With an offense that ranks seventh in the Pac-10 in scoring and eighth in total yards, ASU sophomore Ryan Bass, arguably the team’s most explosive running back, can’t figure out why he hasn’t seen more playing time.

“I honestly don’t know what’s keeping me off the field,” Bass said. “That’s a question to ask the coaches.”

Bass has averaged nearly seven yards a carry this year — but on only 20 total carries.

Bass said he wants to show what he can do with that number in a game.

“I believe if I get 20 carries a game I would bring a whole different dimension to the offense,” Bass said.  “My running style is different than any other running back on this team.”

Bass said he had expectations of being the starter this season and thinks he can handle a full-time load.

“Give me 20 [or] 30 carries a game, [and] it’s going to be a rout,” Bass said. “I promise you, I would have about 220 yards. I am physically built for this. I train like everybody else did in the football offseason. I am ready to carry the load.”  

ASU coach Dennis Erickson said after practice Wednesday that for Bass, it’s been about improving on the various little things that factor into the position.

He added that Bass has progressed and that he will likely get more carries as the season continues.

“What you need to do is earn your way on the field,” Dennis Erickson said. “You need to practice well. [We] need to have confidence in [our pass] protections. [Bass] is getting better all the time.  It’s like anybody — they have to show us if they can do it.  When they do that, they get more playing time. He has done it, so he will get more playing time.”

But Bass, who said his parents have even called coaches in attempt to find answers for his absence on game day, hasn’t figured it out the reason for his lack of playing time so far in 2009.

“The hardest part is coming out here, giving it your all, and leaving everything on the field and not getting the opportunity to show my talent off,” Bass said.

Bass said that while the coaches have been in contact with him each week about his deficiencies and need for improvement, there remains a communication problem.

“To be honest with you, I have never been told anything is holding me back from playing time,” Bass said.

ASU running backs coach Bryce Erickson said one of the things keeping Bass off the field is his troubles with holding onto the football.

“I don’t know what the miscommunication in his mind was, but the reason those other two guys [senior Dimitri Nance and freshman Cameron Marshall] are ahead of him on the depth chart is [because] our motto at running back is ‘Ball security is job security,’” Bryce Erickson said.

“He’s had an issue of fumbling the ball. He had a pretty important fumble against Oregon State.

While Bass only has one fumble on the season, a critical and questionable play in ASU’s first conference game of the year, he hasn’t been able to escape the reputation as a fumbler he earned last year.

The sophomore fumbled on Tuesday, which caused Dennis Erickson to bring a new meaning to the term “hauling Bass.”

“I am working on my ball security every single day,” Bass said. “Every day it’s high and tight.  So far it’s working.”

But Bryce Erickson said Bass still has plenty of room for improvement in his ball security since coming to ASU.

“If you pay attention to him running, he always has [the ball] outside, and that’s when it gets knocked out,” he said. “[He] could get away with that in high school because he was faster than anybody. But at this level, you have guys pursuing all over the place.”

A second hindrance that has led to less playing time for Bass, as both Dennis and Bryce Erickson agreed, has been his less-than-stellar pass blocking. 

“The pass protection is a huge part of it, too,” Bryce Erickson said.
“That’s something he needs to continue to get better at.”

Bass believes that area of his game has improved.  

If his pancake of a scout team defensive tackle on Wednesday is any indication, Bass may be improving enough to get the touches he desires.

“I will say this about Ryan: He has practiced his butt off these past few weeks,” Bryce Erickson said. “I thought he sparked us in the Stanford game. He has another dimension at that position that we don’t have.”

And with Nance possibly limited due to a shoulder injury, Bass could get his chance to carry more of the rushing load on Saturday against California.

“I am supposed to get a big opportunity this weekend, and we will see if the coaches keep their word,” Bass said. “I have been ready all season.”

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