Cougars expect quite a rush

PULLMAN – During Washington State’s 31-0 defeat last year at Arizona State, the Cougars managed a season-low 7 rushing yards.

They weren’t that bad, however. WSU actually gained 49 yards on 21 carries.

But the Cougars lost 42 on three sacks, including one that ended in a fumble that defensive tackle Lawrence Guy scooped up and returned for a touchdown.

Today, the Sun Devils (2-2, 0-1 Pac-10) will come into Martin Stadium for WSU’s homecoming with just three sacks.

Senior defensive end Dexter Davis, who had 11 sacks last season, including two against WSU (1-4, 0-3), and 27.5 for his career, has none. The entire defensive line has just one.

So where has the rush gone?

It might have been put on the back burner for a purpose, WSU coach Paul Wulff said this week.

“They want to prevent the big play because that’s been their nemesis right now,” said Wulff, who thinks the Sun Devils will attack aggressively today. “The games they’ve lost, they’ve given up a few big plays. They also haven’t scored a lot on offense so the big plays have really stood out for them.”

Or their opponents aren’t the type of teams you sack much.

“They also haven’t faced a team that truly tries to throw the ball all the time,” Wulff added.

Wherever the pass rush has gone, ASU coach Dennis Erickson, the former Cougars coach, wants it back. Its absence, he believes, contributed to ASU’s 28-17, Pac-10-opening defeat last week at home to Oregon State.

“The pass rush is another phase of the game that was disappointing,” Erickson said.

Despite the disappearing sacks, the Sun Devils’ defense is still the best in the Pac-10 statistically, giving up just 232 yards per game. It ranks first in pass defense and second, to USC, in rush defense.