In his first year as the starter, junior QB Rudy Carpenter had consistency problems that cost State quite often. Flashes of brilliance give promise that the quick-footed hurler can get into a permanent groove and take ASU as far as this much talent deserves to go. Carpenter’s health is important to team success. Senior Ryan Torain has the size-speed combination any coach covets, and the entire RB three-deep returns so the Sun Devil running game should again be strong for all 60 minutes each week. “H”-back Brent Miller stays (unlike his All-American twin Zach) and should be effective (even) with a modest amount of touches. The receivers also come back in mass, with its top five snarlers ready to go. The Sun Devil three-, four- and five-WR sets will thrive with defenders having to respect the running game. A ‘go to’ receiver has to be established if the TE slot cannot carry the weight Z. Miller did. An almost all-senior line – yes, all returning starters – gives this offense little excuse if they cannot produce at a higher level. The lone junior, all-Pac Ten guard selection Paul Fanaika, is a monster at 355 pounds, and center Mike Pollack and LT Brandon Rodd (also all-league) need only to pick up the pass protection to grade out at the needed level for ASU to avoid the offensive dropoff seen last year. Coach Erickson should be just what the doctor ordered so the talent here can fulfill its potential and not sputter at the most needed times.

Even with some losses along this oft-rotated line, rush end Dexter Davis flourished enough last year as a RS frosh that, along with senior all-Pac Ten selection Mike Marquardt, there is a solid foundation upon which to build. Marquardt, a BYU-transfer, moves very well for his girth at tackle. David Smith and Tranell Morant are the extent of the team’s linemen with significant real game reps, ergo we will have to wait and see if they can allow less than ten ground scores again. That is especially true with a totally revamped LB grouping, but like the linemen, the new LBs all played extensively in ’06 so any transition time should be minimal. Senior MLB Robert James is the only upperclassman amongst them. This well-sized corps can cover ground, something that is needed after ASU’s marginal underneath coverage proved an Achilles’ heel in ’06. The latest group of LB recruits is even faster – expect to see some unknown faces early if foes can consistently hurt ASU with short passes. Along these lines of thought, something has to give with their 73rd-ranked pass defense that allowed 28 aerial TDs, especially since there are two senior returning starters that garnered all-Pac Ten status amongst them. Corner Justin Tryon plays much bigger than his 5’9 stature, while converted-WR and classmate Rudy Burgess has progressed well to easily earn the start opposite Tryon. Josh Barrett really smacks ball-carriers, but the Reno-native, like the other safeties, need(s) to play deep center more to keep the play in front of him/them. In the pass-happy Pac Ten, improvements amongst the DBs will go a long way toward earning the team more wins. Erickson brings in Matt Lubick (son of Colorado State head coach Sonny Lubick) to stem the secondary’s shortcomings – he and corners coach Al Simmons have their work cut out, but we expect to see results with new blood overseeing the proceedings.