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ASU
FIRST AND FOREMOST
No. 14 Arizona State (5-1, 3-1 Pac-12) is coming off last week's 26-10 victory over Stanford. The Sun Devils have won eight in a row over Washington. Rain is expected, which could be an issue for a team that spends all its time in the desert.
KEY PLAYER
Taylor Kelly. From the way coach Todd Graham talked, the senior quarterback will start against the Huskies, his first action since injuring his right foot six weeks ago. Assuming Kelly is 100 percent, how rusty will he be?
KEY STAT
3: The Sun Devils already have won three times on the road ? at New Mexico, Colorado and USC. Entering Saturday, only four other FBS programs have as many road wins: Baylor, Marshall, Maryland and South Alabama.
WASHINGTON
FIRST AND FOREMOST
The Huskies (5-2, 1-2) haven't played a home game since Sept. 27. They are coming off last week's 45-20 road loss to Oregon. This is their homecoming game.
Pac-12: Doug Haller's latest power rankings for the conference
KEY PLAYERS
Hau'oli Kikaha and Danny Shelton. Kikaha is having a Will Sutton-type season, leading the country in both sacks (12.5) and tackles for a loss (15.5). He needs just two more sacks to set a school season record. Shelton is not far behind, collecting 7.5 sacks and 12 tackles for a loss this season.
KEY STAT
3: Washington's offense won't impress anyone, but the Huskies don't make many mistakes. Their three turnovers this season tie (with Oregon) for fewest in the country.
ASU ON OFFENSE
The Sun Devils average 38.7 points per game (third in the Pac-12) and 6.7 yards per play (second). QB Taylor Kelly's expected return should help the running game. He makes defenses account for him in the zone read, which usually presents opportunities for RB D.J. Foster. ASU has had its three lowest rushing games with Kelly out (of course all three came against better competition). Before he got hurt, Kelly completed 61.8 percent of his passes for 625 yards and six touchdowns without an interception. Graham said this week that Mike Bercovici also would play, although he didn't specify how that would work. Foster has 14 plays of 20-plus yards from scrimmage which ties for eighth most in the nation. WR Jaelen Strong averages 114.8 receiving yards per game, which ranks seventh in the nation. WR Cameron Smith (21 catches, 307 yards) was limited this week. ASU's offensive line has allowed 11 sacks, which leads the Pac-12, but it will have its biggest challenge this week. ? Washington allows 24.7 points per game (sixth in the Pac-12) and 5.4 yards per play (tied for fourth). Behind rush LB Hau'oli Kikaha and NT Danny Shelton, the Huskies are disruptive upfront. They rank second nationally with 3.86 sacks per game. Washington limits opponents to 3.3 yards per rush, which ranks third in the Pac-12. LB Shaq Thompson has scored four defensive TDs this season (plus another on offense). Washington starts two true freshmen in its secondary.
Advantage: Even.
ASU ON DEFENSE
The Sun Devils are coming off their best defensive effort in last week's victory over Stanford. They lined up in a more traditional 4-3 set with bigger and more-experienced players at certain spots. Graham said ASU likely would continue to use the lineup, which has Demetrius Cherry (6 feet 5, 300 pounds) and Mo Latu (6-2, 350) on the line. Overall, ASU allows 27.8 points per game (eighth in the Pac-12) and 5.9 yards per play (also eighth). ASU allows 185.3 rushing yards per game, which ranks last in the Pac-12 and is the worst mark in three years under Graham. The Sun Devils also are struggling to force turnovers. Outside of special teams, they haven't produced one since the Sept. 13 Colorado game. DB Damarious Randall, the Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week, leads the country in solo tackles. ? Washington ? averaging 32.7 points (ninth in the Pac-12) and 5.0 yards per play (last) -- has its own QB drama. Regular starter Cyler Miles (173.8 passing yards per game, 10 TDs, 1 INT) is out after suffering a concussion in last week's loss to Oregon, according to the Seattle Times. Redshirt freshman Troy Williams will get his first start. The Huskies also have health issues at running back. Their top running backs ? Lavon Coleman (62.6 rushing yards per game) and Dwayne Washington (34.1) ?both are day to day. The Huskies rush on 61.7 percent of their total plays. WR Jaydon Mickens (36 catches, 323 yards) is the top receiving target.
Advantage: ASU.
ASU rewind: What we learned in the victory over Stanford
SPECIAL TEAMS
The Sun Devils had their best special-teams performance in three years last week. Not only did they force and recover fumbles on kickoff and punt returns, Zane Gonzalez kicked four field goals and their cover teams contained All-American returner Ty Montgomery. For a program that has struggled on special teams for so long, it was an encouraging step. Overall, Gonzalez has made 9 of 11 field-goal attempts this season with a long of 49 yards. Matt Haack punted so poorly last season he lost his job, but this season his 42.7 average ranks 47th nationally. On kickoffs, Alex Garoutte's touchback percentage has dropped from 36.79 to 30.95 over the past year. ? Washington punt returner Dante Pettis averages 10.5 yards, which ranks second in the Pac-12. Kick returner John Ross averages 22.7 yards with a long of 54. Kicker Cameron Van Winkle is 9 of 10 on field-goal attempts with a long of 51 yards. Washington's punt-cover unit, allowing 1.3 yards, ranks fourth nationally.
Advantage: Washington.
BOTTOM LINE
Everything points to Taylor Kelly returning after a six-week recovery. This, of course, presents a lot of questions. Has his right foot healed enough to allow him to be effective in the zone read? Will he be rusty? And what happens if ASU falls into an early hole? Will Graham be tempted to go with Mike Bercovici to get the Sun Devils back in the game? In the end ? no matter which quarterback plays ? the Sun Devils should have enough to beat the Huskies, even in the rain.
FIRST AND FOREMOST
No. 14 Arizona State (5-1, 3-1 Pac-12) is coming off last week's 26-10 victory over Stanford. The Sun Devils have won eight in a row over Washington. Rain is expected, which could be an issue for a team that spends all its time in the desert.
KEY PLAYER
Taylor Kelly. From the way coach Todd Graham talked, the senior quarterback will start against the Huskies, his first action since injuring his right foot six weeks ago. Assuming Kelly is 100 percent, how rusty will he be?
KEY STAT
3: The Sun Devils already have won three times on the road ? at New Mexico, Colorado and USC. Entering Saturday, only four other FBS programs have as many road wins: Baylor, Marshall, Maryland and South Alabama.
WASHINGTON
FIRST AND FOREMOST
The Huskies (5-2, 1-2) haven't played a home game since Sept. 27. They are coming off last week's 45-20 road loss to Oregon. This is their homecoming game.
Pac-12: Doug Haller's latest power rankings for the conference
KEY PLAYERS
Hau'oli Kikaha and Danny Shelton. Kikaha is having a Will Sutton-type season, leading the country in both sacks (12.5) and tackles for a loss (15.5). He needs just two more sacks to set a school season record. Shelton is not far behind, collecting 7.5 sacks and 12 tackles for a loss this season.
KEY STAT
3: Washington's offense won't impress anyone, but the Huskies don't make many mistakes. Their three turnovers this season tie (with Oregon) for fewest in the country.
ASU ON OFFENSE
The Sun Devils average 38.7 points per game (third in the Pac-12) and 6.7 yards per play (second). QB Taylor Kelly's expected return should help the running game. He makes defenses account for him in the zone read, which usually presents opportunities for RB D.J. Foster. ASU has had its three lowest rushing games with Kelly out (of course all three came against better competition). Before he got hurt, Kelly completed 61.8 percent of his passes for 625 yards and six touchdowns without an interception. Graham said this week that Mike Bercovici also would play, although he didn't specify how that would work. Foster has 14 plays of 20-plus yards from scrimmage which ties for eighth most in the nation. WR Jaelen Strong averages 114.8 receiving yards per game, which ranks seventh in the nation. WR Cameron Smith (21 catches, 307 yards) was limited this week. ASU's offensive line has allowed 11 sacks, which leads the Pac-12, but it will have its biggest challenge this week. ? Washington allows 24.7 points per game (sixth in the Pac-12) and 5.4 yards per play (tied for fourth). Behind rush LB Hau'oli Kikaha and NT Danny Shelton, the Huskies are disruptive upfront. They rank second nationally with 3.86 sacks per game. Washington limits opponents to 3.3 yards per rush, which ranks third in the Pac-12. LB Shaq Thompson has scored four defensive TDs this season (plus another on offense). Washington starts two true freshmen in its secondary.
Advantage: Even.
ASU ON DEFENSE
The Sun Devils are coming off their best defensive effort in last week's victory over Stanford. They lined up in a more traditional 4-3 set with bigger and more-experienced players at certain spots. Graham said ASU likely would continue to use the lineup, which has Demetrius Cherry (6 feet 5, 300 pounds) and Mo Latu (6-2, 350) on the line. Overall, ASU allows 27.8 points per game (eighth in the Pac-12) and 5.9 yards per play (also eighth). ASU allows 185.3 rushing yards per game, which ranks last in the Pac-12 and is the worst mark in three years under Graham. The Sun Devils also are struggling to force turnovers. Outside of special teams, they haven't produced one since the Sept. 13 Colorado game. DB Damarious Randall, the Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week, leads the country in solo tackles. ? Washington ? averaging 32.7 points (ninth in the Pac-12) and 5.0 yards per play (last) -- has its own QB drama. Regular starter Cyler Miles (173.8 passing yards per game, 10 TDs, 1 INT) is out after suffering a concussion in last week's loss to Oregon, according to the Seattle Times. Redshirt freshman Troy Williams will get his first start. The Huskies also have health issues at running back. Their top running backs ? Lavon Coleman (62.6 rushing yards per game) and Dwayne Washington (34.1) ?both are day to day. The Huskies rush on 61.7 percent of their total plays. WR Jaydon Mickens (36 catches, 323 yards) is the top receiving target.
Advantage: ASU.
ASU rewind: What we learned in the victory over Stanford
SPECIAL TEAMS
The Sun Devils had their best special-teams performance in three years last week. Not only did they force and recover fumbles on kickoff and punt returns, Zane Gonzalez kicked four field goals and their cover teams contained All-American returner Ty Montgomery. For a program that has struggled on special teams for so long, it was an encouraging step. Overall, Gonzalez has made 9 of 11 field-goal attempts this season with a long of 49 yards. Matt Haack punted so poorly last season he lost his job, but this season his 42.7 average ranks 47th nationally. On kickoffs, Alex Garoutte's touchback percentage has dropped from 36.79 to 30.95 over the past year. ? Washington punt returner Dante Pettis averages 10.5 yards, which ranks second in the Pac-12. Kick returner John Ross averages 22.7 yards with a long of 54. Kicker Cameron Van Winkle is 9 of 10 on field-goal attempts with a long of 51 yards. Washington's punt-cover unit, allowing 1.3 yards, ranks fourth nationally.
Advantage: Washington.
BOTTOM LINE
Everything points to Taylor Kelly returning after a six-week recovery. This, of course, presents a lot of questions. Has his right foot healed enough to allow him to be effective in the zone read? Will he be rusty? And what happens if ASU falls into an early hole? Will Graham be tempted to go with Mike Bercovici to get the Sun Devils back in the game? In the end ? no matter which quarterback plays ? the Sun Devils should have enough to beat the Huskies, even in the rain.
UW QB Troy Williams will get first start against Arizona State
Redshirt freshman quarterback Troy Williams will make his first start for Washington on Saturday, against Arizona State at Husky Stadium. Sophomore QB Cyler Miles exited last week?s game at Oregon with a concussion.
The Huskies could have an entirely new backfield to start Saturday night?s game against No. 14 Arizona State.
Redshirt freshman quarterback Troy Williams will make his starting debut for Washington (5-2, 1-2 Pac-12), UW sources told The Seattle Times. Sophomore quarterback Cyler Miles exited last week?s game at Oregon with a concussion, and Williams took the first-team snaps during practice leading up to Saturday?s 7:45 p.m. homecoming game at Husky Stadium.
Injuries could force UW to turn to backups at running back, too. Deontae Cooper, a fifth-year senior, and linebacker Shaq Thompson are expected to get the bulk of the work.
Washington?s top running backs, Dwayne Washington and Lavon Coleman, were injured in the loss to Oregon and are questionable against the Sun Devils (5-1, 3-1). Senior offensive tackle Ben Riva and junior guard Dexter Charles have been banged up, too.
?Whatever we work out,? Cooper said, ?I feel like we?re going to be OK.?
Williams will be UW?s third quarterback to start a game this season, and he?ll do it against an Arizona State defense considered among the most aggressive in the Pac-12. Against a first-time starter, ASU might be tempted to blitz even more Saturday night.
After relieving Miles in the fourth quarter last week at Oregon, Williams attempted his first college passes and scored his first touchdown on a 7-yard run, capping a 17-play, 75-yard drive. He finished the game 5 of 10 passing for 37 yards.
Williams, a 6-foot-2, 194-pound native of Carson, Calif., was the Huskies? No. 3 quarterback a month ago, behind Miles and sophomore Jeff Lindquist, before cutting down on turnovers in practice and nudging ahead of Lindquist in recent weeks.
?I think he has made progress,? UW coach Chris Petersen said Thursday. ?I think it?s good to get other guys reps. It is good. Whether you?re talking about on the O-line, the quarterback, whatever ? eventually you?re going to need depth.?
Ironically, Cooper, who has come back from three major knee injuries in his UW career, is the one healthy running back among the Core Four committee that began the season. Senior Jesse Callier is out for the season after tearing his Achilles tendon last month, and then there?s the uncertainty of Washington (chest) and Coleman (shoulder). Peter*sen dubbed everyone ?day to day.?
Cooper is eager for, perhaps, his first start at UW ? and eager to turn the page on what has been a story mostly about his years of rehabilitation from torn ACLs.
?The more I play, and the more I continue to produce, the more it?s going to change,? he said. ?That?s the exciting part: I have a chance to rewrite this story, and I?m going to do that.?
In the second half against Oregon, Cooper had five carries for 23 yards and six catches for 48 yards.
Overall, Cooper has 20 carries for 105 yards this season, and he?s fourth on the team with nine catches for 80 yards.
?I?m excited to see what it?s going to be like to play this whole game,? he said. ?I felt good (last week). The adrenaline was going. Unfortunately we lost, but I did feel good about some of the things I did in the game.?
A good ground game would, of course, take pressure off Williams in his first start. Establishing a steady rushing attack hasn?t been easy for the Huskies. In three Pac-12 games, they?re averaging just 2.9 yards per carry.
?Of course it?s frustrating,? UW offensive-line coach Chris Strausser said. ?We want to go out there and freaking shove it down everybody?s throat every week, but that?s not college football. So we?ve got to find a way to fix it.?
Saturday night, the Huskies will try to patch up the offense with a patchwork backfield.
Redshirt freshman quarterback Troy Williams will make his first start for Washington on Saturday, against Arizona State at Husky Stadium. Sophomore QB Cyler Miles exited last week?s game at Oregon with a concussion.
The Huskies could have an entirely new backfield to start Saturday night?s game against No. 14 Arizona State.
Redshirt freshman quarterback Troy Williams will make his starting debut for Washington (5-2, 1-2 Pac-12), UW sources told The Seattle Times. Sophomore quarterback Cyler Miles exited last week?s game at Oregon with a concussion, and Williams took the first-team snaps during practice leading up to Saturday?s 7:45 p.m. homecoming game at Husky Stadium.
Injuries could force UW to turn to backups at running back, too. Deontae Cooper, a fifth-year senior, and linebacker Shaq Thompson are expected to get the bulk of the work.
Washington?s top running backs, Dwayne Washington and Lavon Coleman, were injured in the loss to Oregon and are questionable against the Sun Devils (5-1, 3-1). Senior offensive tackle Ben Riva and junior guard Dexter Charles have been banged up, too.
?Whatever we work out,? Cooper said, ?I feel like we?re going to be OK.?
Williams will be UW?s third quarterback to start a game this season, and he?ll do it against an Arizona State defense considered among the most aggressive in the Pac-12. Against a first-time starter, ASU might be tempted to blitz even more Saturday night.
After relieving Miles in the fourth quarter last week at Oregon, Williams attempted his first college passes and scored his first touchdown on a 7-yard run, capping a 17-play, 75-yard drive. He finished the game 5 of 10 passing for 37 yards.
Williams, a 6-foot-2, 194-pound native of Carson, Calif., was the Huskies? No. 3 quarterback a month ago, behind Miles and sophomore Jeff Lindquist, before cutting down on turnovers in practice and nudging ahead of Lindquist in recent weeks.
?I think he has made progress,? UW coach Chris Petersen said Thursday. ?I think it?s good to get other guys reps. It is good. Whether you?re talking about on the O-line, the quarterback, whatever ? eventually you?re going to need depth.?
Ironically, Cooper, who has come back from three major knee injuries in his UW career, is the one healthy running back among the Core Four committee that began the season. Senior Jesse Callier is out for the season after tearing his Achilles tendon last month, and then there?s the uncertainty of Washington (chest) and Coleman (shoulder). Peter*sen dubbed everyone ?day to day.?
Cooper is eager for, perhaps, his first start at UW ? and eager to turn the page on what has been a story mostly about his years of rehabilitation from torn ACLs.
?The more I play, and the more I continue to produce, the more it?s going to change,? he said. ?That?s the exciting part: I have a chance to rewrite this story, and I?m going to do that.?
In the second half against Oregon, Cooper had five carries for 23 yards and six catches for 48 yards.
Overall, Cooper has 20 carries for 105 yards this season, and he?s fourth on the team with nine catches for 80 yards.
?I?m excited to see what it?s going to be like to play this whole game,? he said. ?I felt good (last week). The adrenaline was going. Unfortunately we lost, but I did feel good about some of the things I did in the game.?
A good ground game would, of course, take pressure off Williams in his first start. Establishing a steady rushing attack hasn?t been easy for the Huskies. In three Pac-12 games, they?re averaging just 2.9 yards per carry.
?Of course it?s frustrating,? UW offensive-line coach Chris Strausser said. ?We want to go out there and freaking shove it down everybody?s throat every week, but that?s not college football. So we?ve got to find a way to fix it.?
Saturday night, the Huskies will try to patch up the offense with a patchwork backfield.
