PDA

View Full Version : Looking At Arizona State vs. LSU

GeauxTo
07-12-2005, 09:20 PM
DandyDon Analyzes the LSU / Arizona State Matchup

Let's take a look at Arizona State, LSU's second opponent of the 2005 season. ASU posted a 9-3 record in 2004 and are preseason picked to finish as high as No. 13 in the nation and as low as No. 30 in the polls that I have seen. Dirk Koetter has been the head coach at ASU for seven years and has a record of 26-23. ASU returns 18 starters, nine on offense, eight on defense and one special team starter. Arizona State averaged scoring 35 points in the nine games they won and 24.5 points in the 12 games they played. ASU's defense allowed 21 points per game in the nine games they won, and 33 points per game in the three games they lost. The strength of the 2005 Sun Devils team will be on offense with four of the nine returning starters being very good. Wide receiver Derek Hagan (6’2”, 227, SR) who is a preseason All-American is probably the best of the returning starters. Quarterback Sam Keller (6’4”, 225, JR) who threw for 368 yards in the Sun bowl win over Purdue has all the tools to become a great quarterback. Sophomore TE Zack Miller (6’4”, 255) and center Grayling Love (6’4”, 300, SR) are both preseason All-Conference picks. The Sun Devils weak link appears to be in the defensive line and the defensive backfield. The Sun Devils have several outstanding defensive lineman and defensive back prospects who are lacking game experience. ASU will be very strong at the linebacker position with seniors Jamar Williams and Dale Robinson leading the way.

Arizona State's nine wins last season came against: UTEP 41-9, Northwestern 30-21, Iowa 44-7, Oregon State 27-14, Oregon 28-13, UCLA 48-42, Stanford 34-31, Washington State 45-28, and Purdue 27-23 (Sun Bowl).

ASU's three losses were against: USC 45-7, California 27-0, and Arizona 34-27.

I believe that ASU will give LSU all they can handle for three quarters, but the fourth quarter will belong to the Tigers. Dandy Don's prediction is LSU 31 - ASU 17.
;)
SPURED
07-12-2005, 09:34 PM
My Prediction.........The game wont even be close. ASU gets there but handed to them pretty convincingly
Djshockley3
07-12-2005, 10:03 PM
My Prediction.........The game wont even be close. ASU gets there but handed to them pretty convincingly


My prediction is LSU 27 ASU 13.
GeauxTo
07-12-2005, 10:38 PM
My Prediction.........The game wont even be close. ASU gets there but handed to them pretty convincingly
Sounds good to me, Spured. I hope that's just the way it happens. I am cautiously optimistic that our offense will be so good that it will be unstoppable; we will run over people. This game will be sort of the proving ground for that optimism. If we run over them, it'll be a message for all to heed.
;)
OrangeCrush
07-12-2005, 11:00 PM
The good news is that this is the second game of the season and LSU does not have to worry about opening up with this game. You just never know with first games. I give ASU to the half to make it competitive, then LSU's skill and depth will be to much to overcome in Death Valley.
GatorNation
07-13-2005, 09:02 AM
DandyDon Analyzes the LSU / Arizona State Matchup...

The analysts are saying this team could be just as good as the 96-97 team. If that's true, l-essU could be in for a looooong game.

'05 ASU is better than '04 Oregon State.....should be a helluva game.
Cianne
07-13-2005, 09:11 AM
The analysts are saying this team could be just as good as the 96-97 team. If that's true, l-essU could be in for a looooong game.

'05 ASU is better than '04 Oregon State.....should be a helluva game.

Agreed, I'm not sure if Joseph or Purdue will be able to stop Derek Hagan. It's going to take Landry plus one of them for it. Also, the Sun Devils have the best TE in the country in Zach Miller so it's going to be up to whoever the most athletic LB on the team is to stop him or maybe lining Daniels up on him. They will try to mismatch Miller on the LBs from the slot.

It's going to be up to the LSU front four to win this game and ASU isn't a slouch on the offensive line.
nooneLT
07-13-2005, 10:30 AM
all i know is that if LSU loses we'll never hear the end of it from pac-10 homers :(
uscrebel
07-13-2005, 11:50 AM
all i know is that if LSU loses we'll never hear the end of it from pac-10 homers :(

whah-chu talkin' 'bout, Noonie?
uscrebel
07-13-2005, 12:00 PM
I think that the primary issue for LSU is ASU's absolute unpredictability. Historically, they have beaten everyone they are supposed to and then inexplicably lose to Arizona, the worst team in the conference. Likewise, there was the year that Nebraska smothered them 77-28 and then they turn around and on the road beat a 6-1 Oregon team that was on the way to Rose Bowl...sending UCLA to the Rose and Oregon to the Cotton Bowl.

Depends on which ASU team shows up. However, I generally agree with the assessment that LSU is far too deep for the Sun Devils to stick around for long in the second half. LSU 36 / ASU 24
GeauxTo
07-13-2005, 12:09 PM
The analysts are saying this team could be just as good as the 96-97 team. If that's true, l-essU could be in for a looooong game.

'05 ASU is better than '04 Oregon State.....should be a helluva game.You're right. Could be a real ball-buster of a game. If there is an Achilles' heel at ASU, it might be their defensive line. If that is a weakness for them, the LSU offense should have enough weapons to take advantage. They, may, on the other hand be able to take advantage of our inexperience at the DB position, and some lack of experience at LB. We have good people in those positions, but they don't have the experience that many other defensive players do. Our DL should be okay and wreak some havoc with the ASU QB and RBs. All in all, it will be a defining game for LSU.
;)
GatorNation
07-13-2005, 12:12 PM
I think that the primary issue for LSU is ASU's absolute unpredictability. Historically, they have beaten everyone they are supposed to and then inexplicably lose to Arizona, the worst team in the conference. Likewise, there was the year that Nebraska smothered them 77-28 and then they turn around and on the road beat a 6-1 Oregon team that was on the way to Rose Bowl...sending UCLA to the Rose and Oregon to the Cotton Bowl.

Depends on which ASU team shows up. However, I generally agree with the assessment that LSU is far too deep for the Sun Devils to stick around for long in the second half. LSU 36 / ASU 24

That and ASU sunk #1 Nebrasska in '96 after NU won their back-to-back titles. Tough, gritty team that may sneak up on l-essU before they can get their offensive footing. The defense will have to win this one, imo.

Also, SEC west teams should be pulling for ASU....it could be the best chance for Bama or Auburn to take early command of the west.