Beavers have peculiar tastes. While they’ll eat an entire tree, they like the stuff in the middle, preferring the white layer inside the bark.

Over the last three seasons OSU (2-2) has shown distaste for the early portion of the schedule, going 2-3 each year only to gorge the rest of the way — finishing with three bowl victories and three four-loss seasons.

Last year the Sun Devils were the other, other white meat, catching OSU in the heart of the schedule. ASU lost 27-25 in Corvallis when then-quarterback Rudy Carpenter’s would-be game tying drive ended when the two-point conversion was intercepted.

Will OSU’s 2-3 pattern hold true a fourth consecutive year?
We think so.

Here’s the EDGE.

Quarterback

ASU saw OSU senior Sean Canfield last year after Lyle Moevao went down with an injury. Canfield went 19-for-28 for 218 yards and two touchdowns.

Canfield won the job again this season and has been solid, completing nearly 70 percent of his passes for 899 yards and five touchdowns.

Canfield did throw two costly second-half interceptions in last week’s loss to UA, however.

ASU senior quarterback Danny Sullivan had to answer to the perceived criticism after his 10-for-32 performance against Georgia. For the second time this season, Sullivan’s receivers had numerous drops, including two on ASU’s final drive.

Given the wet condition — and the low-score circumstances — Sullivan’s conservative, game-managing approach fit the situation.

The Beavers have struggled to defend the pass and ASU has some pent up aggression to unleash in the passing game. Look for a breakout of sorts.

EDGE: OSU

Running back

Diminutive 5-foot-7, 191-pound sophomore Jacquizz Rodgers torched ASU’s defense last season for 143 yards.

This year, he’s a dark horse for the Heisman as he’s rushed for nearly 450 yards and seven touchdowns on a 5.5 yard per carry average. Rodgers also leads the team with 32 receptions.

ASU Senior Dmitri Nance appeared to have further entrenched himself into the starter’s role at a position that was supposed to be a rotation out of training camp.

Nance, with his 92 yards against a tough SEC run defense, once again showed that while he doesn’t have game-breaking speed, he has excellent feet in traffic and knows how to follow blocks in ASU’s zone-run scheme.

EDGE:OSU

Wide receiver/Tight end

Junior James Rodgers, brother of Jacquizz and nearly an identical athlete at 5 feet 7 inches with blazing speed, can hurt a defense from multiple angles. The receiver gets carries in OSU’ unique “fly-sweep,” accumulating over 1,000 yards in 2007 and 2008. He’s also a stealthy threat down field, on pace for 81 receptions in 2009.

He caught eight balls last week against Arizona and he returned a kick for a touchdown last season. The Beavers don’t have a significant threat at tight end or at the other receiving spots, as OSU’s third leading pass catcher, senior Damanola Adeniji has 17 career receptions. The Rodgers brothers are indeed a two-man show.

The Sun Devils seemingly talented receiving corps has struggled much of 2009 with drops.

Sophomore Gerell Robinson hasn’t been on the field much and ASU’s tight ends have been of almost no significance in the passing game.

With seniors Kyle Williams and Chris McGaha and junior Kerry Taylor, the depth still favors the Sun Devils.

EDGE: ASU

Offensive line

OSU’s offensive line has struggled in the passing game, allowing 15 sacks and numerous pressures. The Beavers’ offensive line is one of the youngest in the conference, especially after projected starting right tackle junior Tim Oshinowo underwent preseason knee surgery.

The Sun Devils are banged up themselves after their loss to UGA as sophomore guard Matt Hustad, senior center Thomas Altieri and junior guard Jon Hargis all suffered injuries.

Only Hustad has been declared a no-go, while Zach Schlink is still out.

Sophomore guard/center Garth Gerhart could return. Senior walk-on Brent Good and redshirt freshman Patrick Jamison performed admirably against UGA last week.

EDGE: EVEN

Defensive line

Sophomore defensive end Kevin Frahm has OSU’s lone defensive line sack this season. OSU is giving up 272 yards a game on the year and we’re assuming a lack of pressure is a big factor.

The Sun Devils faced their first real challenge of the year defensively and were exceptional in many regards.

ASU’s defensive line, which should return sophomore defensive end James Brooks after a three-game team suspension, held the point of attack against UGA’s running game, holding the Bulldogs to only three yards per carry, including a critical goal line stop. The defensive line gets stronger with Brooks back and places senior Dexter Davis back to his normal weak-side position.

EDGE: ASU

Linebackers

OSU’s Keaton Kristick, a Fountain Hills product, leads the way for a good unit. Kristick, at 6 feet 3 inches and 230 pounds, is a potential 2010 NFL player and leads the team in tackles.

Kristick has helped keep opponents to a 3.5 yard per carry average in the running game.

ASU freshman Vontaze Burfict was all over field against Georgia — the first game in which he’s received significant playing time.

Burfict recorded team-high 11 tackles, many of which were highlight-reel worthy. Whether it was a perfectly timed blitz or a sideline-to-sideline wrap-up, Burfict made believers out of the ESPNU announcers calling the game.

EDGE: ASU

Secondary

The Beavers have struggled to slow down the pass through four games, allowing nearly 300 yards per contest. They’ve yielded 10.7 yards per completion and nine touchdowns. Sophomore safety Lance Mitchell has the unit’s lone interception.

ASU senior safety Jarrell Holman had two critical interceptions against UGA but was also out of position numerous occasions.

Junior Omar Bolden had good coverage on superstar sophomore A.J. Green at times, but it didn’t matter as the nightmare repeated for the Sun Devils secondary against the Bulldogs.

State Press Television interview with Omar Bolden

The Beavers passing game is not the caliber of UGA’s, so we expect the Sun Devils to look better on the back end this week.

EDGE: ASU

Special teams

OSU junior Justin Kahut is seven for eight in field goals this year with a make from 50 and four touchbacks.

Whether ASU freshman Bobby Wenzig could have been the hero against UGA will always remain a mystery as his potential go-ahead kick was blocked, perhaps due to a low trajectory.

Wenzig, in place of All-American junior Thomas Weber, made from 43 yards but left much to be desired on kickoffs.

Junior Trevor Hankins blasted a 69-yard punt from the shadow of ASU’s goal post last week and had two punts land inside the twenty.

He almost makes up the difference for the kicking game and we see the return game as even.

EDGE: OSU

Overall EDGE: ASU

Reach the reporter at nick.ruland@asu.edu.