Quarterback

Senior Rudy Carpenter became only the second quarterback in ASU history to pass for more than 10,000 career yards last week when he threw for 218 yards against Washington.

Carpenter has now passed for 2,055 yards and 12 touchdowns so far this season.

WSU has used three different starting quarterbacks this season, and has not found much success with any of them.

The Cougars rank 105th of 119 teams in the nation in passing offense (153 yards per game) and are dead last in interceptions thrown (19).

Junior Kevin Lopina, who is expected to start Saturday, has thrown for just 569 yards this season with no touchdowns and 10 interceptions.

Carpenter has been very efficient recently, while you, the reader, currently have as many touchdown passes as the Cougars’ starting quarterback.

Edge ASU

Running Back

ASU’s running game has finally found a bit of consistency the last couple weeks. Senior Keegan Herring rushed for 144 yards and a touchdown last week against UW to follow up a 110-yard performance from junior Shaun DeWitty the week before.

Herring and DeWitty are expected to share the bulk of the carries this weekend.

WSU has had trouble running the ball all season, as the Cougars rank 112th in the nation in rushing yards per game (94).

Junior Dwight Tardy is the Cougars’ leading rusher this season, gaining 326 yards on the ground and scoring two touchdowns.

While neither team has had much success running the football this season, ASU’s ground game has finally started to improve, while WSU’s doesn’t seem to be going anywhere.

Edge ASU

Receivers

Senior Michael Jones had the best game of his career last week, catching 11 passes for 146 yards and two touchdowns.

Jones is tied for second in the Pac-10 Conference in catches per game (5.6) and third in receiving yards per game (73).

WSU senior Brandon Gibson has been the Cougars’ lone threat on offense this season. He ranks fifth in the Pac-10 in receptions per game (4.8) and seventh in receiving yards per game (59).

The ASU secondary should be able to contain Gibson because of the Cougars’ lack of depth and problems at quarterback, while WSU’s secondary doesn’t have the luxury of focusing on one receiver because of ASU’s variety of weapons.

Edge ASU

Offensive line

Shuffling the ASU offensive line clearly worked last week against UW. The Sun Devil unit helped amass 182 yards on the ground and yielded just two sacks.

However, ASU will have to rework its starting group again this week because freshman guard Zach Schlink will miss the rest of the season due to knee surgery.

WSU’s offensive ranks 113th in the nation in sacks allowed (31) and has not been much help to the Cougar running game this season.

Much like the running game, neither team’s unit has played well overall this season, but ASU’s has been slightly better and may finally be on the upswing.

Edge ASU

Defensive line

While the ASU defensive line as a whole has had its fair share of issues stopping the run and getting pressure on the quarterback, junior end Dexter Davis continues to develop into a star.

Davis ranks second in the Pac-10 in sacks (seven) and seventh in tackles for loss (11).

WSU’s defensive line may be the worst in the entire country. The Cougars are last in the nation in two categories, giving up 279 rushing yards per game while only recording seven sacks in 10 games.

The ASU running game should have no problem taking advantage of a weak Cougar front four, and Carpenter should have plenty of time to find his receivers.

Edge ASU

Linebackers

ASU juniors Mike Nixon and Travis Goethel each intercepted a pass last week against UW, helping make the case that the entire corps is capable of making big plays.

Nixon also ranks third in the conference in tackles per game (7.6).

WSU has had trouble stopping everyone this season, ranking last in the nation in scoring defense (50 points per game) and 112th in total defense (467 yards per game).

Senior Greg Trent has been the one performer the Cougars can count on in the middle, as he leads the team in tackles (65).

ASU’s entire group of linebackers has been impressive all season, while WSU has had just one go-to playmaker.

Edge ASU

Secondary

Last week, ASU senior safety Troy Nolan scored his second touchdown in as many weeks against UW when he scooped up a fumble and returned it 44 yards and into the end zone.

The Sun Devils rank seventh in the Pac-10 in pass defense (209 yards per game), but fourth in interceptions (11).

WSU is actually giving up less yards through the air (187 per game), but has only been able to tally eight interceptions this season.

Junior safety Xavier Hicks, Jr. is second on the team with 59 tackles and leads the Cougars with two interceptions.

While the secondary has been the best part of the Cougar defense this season, the Sun Devils are more athletic and should find more success against a poor WSU passing attack.

Edge ASU

Special teams

ASU sophomore kicker Thomas Weber is almost back to top form, as he was named the Pac-10 Special Teams Player of the Week after nailing all three of his field goal attempts against UW.

Weber now leads the conference with 15 made field goals this season.
The Sun Devils also rank second in the conference in punt return average (17 yards per return).

WSU sophomore Nico Grasu has connected on five of eight field goals so far this season.

ASU’s special teams has been on the wrong end of some big plays, but Weber’s return from slump is a really positive sign.

Edge ASU

X-Factor

Saturday’s game will not only peg two conference foes against each other, but also a coach and former player.

WSU coach Paul Wulff was the Cougars’ center when Erickson was the coach there in the late 1980’s.

But while Wulff may remember some of Erickson’s tendencies, he doesn’t hold near the experience or success of his former mentor.

Edge ASU

Overall Edge ASU