Arizona
State Sun Devils
Preview 2009 - Offense
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2009 CFN Arizona State Preview |
2009 ASU Offense
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2009 ASU Defense |
2009 ASU Depth
Chart
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2008 ASU Preview |
2007 ASU Preview |
2006 ASU
Preview
What you
need to know: The staff is hunting for answers, even spending time at Texas to
learn the zone-read option, after finishing 100th
nationally in total offense and scoring just 22 points a game.
The reality is that there are no easy solutions when the talent
on hand is marginal. Pac-10 defenses no longer have Rudy
Carpenter to kick around, leaving quarterback in the hands of
career backup Danny Sullivan and a pair of underclassmen. And
while there is talent at the skill positions, it’s not so
dynamic that it can thrive without help from the offensive line.
Arizona State has been off-the-charts bad in the trenches over
the last two seasons, a trend that shows no sign of changing. If
the line doesn’t block and the passers are iffy, it’ll be tough
getting horses, like RB Ryan Bass and WR Kyle Williams, out of
the barn.
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Returning
Leaders
Passing: Danny Sullivan
15-43, 151 yds, 1 TD, 2 INT
Rushing: Dimitri Nance
105 carries, 410 yds, 3 TD
Receiving: Chris McGaha
35 catches, 501 yds, 1 TD
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Star of the offense:
Senior OT Shawn Lauvao
Player who has to step up
and become a star: Senior QB Danny Sullivan
Unsung star on the rise:
Sophomore RB Ryan Bass
Best pro prospect:
Lauvao
Top three all-star candidates:
1) Lauvao, 2) Senior WR
Chris McGaha, 3) Senior WR Kyle Williams
Strength of the offense:
Depth at the skill positions, power backs
Weakness of the offense:
Uncertainty at quarterback, running game, offensive line, red
zone offense
Quarterbacks
Projected Starter:
The top priority on offense will be to replace Rudy Carpenter, a
rock of stability who’d started 43 straight games before
graduating. The favorite to succeed him is his long-time caddy
Danny Sullivan, a
6-4, 242-pound senior who has waited patiently for this
opportunity. Blessed with a cannon for an arm and a command of
the system, he used a stellar spring to widen the gap on the
competition and move closer to getting the nod. Although he
doesn’t have pro scouts flocking to Tempe and is fairly
stationary, he can still succeed by distributing the ball
accurately and managing the game effectively. For his career,
he’s appeared in 24 games, going 40-of-87 for 409 yards, three
touchdowns and three interceptions.
Projected Top Reserves:
The biggest challenge to Sullivan is coming from 6-4, 205-pound
sophomore Samson
Szakacsy, the best athlete among the quarterbacks.
Tremendously agile and quick outside the pocket, he brings an
intriguing set of dual-threat skills to an offense looking to
employ elements of the zone-read option. After undergoing
surgery to remove cartilage from his elbow, he’s working to
perfect his throwing motion and evolve as a passer.
The
biggest buzz at the position has been reserved for 6-8,
237-pound true freshman
Brock Osweiler, the quarterback of the future for the Sun
Devils. He arrived in time for spring camp and wowed the
coaching staff with his poise and maturity. Oh, and no one
should make generalizations because of his massive size. Yes, he
can get it done as a pocket passer, but he’s also an outstanding
athlete, turning down basketball scholarships from the likes of
Gonzaga before settling at ASU.
Watch Out For…
Sullivan to win the job, but Osweiler to make the headlines. The
rookie has enormous upside, and will challenge Szakacsy for the
No. 2 job in the summer before taking center stage in 2010. If
he can absorb without much pressure, he could really take off as
a sophomore.
Strength: Diversity. While Dennis Erickson has no desire
for a platoon, he does have options if he ever wants to mix
things up or keep the defense on its heels. Sullivan is the
steady veteran with the good arm. Szakacsy is the dual-threat.
Osweiler is the future.
Weakness:
Starting experience. The flip side of Carpenter’s durability is
that no one else got a chance for meaningful minutes. Sullivan
may be the veteran, but if he proves not to be the guy, Arizona
State will be forced to rely on two players with no career
snaps.
Outlook: If
Sullivan can bridge the divide between today and 2010, it’s a
win for Arizona State. Few expect him to be an All-Pac-10
performer, but if he can steadily guide the Sun Devils back to
the postseason, while allowing Szakacsy and Osweiler another
year to ripen, everyone in Tempe will be happy.
Rating: 7
Running Backs
Projected Starters:
To suggest that the Sun Devils were a dreadful running team in
2008 would be a gross understatement. The team finished 113th
nationally on the ground, averaging 89 yards a game and 2.9
yards a carry. The job is open to anyone who can create yards on
his own. First in line will be 5-10, 218-pound senior
Dimitri Nance, who
led the team with 410 yards and three scores on 105 carries. A
big, experienced back, who does a lot of little things well,
he’s not a big-play threat and needs to hit the hole with more
authority. While he has value, especially in short yardage, he’s
also vulnerable at a very murky position.
Projected Top Reserves:
The biggest upside among the backs belongs to 5-9, 205-pound
sophomore Ryan Bass,
a mega-recruit from the 2008 class. Too valuable to redshirt
last fall, he played in seven games, carrying 26 times for 120
yards and gaining valuable experience. With proper dedication in
the film room and weight room, he has the acceleration and
big-play skill set to be the headliner of this group before very
long.
It remains up in the air whether 6-2, 210-pound
senior Shaun DeWitty will be a part of the mix this season. Physically,
he’s every bit as good as the competition, a tantalizing
combination of size, power, burst, and quickness. However, he
was often overlooked a year ago, earning just 62 carries for 270
yards, and needs to get right academically to be available in
September.
One of the pleasant surprises of the backfield
has been 5-11, 219-pound redshirt freshman
James Morrison. The
rare walk-on to make noise on the depth chart, the only thing to
slow him down since arriving has been a broken ankle.
Considering he’s one of the biggest backs on the roster, he’s
surprisingly shifty, showing good footwork and the ability to
make people miss in space. He lacks the experience, but remains
a wild card.
Watch Out For… the intense competition to linger long
beyond spring. Nance has the upper hand, but this is far from
over. The staff is desperate to fine one or two players who can
keep the chains moving, and will even consider true freshmen if
they’re up to the challenge.
Strength: Big
backs. Hey, if the blockers do their job up front, there’s no
reason why this ensemble of backs won’t be able to move the pile
and bull ahead for more yards. All of them are north of 200
yards and have adequate lower body strength.
Weakness:
Explosiveness. Does anyone other than maybe Bass frighten
opposing defenses? Uh-uh. This is a very methodical group of
runners, who will barely bust out into the open field. DeWitty
had a 54-yard scamper against Oregon State last Nov. 1. It was
the Sun Devils’ only run of more than 30 yards all season.
Outlook: While
the poor production of the running game is certainly a shared
responsibility, the backs have to get better if any progress is
going to be made. Realizing that support from the quarterback
and offensive line may be modest, it’s up to Nance and Bass, in
particular, to hit holes a little quicker and drag this sector
of the offense out of the depths of mediocrity.
Rating: 6
Receivers
Projected Starters:
Although the Sun Devils will be without last year’s top
receiver, Michael Jones, they still feel pretty confident about
the make-up of the returners. In particular, 6-1, 199-pound
senior Chris McGaha
is capable of blowing past last year’s numbers, 35 catches for
501 yards and a touchdown, if he can only stay healthy. A toe
injury limited him throughout 2008, but he’s healthy again and
poised for a strong finish in Tempe. An outstanding route runner
with sure hands and the wheels to get behind the secondary, he’s
had a knack for knowing where the chains are and delivering on
third down.
At “X” receiver, 6-0, 197-pound junior
Kerry Taylor is
holding an edge after starting six games in 2008 and making 27
grabs for 405 yards and three touchdowns. An increasingly
polished performer, he runs tight routes and doesn’t drop many
passes. With help from the quarterback, his production will
continue on a northern path.
In contention for the most
explosive Sun Devil receiver is 5-10, 186-pound senior
Kyle Williams, the
starter at the inside “H” position. Armed with game-breaking
speed and a quick first step, he averaged almost 20 yards a
reception last season, turning 19 receptions into 364 yards and
four touchdowns. Arizona State needs to concoct more ways to get
him into space.
It’s going to be a bit of a transition
year at “Y” receiver, the program’s version of a tight end in
this offense. Looking to offset the graduation of last year’s
starter, Andrew Pettes, will be 6-4, 225-pound senior
Jovon Johnson.
Although he hasn’t played very much in his career, catching just
three balls for 33 yards a year ago, he’s a tremendous athlete,
who could be a downfield threat if he polishes up his overall
game.
Projected Top Reserves:
Of all the backups at wide receiver, none is closer to breaking
into the lineup than 6-4, 230-pound sophomore
Gerell Robinson.
Another one of Dennis Erickson’s marquee recruits of 2008, he
earned a letter as a rookie and then spent the offseason
reshaping his body and targeting a breakout year. While not a
deep ball threat, he is a physical receiver, who works well in
traffic and will be a load to contain near the end zone. He’s
too good not to be used more in his second season of
eligibility.
Sophomore
Dan Knapp was looking
like the next big thing at tight end for the program before an
injury stalled his progress and cut his debut season in half.
Still, he was around long enough to start a pair of games and
catch three passes for 29 yards and a touchdown. At 6-5 and 258
pounds, he has the size to be effective as a blocker and a
pass-catcher.
Watch Out For… more blocking from this group. With the
Sun Devils showing an inclination toward more running in 2009,
the receivers and the tight ends will be asked to do more than
just run routes and catch passes this season. If you can’t hold
a block and spring a back, your playing time will be impacted.
Strength:
Hands. With McGaha as the poster boy for sticky hands, the Sun
Devils have a collection of receivers, who won’t bobble or drop
a lot of passes. The starters, including Williams at tight end,
also have the speed to stretch a defense and get behind the
secondary.
Weakness:
Consistency. Even when Jones was around, this group just
disappeared too often last fall. Yeah, it hurt that McGaha
wasn’t at full strength, but the receivers and tight ends need
to step it up on a week-in, week-out basis without exceptions.
Outlook: The
seedlings of greater production are there; it’s up to the new
quarterback to help make them blossom. From the steadiness of
McGaha to the big-play capabilities of Williams and Taylor,
there’s a nice mix of talent to be accessed. If Robinson keeps
forcing his way into the rotation, the overall ranking goes a
tick higher.
Rating:
7
Offensive
Line
Projected Starters:
The offensive line has been downright awful the last two
seasons, prompting more shifting than a shell game. The biggest
change involves the Devils’ top lineman, 6-3, 305-pound
Shawn Lauvao, who’s
relocating from left guard to left tackle. While it’s a
completely new assignment, the hope is that his experience,
dominant strength, and great feet will help smooth out the
inevitable wrinkles. The staff has already admitted this move
should have happened a year earlier, an indication that the
senior is making a nice transition.
Over at right tackle
will be 6-5, 272-pound senior
Tom Njunge, who held up relatively well in his first season out of
Pasadena City College. A good athlete with long arms, he’s shown
his biggest strides in pass protection, a real need area for the
Sun Devils. To stay on top, he’ll need to keep making progress
this summer.
There was supposed to be a heated
competition at center in the spring. Sophomore
Garth Gerhart ended
any drama after a few practices. Head and shoulders better than
the more experienced competition, he’ll be difficult to unseat
in August. A versatile 6-1, 302-pounder, he’s extremely strong
at the point of attack and is quicker out of the box than most
of his teammates.
The guard situation is more muddled,
largely due to inconsistency and injuries. Junior
Jon Hargis has staked
his claim to left guard, basically swapping jobs with Lauvao. A
former defensive tackle and a liability as a pass protector,
there’s hope that the 6-3, 312-pounder can use his brute force
and intensity to be more effective with teammates on both sides.
Fingers are crossed around Tempe that 6-4, 331-pound
sophomore Zach Schlink
is ready for a growth spurt in his second season of action.
While he’s been slowed by a knee injury, he oozes potential when
he’s healthy. One of the school’s top recruits from 2008, he has
the size, strength, and tenacity to be a nasty run blocker.
Projected Top
Reserves: While 6-1, 301-pound senior
Thomas Altieri has
essentially lost the battle with Gerhart at center, his
experience will be a boon to the second unit. A starter
throughout the 2008 season, he’s an insurance policy in the
event that one of the interior gets injured.
Sophomore
Matt Hustad has a
high ceiling that the coaching staff hopes he’ll begin to reach
this fall. A 6-5, 292-pound future starter at tackle, he’s one
of the group’s best overall athletes and not your typical
lumbering, out-of-shape lineman. His biggest concern has been
health after undergoing knee surgery the last two years.
After failing his audition as a tackle, 6-3, 290-pound sophomore
Adam Tello is making
a permanent move to guard, a position that better suits his
skill set. He missed the spring to recover from an injury, but
expects to return in the summer and push Schlink for the
starting job.
Watch Out For…
the injury reports. The Sun Devils have enough issues up front
without things being complicated by injuries and lost time. If
they have any chance of filling out a viable depth chart, it’s
imperative that the spring casualties are ready to go in August.
Strength: The
left side. Now that Lauvao and Hargis have swapped roles, things
look a lot brighter to the left of Gerhart. Lauvao is too good
to flub this challenge, and Hargis is liable to flourish now
that he’s no longer trying to survive on an island.
Weakness:
Blocking. Yeah, it sounds sort of obvious, but Arizona State
simply doesn’t hold its blocks or win many battles at the point
of attack. It remains a makeshift group that doesn’t open holes
for the backs, labors in pass protection, and lacks proven
players on the second unit.
Outlook: You
could argue that Arizona State has had the worst offensive line
over the last two years among the BCS programs, and you’d have a
very compelling case. Lauvao aside, there are possible holes
everywhere, which has helped keep some pretty talented skill
position players from getting out of the blocks.
Rating: 5.5
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