ASU benches the monster

by John Berkowitz on Oct 6, 2010 9:02 AM PDT

MADISON WI - SEPTEMBER 18: John Clay #32 of the Wisconsin Badgers is tackled by the face mask by Vontaze Burfict #7 of the Arizona State Sun Devils at Camp Randall Stadium on September 18 2010 in Madison Wisconsin. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

Arizona State comes to town Saturday night with an improved offense and the same type of nasty defense that led the conference in personal fouls last season. The Devils are 2-3 on the season but losses to Wisconsin, Oregon, and Oregon State could all have gone the other way if ASU could eliminate mistakes like turnovers and penalties.

Last years game in Tempe erupted into a free for all penalty fest. The Sun Devils strategy was to take the Washington offense out of the game by making them so mad that they couldn't execute. The strategy worked and ASU won the game on a last second hail mary pass for a touchdown.

Fast forward to this season and the Sun Devils are using the same type of strategy to intimidate opponents. LB Vontaze Burfict is the leader of this defense. He won't be starting on Saturday because Erickson is punishing him for a dead ball personal foul he committed against Oregon State QB Ryan Katz. Sr Gerald Munns will start in his place.

"That can't continue to happen," Erickson said of Burfict's frequent personal fouls. "If it does, he just won't play. That's where it's at right now. We've been talking to him for a long time, and we'll continue to do that. Munnsy will start because of that, and Vontaze will play some."

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Erickson goes on to say that opponents have been baiting Burfict this season which makes sense because every time he goes off it results in 15 yards and a first down. Burfict's penalties are part of the reason ASU ranks No. 116 nationally in penalties per game and No. 118 in penalty yards.

Burfict may not start on Saturday but he is expected to play quite a bit. I can't imagine Erickson sitting him for more than a series or two. Take away the bad comportment and Burfict is the conferences best linebacker, most intimidating, and talented defensive player.

Erickson has put together talented, trash talking, and intimidating defenses at every one of his college stops. Last years defense may have been the most infamous from a personal foul perspective in his career. In a season where he had no offense he had to create a monster on the defensive side to make up for it.

The problem Erickson is having is the monster he created last season is now out of control. Those penalties that were intimidating enough to take an opposing offense out of its comfort zone last season are a major culprit in three ASU losses this season. Erickson knows it has to be turned around and that is the reason that Burfict won't be starting on Saturday.

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Comments

It's a shame he still can't pull it together

He’s the most dynamite MLB in all the land when he’s under control.

His headbutt was about the dumbest damn thing I’ve seen from a player this year. I hope we can bait their whole defense into some mistakes, they’re a volitle bunch.

by B Money on Oct 6, 2010 9:15 AM PDT via mobile reply actions

What’s new same ol’ same ol’ from Erickson – I hope we put a whoop’n on them. Go Dawgs!

by lorenzothedog on Oct 6, 2010 9:23 AM PDT reply actions

6 in a row

We have lost 6 games in a row to ASU, have never beaten Dennis Erickson, (the original Ferndale flash) since he’s been HC at ASU. That losing streak matches our losing streak against Ore and Ore St. Two of those games we lost in incomprehensible fashion, last years game plus the loss in OT in Husky Stadium , a TD catch by a TE running all alone.
       We need to play another A game, no mistakes, solid D. ST and D lines need to step it up. ASU is very similar in stats to us. Even younger than we are, they will be really good next year. Jake and polk are our keys to victory. Oh, yeah a little early game Nebraska noise would help to welcome another first time starting QB to husky Stadium.
       Johnb is very generous suggesting Burfict will sit out 1 or 2 series. I think one play and he will be back in there. When he does get in, the refs better be watching him closely, and toss him on the first cheap shot. A heck of a good football player, but steps over the line way too often.
       Rattling Threet is the way to win, but like ASU we have yet demonstrated we can pressure the QB on a regular basis.

by prrbrr on Oct 6, 2010 10:22 AM PDT reply actions

ASU's O-Line is on par with Syracuse's

I’d like to see a lot of press coverage and cover 1. The air raid is working for them right now, but if we can bring some good blitz pressure we can force Threet into some mistakes. Force them to line up a TE and/or FB to keep the heat of the QB.

by B Money on Oct 6, 2010 11:13 AM PDT via mobile up reply actions

I'm not one for hyperbole ... but our D is due to generate some turnovers and ...

… frankly, we are due to put a beating on ASU. its been too friggin’ long.

Damn, my eyeball tastes good.

by Gekko Mojo on Oct 6, 2010 12:57 PM PDT up reply actions

we should get some picks

I watched some of the ASU/OSU game this weekend, and I came away not impressed with Threet. He just doesn’t seem to have much velocity on his throws. He’s pretty accurate, but when you can’t zip a ball in there there’s only so much anticipation you can do – sometimes you only have a small window to get a ball delivered before the defender closes on the play.

I think his 10 picks are no fluke, and I’ll be extremely disappointed if we don’t pick him off multiple times on Saturday.

The guy that scares me is Lewis – that kid is a really good looking young RB, and forms a nice tandem with Marshall. I predict our defense will give up a lot of rushing yards yet again.

by kirkd on Oct 6, 2010 1:10 PM PDT up reply actions

So Kirk, so do you think like I do that we

should stack the box and force Threet to beat us with his arm. Our CBs are doing better in man coverage. And if Threet is as bad as we think he is, maybe not send QR (bad example) on a blitz to take the guy out on a clean shot, his replacement might be better.

by prrbrr on Oct 6, 2010 2:47 PM PDT up reply actions

well

We were stacking the box against USC too. What we need is better play at the point of attack, guys to not over pursue and better tackling.

I actually think zone coverage might be a better way to pick off Threet, but I’m certainly not opposed to man coverage if our guys are up to it.

by kirkd on Oct 6, 2010 3:20 PM PDT up reply actions

Behavior like that from Burfict astounds me.

I know he’s young and fiery and all that, but how can he not get it into his head that the defense needs him and that hey, maybe he should keep himself under control between plays?

Oh well, it’s good for this game at least.

by huskies2010 on Oct 6, 2010 11:23 AM PDT reply actions

well

Would it surprise anyone if the kid is ’roiding?

by kirkd on Oct 6, 2010 11:31 AM PDT up reply actions

Not at all!

UW Dawg Pound - SBN Seattle

by John Berkowitz on Oct 6, 2010 11:52 AM PDT up reply actions

that's one of the reasons that I've given Vontaze the nickname "Crazy Pills" Burfict

Damn, my eyeball tastes good.

by Gekko Mojo on Oct 6, 2010 12:12 PM PDT up reply actions

Don't know about steriods, but the Pac10 officials

must be on stupid pills. How can they ignore a QB being head butted 5 seconds after the play is over. Not starting Burfict sounds more like encouragement than even a hand slap. The Pac10 took no action against the OR RB last year, they let Chippy suspend him for the remainder of the season-ish. It just doesn’t seem right, they have to take control, similar to the new NFL commissioner.

If the Pac10 does nothing, the cheap shot head butt will result only in offsetting penalties (an O lineman was flagged for defending his QB) and sitting out the first play.

by dawgdude on Oct 6, 2010 2:06 PM PDT up reply actions

I think if he keeps it up his nickname will be changed to inmate #1656810

by Daisy May Davis on Oct 6, 2010 12:47 PM PDT reply actions

An Angry demeanor doesn't equal steroid usage

There are much better anecdotal ways to deduce androgen/PED usage. I’d look at Lean body mass, and body fat percentage first and foremost. There are limits to what any human can do naturally, even with great genetics. I don’t have the stats and ratio’s handy but 240lbs at 6% body fat isn’t possible naturally, IIRC, for example.

FWIW, our D-Line could use all the PEDS they can find, ugh……

by Steen on Oct 6, 2010 1:31 PM PDT reply actions

it was a half-serious accusation

My comment about ‘roids and Burfict is half in jest, but let’s be serious here – any football player is suspect. Especially a guy with the kind of build that Burfict has. When you add in his volatile behavior on the field, you have multiple pieces of circumstantial evidence.

Am I convinced he’s juicing? No.

Would it surprise me? Not in the least.

by kirkd on Oct 6, 2010 1:41 PM PDT up reply actions

I hear ya...

I’ve always assumed everyone uses, they’re stupid if they aren’t, and it makes it easier for to be agnostic on the subject.
I’m not at all cynical about it, and i was still suprised by the findings of that study i bastardized.
Though, it does jive with all the derision WADA and USADA give the NFL for its supposed “rigorous” drug testing policies. ; )

by Steen on Oct 6, 2010 1:48 PM PDT up reply actions