Koetter: I'm totally at a loss
PALO ALTO, Calif. - The phrase "Not as close as the final score indicated" is often tossed around too generously.
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PALO ALTO, Calif. - The phrase "Not as close as the final score indicated" is often tossed around too generously.
Dirk Koetter has said for two years that Jason Burke is the best collegiate long snapper he's ever seen.
Quarterbacks: This position has been a sore spot for UA all season. After sophomore Kris Heavner could only muster 827 yards with four touchdowns and four interceptions in the team's initial six games, he was benched in favor of redshirt freshman Richard Kovalcheck. Kovalcheck has faired slightly better, but not much better, throwing for 800 yards with six scores and three picks in five games, although he has completed just 46 percent of his throws. At this point, neither of the Wildcats' signal callers is worthy of carrying ASU senior Andrew Walter's cleats. Playing in his final collegiate rivalry matchup, the Sun Devils' all-time leading passer could be in for a huge game. In 10 starts this year, Walter has thrown for 2,830 yards, 30 touchdowns and eight interceptions. There is certainly no sign of him slowing down against the 2-8 Wildcats. Huge edge ASU.
Of course the starters on a football team get the majority of reps in practice, but that wasn't the case for ASU this week.
You hate to call it a gimme.
The ASU football team will prepare for its annual rivalry game against UA the same as any other game from a physical standpoint but not from a mental standpoint, head coach Dirk Koetter said Tuesday.
Andrew Walter knows what the California game means.
Quarterbacks: California's Aaron Rodgers has come into his own in the last two seasons and is now one of the best signal callers in the country. The junior is completing 75 percent of his passes, although the Golden Bears' offense has not had him stretch the field too often. Through six games, Rodgers has thrown for 1,376 yards as well as 14 touchdowns and four interceptions. ASU's Andrew Walter has not completed his passes at nearly the same efficiency, but with a gunslinger style very different from Rodgers, less efficiency is to be expected. Through seven games, Walter has thrown for 1,845 yards, six interceptions and a nation-leading 21 touchdowns. The senior is coming off a six-touchdown performance against UCLA last week that won him Pac-10 Offensive Player of the Week honors. Slight edge ASU.
Quarterbacks: UCLA's Drew Olson has continued to develop in his second season as a starter and now is considered to be in the top half of passers in the Pac-10. Through six games, the junior has thrown 1,273 yards, 12 touchdowns and five picks. Passing is not the focal point of the Bruins' offense, but Olson has done a good job of leading the charge. Despite being roughed up for six sacks and constant pressure at USC last week, ASU senior Andrew Walter still passed for nearly 200 yards. This week, expect the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award Finalist to have plenty of time to show off his NFL-caliber arm strength, as the Bruins front four is the thinnest in the conference. In six games, Walter has thrown for 1,430 yards, 15 scores and three picks, two of which came against the Trojans. He could be in for a big afternoon. Solid edge ASU.
After being humiliated by No. 1 USC, the ASU football team resembled a bunch of lifeless tackling dummies that had just been pounded into the turf.
The Good: Was there anything? You could look to the fact that ASU ran more plays (69) than USC (66). But then again, the Trojans scored very quickly on a number of occasions. You could say holding the co-defending national champs to 446 yards wasn't terrible, but they usually began their drives in excellent field position. So in actuality, nothing went right for the Sun Devils.
One of the goals of the ASU football team during its two weeks off prior to facing No. 1 USC was to get healthy. And while the available players may feel more rejuvenated, the Sun Devils (5-0) still lost another one of their starters this week.
Mark Carrier has a lifetime of memories made in the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.
Senior doesn't mind being tabbed Pac-10's third-best quarterback
The Good: Once again, the Sun Devils' defense played an inspirational game and would not let the team lose. After the first few games of the season, it wasn't unfair to think that ASU's 'D' simply had a few overachieving performances. But after holding the normally offensively sound Ducks to just 13 points on the road, the defense has proven it is the strength of the team. It also was able to register six sacks and hold the Ducks to just 311 total yards. Also impressive was the Sun Devils' resolve, as it had to face the loudest crowd in the Pac-10. Road wins in the Pac-10 are all precious, but a win at Autzen Stadium is always more impressive. Plus, ASU played another turnover-free game.
The Good: A win away from home! It may not have been against the best opponent available, but road wins have been hard to come by in recent seasons -- it was head coach Dirk Koetter's fifth road win in more than three seasons. But perhaps what's more important, the Sun Devils 'answered the scratch,' the team's rallying cry this season to fight through adversity in games. The team was up 21-7, but allowed the Wildcats to trim their deficit to a field goal. ASU team leaders conceded that it was the type of game the Sun Devils may have let slip away in the past, but their maturity was evident. Plus, they didn't give up a turnover.
EVANSTON, Ill. -- A game against a Big Ten opponent, on the road, across two time zones, in windy weather -- all excuses that senior quarterback Andrew Walter said Sun Devils teams of the past could have folded under, but not this team. Not this day.
Of all the injuries ASU football has endured since the beginning of training camp, the Sun Devils got word of the worst ailment yet on Tuesday.
Last season, the ASU football team was picked to finish second in the Pac-10's annual preseason poll, but ended the season tied for eighth. In this year's poll, voters picked them to finish somewhere in between.
The 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece, will certainly have maroon and gold undertones to it.
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