Inside the Pac--a look at the ASU Sun Devils for 2002
Eight returning defensive starters could bedevil or beguile
By: Malamute, 9 July 2002

Led by All-Pac 10 defensive end Darrell Suggs, ASU returns eight starters from last season's defensive unit. Likely the strength of this year's team, the defense should improve on last year's record, which finished next to last in the Pac-10 in our average of 11 defensive categories. ASU loses four offensive linemen who started last season but returns tackle Regis Crawford.

Now that Jeff Krohn has transferred to Massachusetts, the Sun Devils need to find a replacement at quarterback. Last season, he led the Pac-10 in "Pass Efficiency." After  the spring scrimmage held in April, head coach Dirk Koetter said that sophomore Chad Christensen would likely "carry over" as number one. If so, he will be tested quickly, at Lincoln, Nebraska, when the Devils open their season facing the Cornhuskers in Christensen's baptism of fire. 

Along with the other quarterbacks, Christensen played poorly in the spring game, passing 14 times, completing 3 and garnering 21 yards. If he starts, he will be backed up by Andrew Walter (3-11, 58 yards) and Andy Goodenough (4-14, 33 yards). Walter started in two games last season, completing just 44.2 percent of his aerials (86-38-2). Christensen has excellent mobility but doesn't have the arm strength of the other two.

The loss of four starters on the offensive line will be another factor concerning Coach Koetter on the way to Lincoln. The Sun Devils finished fourth in the conference in rushing offense last season thanks to the productivity of Delvon Flowers who benefited from a senior-dominated offensive line. Without Flowers who has departed, the running game was more or less non-productive during the April scrimmage, with Mike Williams dominating the statistics by gaining 44 yards on 11 carries.

Shaun McDonald, who led the Pac-10 in receiving yards per game (100.4) returns at wide receiver. Daryl Lightfoot, who is shifty and speedy, will get some playing time at receiver. He was eighth in the Pac-10 in punt returns last season.

Josh Amobi had a sensational spring, and along with Solomon Bates, will give the Devils a solid line backing corp. They have five excellent players at linebacker that will be fortified by incoming JC transfer Ishmael Thrower--who would be a quarterback if only he were as good enough a thrower as Andy Goodenough. Yikes, there I go again. 

Another incoming JC player, Shane Jones, will help out at defensive tackle and replace the departed Tommie Townsend. The other defensive tackle position is up for grabs, the Sun Devils having lost Kurt Wallin.

On defense, Bates (LB), Jason Shivers (FS), R.J. Oliver (CB), Ricardo Stewart (FS), Alfred Williams (S), and Suggs (DE) all figured in Pac-10 statistics last season (see Table 5 below). 

Although Mike Barth is more than a capable place kicker, the act of replacing punter Nick Murphy is still in limbo, and Brian Biang needs to improve his punting--quickly. 

We summarize some of the ups and downs that could affect ASU for next season. 

Table 1. On the upside

Table 2. On the downside

 

Table 3. Returnees on offense
 

Table 4. Returnees on defense

Table 5. How prominent returnees did in the Pac-10 in 2001

Table 6. ASU's Offensive Statistics in Pac-10, 2001

Table 7. ASU's Defensive Statistics in Pac-10, 2001



Table 8. The Sun Devils' 2002 Schedule