Arizona State vs. Georgia Football 2009
Sun Devils Take Shot at Strangely Vulnerable Bulldogs Defense
Arizona State is 2-0 after a pair of easy wins, but since the victories were over Idaho and Louisiana-Monroe, there really hasn't been too much excitement.
But it'll be a different story if the Sun Devils handle No. 21 Georgia in the non-conference game at Athens, Ga. A victory over a ranked SEC team on the road might give coach Dennis Erickson's team status as a strong contender in the Pac-10 Conference race.
Georgia, meanwhile, will gun for its third consecutive victory after a season-opening loss to then-No. 9 Oklahoma State. The Bulldogs have had all kinds of problems keeping their opponents out of the end zone, yet they're 2-1 overall and 2-0 in the SEC.
So if Mark Richt and his staff figure out a way to shore up the defense, Georgia would look awful strong heading into its Oct. 3 conference showdown with No. 7 LSU.
Saturday's game is scheduled for 7 p.m. EST and is scheduled for telecast by ESPNU. It will mark just the second meeting between the schools. Georgia won last year at Arizona State, 27-10.
Georgia Defense Has Allowed 78 Points Over Last 2 Games
Defense was supposed to be strength for Georgia in 2009, owing to a huge cast of returnees. But the Bulldogs are allowing 406.3 yards per game – over 100 more than last year.
Over its last two games, Georgia has given up 78 points and 912 yards. The Bulldogs have been especially vulnerable through the air, allowing 313 in a 41-38 triumph over South Carolina and 408 in a 52-41 win over Arkansas last week.
On the flip side, Georgia's defense has not surrendered a fourth-quarter touchdown since the Oklahoma State game. South Carolina got a fourth-quarter TD on an interception return, but the only other points came on a pair of field goals.
Rennie Curran has been a force for the Bulldogs, racking up 33 tackles. He has a fumble recovery, four quarterback hurries, and two pass breakups – including one in the final seconds to preserve the win over South Carolina. Fellow Linebackers Darryl Gamble and Marcus Dowtin rank second and third on the team in tackles, posting 19 and 17 respectively. Lineman Cornelius Washington has two of the Bulldogs' four sacks.
Georgia's defense has had key injuries, including a season-ending ACL tear sustained by defensive end Rod Battle. And the efforts have also been made more difficult by turnovers, as Georgia's committed nine while forcing only two. Despite that, the Bulldogs have been putting up points.
QB Cox, Receiver Green Connect for Bulldogs
Joe Cox, stepping in for top NFL draft pick Matthew Stafford at QB, is 50-for-79 passing for 738 yards, with eight touchdowns and three interceptions. Cox has gone frequently to 6-foot-4 sophomore A.J. Green, who has 17 catches for 275 yards and three TDs.
Last week vs. Arkansas, Cox was 18-for-25 for 375 yards and five touchdowns, and Green had seven receptions for 137 yards and two TDs.
In addition to Green, Cox has solid receiving threats in Michael Moore (10 catches, 120 yards, 2 TDs) and freshman tight end Orson Charles (6 catches, 146 yards, 1 TD).
The Bulldogs are averaging 365 yards per game, but just 119 on the ground. Richard Samuel has been carrying the load, rushing 51 times for 256 yards and two TDs. But fellow sophomore Caleb King returned last week after missing two games with a bad hamstring, and rushed 11 times for 59 yards.
Special Teams Players Deliver for Georgia, Arizona State
Three sophomores are starring on special teams for the Bulldogs. Punter Drew Butler is averaging a remarkable 54.5 yards per punt to lead the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision, and Blair Walsh is 6-for-6 on field goal attempts, including two over 50 yards.
Brandon Boykin is averaging 32.4 on 11 kickoff returns for the Bulldogs, and he scored on a 100-yard run back vs. South Carolina.
Arizona State has some lethal return men of its own. The Sun Devils are averaging 50.8 yards on their four kickoff returns. Omar Bolden has runbacks of 89 and 34 yards, and Keelan Johnson's two returns have gone 44 and 36 yards. Bolden's 89-yard return went for TD in his team's 38-14 win over Louisana-Monroe last week.
The Sun Devils, however, will be missing its special teams star on Saturday. All-American placekicker Thomas Weber has been sidelined by a groin injury.
So far, It's Been Smooth Sailing for Sun Devils
Arizona State crushed Idaho State 50-3 on Sept. 5, then took a two-week break before toppling Louisiana-Monroe last week.
The Sun Devils are averaging 367 yards per game, with quarterback Danny Sullivan and wide receiver Kyle Williams proving to be an effective combination.
Sullivan is 32-for-55 passing for 385 yards, with one TD and no interceptions; and Wiliams has 13 catches for 179 yards. Chris McGaha has added eight catches for 92 yards and a touchdown.
Dmitri Nance has led the rushing game, carrying 25 times for 113 yards with three touchdowns. Ryan Bass has added 80 yards and a TD on eight carries.
The Sun Devils have also managed to get its 6-8 freshman quarterback Brock Osweiler into both games. He's gone 4-for-7 passing for 43 yards and a touchdown.
ASU Linebacker Mike Nixon Makes Big Plays
Mike Nixon has provided spark for the Arizona State defense. Against Idaho State, he made three interceptions, returning one for a touchdown. The senior linebacker also blocked a punt.
Nixon, a 26-year-old who's played pro baseball, ranks second on the team with 10 tackles. He's also a former high school placekicker who could help fill in for the injured Weber.
Sophomore linebacker Brandon Magee has registered a team-high 11 tackles for ASU, and has 3.5 tackles for losses, a sack and an interception. Freshman linebacker Vontaze Burfict has 10 tackles with one sack.
The Sun Devils, who also feature a standout defensive end in Dexter Davis, are giving up just 149.5 yards per game.
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