Erickson says Sun Devils to run the ball more

Finding offensive balance through the run game dominated the discussion at Arizona State coach Dennis Erickson's weekly press conference Monday.

Blogging with the Devils: First look: California

"I don't know if it has anything to do with anything other than saying, 'Let's make a commitment to running it more,' and we are going to do that now," he said. "How successful we are really depends on not how many yards a game that you run it, but that you are physical and those kinds of things."

Erickson said it comes down to persistence, adding that ASU passed the ball too much against Georgia in a 27-10 loss Sept. 20.

"That doesn't mean we are going to run it 40 times a game by any means, but it does mean that we have to be somewhat effective running the football," he said.

Quarterback Rudy Carpenter said that while the passing game was consistent against Georgia, it wasn't able to produce the big, home-run type plays that were needed.

"That's why it's important to establish the run," Carpenter said. "So that we can get more guys down in the box, get more safeties down, get more one-on-one coverage. When we get that, we can take more shots down the field."

Of course, the same concerns have dominated discussion since the Sun Devils' second game of the season, against Stanford, when starting running back Keegan Herring reinjured his hamstring.

Herring has been practicing well this week, Erickson said. While he is not 100 percent, he is expected to play Saturday against California.

O-LINE SHUFFLING

Junior-college transfer Tom Njunge is leading the competition to start at right tackle, while redshirt freshmen Matt Hustad and Adam Tello, who started the first four games, also are in the mix.

Guard Shawn Lauvao also is getting a look at right tackle. True freshman Zach Schlink now is a backup at both guard positions.

QUESTION MARKS FOR CAL

California running back Jahvid Best suffered a dislocated elbow in Saturday's 42-7 win over Colorado State and will miss at least one game. He is averaging 105.3 yards per game on the ground and has four rushing touchdowns.

The Golden Bears, as usual, have depth at running back. Backup Shane Vereen is averaging 8.0 yards a carry (35 rushes for 279 yards) this season.

The Bears may also consider a change at quarterback. Starter Kevin Riley completed just six passes for 59 yards against Colorado State and was replaced by Nate Longshore, the starter the last two seasons.

"We weren't sharp in the passing game," coach Jeff Tedford said afterward. "If a guy didn't play well, you have to look at making adjustments."

IN THE ZONE

When asked whether he expected to see similar defensive schemes this Saturday to those employed by UNLV and Georgia against ASU, Carpenter said, "That's what I would do if I were the defense. I'd play what's working."

"UNLV and Georgia both played a lot of zone coverage and dropped eight guys into coverage, and they won, so I'm assuming that Cal, to a certain extent, will try and do the same things that both those teams do."