ASU VS CAL: The Preview

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Now, I am sure I have mentioned, oh, three or four times during this season, that this game is a must win for Arizona State, but Saturday's game versus California is an absolute must win for the Sun Devils if they want to achieve bowl eligibility. 

Whether or not the Sun Devils come out and perform up to expectations is yet to be seen; however, this game stacks up as a big time test for ASU. Dennis Erickson's squad has been fighting against top dogs all season, although this weeks test will come from a different form of animal, in the Golden Bears of California. 

California has no doubt one of the top play-makers in the Pacific Ten conference in Jahvid Best at running back and up until a two-game losing streak in early October, he was a front-runner for the Heisman Trophy. 

ASU's defense struggled last week in the Bay Area against another top running attack in Stanford's Toby Gerhart. Stanford ended up running over, through, and around the Sun Devils' once daunting rushing defense for a grand total of 237 yards. Toby Gerhart alone had 125 yards. 

If the Sun Devils are going to some how pull out a win at home against California, ASU will have to slow down the rushing tandem of the aforementioned Best and Shane Vereen, Cal's change-up back. 

As an optimist, I feel that ASU had a rough go of it on the road, as usual, and the Sun Devils will regain their previous form of containing the oppositions running game in this game versus the Golden Bears. 

But it cannot only be up to the defense to provide the opportunity of a marquee victory, the offense has to show up, and put up some points. Well, or at least put a few long time consuming drives together to provide some rest for the defense, if ASU is to have any success in Saturday's game. 

The Arizona State offense has recently become a little healthier than previous games; however, just the player on the field will not make the game closer. The players returning to action must make a big impact on the game. And by players returning, I specifically mean Senior wide receiver Kyle Williams. 

Kyle Williams in the early part of the season was quarterback Danny Sullivan's most prolific target, and his go to receiver in clutch situations.

Now, Williams did not dress and did not travel with the team to Palo Alto last weekend, and he was surely missed, as the score and statistics showed. However, other receiver stepped up in his absence, such as T.J. Simpson and the always dependable Chris McGaha. 

Now with Williams returning to the starting lineup, the wide receivers have an added punch to their rotation with McGaha, Williams, Simpson, and the big target Gerrell Robinson. But the receivers are not the only area of offense for ASU that needs to "step their game up", the offensive line and running backs will pave the way to a Sun Devil victory. 

Although Senior center, Thomas Altieri will be absent from the starting lineup Saturday, Toby Gerhart's brother, Garth will be starting in his place for ASU. Some might say their is a drop off, since Altieri has started for the past two seasons for Erickson's squad, but Gerhart was slated to be the starter coming out of training camp, if it were not for a turf toe injury. 

The offensive line will be nearly identical to the five that started in the Sun Devils' huge victory over Washington two Saturday's ago with: Lavauo, Hargis, Gerhart, Good, and N'Junge (from left to right). The only exception being Gerhart at Center. 

However, there might be some new faces in the backfield for ASU. During practice this week, Erickson rotated the high-flying Ryan Bass into the running back spot to inject some life, speed, and breakaway ability into the Sun Devils rushing attack. This might be a bright spot for ASU if the youngster can hold onto the football in crucial situations, unlike the Oregon State contest. 

The ASU backfield will start with Dimitri Nance, and clearly establishing a running game is a must in this game, if Arizona State wants to have any hope of winning this contest. Nance, Cameron Marshall, and Ryan Bass will be the three headed monster that the California defense must shut down, to end the bowl hopes of Sun Devil nation. 

But when talking about championships and bowl eligibility, the defense has to be brought up. The Sun Devil defense has not looked like its usual dominant self as of late, but that trend can only last so long.

ASU's Defensive Coordinator, Craig Bray, has inserted superstar freshman sensation Vontaze Burfict into the starting lineup; however, the High School All-American has to remember to play within the rules. Burfict has been far from "perfect" when it comes to playing within the rules, he has received five personal foul penalties in the past two games, and is on the Pac-10 referee's watch-list for dirty conduct in the past few weeks. 

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