Quarterback
ASU redshirt junior Steven Threet showed the country on Saturday that he’s the real deal. Threet was composed and almost flawless in one of the nation’s most difficult road environments. Had ASU receivers caught his touchdown throws, all of which were excellent passes, Threet would be among the nation’s leaders in passing efficiency.
Oregon redshirt sophomore Darron Thomas won the starting quarterback job from the more experienced Nate Costa. Thomas may be more athletic than his predecessor Jeremiah Masoli and is a viable dual threat in the Ducks spread option scheme, but it’s unclear if he has mastered the offense like Masoli had when the Sun Devils were in Oregon last year. It’s hard to say any of the Ducks first three games served as accurate measures.
EDGE: ASU
Running Back
After struggling to find running lanes against FCS opponent Northern Arizona in the second game, the Sun Devils’ quarter horses found open pasture against Wisconsin, running for 169 yards on 6.0 yards per carry. Had freshman Deantre Lewis not tripped on his own blocker’s foot in the open field, the Sun Devils’ offense would be a national storyline.
With the speed ASU has at the position and the way it’s able to attack defenses at all levels, it would seem that many more big games lie ahead.
If the Ducks are the offense from the future, then a joystick in the sky controls sophomore LaMichael James. James’ runs question human genetics. He’s averaged 12 yards a carry and can reverse like he’s in a video game. UO has multiple threats in the backfield that can score on any play and as a team, have averaged almost seven yards a carry.
EDGE: Oregon
Receivers/Tight Ends
Chalk it up to inexperience maybe, but ASU receivers have underperformed through three games. The unofficial drop total of 14 is not good enough for a unit thought to be a strength coming into the season.
Thus far, senior Kerry Taylor and redshirt junior Mike Willie appear to be the only reliable threats. That may change, but talk is going for pennies on the dollar. Junior tight end Trevor Kohl remains a key, perhaps the biggest one in certain formations in the Sun Devils ground game as a lead blocker.
The Ducks return their leading receiver, senior Jeff Maehl, who also leads the team in receptions and yards in 2010. The Ducks passing game is predicated on the run though they have many threats that contribute from virtually every angle.
Junior tight end David Paulson takes over for Ed Dickson, who was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens. Paulson has two touchdowns on the year.
EDGE: Even
Offensive Line
After an underwhelming performance against NAU, the Sun Devils’ offensive line was outstanding against a legitimate UW front. Left guard and redshirt junior Mike Marcisz made his first start and showed the ability to pull and seal downfield. Left tackle, former tight end and redshirt junior Dan Knapp survived against one of the nation’s most intimidating players and surefire draftee, defensive end J.J. Watt, without yielding a sack.
UO returns four starters from last year, all of which are upper classman. The Ducks line started to mesh last season and have dominated foes through three games in 2010, having allowed just one sack. Also, the offense is the top ranked unit in the country averaging over 600 yards a game.
EDGE: Oregon
Defensive Line
After getting beaten off the ball and in one-on-one matchups against NAU, many thought a gargantuan UW offensive line would dominate ASU’s defensive front. Sure, there were some big running lanes at times last Saturday, but it’s unlikely that any defensive front is able to consistently beat UW at the point of attack.
The Sun Devils defensive line had a bounce back performance on Saturday, using plenty of big, athletic bodies in its rotation. Expect more snaps from tackle sophomore Corey Adams and redshirt sophomore tackle/end Toa Tuitea in the coming weeks.
The Ducks return just one starting defensive lineman, senior defensive end Kenny Rowe, who led the conference in sacks with 11.5 last year, but retain athleticism at the position.
UO leads the country in total defense and has allowed just 2.7 yards per carry while piling up seven sacks, including four combined from defensive tackles Brandon Bair and Zac Clark—both seniors.
EDGE: Oregon
Linebackers
Some would say ASU’s linebackers were outstanding in run support Saturday making numerous stops in short-yardage situations. Oliver Aaron outplayed starter Brandon Magee when Magee went down with an injury, showing short-range explosion, speed and excellent anticipation. Sophomore Vontaze Burfict played like one of the best linebackers in the country and did so without committing any thoughtless, backbreaking penalties.
The Sun Devils got caught over-pursuing the run against UW Saturday, leaving UW receivers, backs and tight ends open on the backside of play action passes. The Sun Devils had to pick their poison, however, against one of the better offensive units in the country.
ASU linebackers will face a much different test against UO, but the Ducks haven’t seen the kind of speed ASU offers at the position this year.
The Ducks lost just one starter from last year and have a very strong and athletic group in 2010, including senior Casey Matthews, whose brother, grandfather, father and uncle are all either playing or having played at the NFL.
Sophomore Michael Clay leads the unit in tackles and the Ducks as a unit have more than 10 tackles for losses through three games.
EDGE: Even
Secondary
The ASU secondary was outstanding against UW. It just so happened that the Badgers, because of their running game, were able to isolate one of the nation’s top tight ends in Lance Kendricks against Sun Devil cornerbacks.
Despite great coverage much of the contest, UW was able to get the match ups on the outside that proved to be unwinnable from an ASU perspective. Junior safety Clint Floyd dropped what would have been a game-changing interception in the second quarter, but he gets credit for closing on the play and breaking it up.
Safeties junior Eddie Elder and redshirt sophomore Keelan Johnson were big in the running game, but were also beaten over-pursuing in support. It’s hard to fault them for that. With how little teams have tested redshirt sophomore Deveron Carr, ASU has to feel extremely confident in the talent it has in the secondary.
Free Safety John Boyett led UO in tackles last year and is doing it again this year through three contests. Four Ducks defensive backs have interceptions this year and the unit has helped UO have the third best pass defense in the country.
EDGE: Even
Special Teams
ASU is among the leaders in most special teams categories this year and have a bevy of lethal game-changing returners. Combined with the powerful leg of senior punter Trevor Hankins, who leads the country in punting distance, ASU is only waiting for senior kicker Thomas Weber to return to form. If he does, ASU’s special teams units have a chance to be the difference in Pac-10 play.
UO is fourth in the country in punt returns behind sophomore cornerback Cliff Harris’ exploits. Harris has two of the Ducks three punt return touchdowns on the year and is averaging close to 30 yards per.
UO kickers have made seven of eight field goals, though the punt team, perhaps a result of not being used, has only averaged 39 yards per boot.
EDGE: ASU
Overall EDGE: Oregon
Reach the reporter at nick.ruland@asu.edu
