I've been in Phoenix the last few days on business and stop by ASU yesterday to watch an "Open" scrimmage. Yes...open to the public. They ran about 70-80 plays. Those boys are big. They are young like us. I was impressed with the way they run practice.....everything is double time. They have running backs from 5'-6" tall to 6'-4" tall and are all fast. I can't tell you how fast this team is. Offense: I counted how many linemen they had and they were all impressive. It looks like a junior LT (315lbs) and a SR right tackle (320lbs and from Texas) are new starters with the center (295 lbs) and the guards (both 310lbs) returning starters and are all SR'S. I can now see how they are rated so high. The QB'S, outside of the starter, are all young. The back up at QB is a RS freshmen with no game experience at all.....the other two are true freshmen. If they lose their starting QB they will be in a whole of hurt. They also have a lot of unproven WR's but they looked good with great hands. That D.J Foster is going to be a hand full.
Defense: They have starting LB's (all returning starters) that are big and really fast. The secondary is small and experienced.....both corners are returning starters....We might be able to man handle them, but they did a nice job of breaking up passes. Kirk should know them well and will help us a lot when we play them. Their DL line is deep but young. A lot of tall ends and some big interior guys. Man do they ATTACK the offense. They try to blow up the interior of the OL......and they did today.
As a whole, ASU is no cup cake. Graham wants this game in Houston. All the fans I talked to really believe that he has turned this team around. They were like us for about 10 years ago, (trying to find the right guy to run their team). about 500 or little less every year.... I can't wait for this game....a very good team will win and a very good team will lose....
Defense: They have starting LB's (all returning starters) that are big and really fast. The secondary is small and experienced.....both corners are returning starters....We might be able to man handle them, but they did a nice job of breaking up passes. Kirk should know them well and will help us a lot when we play them. Their DL line is deep but young. A lot of tall ends and some big interior guys. Man do they ATTACK the offense. They try to blow up the interior of the OL......and they did today.
As a whole, ASU is no cup cake. Graham wants this game in Houston. All the fans I talked to really believe that he has turned this team around. They were like us for about 10 years ago, (trying to find the right guy to run their team). about 500 or little less every year.... I can't wait for this game....a very good team will win and a very good team will lose....
