Game Day 11-13-09

University of oregon

Vs.

arizona state university

Oregon Daily emerald

Game Day Friday, November 13, 2009

dailyemerald.com

66 and counting...

PAGE 7B

I va r Vo n g | Photo editor

Game preview

ORegon notes

asu Notes

After being eviscerated by

James is first freshman to rush

The defense has performed

Stanford’s offense, Oregon’s

for 1,000 yards in a season,

admirably, but true freshman

defense needs to respond if

while Masoli looks to take

Osweiler and the Sun Devils

the Ducks want to go to the

advantage of a dinged-up

need some offense to

Rose Bowl

ASU secondary

upset Ducks

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PAGE 6B

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2b Oregon Daily Emerald Friday, November 13, 2009

EmErAld lAuNdry

Plot twists abound vs. ASU

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When the No. 14 Oregon Ducks take the field Saturday night against the Arizona State Sun Devils, there will be a lot of story lines to look out for.

Will reinstated running back LeGarrette Blount play? Can the Ducks bounce back from a horrible 51-42 loss to Stanford? Will the Sun Devils shock the conference after narrowly missing out last week in a 14-9 loss to USC? It’s a lot on the plate for most fans, who are anxious to see whether or not the Ducks can win their first Pacific-10 Conference title since 2001 and earn a berth in the Rose Bowl. Especially because Oregon’s defense, which once looked nearly impenetrable to start conference play, all of a sudden has a few chinks in the armor.

“We know our mistakes, we watched the film,” senior safety T.J. Ward said. “There’s nothing we can do about that game, it’s just about getting ready for Arizona State and making sure they don’t do what Stanford did to us.”

Stanford running back Toby Gerhart gashed Oregon for 223 yards and three touchdowns and the Cardinal were effective at finding gaps in Oregon’s coverage.

“We just missed gaps sometimes,” Ward said of the effort against Stanford. “We didn’t have people in the right positions. It wasn’t that they physically ran over us, it was more of that we weren’t in the right position sometimes.”

But the Ducks are coming back to Autzen, where they have

Who: Arizona State (4-5 overall, 2-4 Pacific-10 Conference) at No. 14 Oregon (7-2, 5-1) What: Pac-10 Conference football game When: 7:20 p.m., ESPN Where: Autzen Stadium M at t Pav e l e k | Th e S tate Pr ess

Sun Devil head coach Dennis Erickson is familiar with the environs of Autzen Stadium. He has also coached at Washington State and Oregon State and is the active Pac-10 leader in wins as a coach.

yet to lose this year. It’s something the entire team is excited for, and they say sometimes there’s nothing that cures a bad loss on the road like a party on a Saturday night with 59,000 of their closest friends.

“It’s the warmth of our friends,” senior tight end Ed Dickson said. “We know we have to do battle. Just to come home and get the embrace of our crowd is going to be nice.”

The Ducks won’t exactly be facing a cupcake, however. This late in the season, any team in the conference is dangerous, and the Sun Devils are no exception.

Armed with the Pac-10’s best defense, which held USC’s offense to just 14 points, the Sun Devils look to hand Oregon its second straight loss and further muddle the title race.

“They’re fast, they’re physical, they’re a veteran team,” offensive coordinator Mark Helfrich said. “They have a lot of guys who played a ton. (The defense) is a chore. SC had 12 first downs and you don’t really need to say anything else.”

Helfrich says against a defense

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State fiasco is behind him.

“He’s been the same guy since day one,” junior quarterback Jeremiah Masoli said. “He’s become a better person for what happened but out on the field he looks the same and he’s going to be a big impact player.”

So for now, everything is still in Oregon’s hands. Win out, and the trip to Pasadena is still reserved for the team.

The Ducks know this, and that’s why each game to them is even bigger in their eyes.

“We still control our own destiny,” Ward said. “We win out and we are still going to the Rose Bowl and we’ll still have a good season. We’re just focused on Arizona State and we can’t lose another one.”

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like that, the Ducks need to be as sharp as ever. They know what ASU is going to do for the most part in terms of coverages, it’s just beating those coverages.

Dickson added that offense is rolling, and he thinks the team is up to the challenge.

“It’s a pretty solid group of guys,” Dickson said. “We don’t sleep on them at all. They have the No. 1 rated defense in the Pac-10 for a reason. It will be a good challenge for us this weekend and whenever the Duck offense gets challenged we usually rise to the occasion.”

Oregon will have one more weapon this week, although it is unlikely how much he will play — if at all. Blount, fresh off an eight-game suspension for punching Byron Hout of Boise State, has practiced all week with the offense and taken reps as the fourth and fifth string back.

But his teammates aren’t concerned with his playing time, or changing the dynamic of the offense with how redshirt freshman running back LaMichael James is playing; they’re just happy he’s back and the Boise

The Ducks look to bounce back from a tough 51-42 loss to Stanford last weekend in Palo Alto where they gave up more than 500 yards of offense.

Meanwhile, the Sun Devils, who lost to USC 14-9 last week, will try to spoil Oregon’s Pac-10 title hopes.

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Friday, November 13, 2009 Oregon Daily Emerald 3b

CATCHING UP WITH »

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lamichael james

l e s l i e m o n tgo m e ry | desig n er

ODE: Are you homesick at all?

LJ: Not really. It’s worked out fine so far.

ODE: What sports did you play in high school?

LJ: At one point I played four sports, but my junior year on I was

strictly football and track.

ODE: What did you run in track?

LJ: 100 meters, 400 meters, the relays and long jump.

ODE: Are you going to run track at the University?

LJ: I’m definitely going to run track at Oregon.

ODE: Are you going to run sprints?

LJ: I’ll run whatever they want me to run. I need to get faster.

ODE: What’s the transition going to be then? Finish football then run some stuff in the winter?

LJ: Yeah, I’ll run some indoor and outdoor events. But right now I’m just focused on football and this week.

ODE: How fast are you?

LJ: I haven’t run the 100 in awhile, it’s mostly the 40, but I ran a 10.4 100 meter in high school.

ODE: Who do you live with?

LJ: I actually live by myself.

ODE: Oh, so how much cooking do you do?

LJ: Not a whole lot actually. I need to get better at that. All I can cook is breakfast food.

ODE: So a lot of pancakes?

LJ: Yeah.

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As the Arizona State Sun Devils (4-5, 2-4 Pacific-10 Conference) get ready to take on the No. 14 Oregon Ducks in Autzen Stadium this Saturday, they will be relying heavily on a defensive unit that could pose a major threat to the powerful Oregon offense.

Through nine games, ASU

has allowed only 18.4 points per game, which ranks second in the Pac-10, while featuring the conference’s top-ranked rush defense that allows only 87.4 yards per game. But slowing the conference’s top-ranked rushing offense and redshirt freshman running back LaMichael James will be a whole other challenge for the Sun Devils.

“We’re excited about the challenge,” Arizona State head coach Dennis Erickson said.

“Offensively at times (Oregon is) a machine. It’s frightening

at times what they’re able to do when things are going right and they have the timing; it’s interesting to watch.”

Senior linebacker Mike Nixon, redshirt senior safety Jarrell Holman, and senior safety Ryan McFoy have each recorded three interceptions on the year and will look to slow down junior quarterback Jeremiah Masoli and the Ducks passing attack.

Nixon leads the team with 53 tackles and three forced fumbles, while freshman linebacker Vontaze Burfict has recorded 49

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KARAOKE SATURDAYS

tackles, including five tackles-forloss and two sacks, to go along with his five pass break-ups and two recovered fumbles.

“They have a really strong linebacking core,” Oregon junior quarterback Nate Costa said. “And their d-line core is strong. They’ve got good DBs too, and overall it’s a good defense.”

The ASU secondary will be playing without senior cornerback Terell Carr on Saturday, following his actions off the field

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The Daily Emerald caught up with redshirt freshman LaMichael James on Tuesday night to talk about his home state of Texas, the freshman rushing record he just set, and his plans to run track in the spring, among other things.

Here’s what he had to say.

Oregon Daily Emerald: Where is Texarkana in Texas?

LaMichael James: Northeast Texas.

ODE: What schools recruited you?

LJ: I had offers from all of the Big 12 schools except Oklahoma.

Minnesota, Oregon, a lot really. I choose Oregon because I like Oregon and Coach Kelly. It stood out more than the other schools.

ODE: Someone from Texas said no to Texas?

LJ: The University of Texas was the first school to look at me.

But in Texas there are two types of people. Those who want to go to Texas and those who want to leave. I wanted to leave.

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4b Oregon Daily Emerald Friday, November 13, 2009

2009 Oregon Statistical leaders

Rushing

ATT

gain

loss

AVG

TD

L. James

149

1067

24

7.0

8

J. Masoli

82

603

112

6.0

9

september

K. Barner

46

253

8

5.3

3

passing

ATT

Pct

YDS

TD

YPG

J. Masoli

160

59.9

1461

9

182.6

3 12 19 26

receiving NO.

YDS.

AVG.

TD

LONG

E. Dickson

34

464

13.6

4

36

J. Maehl

30

372

12.4

2

58

D. Davis

15

170

11.3

2

23

Defensive

Solo

AST

Total

TFL/YDS sacks

7 14 21

J. Boyett

40

21

61

1.0-3

-

December

J. Lewis

40

20

60

3.0-11

1.0-5

C. Matthews

28

26

54

4.0-25

2.5-22

S. Paysinger

27

23

50

4.0-7

1.0-2

T.J. Ward

24

14

38

2.5-4

-

2009 uo schedule

at Boise State (L, 19-8) vs. Purdue (W, 38-36) vs. Utah (W, 31-24) vs. California (W, 42-3)

October 3 10 24 31

vs. Washington State (W, 52-6) at UCLA (W, 24-10) at Washington (W, 43-19) vs. USC (W, 47-20)

November

3

at Stanford, (L, 51-42) vs. Arizona State, 7:20 p.m. at Arizona, TBA vs. Oregon State, 6 p.m.

2009 asu Statistical leaders

Rushing

ATT

gain

loss

AVG

TD

D. Nance

118

533

40

4.2

5

C. Marshall

60

289

12

4.6

2

september

R. Bass

29

182

9

6.0

1

passing

ATT

Pct

YDS

TD

YPG

5 19 26

D. Sullivan

284

54.2

1771

8

196.8

receiving NO.

YDS.

AVG.

TD

LONG

C. McGaha

48

596

12.4

4

50

K. Williams

40

535

13.4

3

80

G. Robinson

21

233

11.1

-

23

Defensive

Solo

AST

Total

TFL/YDS sacks

M. Nixon

36

17

53

4.5-19

0.5-6

V. Burfict

29

20

49

5.0-15

2.0-10

T. Goethel

25

12

37

6.0-11

R. McFoy

20

11

31

3.0-9

J. Holman

23

7

30

1.0-4

19

7-8 Oregon’s record against the Sun Devils at Autzen Stadium

asu notes earlier in the week. According to the Arizona Republic newspaper, Carr was booked into Maricopa County Jail on suspicion of driving with a suspended or revoked license, disorderly conduct for allegedly fighting, and assault. The incident came only hours after Erickson announced the Carr had been suspended indefinitely for violating team rules.

But after senior running back LeGarrette Blount’s Sept. 3 incident in Boise, the Oregon Ducks have been a shining example in showing just how a team can respond from adversity, and

shawn lauvao (67)

3 10 17 24 31

PLAYERS TO WATCH

vs. Oregon State (L, 28-17) at Washington State (W, 27-14) vs. Washington (W, 24-17) at Stanford (L, 33-14) vs. California (L, 23-21)

7 14 21 28

form of the Sun Devils, who rank eighth in the Pacific-10 Conference in total offense (353.8 yards per game), 86th nationally in rushing (127.00 yards per game) and 111th nationally in third-down conversions (31.20

percent). Tukuafu (6.5 tackles for loss this season, along with 2.5 sacks) has a chance to redeem himself for that game with a strong performance against the 305-pound senior Lauvao and ASU’s anemic offense.

vs. USC, (L, 14-9) at Oregon, 7:20 p.m. at UCLA, 2 p.m. at Arizona, TBA

starting lineups asu

oregon

Defense

Special Teams

Offense

Defense

Special Teams

offense

LE: Dexter Davis

PK: Thomas Weber

WR: Kerry Taylor

DE: Will Tukuafu

PK: Morgan Flint

WR: D.J. Davis

-

LT: Lawrence Guy

KO: Thomas Weber

LT: Shawn Lauvao

DT: Brandon Bair

KO: Rob Beard

LT: Bo Thran

-

RT: Saia Falahola

P: Trevor Hankins

LG: Jon Hargis

DT: Blake Ferras

P: Jackson Rice

LG: Carson York

RE: James Brooks

KR: Jamal Miles

C: Garth Gerhart

DE: Kenny Rowe

KR: LaMichael James

C: Jordan Holmes

SLB: Travis Goethel

PR: Kyle Williams

RG: Brent Good

SLB: Eddie Pleasant

PR: Kenjon Barner

RG: Mark Asper

MLB: Vontaze Burfict

LS: Thomas Ohmart

RT: Tom Njunge

MLB: Casey Matthews

LS: Michael Clay

RT: C.E. Kaiser

WLB: Mike Nixon

HLD: Trevor Hankins

TE: Dan Knapp

WLB: Spencer Paysinger

HLD: Nate Costa

TE: Ed Dickson

LCB: Pierre Singfield

WR: Chris McGaha

LCB: Anthony Gildon

WR: Jeff Maehl

FS: Jarrell Holman

WR: Kyle Williams

FS: John Boyett

WR: Lavasier Tuinei

SS: Ryan McFoy

QB: Brock Osweiler

ROV: Javes Lewis

QB: Jeremiah Masoli

RCB: Deveron Carr

RB: Dimitri Nance

RCB: Talmadge Jackson III

RB: LaMichael James

-

47.0

Career rushing yards for Oregon running back LeGarrette Blount, who was reinstated to the football team this week from a season-long suspension

Average number of points the Ducks have scored in Pac-10 play at home. Opponents have been held to 9.7 points per game. tu k ua f u p h oto by l e s l i e m o n tgo m e ry | d e s i g n e r l au vao p h oto c o u rt e s y o f j a s o n w i s e | ASU ME d i a R e l at i o n s

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Percentage of plays run against the Arizona State defense (excluding incomplete passes) that resulted in a loss of yardage or no gain

the same is expected from ASU on Saturday. And even without Carr, Erickson feels that his defense is much better prepared to take on the Duck offense compared to season’s past.

“You’ve got to simplify things in a plan against them,” Erickson said. “Just so you know what you’re doing. So like I said, it’s a challenge but I feel like we’ll go in there and play well as long as we stay disciplined and do the things that we can do and not worry about giving up a play, because they’re going to make plays.”

Offensively, the Sun Devils

Will Tukuafu — and the rest of the Oregon defensive line — had a game to forget against Stanford last week, yielding a school-record 223 yards rushing to Toby Gerhart in the 51-42 loss. Some relief comes in the

November

997

From Pag e 3B

defensive end

offensive tackle

vs. Idaho State (W, 50-3) vs. Louisiana-Monroe (W, 38-14) at Georgia (L, 20-17)

October

BY THE NUMBERS National rank in scoring average of Oregon kicker Morgan Flint, the fifth-best mark in the Pac-10 (8.75 points per game). Flint has made 10 of 12 field goals, all 38 of his point-after attempts and one two-point conversion.

Will tukuafu (39)

2009 asu schedule

have featured a two-quarterback system throughout the year with senior Danny Sullivan and freshman Brock Osweiler. Sullivan has seen the majority of the time this season, completing 154 passes for 1,771 yards and eight scores, while the 6-foot-8 Osweiler provides physical talent at the position.

Erickson named Osweiler as the starter Wednesday.

“I haven’t made a decision on what I am going to do yet,” he said. “We’ve talked about it and there are things you’ve got to think about going in there.”

“He’s got a strong arm,” Oregon linebacker Casey Matthews said of Sullivan. “He’s not

too mobile but he’ll hold it if he reads right… They throw a lot and it’ll be exciting for us to be able to make some plays.”

Erickson also commented that he and his team always enter Autzen Stadium knowing what they are going to get from the fans, and that Sun Devils have worked on a silent snap count throughout the week.

Making plays will be key as the weather could be a factor if the rain limits both teams to their respective running games — something that could leave Arizona State scrambling for answers all day long. lc l ark@dai lye m e r a ld.co m

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Friday, November 13, 2009 Oregon Daily Emerald 5b

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6b Oregon Daily Emerald Friday, November 13, 2009

Pick the Pac Patrick: 20-8

Patrick Malee SPorts reporter

Lucas: 20-8

Lucas Clark SPorts reporter

Robert: 17-11

Robert Husseman SPorts reporter

Ben: 20-8

Ben Schorzman SPorts Editor

Week 11 Past Records

Emerald sports writers predict the winners of this week’s games

stanford at usc WAshington at oregon state arizona at california ucla at washington state arizona state at oregon oregon notes

Coming off career high, Masoli keeps offense rolling Junior averaging about two touchdowns a game; receivers getting more involved in passing effort LUCAS CLARK SPORTS R EPORTER

24107

Redshirt freshman running back LaMichael James forever etched his name into the Oregon record books last weekend in a losing effort to the Stanford Cardinal in Palo Alto, Calif.

James has absolutely torn through opposing defenses during conference play, averaging the second-most yards per game in the Pac-10 with 135.5 in those contests, and will face another tough challenge this weekend against the Arizona State run defense.

After putting up 42 points a week ago, the No. 14 Ducks (7-2, 5-1 Pacific-10 Conference) still remain at the top of the Pac-10 Conference standings for points per game with 36.3, while their top-ranked rushing attack has separated itself from the rest of the league as they’ve scored 26 touchdowns on the ground via 233.6 rushing yards per game.

And James has been a key factor since taking over as the starter during week two.

“I haven’t thought about the record,” James said. “It doesn’t matter because we lost. Maybe if we win this week I can think about it more, but the only thing that matters is ASU.” During last weekend’s 51-42 loss at Stanford, James recorded a career-high 89 yards receiving on four receptions, while also becoming the first Oregon freshman to rush for 1,000

yards on the season.

“He does things each week where you’re just like, ‘Wow,’” head coach Chip Kelly said.

“He’s starting to expand his role a little bit in the passing game, I know he had a couple drops, but those things happen and we bounce back from them.”

Junior quarterback Jeremiah Masoli has also continued to shine both on the ground and through the air, as he’s averaging 285.6 yards per game of total offense and has accounted for 13.5 points per game for the Ducks.

And this week in practice, Masoli was one of several veterans at the forefront of a solid rebounding effort by the Ducks after being knocked out of the top-10 last weekend.

“I think that’s something that’s just a trademark of us,” junior quarterback Nate Costa said. “That’s just part of the character of this team, that’s how we define ourselves.”

Last season, Masoli had a field day in Tempe, Ariz., as he threw for 146 yards and a touchdown on 17-of-26 passing. He was also one of eight Oregon players to run the ball in the game as he rushed for 85 yards and another touchdown on eight carries.

But as the Ducks gear up to take on an improved defensive unit from last season, Oregon will have to keep the pace of the game at their optimum level.

“We knew we needed to pick up our tempo and that’s

what we’ve done,” junior linebacker Casey Matthews said on Wednesday. “We’ve been practicing hard these past couple days and then tomorrow’s going to be more of a mental day. We know where we need to be.”

In order for the Ducks to continue to move the ball the way they have been in conference play, Masoli and the Oregon receivers will have to exploit a somewhat dinged up Sun Devil secondary that will be playing without senior cornerback Terell Carr.

Last week at Stanford, Masoli threw for a career-high 334 yards and three touchdowns on 21-of-27 passing, while four Oregon receivers tallied 40 yards or more through the air. Junior wide receiver Jeff Maehl led the Ducks with five receptions for 66 yards and a touchdown. Junior wide receivers Jamere Holland and D.J. Davis each pulled down a touchdown a reception as well — Holland’s second in two games and Davis’ second of the year.

And with Oregon returning to Autzen Stadium for the first time since Halloween night, Kelly says he expects another tough challenge from the Sun Devils this weekend.

“When you get to this point in time during the season, they’re going to do what they do, and we’re going to do what we do, and we’re going to find out who the best is,” said Kelly. lc l ark@dai lye m e r a ld.co m

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Senior place kicker Morgan Flint has been a life-long Duck fan. He grew up going to Oregon football games at Autzen Stadium.

“happy-go-lucky teddy bear” because he’s always smiling and is just happy he’s gotten a chance to play college football.

“He’s a very humble guy … he’s awesome,” Osborne said.

“I’m sorry to see him leave. I’m sorry he’s a senior.”

That’s why it was so special after fall camp when Kelly told Flint that he was giving the former walk-on a scholarship.

Coaches and teammates say there was no more deserving player. Flint said he was very happy with the news because of all his hard work and his life long dream of playing for the Ducks.

“It’s definitely one of those things that’s pretty nice,” Flint said. “Of course you’d take playing over a scholarship, but to be here and work hard for four years and get rewarded the fifth year is a pretty good feeling.”

Flint gets overwhelmed when he talks about the first time he ran out onto the Autzen field turf as a player. He said it was something he will never forget.

“It was pretty amazing,” Flint said. “I’d been to Autzen several times to sit in the stands.

Just to get out there and being in the tunnel was a pretty overwhelming experience.”

But the experience of realizing his dream didn’t get in the way of his performance, he says. Flint said once he’s out on the field it’s all business and he’s willing to do whatever it takes to win — be it a fake PAT or field goal or kicking the game winning field goal.

“It’s pretty exciting to know that you have a chance to impact the game for the team you’ve been playing for and dreaming about you’re whole life,” Flint said. “To get out there in that situation is pretty special. I really think you don’t have anything to lose when you have chance to be the hero.”

His closest companion on the field, backup quarterback and place holder, Nate Costa, agreed that Flint is a special player because he does more than just kick. He can catch and run the football as well.

“Morgan’s an athlete, he played basketball and baseball and stuff, he can handle the ball when it’s in his hands,” Costa said. “He’s not one of those

kickers who’s going to be afraid if he has to make a play for us. Having Morgan is an advantage.”

The confidence Flint gives his teammates is noticeable. When he lines up for a game winner, the Ducks know they are in control.

“I have a lot of confidence in him,” said Dickson, who admitted that he wouldn’t want to be the guy lining up to kick. “That’s why he has heart... If he’s kicking a field goal to win the game, the Ducks have already won.”

And for Flint, after this season he’ll be done at Oregon, but the memories of it all are something he says he’ll cherish forever.

“From coming in and just being happy to see all the guys you watched on TV and you see them everyday and you realize, ‘Wow you’re on that team’ to ending up getting to play for that team is a dream come true,” Flint said. “Just being around it all and being able to wear the Oregon ‘O’ is pretty special.” b sc hor zm an @dai lye m e r ald.co m

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Senior place kicker Morgan Flint’s first kick of his collegiate career came against Washington on Aug. 30, 2008. Quarterback Chris Harper had just scored on a two-yard run to give the Ducks a 43-10 lead with 46 seconds left and Flint had been watching, assuming that head coach Mike Bellotti would call on established kicker Matt Evensen for the point after touchdown.

Instead, Bellotti came up to Flint and told him it was his turn to kick.

“I didn’t think I would kick, so I didn’t warm up at all and Bellotti said, ‘OK, Morgan, you’re in’ and I just went out there and basically tried not to shank it,” Flint said. “I was pretty glad it went through.”

The first three years of his career at Oregon were spent practicing, but never getting an opportunity to kick PATs or field goals. He’d only made it on to the field twice in 2007 when he kicked one kick-off each against California and South Florida in the Sun Bowl. But since the initial shock of be called upon against Washington, the Bend, Ore., native, has made the most of out of his chance on the field.

He began his career by making 30 consecutive field goals and PATs and he finished the season 7-of-9 from field goals in the final four games of 2008 after he took full responsibilities as kicker.

Flint still hasn’t missed a PAT either. That’s 66 and counting for those of you keeping score at home.

“He’s done a great job kicking field goals and PATs,” tight ends and special teams coach Tom Osborne said. “He hasn’t missed an extra point... Morgan gives our offense a lot of confidence going down the field that once we get into field goal range that Morgan’s going to make it.”

Head coach Chip Kelly says that Flint is pretty much “automatic” from within 40 yards and Flint is 10-of-12 on the season. But it’s the other part of Flint’s game that everyone talks about when he comes up in conversation.

Teammates and coaches alike say he’s just an all around happy person.

“Me and Morgan came in together as freshmen,” tight end Ed Dickson said. “He gave me rides and stuff like that. That’s the kind of guy he is. He’d go out of your way to help you out. He’s not the big vocal guy or the biggest guy, but he makes up for it with heart. His heart is there.”

Osborne calls Flint a

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The following is an excerpt from an e-mail debate between Emerald sports reporter Lucas Clark and The State Press Sports Editor Nicholas Kosmider

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Lucas Clark: Last week in Palo Alto, Calif., the Oregon Duck defense was completely punished by Stanford senior running back Toby Gerhart, who rushed for a school-record 223 yards and three touchdowns against what was considered one of the top defenses in the Pacific-10 Conference prior to the game. Oregon struggled to stop both the run and the pass throughout the day, but after seeing them in practice this week the Ducks look like they are as sharp and ready to bounce back as I’ve seen them all season. And with the ASU coming to Autzen Stadium, where Oregon is 5-0 this season, I expect to see a revitalized team come Saturday.

Nicholas Kosmider: Oregon hasn’t been alone in getting run over by the bruising Gerhart. ASU has only allowed one 100-yard rusher this season. You guessed it. Gerhart.

But outside of the Stanford running back’s performance, the ASU defense has been stellar against the run, allowing just 87.4 yards per game on the ground. The Sun Devils are playing for their postseason lives, as several one-possession losses have put ASU at 4-5 and needing at least two more wins to become bowl eligible. Motivation shouldn’t be hard to come by.

LC: The Sun Devils have definitely had their fair share of tough losses this year, but the defense has been nothing short of superb throughout the season, as they’ve allowed 30 or more points on only one occasion. ASU’s secondranked scoring defense and Jesse Davis 04.03.09

top-ranked rushing defense in the Pac-10 will prove to be an interesting matchup with an Oregon offense that has tallied 1,183 yards of total offense and 89 points over the last two contests. Junior quarterback Jeremiah Masoli has improved week in and week out and has shown just how versatile of an athlete he truly is. First-year head coach Chip Kelly always says that with his offense, he wants a quarterback who can run, not a running back who can throw, and he has definitely found that with Masoli.

NK: ASU knows all too well what Jeremiah Masoli can do as the leader of the prolific Oregon offense. Last season in Tempe, Masoli directed an offense that ran for 320 yards in a 54-20 win over the Sun Devils, a game that gave ASU coach Dennis Erickson nightmares during the offseason. Erickson noted Masoli’s maturation as a passer this season, in addition to his ability to make big plays with his leg. The ASU secondary has tightened up of late, especially last week against USC when it held freshman Matt Barkley to just seven-of-22 passing for 112 yards. The secondary will be depleted this week, though. Senior starting cornerback Terrell Carr has been suspended indefinitely following his arrest on campus Monday night.

LC: Even with a dinged up secondary the ASU defense is still one of the tops in the conference. But as the record has shown for the Ducks through the first seven weeks of conference play, nobody seems to have the answer to slowing

down redshirt freshman running back LaMichael James who is averaging 135.5 yards per game during Pac-10 play.

James surpassed the 1,000yard mark last weekend and has shown that despite his 5-foot-9-inch, 180-pound frame, he can with out question handle the load of the top rusher in the Oregon backfield. Fellow redshirt freshman Kenjon Barner has provided a strong compliment to James as well, but it will come down to how much push the offensive line can get up front against the ASU defense that allows less than 90 yards per game on the ground.

NK: LaMichael James is giving everyone fits in the Pac-10.

The Trojans are still likely having flashes of the downright scary performance that James haunted USC with on Halloween. With that said, ASU has done well against small quick backs like James, holding vaunted Oregon State sophomore Jacquizz Rodgers to 87 yards earlier this season. ASU’s struggle will be doing enough on offense to take advantage of the performance of its ‘D.’ As of Tuesday evening, Erickson had not decided which quarterback, freshman Brock Osweiler or senior Danny Sullivan, will start at Autzen Stadium on Saturday. Regardless of who the signal caller is, ASU will have to do better than the 353 yards it averages per game (eighth in the conference) in order to have any hope of keeping up with an Duck offense that has scoreboard operators busy all season. lc l ark@dai lye m e r a ld.co m

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