Sunday Morning Hangover: ASU-Cal
We’re not sleeping on it. Here are three things we think we think after ASU’s 24-14 loss to Cal on Saturday afternoon. What did you take away from the game?
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1. A Bad O-Line Renders Skill Players Useless
The Sun Devils have one of the Pac-10’s top three quarterbacks and top three receiving corps and a stable of serviceable if unspectacular backs. But even if you threw Jake Plummer, Keith Poole and Terry Battle out on to the field, they’d fail to move the ball consistently behind our green offensive line. On Saturday ASU averaged 2.2 yards per rush and Rudy Carpenter was sacked four times. Those numbers won’t look much better in any game the rest of this season.
2. ASU Can’t Compete Without Turnovers
Mike Nixon’s first half interception was the first turnover the Sun Devils had forced since the Stanford game. That’s right. In five games this season, ASU has turned over the opponent four, count ’em, four times. Last season, ASU benefited from 26 turnovers. Without the havoc caused by the speed of graduated linebacker Robert James, ASU absolutely cannot create big plays.
3. Bowl Season is Awfully Far Away
And we’re not talking about chronology here. Take the body of evidence provided by the Sun Devils so far and then examine the schedule in the left column of this page. Four more wins don’t exactly jump off the screen at you, do they? The schedule that was so often called murderous in the preseason may be just that to our bowl hopes.
What’s Your Take, Sun Devils?
Post three things you’re taking away from the game – or just blow off some steam – in the comments below.
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Longtime lurker, first-time fodder-er……
Based on 20 nauseating minutes of the KTAR postgame “Whine Line,” 1 in 4 callers are packing it in for the season, and want Sullivan to get his shot since he’ll be the starter next year.
I’ll take a tub of whatever they’re smoking.
I haven’t completely given up on them, but the last 3 games have been hard to watch. What happened to 4 and 5 receiver sets with a quick release to help protect Rudy? Apparently the o-line had done a good enough job that they’ve decided to focus on establishing a non-existent running game. They have 3 of the best receivers in the Pac-10 (McGaha, Jones, Williams) and the best QB in the conference. I’d like to see them throw 35 to 40 times a game and use the RB’s on draws. They need to try something because what they’re doing on offense isn’t working.
Welcome, G.O.B. Yes, that must be some strong ganja. But honestly I’m a bit surprised that only 1-in-4 people are calling for Rudy’s head. People seem to have it out for Rudy, which is absolutely ludicrous.
I’m not quite ready to throw in the towel on the running game though, Mark. Then we’d definitely be seeing Danny Sullivan soon, cause Rudy will be dead. (BTW, he was on crutches after the game according to AP.)
EftB staked out our position on Rudy before the season, and we stand behind what we said. He’s not Jake Plummer, but he’s a fine Sun Devil.
http://www.echofromthebuttes.com/2008/08/22/rudy-carpenter-legacy-more-plummer-or-more-kealy/
So BUMMED today! Something’s gotta give! I agree with the first and second point about the O-Line & turnovers. Grrrrrrrrr!!! Frustrating!
I will ALWAYS cheer on and support ASU no matter what anyone says though. I know We have ALL the potential!
GOOOOO DEVILS!!! >:)
I don’t know what happened today. It was an ugly game all around. Just when it seemed like ASU was gonna make a move boom an interception or some other stupid mistake. But there is still hope. Beat USC and we are 3-3 and things will be looking brighter. Lose and stare 2-5 right in the eyes cause Oregon is serious too. Then from there we gotta win 4/5 to be bowl elgible but most likely will need to win all 5. Wazzou and Washington should be wins…UCLA can be lumped in that category too then you have UA and Oregon State. Neither are gonna be easy this year. Lets get that win over UA PLEASE!!!
I’m gonna throw it out there. UA is better than us. It pains me. But they’ve got the better team.
Yeah, I’m not sure why people are piling this soley on Rudy. Don’t get me wrong — he had a lousy game, and that interception in the 4th was an absolute killer. But let’s not forget that the offense is essentially crippled, between an OL that has managed to get worse at everything since Koetter’s departure, a tailback committee that lacks any complete, dynamic player, and an OC that fell behind the times about 6-7 years ago. I’d rather see Rich Olson fall on his sword for the season rather than Rudy.
But yeah…outside of the Washington schools, it’s hard to see exactly where wins 5-6-7 are gonna come from. I hate that I’m already reduced to thinking about the au game somehow salvaging the season.
Play calling is awful. No imagination at all. You’re exactly right, the strength of this offense is their QB and their receivers (I think the running backs all stink). Spread these guys out and let them make plays.
Rich Olson is about 25 years behind the curve in offense innovation in college football. Everyone is running a spread…Olson may as well be running a Wing T. Keep trying to establish that run when you’re down 17 Rich. Maybe there’s another Arizona team whose offense you can ruin…you’ve already done it to the Cardinals and ASU.
DevilStuff, I’m not sure how your assessment regarding U of A (that they’re superior to us) can be proven either true or false at this point. Considering their cushy OOC schedule, and even their back-heavy Pac schedule, I’d say the Cats haven’t played ANYONE. If they make noise down the stretch, you can “crown their asses” all you want.
But my guess is that the only noise coming from down south after their remaining conference slate (@Stanford, Cal, USC, @WSU, @Oregon, Oregon State, and finally, ASU) will be of the “***flush***” variety.
My takeaways:
1. ASU turnovers killed us. Both of Rudy’s INTS, were game changing. One should have been a touchdown and the other one should never have been thrown. I expect much more out of a QB who has started nearly forty games. Dimitri Nance fumbling doesn’t help either. If you aren’t fast and won’t run hard, and get tackled rather easily, the last thing we need is you giving up the ball in our end of the field in back to back weeks.
2. Playcalling is abysmal. There is little imagination to get us in a rythm and get us out of 3rd and long situations. I know we need to run the ball to be successful, but we are bordering on insane knowing that the results are going to be poor before the play is even run.
3. The defense is coming along. Really liked what I saw from L. Guy and J. Brooks on Saturday. Mike Nixon continues to be the smartest guy on the field. T. Carr was a pleasant surprise and Bolden seemed to play better last week. I’d like to see Floyd get more reps at safety after Cox was beat for 2 passing TDs, including one bad mental mistake. All in all though, our defense is quietly coming along. The return of Magee would really help out from a speed standpoint. But I like what I’m seeing from that young group of guys.
[...] 1. The Best Offense is a Good Defense The Sun Devils became only the second team in NCAA Division I-A history to return four turnovers for touchdowns. Paul Unga and Troy Nolan had senior nights to remember with a 100-yard interception return and a play ‘til the whistle 17-yard fumble return, respectively. Linebackers Mike Nixon and Travis Goethel each chipped in a pick six. This for a Sun Devil team that forced just four turnovers in its first five games. [...]