Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Wolves could use a running start
JONESBORO — Michael Gordon remembers approaching his team on the sideline at Idaho immediately after scoring a third-quarter touchdown last year.
“We didn’t come all this way to lose,” Gordon told his teammates.
Thanks in large part to Gordon, the Red Wolves didn’t. He rushed for five touchdowns that day, including four in the second half and three in the fourth
quarter of a 44-28 comeback victory.
Gordon might be at the center of attention again tonight when the Vandals (1-3, 0-1 Sun Belt Conference) visit the Red Wolves (1-3, 0-0) at
Centennial Stadium. The preseason second-team All-Sun Belt running back is off to a slow start in his senior season, but several signs point to why ASU might turn to Gordon for a boost.
ASU is still smarting over last week’s 37-7 loss at Toledo in which it was held to minus-14 yards rushing as a team and Gordon and fellow running back Johnston White were held to 34 yards on 10 carries.
“That’s a kick to the gut,” right tackle Colton Jackson said.
Idaho’s statistics also make its defensive front an obvious point of attack. The Vandals are giving up more than 7.5 yards per rush and
314.0 yards a game on the ground, which ranks 128th and 127th, respectively, out of 128 FBS teams.
Perhaps most important for ASU Coach Blake Anderson is the Red Wolves’ uncertainty at quarterback.
Redshirt freshman James Tabary will likely make his third consecutive start as senior Fredi Knighten continues to recover from a groin injury suffered Sept. 12. Knighten returned to practice this week and Anderson said there is a chance Knighten could be used but the likelihood of that is “pretty small.”
That means Tabary will try to put last week’s poor performance behind him. Operating a game plan that put pressure on him to complete passes downfield, Tabary threw three interceptions, lost a fumble and was sacked six times by Toledo.
Anderson and offensive coordinator Walt Bell have alluded to a different plan tonight.
“I think we’ve got to establish the run,” Anderson said. “I think it’s even more important so he doesn’t feel like it’s all on his shoulders. … I think the plan this week is to help him be a little bit less responsible and let some of the other guys take some ownership.”
Anderson would like those guys to be Gordon, White and the offensive line.
Gordon is averaging 5.2 yards per carry but his average of 59.0 yards per game puts him outside of the top 10 among Sun Belt running backs. ASU’s 157.8 yards rushing per game ranks fifth among Sun Belt teams, but its average of 3.8 yards per rush is eighth.