2009 Record: 4-8 (2-7)
Head Coach: Dennis Erickson (4th season, 19-18...167-83-1 overall)
Offensive Coordinator: Noel Mazzone (1st season)
Defensive Coordinator: Craig Bay (4th season)
2009 Bowl: Not a snowball's chance in Tempe
Offense: Erickson brought in Mazzone to save his ass...er...to get the offense back on track after some of the worst offensive play in ASU history. The new spread attack didn't exactly attack in the spring as Michigan transfer Steven Threet nor Brock Osweiler took charge of the race, and Samson Szakacsy missed the spring after having shoulder surgery. Uh oh. Cameron Marshall looks to be the starting back, but he was a non factor as a freshman last season. Kerry Taylor is the lone returning WR. There are 3 returning starters on the line, but non of them can be sure as to what they are going to be blocking for come September.
Defense: ASU was quite good on defense, ranking 13th nationally in total D. The D will have to be every bit as good this season if they want to even match 4 wins of a season ago. 3 starters return on the line, and are led by DT Lawrence Guy. Sala Falahota returns as the other DT, and both way 300 lbs. Vontaze Burfict is the star on defense as a sophomore. Omar Bolden and Deveron Carr return to man the CB spots, but both safeties are new.
Special Teams: Thomas Weber returns at PK, and he has had a solid career, but he was severely limited by a groin injury last season. Trevor Hankins returns as the best punter in the conference after having averaged 44.2 yards per punt last season.
2010 Schedule
Wins: 9/4 Portland State, 9/11 Northern Arizona, 10/30 Washington State
Toss Up Games: None
Losses: 9/18 @ Wisconsin, 9/25 Oregon, 10/2 @ Oregon State, 10/9 @ Washington, 10/23 @ California, 11/6 @ USC, 11/13 Stanford, 11/26 UCLA, 12/2 @ Arizona
The schedule out of conference is a joke, and when ASU finally plays someone for real on 9/18, they'll get just how bad it is. To play 2 Big Sky teams is a joke for a PAC 10 team, especially a team that was once a threat and a power. ASU wins 3 games, 4 or 5 at best.
Outlook: Dennis Erickson has hit the wall here. And everything that Idaho fan must have hoped for has happened after Erickson went all mercenary on their ass, bailing after a year for ASU. The honeymoon is over, not like it ever began, and ASU is going to be looking for a new HC very soon. Instead of going out and getting athletes that fit their system, they went for wholesale change when they don't have the athletes to run the spread...not good. The defense will get hung out to dry again.
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