EUGENE, Ore. (AP) - One of Arizona State's biggest challenges this weekend at Autzen Stadium will be containing Oregon's ground game, which is ranked among the best in the nation.
The No. 14 Ducks, with their distinctive spread-option offense, are leading the Pacific-10 with an average of 233.6 yards on the ground per game. They're the ninth-best rushing team in the country.
Redshirt freshman LaMichael James averages 115.89 yards a game overall, and 135.5 yards in conference games to lead Oregon. Quarterback Jeremiah Masoli is the team's second-best rusher, with an average of 61.4 yards a game and nine touchdowns.
Oregon's offense also has an "X" factor in the return this week of running back LeGarrette Blount, who was suspended after punching a Boise State player after the opener. He was reinstated earlier this week and can play Saturday against Arizona State, although it is uncertain if he will.
All of that poses problems for the Sun Devils (4-5, 2-4 Pac-10).
"It's making sure that you are disciplined enough to know your assignment and patient enough to know that they are going to move the football and to not try and make plays that you're not responsible for," Arizona State coach Dennis Erickson said.
"The problem that you have is emulating it in practice. That is very, very difficult. It's like trying to emulate the triple option or the wishbone, if you're playing Navy," he added.
Two weeks ago, Oregon ran for 391 yards and had 631 yards of total offense in a 47-20 victory over then-No.4 USC. The Ducks had 570 yards total offense and 236 yards rushing last week in a 51-42 loss at Stanford.
It was Oregon's first conference loss, and it dropped the team from a season high ranking at No. 7. But the Ducks (7-2, 5-1) are still in good position to contend for the Pac-10 title, which has been claimed by the Trojans for the past seven seasons.
"We still control our own destiny. If we win out, we're going to the Rose Bowl ... but we can't lose another one," safety T.J. Ward said.
First they'll have to get by Arizona State, which has the best rush defense in the Pac-10. The Sun Devils are ranked sixth nationwide, allowing just 87.44 yards per game.
Last season, Oregon was able to run for 304 yards in a 54-20 victory in Tempe. Masoli and Blount each ran for two touchdowns in the game.
"Obviously we need to be a little more disciplined than we were a year ago," Erickson said. "You've got to simplify things in a plan against them, just so you know what you're doing."
The Sun Devils have lost three straight games and need to win two of their final three games for bowl eligibility. After Oregon, they visit UCLA before the finale at home against Arizona.
Arizona State will start true freshman Brock Osweiler at quarterback. Erickson said earlier this week that Osweiler would compete with Danny Sullivan for the daunting job at noisy Autzen Stadium, but Sullivan sat out of practice with a sore right biceps.
The 6-foot-8 Osweiler replaced Sullivan and threw a 23-yard touchdown pass in the second half of last Saturday's 14-9 loss to USC.
But it's obvious that Arizona State's run defense will be its best weapon in a game that Oregon will be anxious to win given its loss to the Cardinal.
"We're all really mad and not happy at all about that whole situation," Masoli said.
Oregon coach Chip Kelly wasn't committed to using Blount against the Sun Devils, preferring to wait and see how he progressed in practice.
Blount, who rushed for 1,002 yards last season, was suspended following Oregon's season-opening loss to Boise State, but he was allowed to practice with the Ducks and remain on scholarship. He has served primarily on Oregon's scout team, playing the roles of such running backs as Stanford's Toby Gerhart and Cal's Jahvid Best.
James not only filled Blount's role, but he excelled, and will keep the starter's job.
Blount was reinstated to the team on Monday after meeting certain behavioral and academic requirements Kelly had put in place.
"How many times he is going to carry the ball, I don't know, or if he's going to work himself into position to carry the ball at all, I don't know," running backs coach Gary Campbell said. "That's going to be up to him to see how he practices and how much of the offense he's retained."
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