Given that it occurs in practice and not in games, the fans can’t see it and the diehards only hear whispers about it.

To most observers during the week, senior quarterback Danny Sullivan throws a noticeably different ball in practice than he does in the game. Tuesday through Thursday, the ball has more zip, less loft and is much more accurate.

The quarterback, who took the blame for throwing three interceptions against a porous WSU defense, acknowledged the contrast after Thursday’s practice.

The question is why?

“I don’t know, I have been trying to figure that out myself,” Sullivan said. “Sometimes in the games I am trying to lay it out there and I am trying to lead those guys to the spot.”

While it would be easy to dismiss the idea, as many players look better in practice against air and the scout team than they do against Pac-10 opponents, Sullivan admitted that he has a different mentality on game days — one he wants to change.

“That’s kind of been my intention all week is just getting back to playing loose,” Sullivan said. “If I just put some zip on the ball, I will be back where I need to be. Stressing on trying to be perfect has been my big deal and that’s caused me to think too much.”

Like a pitcher in baseball who looses his mechanics by trying to aim for strikes, Sullivan seems to play tight on game days, perhaps paralyzed with concerns of making the big mistake.

Sullivan said that boos and the chatter about his job doesn’t bother him.

“I don’t really focus on what is said outside of this building,” Sullivan said. “And my teammates and friends are the only ones that matter. Their word is the only word that matters. If anyone else wants to say something, it [goes] over my head. The booing, it happens. It comes with the territory.”

Sullivan, who was raucously booed in a half-empty stadium in the team’s Pac-10 home opener, is eager to make a better impression.

“Coming in here back home in front of our home fans, I have to be better in showing them what I can do,” Sullivan said.

Injury Update

Coach Dennis Erickson said that sophomore guard/center Garth Gerhart, who aggravated at least one of his turf toe injuries against WSU, is going to be out against Washington.

Senior Brent Good and sophomore Adam Tello will both get snaps at right guard in his place.

Senior receiver Chris McGaha missed his third practice of the week with the flu and Erickson said he is unsure of McGaha’s game-time status.

Freshman kicker Bobby Wenzig, who nailed a long field goal in practice on Thursday, will handle kickoffs while junior Thomas Weber is a “wait and see” decision, Erickson said.

Weber did show good range and accuracy on his field goal attempts on Thursday, however.

Reach the reporter at nick.ruland@asu.edu