who could be the top pick in the NFL Draft in April, is the SEC’s top-rated passer, throwing for 634 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions. Running back Knowshon Moreno is averaging 6.7 yards a carry with seven TDs. The receivers are solid, with starting split end Mohamed Massaquoi leading the team with 10 receptions for 151 yards and two scores. Whether lining up in a three-receiver set or an I-formation, Georgia looks to run first.

DEFENSIVE SNAPSHOT: This unit was the star of the South Carolina victory, denying the Gamecocks two potential second-half scores by forcing turnovers inside the 20-yard line. The 4-3 formation has a standout at each layer: Tackle Geno Atkins is consistently penetrating the opponent’s backfield, linebacker Rennie Curran (just a sophomore) has developed into an aggressive tackler, and cornerback Asher Allen is assigned to cover the opposition’s best receiver. The Bulldogs are allowing 59.7 rushing yards a game, 12th-fewest in the nation.

UNSUNG HERO: A freshman in a loaded offense, flanker A.J. Green has been relatively ignored. However, he likely will not be overlooked for long. With South Carolina concentrating on stopping Massaquoi, Green was the Bulldogs’ leading receiver, with three catches for 60 yards. His 39-yard reception on third-and-21 helped set up a second-quarter field goal.

FURTHER READING:

Georgia football official site

Athens Banner-Herald

Atlanta Journal-Constitution

His 35-yard field-goal attempt in overtime blocked, Arizona State kicker Thomas Weber walks off the field as Nevada-Las Vegas players celebrate their 23-20 victory on Saturday. (Darryl Webb/Tribune)

Think Arizona State’s overtime loss against Nevada-Las Vegas on Saturday was bad? Since 1980, here are five others that were a nightmare for Sun Devil fans to sit through:

Sept. 8, 1984: Oklahoma State 45, ASU 3 — Coach Darryl Rogers was dumbfounded that some preseason publications had his squad at No. 1. In the season opener, ASU made those prognosticators look like fools, as an Oklahoma State squad led by two future All-Pros, running back Thurman Thomas and defensive end Leslie O’Neal, handed the Sun Devils their most lopsided loss since a 42-0 setback against Hardin-Simmons in 1947.

Oct. 6, 1984: California 19, ASU 14 — Things did not get much better as ’84 progressed, as the Sun Devils were gracious enough to hand a Golden Bears team that would finish 2-9 their only Pac-10 victory. ASU wound up 5-6, and after the season, Rogers bolted to become coach of the NFL’s Detroit Lions.

Nov. 12, 1988: Southern California 50, ASU 0 — In a game broadcast on ABC, legendary announcer Keith Jackson said that Sun Devil punter Mike Schuh “can really air-mail it.” That was the nicest thing said on the air about ASU that day, as the second-ranked Trojans amassed 691 yards. The Sun Devils did not run a play on USC’s side of the field until 10 minutes remained in the game.

Sept. 18, 1999: New Mexico State 35, ASU 7 — Sun Devil fans are still wondering how in the world this happened. New Mexico State, 0-14 against ranked teams since 1979, piled up 565 yards against No. 22 ASU. The Sun Devils never recovered, losing two of their next three games en route to a 6-6 finish.

Sept. 30, 2006: Oregon 48, ASU 13 — For all intents and purposes, this loss sealed the fate of former coach Dirk Koetter. After the Sun Devils slept-walked through a conference game it had to win, players questioned the team’s preparation and desire. Quarterback Rudy Carpenter completed just six passes for 33 yards.

Nevada-Las Vegas at Arizona State

Kickoff: 7 p.m. Saturday
Where: Sun Devil Stadium
TV/Announcers: FSN Arizona/Trey Bender, Juan Roque and Jody Jackson (sidelines)
Radio: KTAR (92.3 FM and 620 AM)
Records: UNLV 1-1, ASU 2-0
Rankings: UNLV unranked; ASU No. 15 Associated Press/No. 13 USA Today (coaches)
Series: First meeting
Tickets: Available at Sun Devil Stadium ticket office, by calling (480) 727-0000 or online at thesundevils.com

SUN DEVILS’ KEYS TO VICTORY

1. Red zone success: Scoring touchdowns and not field goals — ASU could not hit the end zone from inside the 10-yard line on its first two possessions against Stanford last week — will be of vital importance as the schedule starts to stiffen.

2. Clog the middle: ASU’s defense kept Stanford running back Toby Gerhart from doing much damage between the tackles last week. UNLV’s Frank “The Tank” Summers is a similarly swift, physical ball carrier.

3. Stay in the lanes: Were the burps on kick coverage last week an aberration, or a growing problem? The Sun Devils cannot get in the habit of giving away field position.

INJURY REPORT

UNLV
OUT: LB Starr Fuimaono (knee) QUESTIONABLE: DE Thor Pili (illness) PROBABLE: OL John Gianninoto (knee); DL Jacob Hales (elbow); OL Evan Marchal (ankle); LB Ronnie Paulo (knee); CB Quinton Pointer (elbow)
Arizona State
OUT: S Angelo Fobbs-Valentino (knee); OL Matt Hustad (knee); LB Brandon Magee (pectoral); LB Gerald Munns (finger) DOUBTFUL: DL Spencer Gasu (back) QUESTIONABLE: RB Keegan Herring (hamstring); TE Andrew Pettes (groin); WR Brandon Smith (hamstring) PROBABLE: WR Nate Kimbrough (ankle)

UNLV receiver Casey Flair has caught at least one pass in 37 consecutive games, the second-longest streak in the nation.

SCOUTING THE REBELS

UNLV’s spread offense is talented and has not made many mistakes, as the Rebels are one of just two teams in the nation (Florida is the other) that do not have a turnover. Sophomore quarterback Omar Clayton, a fifth-string walk-on at the start of last season, is growing into the role, and he has two veteran receivers in Ryan Wolfe and Casey Flair. The defense took a hit with the loss of linebacker Starr Fuimaono (knee) and was worn down in the second half at Utah last week. A more physical ASU offense will provide an even bigger test.

SCOUTING THE SUN DEVILS

Expect ASU to stick with what has worked the last two games, forcing the opposing defense to cover the entire field against quarterback Rudy Carpenter while mixing in more of the run. Carpenter is playing with confidence, sticking in the pocket to go through his progressions long enough to find nine different receivers in each of the first two games. And he has shown a willingness to throw the ball away instead of forcing a pass. After imploring itself to create turnovers, the Sun Devils’ defense did just that against Stanford, with three interceptions.

THE INTRIGUE

Four more quarters, and the countdown to Georgia can finally start for ASU. While UNLV’s football resumé is thin, the Rebels are capable of pulling an upset — although, considering how Erickson’s teams routinely take care of business against those should beat, a shocker is unlikely. Saturday is the Sun Devils’ best chance to fine-tune things for Georgia, an endeavor to take seriously. In search of its first winning season since 2000, UNLV would like to build momentum for two straight home games against Iowa State and Nevada, two squads that it should be competitive against.

TEAM REPORTS

UNLV OFFENSE

WR 18 Phillip Payne; WR 88 Ryan Wolfe; LT 75 Matt Murphy; LG 78 Johan Asiata; C 66 John Gianninoto; RG 59 Joe Hawley; RT 73 Evan Marchal; WR 84 Rodelin Anthony; WR 80 Casey Flair; QB 2 Omar Clayton; RB 4 Frank Summers

UNLV DEFENSE

DE 99 Isaako Aaitui; DT 68 Martin Tevaseu; DT 93 Malo Taumua; DE 94 Thor Pili; SLB 33 Jason Beauchamp; MLB 56 Ronnie Paulo; WLB 55 Nate Carter; CB 7 Geoffery Howard; CB 10 Quinton Pointer; FS 8 Daryl Forte; SS 23 Terrance Lee

UNLV 2008 schedule

UNLV 2008 statistics

UNLV NCAA ranking summary

ASU OFFENSE

SE 1 Michael Jones; LT; 59 Jon Hargis; LG 67 Shaun Lauvao; C 56 Thomas Altieri; RG 63 Paul Fanaika; RT 77 Adam Tello; TE 84 Jovon Williams; SLOT 5 Kerry Taylor; FL 13 Chris McGaha; QB 12 Rudy Carpenter; RB 31 Dimitri Nance

ASU DEFENSE

LE 49 Luis Vasquez; DT 77 Saia Falahola; DT 90 David Smith; RE 58 Dexter Davis; SLB 44 Travis Goethel; MLB 25 Mike Nixon; WLB 2 Ryan McFoy; CB 3 Omar Bolden; CB 31 Pierre Singfield; FS 14 Troy Nolan; SS 22 Rodney Cox

ASU 2008 schedule

ASU 2008 statistics

ASU 2008 NCAA ranking summary

Chris Fowler, Lee Corso and Kirk Herbstreit work ESPN’s “College GameDay” in Tempe before the Southern California-Arizona State game in 2005.

Arizona State officials could learn if ESPN’s “College GameDay” will visit Tempe along with second-ranked Georgia on Sept. 20 as soon as Saturday night, after the No. 15 Sun Devils’ contest against Nevada-Las Vegas.

The Georgia-ASU game, which kicks off at 5:13 p.m., will be produced by ESPN and broadcast on ABC.

ESPN does not announce its upcoming “GameDay” site until the Sunday before the game, and the network is typically hushed during the decision process. The other game big enough to merit a visit from Chris Fowler, Lee Corso and Kirk Herbstreit on Sept. 20 is Louisiana State at Auburn, but Georgia-ASU might have an edge due to logistics.

Herbstreit, who also serves as an analyst for ABC’s “Saturday Night College Football” broadcasts, is slated to work Georgia-ASU. While Herbstreit can get from the “GameDay” site to his ABC contest just fine by plane, it makes sense that ESPN would want to give him as many non-travel days as possible.

In 2007, Herbstreit did “GameDay” and an ABC broadcast from the same location five times. This week’s Ohio State-Southern California game will be the third time in three Saturdays this season that Herbstreit does not have to fly.

“GameDay” has been on location with ASU twice: In 2005, when the Sun Devils hosted Southern California, and last year, for a visit to Oregon.

Nevada-Las Vegas at Arizona State
7 p.m. Saturday; Sun Devil Stadium

UNLV running back Frank Summers, who scored two touchdowns at Utah on Saturday, packs 230 pounds into his 5-foot-10 frame. (Salt Lake Tribune photo)

The first three seasons of Mike Sanford’s coaching tenure at Nevada-Las Vegas have produced two wins each, extending the Rebels’ streak of years without a winning record to seven.

A victory against Utah State on Aug. 30 stoked hopes that 2008 might be the year of the turnaround, but inconsistency on offense and injuries on defense contributed to a 42-21 loss at Utah last week. The Rebels defeated the Utes 27-0 last season.

“We have some corrections to make and things to improve on,” Sanford said. “The thing I feel encouraged about is the things that we did (against Utah) are correctable. Adversity is a part of life and football, and you have to deal with that, which is something we didn’t do in the second half last week.

“We have to eliminate penalties and play four quarters consistently. In reality, we have not played four good quarters of football yet.”

BURNING ISSUE: Who fills the gaping hole in the defense created by the loss of linebacker Starr Fuimaono, who is lost for the season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee? It is not a stretch to say that Fuimaono, who had a team-high 14 tackles in the Rebels’ season-opening win against Utah State, was UNLV’s top defensive player. Jason Beauchamp moves from his strong-side starting linebacker spot to replace Fuimaono on the weak side, leaving redshirt freshman Nate Carter as the first-team SLB. Carter will have to grow up fast against ASU’s productive offense.

OFFENSIVE SNAPSHOT: There is a lot to like here. The Rebels, who operate out of the spread, have some of the best skill players in the Mountain West Conference, led by Frank Summers, a short-but-powerfully-built running back who rushed for 928 yards and six touchdowns last season. Ryan Wolfe and Casey Flair, who both caught more than 50 passes in 2007, provide receiving experience, and freshman Phillip Payne has caught a touchdown pass in both games this year. The offensive line is big and experienced, but sophomore quarterback Omar Clayton (five career starts) figures to get better as he plays more.

DEFENSIVE SNAPSHOT: This unit, which works out of a 4-3 formation, had to replace both defensive ends and linebacker Beau Bell, the 2007 Mountain West defensive player of the year. The cupboard was thinned more by the elbow injuries suffered by defensive tackle Jacob Hales and cornerback Quinton Painter, who both missed the opening game. And last week, Fuimaono and middle linebacker Ronnie Paulo, who suffered a lower-leg bruise but should start this week, went down. Utah pounced on UNLV’s depleted, fatigued defense in the second half, which does not bode well for the date with the Sun Devils.

UNSUNG HERO: Backup quarterback Dack Ishii likely secured the punter’s job at Utah, kicking seven times for a 44.4-yard average. The transfer from Tennessee, who is averaging 42.4 yards on the season, has been battling Brendon Lamers (30.0-yard average on four attempts).

FURTHER READING:

UNLV football official site

Las Vegas Review-Journal

Las Vegas Sun

Stanford at Arizona State

Kickoff: 7 p.m. Saturday
Where: Sun Devil Stadium
TV/Announcers: FSN Arizona/Trey Bender, Juan Roque and Jody Jackson (sidelines)
Radio: KTAR (620 AM)
Records: Stanford 1-0 overall, 1-0 Pac-10; ASU 1-0, 0-0
Rankings: Stanford unranked; ASU No. 15 Associated Press/No. 14 USA Today (coaches)
Series: ASU leads 15-9
Last meeting: Sept. 29, 2007, at Palo Alto, Calif. — ASU 41, Stanford 3
Tickets: Available at Sun Devil Stadium ticket office, by calling (480) 727-0000 or online at thesundevils.com

SUN DEVILS’ KEYS TO VICTORY

1. Handle the heat: ASU’s vulnerability to frequent blitzes last year was exposed by Stanford in September and copied by everyone else. The Cardinal defense will likely test the offensive adjustments the Sun Devils made during the offseason.

2. Don’t put it all on Rudy: The coaches have stressed to quarterback Rudy Carpenter that he not put the offense all on his shoulders. However, other players — especially the running backs — must generate production, and that did not happen after Carpenter departed in the third quarter against NAU.

3. Corner the market: The Sun Devils’ defense expects Stanford to leave the cornerbacks unblocked, daring them to take down running backs Toby Gerhart and Anthony Kimble. ASU’s Omar Bolden and Pierre Singfield must be up to the task.

INJURY REPORT

Stanford
OUT: TE Jim Dray (knee); WR Chris Owusu (knee); WR Marcus Rance (knee); OL Allen Smith (knee); S Austin Yancy (hamstring) QUESTIONABLE: CB Corey Gatewood (ankle); OL Gustav Rydsteldt (concussion) PROBABLE: RB Owen Marecic (illness)
Arizona State
OUT: S Angelo Fobbs-Valentino (knee); DL Spencer Gasu (back); OL Matt Hustad (knee) QUESTIONABLE: RB Keegan Herring (hamstring); WR Michael Jones (Achilles’ tendon); WR Brandon Smith (hamstring) PROBABLE: RB Shaun DeWitty (hamstring); OL Garth Gerhart (ankle); WR Nate Kimbrough (ankle); LB Gerald Munns (finger); Mike Nixon (illness)

Linebacker Clinton Snyder, shown taking down Arizona State receiver Kyle Williams last season, is the most active member of Stanford’s defense.

SCOUTING THE CARDINAL

Quarterback Tavita Pritchard effectively managed the game in the victory against Oregon State, but more production — he passed for just 91 yards — is necessary. Until Stanford finds it, much of the offensive load will be carried by running backs Toby Gerhart (147 yards, two touchdowns rushing last week) and Anthony Kimble. The defense is experienced and physical but allowed 404 yards passing against the Beavers. The Sun Devils could shred this unit if breakdowns in the secondary have not been rectified.

SCOUTING THE SUN DEVILS

ASU would like to improve on its rushing numbers (54 yards on 18 carries by the running backs), but that might not be feasible if Stanford loads the box and aggressively pass rushes. With a few exceptions, the Sun Devils played it close to the vest against NAU and should sport a more diverse playbook today. How the defense performs against the Cardinal running attack should provide a progress report on the unit. ASU kept star NAU tailback Alex Henderson under control last week, but Stanford’s offensive line is much more formidable.

THE INTRIGUE

It is ASU’s Pac-10 opener against a Stanford team that — while nobody has overlooked since it stunned Southern California last season — suddenly looks a lot tougher. Getting off on the right foot in league play is vital. Also, the potential reward of the Sept. 20 Georgia game, which fans have been pointing to for months, would decrease if the Sun Devils do not take care of business today. For the Cardinal, a win against an ASU team that is expected to contend for the conference title would give their turnaround even more legitimacy.

TEAM REPORTS

STANFORD OFFENSE

WR 8 Ryan Whalen; LT 76 Ben Muth; LG 72 Chase Beeler; C 60 Alex Fletcher; RG 71 Andrew Phillips; RT 63 Chris Marinelli; TE 84 Austin Gunder; WR 89 Doug Baldwin; QB 14 Tavita Pritchard; RB 7 Toby Gerhart; FB 48 Owen Marecic

STANFORD DEFENSE

DE 91 Pannel Egboh; DT 95 Brian Bulke; NT 92 Sione Fua; DE 80 Erick Lorig; SLB 20 Clinton Snyder; MLB 43 Chike Amajori; WLB 44 Pat Maynor; CB 6 Wopamo Osaisai; CB 24 Kris Evans; FS 40 Taylor Skaufel; SS 22 Bo McNally

Stanford 2008 schedule

Stanford 2008 statistics

Stanford 2008 NCAA ranking summary

ASU OFFENSE

SE 1 Michael Jones; LT; 59 Jon Hargis; LG 67 Shaun Lauvao; C 56 Thomas Altieri; RG 63 Paul Fanaika; RT 77 Adam Tello; 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 77 Saia Falahola; DT 90 David Smith; RE 58 Dexter Davis; SLB 44 Travis Goethel; MLB 47 Gerald Munns; WLB 2 Ryan McFoy; CB 3 Omar Bolden; CB 31 Pierre Singfield; FS 14 Troy Nolan; SS 22 Rodney Cox

ASU 2008 schedule

ASU 2008 statistics

ASU 2008 NCAA ranking summary

Michael Jones

Arizona State wide receiver Michael Jones suffered an Achilles’ tendon injury during practice on Tuesday and will undergo an MRI exam.

Jones, who caught six passes for 162 yards in the Sun Devils’ season-opening victory against Northern Arizona, will have the procedure on Wednesday morning. The initial diagnosis is a sprain.

“He got it in warmup, just throwing the ball back somehow,” ASU coach Dennis Erickson said. “The doctors think it’s a mild sprain, which means he should be able to play (against Stanford on Saturday), but we’ll wait and see.”

In other injury news, running back Keegan Herring (hamstring) is questionable for this week. So is backup receiver Nate Kimbrough, who sprained an ankle against NAU and did not dress on Tuesday.

Reserve center Garth Gerhart (ankle) is probable, and running back Shaun DeWitty (hamstring) participated in practice and is “getting closer,” Erickson said. Defensive tackle Spencer Gasu did not practice due to a sore back. MRI exam results on safety Angelo Fobbs-Valentino’s knee injury were not available.

In depth-chart doings, defensive lineman Jamaar Jarrett would be the ninth true freshman to see action this season if Erickson follows through on an experiment with him at second-team defensive end and Lawrence Guy at tackle.

The No. 2 defensive line on Tuesday consisted of the 6-foot-5, 250-pound Jarrett and James Brooks as the ends, and Guy and Jonathan English as the tackles.

Guy, a freshman who had been at end, played both positions in high school. He prefers end, but has said that his first priority is being on the field.

“It’s something we’re looking at this week,” Erickson said. “I want to see Guy inside and find out where Jamaar is. From what I saw, we probably will make that move, but I can’t give you a definitive answer right now.”

Stanford at Arizona State
7 p.m. Saturday; Sun Devil Stadium

Stanford running back Toby Gerhart stiff-arms an Oregon State defender on Thursday, when he rushed for 147 yards and two touchdowns in a 36-28 victory. (Associated Press photo)

The night before Pac-10 media day in July, I shared a hotel floor with Jim Harbaugh. After checking in a minute or so after the Stanford coach, I took the elevator up and exited to find Harbaugh down the hall, looking frustratingly at his hotel keycard sleeve in a longer-than-expected search for his room.

When it comes to the direction of his football team, however, Harbaugh has no confusion. In his second year on the job, Stanford is starting to display the kind of execution and passion that defined Harbaugh as an All-American quarterback at Michigan and longtime NFL player.

“I’m really proud of our guys,” Harbaugh said after Thursday’s game. “We’ve been talking about feeling something special going back to the spring and heading into fall camp. The way that they lifted each other up was something to see. …

“This is the kind of win that can pull a team together. They’re feeling it, believing and trusting each other and their coaches. Having this confirmed with a win as big.”

The Cardinal will need that focus all year; the schedule demands it. They play Pac-10 foes ASU, Oregon and California on the road and travel to Texas Christian and Notre Dame. Getting the necessary six wins for bowl eligibility will not be easy.

BURNING ISSUE: Are the defensive breakdowns against Oregon State easily correctable? Stanford boasts a veteran defense, particularly in the front seven, but the secondary was shredded by Oregon State receivers Sammie Stroughter (12 catches for 157 yards) and Shane Morales (13 catches, 151 yards). “Oregon State did a good job of increasing the tempo on us when we were not expecting it,” safety Bo McNally said. “We will get in the film room and get that stuff figured out.” On the bright side, the Cardinal got a pivotal score when McNally returned an interception for a touchdown in the fourth quarter.

OFFENSIVE SNAPSHOT: Tavita Pritchard, who emerged from a three-way quarterback competition in training camp, managed the offense well against Oregon State, completing 10-of-17 passes for 91 yards and a touchdown. Running backs Toby Gerhart and Anthony Kimble must continue setting the tone. Gerhart, who had 147 yards and two scores last week, missed all but one game of the 2007 season with a knee injury. Pass protection was a problem (48 sacks allowed) last season.

DEFENSIVE SNAPSHOT: The unit has nine returning starters, but improvement must come with that experience — Stanford gave up 28.2 points and 435.5 yards a game last season. Defensive tackle Ekom Udofia, a Scottsdale Chaparral High graduate, and end Pannel Egboh anchor the line. Linebacker Clinton Snyder is the biggest playmaker, with 14½ tackles for loss a season ago. If the problems in the secondary are fixed, Stanford will have one of the better defenses in the Pac-10.

UNSUNG HERO: Left tackle Ben Muth, a Phoenix Pinnacle High graduate, has the vital duty of protecting the quarterback’s blind side. Muth, a senior, started the last nine games in 2007 after Allen Smith (Tempe Corona del Sol) was lost to a knee injury.

FURTHER READING:

Stanford football official site

Contra Costa Times

Oakland Tribune

San Francisco Chronicle

Northern Arizona at Arizona State

Kickoff: 7:15 p.m. Saturday
Where: Sun Devil Stadium
TV/announcers: FSN Arizona/Trey Bender, Juan Roque and Jody Jackson (sidelines)
Radio: KTAR (92.3 FM)
2007 records: NAU 6-5, ASU 10-3
Rankings: NAU unranked (championship subdivision school); ASU No. 15 Associated Press/No. 16 USA Today (coaches)
Series: ASU leads 18-14-4 and has won the last six meetings
Last meeting: Aug. 31, 2006 — ASU 35, NAU 14
Line: Off
Tickets: Available at the Sun Devil Stadium ticket office, by calling (480) 727-0000 or online at thesundevils.com.

SUN DEVILS’ KEYS TO VICTORY

1. Stay focused: With a championship subdivision (formerly Division I-AA) team visiting, ASU needs no reminders of Appalachian State’s slaying of Michigan in 2007. The last two times NAU has visited Tempe, the Sun Devils won, but the Lumberjacks hung around far longer than they had any right to.

2. Pass the test: This is the Sun Devils’ coming out party for the tweaked offense with quick drops and passes designed to help take the pass-rush heat off of Rudy Carpenter. The offensive line, particularly tackles Jon Hargis and Adam Tello, will be watched closely.

3. Just dominate: In 2003 and ’06, a lackluster season-opening performance against NAU set the tone for disappointing years. Another closer-than-expected game would not engender confidence for the much tougher opposition that lies ahead.

INJURY REPORT

Northern Arizona
No injuries disclosed

Arizona State
OUT: RB Shaun DeWitty (hamstring), OL Matt Hustad (knee); DOUBTFUL: RB Keegan Herring (hamstring); WR Brandon Smith (hamstring); QUESTIONABLE: OL Garth Gerhart (ankle); PROBABLE: DE James Brooks (ankle), WR Chris McGaha (toe)

A threat to pass or run, Lance Kriesien is Northern Arizona’s most experienced quarterback. But there is no guarantee that he will start on Saturday.

SCOUTING THE LUMBERJACKS

As of Friday morning, coach Jerome Souers had not named a starting quarterback among the three — incumbent Lance Kriesien, Mississippi transfer Michael Herrick and Corey Slater — competing for the job. NAU’s passing game, once one of the most dangerous around, slipped to seventh in the Big Sky Conference last season, but running back Alex Henderson helped pick up some of the yardage void. An unusual 3-3-5 base defensive formation can confuse an opposing offense, as ASU learned when the teams played in 2006. The secondary, with All-Americans K.J. Gerard at cornerback and Cyrus Igono at safety, is superb.

SCOUTING THE SUN DEVILS

ASU will show some of the new offensive trinkets but would prefer to save some of them for next week, when Pac-10 opponent Stanford visits. But if the Lumberjacks keep it close again, the Sun Devils will not have that luxury. Coach Dennis Erickson said the starting cornerback opposite Omar Bolden will not be revealed until game time, but in practice this week, Pierre Singfield received most of the snaps with the first team. Erickson would love to utilize the game to empty the bench and give plenty of playing time to at least nine true freshmen that should contribute this season.

THE INTRIGUE

While it is challenging to find something sexy about a matchup against an FCS school that the Sun Devils should beat easily, this game does open the door to a season in which both teams have high expectations. ASU had 10 wins last season, but as Erickson’s stints at Washington State and Oregon indicate, the second year is when his teams really take off. For NAU, a solid effort should build confidence for an anticipated push for an FCS playoff spot. Besides, the college football season has finally started — for now, who needs intrigue?

TEAM REPORTS

NAU OFFENSE

WR 5 Skyler Moore; LT 69 Trevor Heekin; LG 53 Vinnie Paciulli; C 68 Jeff Hines; RG 61 Kris Poindexter; RT 62 Ryan Holstrom; TE 11 Shaun Fitzpatrick; WR 81 Ed Berry; WR 13 Conrad Meadows; QB 12 Lance Kriesien; RB 30 Alex Henderson

NAU DEFENSE

DE 89 Kyle Rath; DT 91 Stephen Nwogbe; DE 49 Mike Battisti; LB 34 Stevon Thomas; LB 44 Cody Dowd; LB 45 Zac McNally; CB 17 K.J. Gerard; CB 27 Conrad White; S 21 Cyrus Igono; S 43 Adam Wright; S 36 Matt Estrada

NAU 2008 schedule

NAU 2007 statistics (PDF)

NAU 2007 NCAA ranking summary

ASU OFFENSE

SE 1 Michael Jones; LT; 59 Jon Hargis; LG 67 Shaun Lauvao; C 56 Thomas Altieri; RG 63 Paul Fanaika; RT 77 Adam Tello; 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 77 Saia Falahola; DT 90 David Smith; RE 58 Dexter Davis; SLB 44 Travis Goethel; MLB 47 Gerald Munns; WLB 2 Ryan McFoy; CB 3 Omar Bolden; CB 31 Pierre Singfield; FS 14 Troy Nolan; SS 22 Rodney Cox

ASU 2008 schedule

ASU 2007 statistics

ASU 2007 NCAA ranking summary