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Defense keys in on stopping UO ballcarriers

TALL ORDER: ASU corner backs Eddie Elder and Deveron Carr take down Oregon State junior wide receiver Markus Wheaton during the Sun Devils’ win over the Beavers on Sept. 1. Elder and Carr said defending against Oregon on Saturday will be tough, but the secondary is ready for the challenge. (Photo by Beth Easterbrook)
TALL ORDER: ASU corner backs Eddie Elder and Deveron Carr take down Oregon State junior wide receiver Markus Wheaton during the Sun Devils’ win over the Beavers on Sept. 1. Elder and Carr said defending against Oregon on Saturday will be tough, but the secondary is ready for the challenge. (Photo by Beth Easterbrook)

In a win against then-No. 21 Missouri, the ASU football team admitted to tackling poorly.

There was little wrapping up and little swarming to the ball.

In the four weeks since, the Sun Devils have improved.

The first man stops the ball while the second and third guys go for the turnover.

But Saturday at No. 9 Oregon will be a test unlike any other.

The Sun Devils can’t afford any missed tackles because if the Ducks break free, no one can chase them down.

“Rallying to the ball is going to be important,” senior safety Eddie Elder said. “If the first person misses, there should be three more people there to get the tackle. Unfortunately if we miss a tackle and nobody is around, everybody on their team is capable of going in for six.”

The tricky part about trying to contain UO is that a team can do everything right nine out of 10 times, but each time it fails, the Ducks have the potential for a huge play.

“You can think you’re doing okay, then they put 28 puts up so fast it’ll make your head spin,” coach Dennis Erickson said. “They have so much depth and they’ve got speed in all areas. If you miss them, they go.”

Even with UO senior running back LaMichael James more than likely out Saturday, the Ducks bring more than enough big play firepower to the table to scare any opponent.

Freshman De’Anthony Thomas and junior Kenjon Barner have a combined 10 touchdowns on the season.

“With James down, that’ll take a step out of their offense but they do have great running backs besides him,” redshirt junior cornerback Deveron Carr said. “So they’ll do what they do and have the next guy step in.”

It will be up to the ASU secondary to read the UO option attack and avoid the backbreaking plays.

“They do a lot of their stuff with their eyes,” Elder said. “It’s what you see and staying disciplined that’s important.”

 

Autzen ambiance

It’s no secret the Ducks take claim to the most hostile stadium in the Pac-12.

The last time they didn’t sellout Autzen was in 1999.

Last season, the Ducks filled their stadium to a 110 percent capacity average.

But according to some of the veteran Sun Devils, the UO home even ranks higher than Georgia and Wisconsin, both venues ASU traveled to in the last two seasons.

“Oregon is on another level,” Carr said. “Their fans are little bit more rude and it’s way louder. It’s a great atmosphere.”

ASU junior quarterback Brock Osweiler, who got his first start as a Sun Devil there, agreed.

“Their stadium is everything it’s hyped up to be,” he said. “Their fans are on top of you.”

Reach the reporter at tyler.emerick@asu.edu

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