Wake Forest Demon Deacons
Wake Forest finished the season at 6-5 -- its first winning season since 1992 -- and not surprisingly will be playing in its first bowl game since that year. The Demon Deacons rely on defense to keep games close, but will face a team with a plethora of offenses weapons in the Sun Devils. To counteract State's offensive firepower, expect the Deacons to blitz a lot in an attempt to force inexperienced QB John Leonard to make quick decisions and force the ball into coverage. Wake's strength on offense is its running attack, anchored by senior RB Morgan Kane. To be successful against an athletic Sun Devil front seven, the Deacons will need to pound the ball between the tackles and get Kane the ball when he is moving upfield. Wake will employ a conservative passing game, with senior QB Ben Sankey looking for his receivers on short to intermediate range routes -- trying to spring his receivers for long runs after the catch.
Arizona State Sun Devils
Arizona State was hard to figure out in 1999. The Sun Devils were an extremely talented offensive team, but at times, they disappeared altogether. TE Ryan Heap had an incredible season that should make him an All Pac-10 selection and will probably get him some consideration for All-American. RB J.R. Redmond is also a dangerous weapon. His speed allows him to outrun defenders if he gets through the line untouched. Defensively against Wake, expect the Sun Devils to show a lot of eight- and nine-man fronts early in the game. Sankey is not the kind of QB who is going to beat you alone, and Arizona State has confidence in its secondary, anchored by senior CB Courtney Jackson. Talent-wise, the Sun Devils have a clear advantage in this game, but that wasn't enough at times this season, and they will be facing one of the toughest defenses in Division I in Wake Forest.
Keys to the game
1. Whether Arizona State QB John Leonard be comfortable as a starter. Leonard has some big shoes to fill with the injury to starting QB Ryan Kealy. In spot action this year, Leonard looked comfortable as long as he had time to set up in the pocket. Wake is going to come after Leonard with an aggressive package of stunts and blitzes to test Leonard's decision-making. If Leonard remains poised and doesn't make a lot of mistakes, he will allow his athletes to make plays and in turn, his team to win the football game.
2. Whether Wake Forest has the offensive firepower to keep up with Arizona State. If Wake Forest, particularly QB Sankey, can develop some rhythm on the offensive side of the football and put together some long, sustained drives early in the football game, then the Deacons have a good chance of beating Arizona State. But if State gangs up on the run and Sankey is ineffective through the air, it will be a long day for Wake.
3. Whether Arizona State is the team that beat Washington 28-7 on the road, or lost to New Mexico at home, 35-7. The Sun Devils have been hard to figure out this season, as it appears the team had real problems motivating itself from week to week. Granted, the team was, at times, decimated by injuries, but that is still no excuse for the team's regularly inconsistent level of play. Coach Bruce Snyder needs to assure that it his team's Jekyll personality, and not its Hyde, that shows up for the Aloha Bowl.
War Room Edge: Arizona State Sun Devils
Arizona State clearly has the edge in this game athletically, and on paper would be a clear choice to win despite the fact that the team's starting QB will miss the game. But the Sun Devils have a habit of letting teams, particularly those with inferior offenses, hang around. Wake Forest seems like the team that has more to prove in this game, having not played in a bowl since 1992, and should keep this game close. But ultimately, the nod has to go to the Sun Devils, who should, with their athletic superiority, outpace a punchless Wake Forest team.
 | Material from The War Room. Visit their web site at http://www.nflwarroom.com |
