SB Nation Arizona - ASU Romps Over Washington State, 42-0; Cougars Still Winless In Pac-10 Since 2008https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/46593/arizona-fave.png2010-10-30T20:48:16-07:00http://arizona.sbnation.com/rss/stream/15381832010-10-30T20:48:16-07:002010-10-30T20:48:16-07:00Washington State Coach, Players Say They Came Out Flat
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<p>Arizona State’s 42-love thumping of the Wazzu Cougars started even before the game began, say the Cougs.</p>
<p>“It was clearly our worst performance of the year,” coach Paul Wulff said. “We didn’t do anything right. We weren’t very emotional and we were flat, we didn’t execute in any phase. I thought we’d been very mentally up for four or five weeks in a row and had played that way. Today we weren’t, and it comes back on me. I’ve got to do a better job.”</p>
<p>The last time <span class="caps">ASU</span> shut out a team was Nov. 15, 2008 against Washington State. It was the Devils’ ninth Pac-10 shutout in history.</p>
<p>More from Wulff:</p>
<p>“We had a good week of practice, I thought we were good all the way to the opening kickoff, and then I looked in their eyes, and just didn’t sense a lot in the tank for whatever reason.”</p>
<p>I asked him how to address the mental stuff, if the play on the field can be corrected.<br> “Tough love,” he said.</p>
<p><span class="caps">WSU</span> quarterback <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/78188/jeff-tuel" class="sbn-auto-link">Jeff Tuel</a> with the opponent’s quote of the day:</p>
<p>“We came out flat, no doubt. There was just kind of a look in some guys’ faces like their dog died, and we couldn’t get out of it. I have no explanation for it. Weird.”</p>
<p>Stat of the day: <span class="caps">ASU</span> allowed 8 (yes, 8) net rushing yards on 33 attempts.</p>
https://arizona.sbnation.com/arizona-st-sun-devils/2010/10/30/1784540/washington-state-cougars-asu-sun-devils-paul-wulff-jeff-tuelJose Romero2010-10-29T15:32:12-07:002010-10-29T15:32:12-07:00AD Lisa Love Gives Erickson Vote Of Confidence
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<p>Arizona State Vice President for University Athletics Lisa Love appeared on <span class="caps">KGME</span> (910 AM) radio this week for an interview, and <a target="_blank" href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516590&xs=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.azcentral.com%2Farizonarepublic%2Fsports%2Farticles%2F2010%2F10%2F27%2F20101027arizona-state-football-jamaar-jarrett.html&referrer=sbnation.com&sref=https%3A%2F%2Farizona.sbnation.com%2Farizona-st-sun-devils%2F2010%2F10%2F29%2F1782654%2FASU-Sun-Devils-football-coach-Dennis-Erickson" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener">said she expects Dennis Erickson to be the Sun Devils’ football coach.</a></p>
<p>Some speculation regarding Erickson’s job security if he fails to guide <span class="caps">ASU</span> to a bowl game this season has swirled in recent weeks, as <span class="caps">ASU</span> has been inconsistent on the field and is coming off a 50-17 blowout loss at Cal, its worst performance of the season.</p>
<p>Erickson seems to have the backing of the administration, <a target="_blank" href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516590&xs=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.azcentral.com%2Fsports%2Fasu%2Farticles%2F2010%2F10%2F27%2F20101027asu-football-lisa-love-dennis-erickson.html&referrer=sbnation.com&sref=https%3A%2F%2Farizona.sbnation.com%2Farizona-st-sun-devils%2F2010%2F10%2F29%2F1782654%2FASU-Sun-Devils-football-coach-Dennis-Erickson" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener">barring a complete collapse over the final five games of the season. </a></p>
<p>Erickson has deflected questions about his job security in weeks past and was not asked about it this past Monday. He’s likely to pick up a key win this Saturday at Washington State -- though it’s not a total given -- and move to .500 in 2010. But the schedule after that is brutal.</p>
<p><span class="caps">ASU</span> has had a couple of close losses, and no team on Oregon’s schedule has played the No. 1-ranked Ducks tougher than the Sun Devils.</p>
https://arizona.sbnation.com/arizona-st-sun-devils/2010/10/29/1782654/ASU-Sun-Devils-football-coach-Dennis-EricksonJose Romero2010-10-29T10:36:55-07:002010-10-29T10:36:55-07:00Sun Devils Take On Cougars In Tempe, Saturday, 4:00 P.M. AZT
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<p><span class="caps">FACTS</span> & <span class="caps">STATS</span>: Site: Sun Devil Stadium (71,706) — Tempe, Arizona. Television: None. Home Record: <span class="caps">WSU</span> 1-3, <span class="caps">ASU</span> 2-1. Away Record: <span class="caps">WSU</span> 0-4, <span class="caps">ASU</span> 1-3. Neutral Record: <span class="caps">WSU</span> 0-0, <span class="caps">ASU</span> 0-0. Conference Record: <span class="caps">WSU</span> 0-5, <span class="caps">ASU</span> 1-3. Series Record: <span class="caps">ASU</span> leads, 22-12-2.</p>
<p><span class="caps">GAME</span> <span class="caps">NOTES</span>: For the first time in more than a month, Arizona State will play at home, as the Sun Devils are set to take on the Washington State Cougars in a Pac-10 tussle for Homecoming weekend.</p>
<p><span class="caps">ASU</span> is returning to Sun Devil Stadium for the first time since September 25th, a span of 34 days. The Sun Devils have lost four of their last five games, the most recent of which was a lopsided 50-17 setback at California last weekend. Their win-loss record is a bit deceiving however, as the previous three losses were narrow defeats against No. 9 Wisconsin (20-19), top-ranked Oregon (42-31) and at Oregon State (31-28).</p>
<p>Meanwhile, Washington State is searching for its first road win of the year (0-4). The Cougars have also lost 14 straightPac-10 games after last weekend’s 38-28 setback at 13th-ranked Stanford. It marked their third straight game against a ranked opponent, as WSU’s previous two losses came against No. 15 Arizona and top-ranked Oregon.</p>
<p><span class="caps">ASU</span> has won six straight against the Cougars and three in a row at home. The Sun Devils lead the all-time series, 22-12-2.</p>
<p>Washington State’s running game serves mostly to try and keep opposing defenses honest. Ranking 116th in the nation with an average of just 81 yards per game on the ground, the Cougars seldom dial up the run when they need a big play. That was once again the case against Stanford, as <span class="caps">WSU</span> notched a combined 90 rushing yards on 23 carries as a team. However, the passing game produced a much more desirable result. Playing on the road against a ranked opponent, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/78188/jeff-tuel">Jeff Tuel</a> completed 21-of-28 passes for 298 yards and four TDs, three of which came during a furious fourth-quarter rally that turned a potential laugher into a tight battle. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/38537/jared-karstetter">Jared Karstetter</a> finished with nine catches for 101 yards and two touchdowns for <span class="caps">WSU</span>, while <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/114044/marquess-wilson">Marquess Wilson</a> hauled in six passes for 150 yards and a score. On the season, the Cougars rank fifth in the Pac-10 in passing offense as Tuel is throwing for 254 yards per game.</p>
<p>Of the 120 schools comprising the Football Bowl Subdivision, none is worse defensively than the Cougars, who rank dead-last in total defense (487 ypg) and 117th in scoring defense (39.9 ppg). Opponents have gashed <span class="caps">WSU</span> with equal success on the ground (237.6 ypg allowed) and through the air (249.4 ypg), and last week against Stanford was no different. The Cardinal led 31-7 after three quarters as they kept the chains moving by converting 7-of-15 third downs and 3-of-3 fourth downs. On the ground, Stanford managed 249 yards (5.3 ypc) and two TDs, while quarterback <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/37738/andrew-luck">Andrew Luck</a> picked apart the Cougars’ defense by completing 20-of-28 passes for 190 yards, with three touchdowns and one interception. Put simply, the Cougars do not have the personnel up front to match up with most of the teams they face. To atone for the matchup problems, they need to create some confusion in their alignments and catch teams off guard with blitzes to try and create some turnovers.</p>
<p>The biggest news coming out of ASU’s blowout loss to Cal was that the team played the second half without starting quarterback <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/22657/steven-threet">Steven Threet</a>, who was knocked out of the game with a concussion. Threet’s status is doubtful for Saturday’s game, though coach Dennis Erickson remained hopeful during his weekly press conference that his quarterback would be able to practice at some point leading up to the game. If Threet can’t pass all of the concussion tests and suit up, it would no doubt be a big blow for the Sun Devils’ passing offense, which ranks second in the Pac-10 and 21st nationally (281.6 ypg). Threet’s one Achilles’ heal has been turnovers, considering he had thrown more interceptions (13) than touchdowns (11) through seven games. Third-stringer <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/8924/samson-szakacsy">Samson Szakacsy</a> came on in relief against Cal and the offense just wasn’t the same, as he completed only 8-of-17 passes for 52 yards and an interception. In fact, the team’s only two touchdowns for the game came from defense and special teams. Coach Erickson said backup QB <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/77503/brock-osweiler">Brock Osweiler</a> (back) didn’t play against Cal because he hadn’t practiced in a few weeks, and added that he hasn’t had enough practice reps to be considered for the starting position on Saturday.</p>
<p>After last week’s poor showing, the <span class="caps">ASU</span> defense enters this tilt ranked 48th nationally in total defense (351.4 ypg) and 68th in scoring defense (26.6 ppg). The defense did manage to hold the Golden Bears to a respectable 3.0 yards per carry as a team, though they did score three rushing touchdowns. Cal quarterback <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/9031/kevin-riley">Kevin Riley</a> had been inconsistent throughout the season, but against <span class="caps">ASU</span> he completed 19-of-28 passes for 240 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions. Coach Erickson said he is surprised that his defense is not playing up to its capabilities, and that the problems stem from giving up too many big plays and not tackling. The implication during his press conference was that there could be some shuffling on the depth chart, as he talked a few times about accountability. This week, the Sun Devils face off against an offensive unit that was able to move the ball through the air against a solid Stanford defense. For <span class="caps">ASU</span>, one silver lining from last week’s performance was the special teams, as the Sun Devils managed to block an extra point attempt and also a punt that resulted in an <span class="caps">ASU</span> touchdown. However, they also gave up a touchdown on a blocked punt.</p>
<p>The Sun Devils are in a transition period with only 13 seniors on their roster, the fewest in the Pac-10. In fact, safety <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/35237/max-tabach">Max Tabach</a> was the only senior to start at Cal. But this weekend, they’ll go up against a Washington State squad that has lost 16 straight games against <span class="caps">FBS</span> opponents.</p>
<p>Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Arizona State 38, Washington State 14</p>
<p>Saturday, October 30th, 7:00 p.m. (et)</p>
https://arizona.sbnation.com/arizona-st-sun-devils/2010/10/29/1782010/Sun-Devils-Washington-State-Cougars-PAC-10Lolly Konecky2010-10-25T17:46:14-07:002010-10-25T17:46:14-07:00ASU Football: Must-Win Time Vs. WSU, Steven Threet Remains Starter
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<p>Monday wasn't an easy day of answering questions for Arizona State football coach Dennis Erickson.</p>
<p>The Devils (1-3 in Pac-10, 3-4 overall) played by far their worst game of the season this past Saturday in a 50-17 loss to Cal. Their interception-prone quarterback suffered a concussion. Their offense was almost non-existent, their defense humbled and down a key player: linebacker <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/35248/shelly-lyons" class="sbn-auto-link">Shelly Lyons</a> will miss the rest of the season with a broken foot that will require surgery this week. </p>
<p>Oh yeah, one more thing: <a target="_blank" href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516590&xs=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.azcentral.com%2Fsports%2Fasu%2Farticles%2F2010%2F10%2F23%2F20101023asu-football-blame-falls-dennis-erickson.html&referrer=sbnation.com&sref=https%3A%2F%2Farizona.sbnation.com%2F2010%2F10%2F25%2F2323169%2Fasu-football-must-win-time-vs-wsu-steven-threet-remains-starter" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener">The piling on of Erickson has begun</a>, as if some fans hadn't already questioned the coach's lack of recent success. </p>
<p>Quarterback <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/22657/steven-threet" class="sbn-auto-link">Steven Threet</a> played only a half and threw two interceptions, bringing his total to 13 against 11 touchdown passes in seven games. Threet has undergone tests and is expected to practice tomorrow, and <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/77503/brock-osweiler" class="sbn-auto-link">Brock Osweiler</a> will move back up to the backup spot ahead of <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/8924/samson-szakacsy" class="sbn-auto-link">Samson Szakacsy</a>, who replaced Threet at Cal. Osweiler's back has been pronounced well enough to allow him to fully practice. </p>
<p>ASU hosts the Pac-10's last place team, Washington State, on Saturday for homecoming. It's appropriate. The Devils' last home game was Sept. 25, a loss to Oregon, and their past three games have been on the road.</p>
<p>Osweiler will run the second team in practice this week and get all the snaps with that unit. Asked if Threet's play warranted him looking into making a change at quarterback, Erickson didn't completely dismiss the idea.</p>
<p>"Yeah, maybe," Erickson said, "but Brock hasn't been playing enough to warrant looking into the position. He hasn't practiced for 2 1/2, three weeks...so he wouldn't be ready to go in and start right now. Obviously at that quarterback position, if it would continue to happen (Threet's mistakes) and Brock practiced well then you would consider looking at that, but right now, no."</p>
<p>The Devils will look at ways to take some pressure off of Threet so he doesn't have to make a decision on every play. </p>
<p>"To answer a couple of questions, Steven Threet gives our team the best chance to win the next five football games, and that's the most important thing to me," Erickson said. "If Brock gets healthy, we'll see as time goes on."</p>
<p>Erickson expressed disappointment in his team's play on defense. ASU didn't tackle well at Cal and the team's pride was hurt.</p>
<p>"We are not playing defense like we're capable of playing," he said. "We're not nearly as consistent as Coach (Trent) Bray wants us to be or I want us to be or our defensive football team wants us to be. It's the same thing. We give up three big plays in the second quarter...We're better than that and we've got to get that straightened out."</p>
<p>Does Erickson believe he can turn around his team's season? He thinks so. "If this happens to us five other times, then we've got some issues, but I don't see it happening right now."</p>
<p>The team's No. 1 goal is a bowl game, but to get to one, ASU must win four of its remaining five games, and three are against Top 25 teams.</p>
<p>"In the meantime, winning our fourth game is the goal that's in front of us. We can't worry about a bowl," Erickson said. "The good thing is we get to play at home, which is nice for a change."</p>
<p>As the PA announcer at WSU's Martin Stadium says when the Cougars run onto the field for games, "Here, come, the Cooouuuuuuuuuuuuugarrrrs!" </p>
<p>"I'm sure they're sitting back in Pullman, I would be, and if they watched our game against Cal, they're thinking, 'Wow, we can come in here and beat these guys," Erickson said.</p>
https://arizona.sbnation.com/2010/10/25/2323169/asu-football-must-win-time-vs-wsu-steven-threet-remains-starterJose Romero