Arizona State Sun Devils Face Make-or-Break Year

Dennis Erickson enters his fifth season with ASU in 2011, and despite going 6-6 last year and having no bowl appearances since 2007, 2011 should be a make or break year for Erickson and the Sun Devils.

10 ASU starters return on offense and eight return on defense. There should be more starters returning, but knee injuries to wide receiver TJ Simpson and defensive back Omar Bolden will put this team to the test right away against Missouri in Week 2.

The Best Defensive Player in America?

The defense is ferocious and is led by one of the premier players in the landscape of college football.

Vontaze Burfict is the best Mike linebacker in America and has led the Devils the past two years. Burfict is a relentless, tackling machine and is a hit—seeking missile that has been named as Pre-Season National Defensive Player of the Year by Lindy’s Magazine.

Burfict and teammate Brandon Magee would have made up one of the better duos at linebacker in the Pac-12 and in the nation. However, a recent torn ACL in practice for Magee may be the straw that broke the camels back. This defense at least had a solid front four led by emerging sophomore Junior Onyeali who led the team in sacks a season ago and this defense is impressive.

The secondary could get better as ASU was just 101st in the nation last season. Injured Omar Bolden was expected to be a premier corner in the Pac-12 this year, and without him it will not get much easier. Still, the numbers should improve with Eddie Elder, Clint Floyd and Osahon Irabor all roaming back deep.

Football over Basketball

The Sun Devils improved their previous woes on offense a ton last season ranking 29th in total offense (425 yards/game), 78th in rushing offense (139 yards/game), and 15th in passing offense (286 yards/game). Cameron Marshall and Deantre Lewis will need to be able to bust longer runs this year in order to succeed. ASU’s offense has lacked the home run ball so they need to execute on third downs much better (58th).

The passing game will be solid once again even without TJ Simpson. Quarterback Steven Threet had a decent career but called it quits back in February.

He suffered three concussions alone last season and he prefers to live a healthy life without football in it. I can’t blame him and neither should Sparky, who now have Brock Osweilern under center (6’8”, 235-pounds). He has a solid arm and is a big dude that can find open targets down the field in his sleep.

Note that big Brock opted not join or play on the basketball so he could concentrate solely on his football team.  

Willie My Man

Mike Willie caught 36 passes, six which went for paydirt. Willie will now enter his senior season and his second full season in Tempe.  Jamal Miles hauled in 25 passes for four TDs a season ago and despite only totaling 203 yards, a solid 5’10” possession slot receiver will do just fine. 

Gerrell Robinson is their third receiver and is more of the physical specimen at 6’4”, 222 pounds.

This athletic freak can beat you deep for the home run ball as his 13.3 yard per catch shows. Five TDs and 387 yards may be average numbers, but the entire receiving core will have improved numbers with Kerry Taylor (54 catches, 699 yds, three TD) graduating. 

Drama's Forecast

The schedule is manageable despite getting a top 25 Missouri team in the second week of the season. Even if they lose right away, they get USC after their heated rivalry game with Illinois. The only true road games will be against the mighty Oregon Ducks, Utah Utes, UCLA Bruins and Washington State Cougars.

If they can split those four road games this team has the makings of playing in the inaugural Pac-12 Championship Game against Oregon or Stanford with the opportunity to play in a BCS Bowl. However, I foresee too many losses on defense due to injuries and I feel that Erikson will once again fall short.

RETURNING STARTERS: 10 Offense/Eight Defense

PROJECTED BOWL: Vegas Bowl 

PROJECTED RECORD: 8-5, 6-3 

PREDICTED FINISH IN PAC-12: Third in South, Fifth Overall