O.K., so Arizona State was one of college football's most disappointing teams last year. Everyone knows that by now. With all the problems from a surprising lack of offensive punch, to a defense that seemed bent on giving up the big play at the worst time possible, most have taken the Sun Devils off their radar screen. That's a mistake.
As overrated as the 2003 Sun Devils were, that's how underrated this year's team is. Last year's squad was young needing work on the offensive line and playmakers on defense in the 4-2-5 alignment. The offense is loaded now with three starters returning up front to protect star QB Andrew Walter. WR Derek Hagan is one of the most explosive wideouts in the nation to make the passing attack shine again. The defense has switched up to more of a 4-3 with a hybrid safety/weakside linebacker, called the Devil, ready to roam and wreak havoc.
This is an important year for ASU football as head coach Dirk Koetter hasn't exactly lived up to expectations so far with a 17-20 record. At the very least, the offensive guru needs to take advantage of an NFL-bound quarterback like Walter and make things exciting again. He has to get the team winning early and in the thick of things to create a buzz around the program. Expect it to happen.
The Schedule: The Sun Devils will try and bounce back from a disappointing season with a schedule that's nasty early, but lightens up. If they can avenge last year's lifeless loss to Iowa, they should be on their way to a bowl season. Getting Stanford and Arizona in the last three games helps. USC is the only killer road game.
Best Offensive Player: Senior QB Andrew Walter. Walter didn't get any attention because of the team's lack of success, but he had a great season throwing for 3,044 yards and 24 touchdowns with ten interceptions despite gutting it out on a bum ankle. He would have likely been a second round pick in the draft if he had come out. He's in a salary drive now as he can boost his stock up to the top 20 with a huge season. After hitting the weights, he's up to 235 pounds looking more like an NFL sized quarterback.
Best Defensive Player: Senior S Riccardo Stewart. Stewart earned second-team All-Pac 10 honors last year and has been one of the more reliable players in the Sun Devil secondary. He'll be the leader of the back seven and the most sure tackler with 167 stops over the last two years.
Key player to a successful season: The Sun Devil defense has switched from a 4-2-5 alignment to a more traditional 4-3, but that extra third linebacker, or Devil, will be more like another safety playing weakside linebacker. Former safety Matt Fawley will be the first to have a crack at the spot, and he should blossom into a star being asked to get into the backfield, stop the run, and be a top pass defender.
The season will be a success if ... ASU wins at least eight games. There no reason there can't be a major turnaround and finish with a 9-2 season, but eight wins would be enough to make the program hot again.
Key game: September 18th vs. Iowa. The 21-2 loss to the Hawkeyes in Iowa City showed that the Sun Devils really weren't all that good. Yeah, Iowa was good, but ASU's offense should have done far more. Assuming wins over UTEP and Northwestern to start the season, a home win over Iowa would set the positive tone for the rest of the season.
2003 Fun Stats:
- Rushing yards per game: Opponents 150.9 - Arizona State 117.3
- Fumbles: Arizona State 22 (lost 16) - Opponents 16 (lost 7)
- Fourth down conversions: Arizona State 10- 20 (50%) - Opponents 1-4 (25%)
As overrated as the 2003 Sun Devils were, that's how underrated this year's team is. Last year's squad was young needing work on the offensive line and playmakers on defense in the 4-2-5 alignment. The offense is loaded now with three starters returning up front to protect star QB Andrew Walter. WR Derek Hagan is one of the most explosive wideouts in the nation to make the passing attack shine again. The defense has switched up to more of a 4-3 with a hybrid safety/weakside linebacker, called the Devil, ready to roam and wreak havoc.
This is an important year for ASU football as head coach Dirk Koetter hasn't exactly lived up to expectations so far with a 17-20 record. At the very least, the offensive guru needs to take advantage of an NFL-bound quarterback like Walter and make things exciting again. He has to get the team winning early and in the thick of things to create a buzz around the program. Expect it to happen.
The Schedule: The Sun Devils will try and bounce back from a disappointing season with a schedule that's nasty early, but lightens up. If they can avenge last year's lifeless loss to Iowa, they should be on their way to a bowl season. Getting Stanford and Arizona in the last three games helps. USC is the only killer road game.
Best Offensive Player: Senior QB Andrew Walter. Walter didn't get any attention because of the team's lack of success, but he had a great season throwing for 3,044 yards and 24 touchdowns with ten interceptions despite gutting it out on a bum ankle. He would have likely been a second round pick in the draft if he had come out. He's in a salary drive now as he can boost his stock up to the top 20 with a huge season. After hitting the weights, he's up to 235 pounds looking more like an NFL sized quarterback.
Best Defensive Player: Senior S Riccardo Stewart. Stewart earned second-team All-Pac 10 honors last year and has been one of the more reliable players in the Sun Devil secondary. He'll be the leader of the back seven and the most sure tackler with 167 stops over the last two years.
Key player to a successful season: The Sun Devil defense has switched from a 4-2-5 alignment to a more traditional 4-3, but that extra third linebacker, or Devil, will be more like another safety playing weakside linebacker. Former safety Matt Fawley will be the first to have a crack at the spot, and he should blossom into a star being asked to get into the backfield, stop the run, and be a top pass defender.
The season will be a success if ... ASU wins at least eight games. There no reason there can't be a major turnaround and finish with a 9-2 season, but eight wins would be enough to make the program hot again.
Key game: September 18th vs. Iowa. The 21-2 loss to the Hawkeyes in Iowa City showed that the Sun Devils really weren't all that good. Yeah, Iowa was good, but ASU's offense should have done far more. Assuming wins over UTEP and Northwestern to start the season, a home win over Iowa would set the positive tone for the rest of the season.
2003 Fun Stats:
- Rushing yards per game: Opponents 150.9 - Arizona State 117.3
- Fumbles: Arizona State 22 (lost 16) - Opponents 16 (lost 7)
- Fourth down conversions: Arizona State 10- 20 (50%) - Opponents 1-4 (25%)
