Bruins Can’t Expect Pass-Happy Walter

Arizona State quarterback Andrew Walter is the heart and soul of the Sun Devil offense. He already holds nearly every school passing record and ranks among the all-time best passers in the Pacific 10 Conference in yards and touchdowns.

But when Arizona State has the football this afternoon at Sun Devil Stadium, UCLA (4-2 overall and 2-1 in the Pac-10) doesn’t expect a wide-open air attack.

Instead, the Bruins figure Walter and the Sun Devils (5-1, 2-1) will do just as every other team has done this season against them.

“Undoubtedly, they are going to run the football,” UCLA defensive coordinator Larry Kerr said. “Just look at film and there’s no doubt in our mind that they will want to run.”

Only one team among the 117 in Division I-A has given up more yards on the ground than the defensively challenged Bruins, who have been yielding 256.7 yards a game on the ground. Only San Jose State has a worse run defense.

That’s why it will be no shock to see the Sun Devils, who rank ninth in the Pac-10 in rushing offense, turn to their ground game.

“We know that we have to step up and stop them on the ground; that’s been our liability,” Bruin linebacker Spencer Havner said. “I’m sure they are going to try and exploit it. They aren’t that bad running the ball. They have a good power game.”

Normally, coaches do not like to tip their hand when it comes to a game plan, but Arizona State Coach Dirk Koetter told reporters earlier this week, “It’s no secret. I’m sure [UCLA] will tell you the same thing. They lost seven defensive linemen last year ... they’re just playing a lot of young inexperienced guys.

“They’re going to have to play their way into experience. The first game of the season, Oklahoma State was not a passing team and really ran the ball on them. Now, everyone gets that tape and they sort of got exposed and everybody else had tried to do the same thing with various degrees of success.”

Arizona State is coming off a dismal loss at USC last week and is looking to rebound against the Bruins. Walter, a senior who has thrown 15 touchdown passes, and three interceptions, said focusing on UCLA was not as difficult as some might think.

“It depends on how you lose,” he said. “The [USC] loss was just so bad. If you lose a heartbreaker, it might be harder.... After a loss like last weekend, I think it’s easier to move on because there’s not a lot of good in dwelling on it.”

UCLA’s defensive line will get a boost with junior C.J. Niusulu returning to the lineup. He sat out last week’s game at California because of a swollen ankle. Senior Eyoseph Efseaff will get his second consecutive start at tackle, but Niusulu is expected to play major minutes.

Freshman Brigham Harwell will get his second start at end in place of injured Justin Hickman, still out because of a knee injury. Junior Kyle Morgan will start on the other end, with sophomore Kevin Brown starting at tackle next to Efseaff.

Coach Karl Dorrell spent the majority of one practice this week working with the defense.

“We worked on some issues that have been plaguing us the last couple of weeks and I think we’re starting to turn the corner,” Dorrell said. “All we can do is keep working on fundamentals and details to getting yourself in better position.”

Kerr said the Bruins had shown some improvement last week, even in giving up 290 yards rushing to Cal.

“We played much sounder last week, but we still had a couple of big mistakes at inopportune times,” Kerr said. “It’s a consistency matter now. It’s hard to say that after last game, but we’ve improved.”

Arizona State will test UCLA’s front with junior running back Hakim Hill. He has been playing with a cast on his broken right forearm and leads the Sun Devils in rushing with 274 yards. Hill broke the arm against Iowa on Sept. 18.

“As a secondary, we’ll eventually get a lot of opportunities to make plays on the ball,” cornerback Matt Clark said. “I think they’ll try and establish that run game, but I think we’re going to be able to stop that. Our D-line is getting better every week.”