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ASU notes: Osweiler likely to start Saturday
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Arizona State quarterback Brock Osweiler is pursued by USC defensive end Malik Jackson. Nov. 7, 2009.
The Associated Press
Danny Sullivan’s biceps injury has made this week’s quarterback competition anticlimactic.
The senior quarterback did not throw in practice on Wednesday after being limited on Tuesday, and coach Dennis Erickson said freshman Brock Osweiler will likely get the nod on Saturday at Oregon.
Osweiler, a true freshman who played the second half against USC last Saturday, has been taking the first-team snaps with Sullivan limited to handoffs.
“Right now we’ll probably start Brock,” Erickson said.
There is a question as to whether Sullivan could even be the backup. Samson Szakacsy has been taking the repetitions with the second team, and if Sullivan’s injury doesn’t get better, Szakacsy would be the backup.
Erickson said the game plan will be simplified, but that has more to with playing in the Pac-10’s loudest stadium – Autzen – than which quarterback is playing.
“It’s different,” Erickson said. “If you play in the Southeastern Conference, or if you play in the Big Ten, or if you play in some of those arenas every day, this kind of stuff (crowd noise) happens. But in this league it happens (only) occasionally.”
Erickson said Osweiler has done OK in the two days of practice this week.
“He’s not making every perfect throw or making every perfect read,” Erickson said. “He’s learning. He hasn’t played, so it’s like any guy that hasn’t played at that position. He’s like anybody else. It will be a tremendous learning experience.”
If Sullivan can get up to speed in the next couple days, he could replace a struggling Osweiler if needed, Erickson said.
ANOTHER CHANCE
Last week, cornerback Pierre Singfield was demoted to second string for the USC game.
Now with the suspension of Terell Carr and injuries limiting other cornerbacks, Singfield won’t just start against the Ducks, he could play nearly the entire game.
Josh Jordan practiced on Wednesday, but even if he plays, the Sun Devils will have only four healthy cornerbacks.
“To be honest, everybody’s dream is to play a whole game,” Singfield said. “Right now, we’re limited at the cornerback position, so we have to play. I’m excited about that.”
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