INJURY UPDATE: WR Darrell Catchings suffered a high ankle
sprain and will miss the next two-three weeks. He may sit out the rest of the
year and apply for a medical redshirt. WR Casey Kjos (back) who missed Saturday's
game is expected to start practicing this week. LB Keaton Kristick (shoulder
stinger) will take it easy in practice this week.
OPPONENT LOOKAHEAD: Arizona State narrowly lost to No. 21
Georgia 20-17 on the road last weekend for their first loss of the season. The
Beavers are the Sun Devils first Pac-10 game of the year. ASU opens as a five
point favorite.
ANOTHER OPTION: With Catchings gone for at least a couple
of weeks and possibly the year, redshirt freshman Geno Munoz is expected to
play more.
“I feel good about Geno Munoz,” Riley said. “He should play
some more.”
Munoz has played sparingly this season and has yet to record a catch.
ONE-TWO: The Rodgers brothers are the top two receivers in
the Pac-10. Quizz leads the conference with 32 catches while James is second
with 27.
NOT A GIVEN: For the fifth straight season the team sits at
2-2. In the last three years the Beavers sat at 2-3 and bounced back to go to
a bowl game, but nothing is guaranteed.
“I’ve warned our team that bouncing back is not a given, just because
those other teams did it,’’ coach Mike Riley said. "It’s
good that it’s in our blood, and there’s guys on the team who have
been a part of it.
"They understand there’s no reason to panic, but they do need to
have a sense of urgency about each game."
ZERO: For the second time this season the Beavers failed to
register a sack. Currently the team ranks 117th nationally with two sacks in
2009. DE Kevin Frahm is the only Orange and Black player with
a full sack this season.
MORE UGLY STATS: The Beaver defense ranks 110th nationally
in pass defense (272.0 ypg), last in the conference in opponent third down conversions
(43.1%), ninth in opponent third downs (79) and has caused the least amount
of turnovers (4) and given up the most sacks (15) in the Pac-10. On the flip
side the offense ranks first in pass offense (255.8 ypg), first in first downs
(87) and third in third down conversions (44.8%).
MORE TV: The Stanford game has been picked up by FoxSports
Net with kickoff set at 4 PM.
CANFIELD WILL START: Sean Canfield will start the Arizona
State game, but if the senior quarterback struggles to move the offense coach
Mike Riley could put in Lyle Moevao. The coaches like that Moevao is more mobile
than Canfield and gets rid of the ball quicker.
"There's no doubt Lyle is a good option," coach Mike Riley
said. "We are getting to that point. We are going to let them practice
like usual this week. But with the way he plays, the anticipation and the delivery,
he is a viable option in the games."