|
WR/KR/PR
Terry Richardson |
|
|
|
Coach:
Dirk Koetter
33-28,
5 years |
2005
Record: 7-5 |
|
TEMPLE |
WON
63-16 |
LOUISIANA
STATE |
LOST
31-35 |
NORTHWESTERN |
WON
52-21 |
at
Oregon State |
WON
42-24 |
USC |
LOST
28-38 |
OREGON |
LOST
17-31 |
at
Stanford |
LOST
35-45 |
WASHINGTON |
WON
44-20 |
at
Washington State |
WON
27-24 |
at
UCLA |
LOST
35-45 |
ARIZONA |
WON
23-20 |
INSIGHT
BOWL |
vs.
Rutgers |
WON
45-40 |
|
2005 Final Rankings
AP-UR, Coaches-UR, BCS-UR
|
2006
Outlook |
Is
this the year Dirk Koetter’s
team finally lives up to its promise?
We all know Arizona State can score
with anybody in the country but the
Sun Devils defense, despite owning
some serious talent, is just as likely
to give it all back. That’s
why the recruiting period’s
theme was defense, defense, defense.
But Koetter has never been a defensive
specialist, that’s why Bill
Miller was brought to coordinator
status after being their LB coach.
Miller’s second year at the
stopping helm will be better, and
how much so will genuinely define
the entire team’s efforts and
results. After giving up nearly 30
points per contest in ’05, most
know the Sun Devils must get better
here to take their place among the
Nation’s elite. With nine returning
starters returning from a dynamic
offense, success is virtually assured
on that side of the ball.
The
new look defense will be under the
microscope more than ever before and
that’s saying something since
Arizona State was a woeful 114th out
of 117 Division I teams in total defense
last season. The much-maligned unit
finally looks to be much improved
with the addition of a handful of
transfers, including Northwestern's
Loren Howard.
Koetter
has seen fluctuating results, and
he has yet to put State onto any true
path of annual improvement. Though
the record may get better, ASU as
a team that opponents respect will
have to be earned, and everything
points back to the defense’s
efforts in the pass-happy conference
in which they currently reside. With
two warm up games, the meat of the
Pac-10 comes to “bear”
as (at) Cal, Oregon, (at) USC and
then Stanford are lined up in a row
(Colorado as a non-con precedes this
onslaught). ASU lost to each the last
time played, so it won’t take
long for their story to unfold/be
told. Realistically, it doesn’t
look good for Koetter’s sixth
year to be much different than the
previous five, so struggles and promise
will be left on the field weekly as
the offensive machine won’t
be enough to overcome State’s
marginal D. We would love to be wrong,
but the (Sun) devil’s in the
details we have just listed.
Projected
2006 record: 9-3
|
|
ARIZONA
STATE
*POWER RATINGS |
Offense |
Defense |
QB
- 4.5 |
DL
- 2.5 |
RB
- 2.5 |
LB
- 2 |
WR
- 3.5 |
DB
- 2.5 |
OL
- 4 |
.. |
|
RETURNING
LEADERS |
Passing:
Rudy Carpenter, 228-156-2, 2273 yds.,
17 TD
Rushing: Keegan Herring, 158
att., 870 yds., 6 TD
Receiving: Rudy Burgess, 59
rec., 655 yds., 4 TD
Scoring: Jesse Ainsworth, 9-11
FG, 53-53 PAT, 80 pts.
Punting: Chris McDonald, 33
punts, 42.3 avg.
Kicking: Jesse Ainsworth, 9-11
FG, 53-53 PAT, 80 pts.
Tackles: Zach Catanese, 107
tot., 62 solo
Sacks: Zach Catanese, 2 sacks
Interceptions: Robert James,
Derron Ware, Zach Catanese, Josh Barrett
- 1 each
Kickoff Returns: Terry Richardson,
23 ret., 27.3 avg., 0 TD
Punt Returns: Terry Richardson,
22 ret., 15.3 avg., 2 TD
|
|
|
DT
Jordan Hill |
|
|
|
ARIZONA
STATE
|
|
|
OFFENSE
- 9 |
----RETURNING
STARTERS---- |
DEFENSE
- 5 |
|
KEY
LOSSES |
OFFENSE:
Lee Burghgraef-HB, Derek Hagan-WR, Matt
Miller-WR, Moey Mutz-WR, Chaz White-OT,
Grayling Love-C |
DEFENSE:
Mike
Talbot-DE, DeWayne Hollyfield-DT, Quency
Darley-DE, Jamar Williams-SLB, Dale
Robinson-MLB, Josh Golden-CB, R.J. Oliver-CB,
Mike Davis-CB, Maurice London-S |
|
|
2006
OFFENSE |
Quarterback
As funny as it sounds, sophomore Rudy Carpenter
is not expected to captain the Sun Devils
this season despite leading the nation in
passing efficiency last year. That’s
because senior Sam Keller, who started the
2005 season before suffering a thumb injury,
will be back and healthy. Both quarterbacks
are top notch and either option is virtually
a can’t miss proposition for the coaching
staff. Keller gets the early nod because
of his poise and uncanny accuracy but Carpenter
will be ready to provide excellent mobility,
solid quickness and a very strong arm if
Keller falters. Carpenter gets the nod here
as the better playmaker. He may not look
pretty dropping back and throwing from the
pocket, but he is the type of quarterback
that will buy time so as to hit somebody
30 yards down the field. The future also
looks bright with redshirt freshman Derek
Shaw, who is one of the best quarterback
prospects in the country.
Running
Back
Talented sophomores Keegan Herring and Shaun
DeWitt will be given every opportunity to
handle the bulk of the running game for
the Sun Devils. At just 175 pounds, Herring
is slight but extremely fast and explosive.
A true “home run” threat, Herring
is a track star that just happens to be
a great football player too. DeWitt has
more size and the ability to handle the
stuff in between the tackles. While not
nearly as fast as Herring, DeWitt does have
solid speed for his size and the feet to
make people miss. Junior Preston Jones will
also be in the mix. Jones is a poor man’s
Herring. He’s very slight with good
natural running ability but he doesn’t
possess blinding speed. The future may be
freshman Rodney Glass, a youngster with
great vision and down field one-on-one skills.
H-Back/Tight
End
The Sun Devils use an H-Back (or movement
tight end) and/or a prototypical in-line
tight end in their offense. A pair of brothers,
Zach and Brent Miller, will man each position.
Younger brother Zach is the tight end and
one of the nation’s best. An all-American
candidate (Honorable Mention, NC.net), Zach
has been compared to Todd Heap. He possesses
great hands, an innate ability to find the
seams and the ability to gain yardage after
the catch as he sees three or four throws
per game come his way. Older brother Brent
is not the big play threat his brother is,
but has developed into a solid lead blocker.
Redshirt frosh Jovon Williams will back
up Zach Miller but needs to add weight before
he even thinks about being a contributor.
Big things are also expected from sophomore
Andrew Pettes, who has the ability to be
a dual threat down the line.
Receiver
A couple of seniors, Terry Richardson and
Jamaal Lewis, will get first crack at the
starting jobs, but a deep and talented group
of underclassman will be ready to contribute
also. Richardson is the most proven performer
and generally can be counted on for a few
big plays each week. At 6-foot-4, and 225
pounds, Lewis is a monster who should be
a great target in the red zone. Nate Kimbrough
provides the Sun Devils with a nice combination
of size and speed while redshirt freshman
Chris McGaha and Brandon Smith were highly
recruited guys with great pedigrees. Also
look out for JUCO-transfer Angelo Richardson,
a former teammate of Keller from high school.
Richardson has great hands and leaping ability.
Offensive
Line
A deep and talented veteran group returns
full up front and will be one of the strengths
of the team. Junior Mike Pollak is the leader
of the unit and the starting center. Pollack
is a bit undersized but is an excellent
technician with the movement/footwork to
get out and pull. Junior Brandon Rodd will
line up at left tackle, but he needs to
provide better blind side protection for
Keller or Carpenter after 36 sacks were
registered by foes. Still, ASU coaches feel
Rodd could be one of the best natural pass
protectors in the country. Senior Stephen
Berg will flank Rodd at the left guard position.
A real mauler, Berg has the size and strength
to win consistently at the point of attack.
Speaking of size, 6-foot-7, 320-pound senior
Zach Krula will start at right guard while
the right tackle position will be manned
by All-Pac-10 senior Andrew Carnahan. Krula
and Carnahan work very well together and
are one of the best right sides in the country.
Backing up that group is a talented crop
of young players who will vie for considerable
playing time including sophomores Leo Talavou
and Paul Fanaika, and juniors Robert Gustavis
and Julius Orieukwu. The average running
play was under four per try, so this group
has to take heed to lessons learned and
step up like the talent they are.
OFFENSIVE
BREAKDOWN
No problems here. This unit is loaded with
an embarrassment of riches. Two excellent
quarterbacks, a home run hitter in the backfield,
one of the nation’s best tight ends
and a plethora of an exciting options on
the outside. Then, add one of the best offensive
lines in the country to the mix and you
have the Arizona State offense. This was
(second ranked nationally for total offense)
and should be an unstoppable unit that again
will routinely put up 30-40 points per tilt.
They just have to find more balance (58th
in rushing, second in passing) to gain that
much more consistency so they can win those
shootouts the marginal defense insists on
providing.
|
|
TE
Zach Miller
|
|
|
ARIZONA
STATE 2006 DEPTH CHART
Returning Starters/Key
Players |
OFFENSE |
QB |
Sam
Keller-Sr (6-4, 240) |
Rudy
Carpenter-So (6-2, 204) |
TB |
Keegan
Herring-So (5-10, 190) |
Shaun
DeWitty-So (6-2, 216) |
HB |
Brent
Miller-Jr (6-5, 236) |
Dane
Guthrie-So (6-3, 274) |
WR |
Mike
Jones-So (6-3, 200) |
Jamaal
Lewis-Sr (6-4, 230) |
WR |
Terry
Richardson-Sr (6-1, 187) |
Rudy
Burgess-Jr (5-10, 181) |
TE |
Zach
Miller-Jr (6-5, 258) |
Andrew
Pettes-So (6-4, 262) |
OT |
Brandon
Rodd-Jr (6-4, 300) |
Julius
Orieukwu-Jr (6-7, 311) |
OG |
Stephen
Berg-Sr (6-5, 309) |
Leo
Talavou-So (6-4, 371) |
C |
Mike
Pollak-Jr (6-4, 300) |
Thomas
Altieri-Fr (6-2, 294) |
OG |
Robert
Gustavis-Jr (6-4, 312) |
Zach
Krula-Sr (6-7, 339) |
OT |
Andrew
Carnahan-Sr (6-8, 300) |
Richard
Tuitu'u-Fr (6-5, 362) |
K |
Jesse
Ainsworth-Sr (6-3, 220) |
.. |
|
|
2006
DEFENSE |
Defensive
Line
The Sun Devils are looking to improve up
front with a rotation system. Added depth
and talent will see more players getting
snaps. The coaching staff hopes that keep
players fresh and able to get after the
quarterback in the pass happy Pac-10 later
in games, a problem in ‘05. Senior
tackle Jordan Hill has really settled in
after a move from linebacker. He’s
added weight and developed into a very powerful
and explosive player. Junior BYU-transfer
Michael Marquardt will line up next to Hill.
Marquardt is an undersized guy who relies
on speed and quickness to penetrate and
blow up plays in the backfield. Senior Kyle
Caldwell will line up outside with big expectations.
The team’s best pass rusher, Caldwell
must develop more consistency for Arizona
State’s defense to improve. Talented
sophomore Tranell Morant will man the other
end spot. Florida-transfer and Miami-native
Morant is more of a “tweener”
- between a defensive tackle and an end
- but had an excellent offseason and should
be able to hold up well versus the run.
Pushing Morant will be Northwestern transfer-Loren
Howard, a natural end with excellent hands.
A pair of junior college transfers from
a year ago, Shannon Jones and Will Kofe,
provides the sustentative depth and should
receive quite a few snaps. There are enough
new hats to make us think this area could
drastically improve, but the proof will
be in the pudding, so to speak.
Linebacker
King-sized senior Beau Manutai will be the
middle linebacker. At 265 pounds, Manutai
can deliver punishing hits and should be
an immovable object against the run. But
pass coverage may be a different story,
and State needs more big plays from this
big man, period. Undersized junior Robert
James handles the weakside. James has continued
to improve each year and should be ready
to become an upper-echelon Pac-10 linebacker
this season. Another smaller ‘backer,
sophomore Chad Lindsay, will line up on
the strong side. I’m not sure how
Arizona State expects the 212-pound Lindsay
to hold up over a tight end, but a lack
of other options at the position may be
the problem. Sophomore Adam Vincent has
better size and strength than either Lindsay
or James, but the team doesn’t think
he has the speed to play outside. This unit
(especially in coverage, see below) will
be the key to ASU’s 114th rated D
improving, and as a unit will have much
to prove before opponents fear them.
Defensive
Back
This unit has been the Achilles Heel but
has the talent to turn things around. Senior
Keno Walter-White and sophomore Chad Green
are the corners. Walter-White was one of
the best junior college cornerbacks in the
country before arriving last season. He
didn’t hold up well, but Walter-White
has the physical skills to be a top-tier
corner if not hung out to dry by a poor
pass rush week in and week out. Green is
the best young corner on the team and will
be given every opportunity to play on a
consistent basis. Juniors Littrele Jones
and Rudy Burgess, along with redshirt freshman
Travis Smith, are all untested and seem
shaky. The real depth should come from more
new blood, JC-transfer Justin Tryon. Quarterbacks
did not look his way often at the lower
level and we feel he could be a true shutdown
corner. At safety, Arizona State has more
experience with junior Josh Barrett and
senior Zach Catanese expected to get the
starting nods. Barrett has played extremely
well (11 breakups) on a bad defense and
should be one of the best dual-edged safeties
in the Pac-10. Catanese, a highly touted
transfer last season, is a tackling machine
who lacks the athleticism to excel in coverage.
ASU also expects contributions from sophomores
Rodney Cox and Jeremy Payton. Payton, a
converted wide receiver, has the instincts
and athletic ability to be an excellent
coverage safety if he can pick up the nuances
of the position. Since most of the guys
listed here weren’t much of a part
of their 112th-ranked pass defense, there
is no reason to believe that the shuffling
and such changes won’t produce better
results.
DEFENSIVE
BREAKDOWN
Obviously the Sun Devils need to improve
mightily here. In recent years, the defense
has improved its speed and skill level but
it has not shown up on the field yet. It
was blatantly evident that 2005’s
main 11 on D cost them games the offense
was winning. Teaching has been the buzzword
in the spring. ASU needs their athletic
playmakers to improve their fundamentals
and become more disciplined. Big plays are
their first chore, for just keeping them
to a minimum would make a huge difference.
Only then will the added athleticism start
to show up on game day and not be wasted
by an ungelled starting group. Roundabout,
if State’s running game can keep these
guys off the field more, the whole team
effort will improve.
|
|
DB
Zach Catanese
|
|
|
ARIZONA
STATE 2006 DEPTH CHART
Returning Starters/Key
Players |
DEFENSE |
DE |
Dexter
Davis-Fr (6-2, 250) |
Will
Kofe-Sr (6-2, 290) |
DT |
Michael
Marquardt-Jr (6-4, 288) |
Brett
Palmer-Jr (6-2, 295) |
DT |
Jordan
Hill-Sr (6-2, 298) |
David
Smith-So (6-3, 268) |
DE |
Kyle
Caldwell-Sr (6-3, 261) |
Tranell
Morant-So (6-5, 280) |
SLB |
Chad
Lindsey-So (6-0, 212) |
Wes
Evans-So (6-3, 245) |
MLB |
Beau
Manutai-Sr (6-1, 262) |
Mike
Nixon-Fr (6-2, 216) |
WLB |
Robert
James-Jr (5-11, 225) |
Derron
Ware-Sr (6-4, 220) |
CB |
Chad
Green-So (5-10, 190) |
Justin
Tryon-Jr (5-9, 178) |
CB |
Keno
Walter-White-Sr (5-11, 182) |
Littrele
Jones-Jr (5-9, 181) |
S |
Josh
Barrett-Jr (6-2, 220) |
Rodney
Cox-So (6-1, 213) |
S |
Zach
Catanese-Sr (6-2, 219) |
Jeremy
Payton-So (6-1, 208) |
P |
Jesse
Ainsworth-Sr (6-3, 220) |
Chris
MacDonald-Jr (6-3, 218) |
|
|
|
2006
SPECIAL TEAMS |
Kicker
Ainsworth does double duty as the team’s
placekicker and is one of the Pac-10’s best
with a big leg and solid accuracy out to 45 yards,
but was 0-for-2 from beyond the 40 last campaign.
He’s also very good on KOs (over half were
touchbacks), which enables the ASU coverage teams
to excel.
Punter
ASU has two solid punters in Jesse Ainsworth and
Chris MacDonald. The senior, Ainsworth, should
get the nod due to his superior accuracy and the
fact the Richardson had four blocked last time
around. Net punting was as big a problem (109th
ranked) as the defense was in ’05, an area
that has to improve if field position battles
are to be won.
Return
Game
Loads of speed here. Richardson (and Burgess)
will probably be the top choice(s), and either
has enough speed to make a difference. Herring
has the kind of jaw-dropping speed to go the distance
at any time but he’s too small and it doesn’t
look like ASU will let him take part in the return
game.
|
|
|
|
|