Devils can't seem to score TDs in red zone

Asked if he could put a finger on what has ailed Arizona State inside an opponent's 20-yard line this season, offensive coordinator Rich Olson chuckled.

When discussing the Sun Devils' red-zone woes, a little levity does not hurt. The propensity of the offense to wilt as it gets closer to the goal line has been one of the most frustrating aspects of this season of discontent.

Why can't ASU make it to the end zone from the red zone?

"That's a tough question," Olson said. "It's like a nemesis. Between the 20s, we do pretty good, but once we get down there, we really stop ourselves. We have procedure or holding penalties that put us back. We just haven't made the plays that you have to make there."

The Sun Devils have scored on 23 of 28 trips inside the red zone, for an 82.1 success rate that ranks sixth in the Pac-10. However, just 12 of those scores are touchdowns.

By comparison, Stanford is 29-for-31 (with 24 touchdowns) for a conference-leading percentage of 93.5. Arizona is second, with 33 scores in 36 trips, including 26 TDs.

"Right now, we're just killing ourselves," quarterback Rudy Carpenter said. "We've struggled with the run and pass down there. It's very frustrating, especially when you lose a game by two or three points. We leave a lot of points out there every week."

The red-zone problems have ranged in severity as the season has progressed.

The first two games, they were a nuisance, as ASU twice won convincingly despite just six TDs in 11 forays into the red zone.

At Southern California on Oct.11, they were bewildering, as the Sun Devils did not score despite having first down inside the Trojans' 20 three times.

And last week at Oregon State, they were victory-costing, as ASU scored on all five red-zone ventures, but four ended in field goals. One touchdown would have made a difference in a 27-25 loss.

"We just have not been able to hang our hat on anything in the red zone," coach Dennis Erickson said. "On the road against a good team, you get some touchdowns, and it's a different game."

Olson said he believes the problems are not psychological.

Red-zone penalties have set ASU back, especially last week, and the run game has been inconsistent everywhere on the field this year. The rushing woes are exacerbated closer to the goal line, when safeties can move closer to the scrimmage line, making them harder for receivers to block.

"The running back often has to run over somebody, because there will be a free guy somewhere," Olson said.

Olson said he believes the recent emergence of Shaun DeWitty at running back might help ASU's cause inside the 20. At 6-foot-2 and 217 pounds, he is the biggest of the running backs, and Erickson said DeWitty, a junior who has been hampered by injuries for much of his career, provides the best package of running, blocking and receiving.

DeWitty made his second ASU start at Oregon State and rushed for 110 yards.

"Shaun has got good hands and is smart, a good pass protector," Olson said. "He's powerful, when he lowers his pads and runs in there, he can be a weapon for us."

Regarding the game plan, there is little that can be done differently, Olson said.

The Sun Devils' play selection is limited only inside the 5, due to the extremely short field.

That leaves execution. The Sun Devils must do that better.

"We're getting it to the red zone, but we're not getting it in," Erickson said. "We just have to keep plugging away. Sometimes it's hard to get (a touchdown) in the red zone against a good defense, but that doesn't matter. We have to get better there, that's the bottom line."

ARIZONA STATE AT WASHINGTON

5 p.m. Saturday, fsn Arizona

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ASU's RED-ZONE WOES

What happened in each of Arizona State's five forays inside the Oregon State 20-yard line during last week's 27-25 loss:

First quarter

Third-and-2, OSU 17: Shaun DeWitty rushes for 5 yards and a first down. A holding penalty backs ASU up 10 yards, and quarterback Rudy Carpenter is sacked on second down. On third-and-28, Carpenter hits Kerry Taylor for 20 yards, and the Sun Devils get a 27-yard field goal by Thomas Weber.

Second quarter

Second-and-5, OSU 16: After DeWitty is stopped for a 1-yard loss and Carpenter throws an incomplete pass, Weber kicks a 34-yard field goal.

Note: ASU had first down at the OSU 22, technically not in the red zone, in the second quarter but netted minus-4 yards on three plays before Weber missed a field-goal try.

Third quarter

Second-and-8, OSU 20: Carpenter throws an incomplete pass and is sacked for a 7-yard loss before Weber boots a 44-yard field goal.

Fourth quarter

First-and-10, OSU 15: Keegan Herring rushes for 5 yards and then minus-2 yards, Carpenter throws an incomplete pass, and Weber connects from 29 yards.

First-and-10, OSU 16: A false start backs ASU up 5 yards, and Carpenter is sacked for a loss of 9. On second-and-24, Carpenter hits Taylor for 27 yards to the 3-yard line. After spiking the ball to stop the clock, Carpenter hits tight end Andrew Pettes for a 3-yard touchdown pass with 21 seconds remaining.

- Dan Zeiger