Stacking up the Pac-10: Quarterbacks - Danny Sullivan

July 24, 12:31 AMCal Bears ExaminerRob Calonge

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Sullivan will have to get used to the pressure as starter

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A college quarterback needs many things in order to become the type of player that every Pac-10 school requires from the position.

Coaching is important when it comes to the game plan, and Dennis Erickson has the credentials proving he can do just that.  The only problem for Erickson is his best coaching job of the last decade came in 2000 when he led the Oregon State Beavers to an 11-1 record and Fiesta Bowl victory.

A quarterback also needs a good running game.  In order to have that, a team has to have the most important key for a quarterback -- a good offensive line.

Arizona State might not have that in 2009.

Last year, the Sun Devils' offensive line allowed 34 sacks, all while protecting seasoned passer Rudy Carpenter.  It's because of this lack of protection that his replacement has fallen so far down the list.

Of all of the 'inexperienced' quarterbacks going into fall camp as the starter, the next quarterback on the list has the most experience -- another necessity for a Pac-10 quarterback's success.  Unfortunately, it's the question marks of his fellow teammates that drops this guy down to No. 9.

#9 - Danny Sullivan (Arizona State Sun Devils)

Being an unrated two-star recruit from Los Gatos, California, Sullivan could be considered the Rodney Dangerfield of Pac-10 starters in 2009 -- he gets little or no respect.  Of all of the rankings, it was Sullivan's that had me the most perplexed.  Of the quarterbacks listed in the bottom half of the pack, he has more Pac-10 completions under his belt than all of them combined.

He also may end up being much better than all of them due to being the #2 guy in Tempe for the last three seasons.

Unfortunately for Sullivan, he'll be working behind an offensive line that isn't expected to be very good.  Besides letting up all those sacks in '08, they weren't able to help establish a running game that averaged only 89 yards per game.  To make matters worse, Sullivan isn't known to be quick-footed.  This could mean some very long days for Sun Devils fans, resulting in a very long season.

Sullivan's saving grace may be in his ability to learn from his mistakes and to think on the fly.  His senior year in high school, he led his Los Gatos High team to the Central Coast Section Medium School title by completing 134 of 220 passes for 2,435 yards and 24 touchdowns.  According to his coach, it was his ability to audible that made the difference.

He's got tremendous arm strength plus great touch. What really impressed us was his knowledge of the game this season. He probably called 45 percent audibles by the end of the year, he was running the offense on his own.
- Los Gatos High coach Butch Cattolico to Scout.com

At 6'5" and 240 lbs., Sullivan has prototypical size and good enough arm strength to be as good as anyone starting in the Pac-10.  He also has three of ASU's top four receivers from the 2008 squad returning in '09, which should give him added confidence when it comes to making plays.

Sullivan's biggest battle might not even be the defenders that he's going to face.  After compiling career passing stats of 40 completions on 87 attempts for 409 yards and three touchdowns against three interceptions, there's a perception that he's not starter material.  He's going to have to prove himself to Sun Devils fans just as much as he'll need to prove to the rest of the Pac-10 that he's the right man for the job.

He's worked on his weaknesses over the offseason and thinks he'll be ready to surprise this season.  In an interview with ESPN's Ted Miller, he said that he's getting praise from the people who are most important -- his coach and teammates.

As coach [Dennis] Erickson said, I've really improved over this past offseason.  Spring ball went well for me. I've been more accurate. The receivers are telling me I'm doing a good job, so that's reassuring also. I just need to keep making strides to get better every day.

Washington Huskies Examiner and UW Dawg Pound writer, John Berkowitz seems to think that the Sun Devils will find a way to win, in large part due to their coach.  Here's what he predicts for 2009:

We all know what type of coach Dennis Erickson is:  he finds a way to win with the talent he has. He recruits well and knows how to get the most out of his players when they hit campus. The challenge, however, is it takes 2-3 years to rebuild an offensive line, even for a miracle-worker like Erickson.

Most experts expect ASU to win more than they lose in 2009, with six-to-eight wins and a minor bowl game. Throw me into that camp, too. If they can solve some problems on the offensive line, the Sun Devils should be able to score enough points to let a very good defense carry them.

I don't know if I agree with that assessment, but if Berkowitz is to be right, the Sun Devils will need Sullivan to be as good as Rudy Carpenter or better.

An opportunity to be that is all Sullivan is hoping for:  "...my heart is for Arizona State. I've been here for four years. I've been patient. I want this opportunity. I bleed maroon and gold."

Kevin Prince

Matt Scott /
Nick Foles