Montery Herald: ASU QB a concern for Cal

Arizona State quarterback Rudy Carpenter said he will try -- starting with Saturday's game at Cal -- to go back to being the somewhat free spirit he was during games last season.  "The big thing this week, and for the weeks on out, is to concentrate on being me," said Carpenter, who led the nation in passing efficiency last season. "I have to start doing the things that helped me to get here, that's running around the field making weird throws and avoiding sacks."   Carpenter, who emerged as the starter after a battle with Sam Keller (who transferred to Nebraska), said he might have been trying too hard in ASU's first three games to prove he could be a classic drop-back quarterback.  "I think sometimes you can over-analyze things," he said. "You try to be what other people want you to be. Because I am a perfectionist, I always think I can do things better. I have been trying to stand in the pocket and throw the ball. That's what I really did work on during the off season."

Carpenter already has thrown twice as many interceptions this season (four) as he did all of last year when he had 17 touchdowns to just two interceptions. However, he has completed 63.2 percent of his passes for 842 yards and nine touchdowns during his team's 3-0 start. ASU coach Dirk Koetter wants his sophomore quarterback to relax and continue to learn to be a pocket passer. "Rudy says some things in the media that I don't agree with," Koetter said. "Two of his turnovers (in Saturday's 21-3 win at Colorado) came when he was scrambling. I don't care who you are, you have to learn to stay in the pocket at times. "But Rudy is playing fine. I am not going to get into a war of words with my quarterback." Cal coach Jeff Tedford has been impressed with Carpenter. "He has a nice presence in the pocket," Tedford said. "He is a very strong competitor."

On the run

Although most of the focus has been on ASU's quarterbacks, Tedford said the Sun Devils' ground game concerns him. Starting tailback Keegan Herring is averaging 6.3 yards per carry and backup Ryan Torain averages 5.3 yards. ASU is averaging 161.7 yards rushing through the first three games.  No ASU runner has posted a 100-yards plus rushing effort this season, but collectively they have been impressive.  Bears defensive line coach Ken Delgado told Tedford that this is the best running unit the Sun Devils have had since Tedford took over at Cal in 2002.  Cal is allowing 140.7 yards per game rushing.

Extra points

Koetter noted during a conference call on Tuesday that he didn't expect Cal to run what some might consider a full-blown spread offense with Nate Longshore at quarterback. "Longshore reminds you of a guy who is next in the long line of pocket passers in Jeff Tedford's system," Koetter said. "Cal wants to spread you out to give Marshawn Lynch and all other running backs lanes." Tedford said Lynch's sprained ankle has healed and he will get in a full week of practice going into the ASU game. According to Tedford, senior left tackle Andrew Cameron (sprained ankle) is 50-50 to play against ASU. Tedford said sophomore left tackle Mike Tepper did a nice job in the first start of his career against Portland State. "There was a time or two when he was beaten inside," Tedford said. "But that is something he will learn through experience. He is a talented guy." Longshore is 37-of-54 for 525 yards and six touchdowns in his last two games. He has thrown one interception during that time. Wide receiver DeSean Jackson is tied for second in the nation with five receiving touchdowns. Against Portland State, Cal had 12 players catch a pass.