ASU Gets Pledge From Bachynski

The Arizona State University Sun Devils have their third 2010 commitment after 7-foot-2 center prospect Jordan Bachynski informed ASU head coach Herb Sendek (pictured) that he wanted to be a Sun Devil.

Bachynski chose ASU over Cal, BYU, Connecticut, Oregon State and San Diego.

After visiting Bachynski last Wednesday, ASU extended a scholarship offer. BYU, Connecticut, Oregon State and San Diego also visited Bachynski in Miami, Florida.

"Jordan believes this is the best place for him," Yolonda Bachynski, Jordan's mother, told Rivals.com. "We got an email from coach (Jim) Calhoun at Connecticut and I've spoken with coach Calhoun, and the University of Connecticut is huge. If this was just a basketball decision, Jordan said he would probably be going there. That was the hardest scholarship to turn down because they're UCONN.

"But Jordan is looking for the whole package. He's an LDS kid coming off a mission but he wanted to be a place where there was an LDS community but it wasn't the only thing. He believes coach Sendek has the tools and the facilities to take him where he wants to go which is the NBA."

Bachnski visited the ASU campus in August, coming away impressed.

"Jordan and I together had visited a number of universities in the past when he was in grade 11 and grade 12 and he asked us to go and check out Arizona State and take pictures," Yolanda said. "So we popped in and took a tour of the place and it was amazing. Honestly, I was really impressed with the coaching staff, with their new facilities. I can't tell you how impressed we were.

"Jordan and I have been to a lot of campuses and been on the tours and they usually last about three hours and they tell you all the things they're going to do for your son and how many tutors they have and how they're going to feed them and then you meet with the head coach and they tell you about their program.

"With coach Sendek it was totally different. He sat us down. He said he has a specific plan for Jordan. He said he knew Jordan wasn't going to come in and be in game shape following his mission. He went over a plan point by point of how he would approach things with Jordan and get him ready to play. They had a vision for who Jordan could become and how they were going to get him there that was very well defined."

Bachynski (attending Centennial High School in Calgary, Alberta, Canada) is known to have good length and feet. He has the ability to make a mid-range shot and can score inside.

The Sun Devils also have commitments from Kaela King, a 6-6 shooting guard from Mater Dei High School in California and Corey Hawkins, a 6-3, shooting guard from Estrella Foothills High School in Goodyear, Ariz. King is the No. 17 shooting guard in the ESPUN 100. Hawkins is the 97th shooting guard.

Brother Says Fitzgerald Is Hot, Coach Says No

The Arizona Cardinals snapped out of their offensive funk and claimed a 31-17 win over the Carolina Panthers Sept. 20 on the road, improving to 1-1 on the season.

And everyone is happy--- except Larry Fitzgerald. Or so his brother says.

In an online column by Dan Bickley, Marcus Fitzgerald, Larry's younger brother, said Larry was a little peeved after catching four passes for 34 yards.

Marcus on his Twitter account wrote: "Just got off the phone with my brother. he's happy about the win. But PISSED he didn't get the ball thrown 2 him much!"

Is the extra attention and new schemes geared toward Fitzgerald beginning to wear on him after two games?

And if so, will it become a problem? Cardinals head coach Ken Whisenhunt isn't worried about it. He said Fitzgerald has not been upset and demanding. He has taken the slow start in stride.

"I think the one thing I'm most impressed with Larry - we all know he's a great player and the strides he made last year - but the leadership strides he's made this year," Whisenhunt told The Arizona Repbulic. "It's the way he handles himself on the field, so no, I'm not concerned about that."

Fitzgerald began the season with high expectations and they have not faded. However, even with the slow start, he is on pace to score 16 touchdowns, which would be four more than he tallied a year ago. His projected receiving yardage numbers are 840 yards, well short of the 1,431 he posted last season.

ASU Is Least Of UGA's Worries

Here's the story. The Georgia Bulldogs clash with the Arizona State Sun Devils at 4 p.m. Sept. 26 in Athens, Ga.

For the Sun Devils, 2-0, this will be their biggest test of the season, after wins over Idaho State and Louisiana-Monroe . The Georgia Bulldogs will come into the game trying to avoid falling to 2-2 on the season. Right now ASU is the least of Georgia's worries. The Bulldogs have bigger fish to fry--like trying to stop opposing offenses from from frying them.

In the first two games of the season, the Bulldogs have struggled to stop opponents and now defensive coordinator Willie Martinez is taking some heat. And it's coming from all angles.

In their last two games the Bulldogs have given up 78 points. Georgia's defense is ranked last in the SEC and has forced just two turnovers in four games.

The Sun Devils' offense hasn't been a machine over their first two games. Quarterback Danny Sullivan has been efficient but has just one touchdown pass on the season and 385 yards. The cure for a sleepy offense? Lately the Georgia defense has been an alarm clock. South Carolina's Steven Garcia threw for 323 yards and two touchdowns in Week 2 and Arkansas' Ryan Mallett threw for 408 yards and five touchdowns.

Saturday's contest could be a statement game for the ASU offense or it could be the Sun Devils' biggest challenge yet. Georgia is going into the game with more than ASU on its mind. It's going into the game with something to prove.

COMMENTARY: It Isn't Any Easier For Fitzgerald

Last season Larry Fitzgerald was the toast of the National Football League. He was marked as the best receiver in football. The next Jerry Rice. Jesus in shoulder pads. He scored what could have been the game-winning and title-clinching touchdown in last season's Super Bowl. His catch, a 64-yard reception, where he overpowered a corner, ran by the linebackers and split the safeties with blazing speed was nothing short of amazing.

What that season did, one where he had 96 catches for 1,400 yards and 12 touchdowns, was make him a marked man. He has a target on his back. And every defensive coordinator on Arizona's schedule is looking for new and revolutionary ways to stop or contain Fitzgerald.

The San Francisco 49ers, in a 20-16 win Sept. 13, did exactly that. The 49ers frustrated Fitzgerald and keyed on him, throwing different looks and double-teams at him. He was held without a catch in the first quarter. In a season where he was supposed to explode, San Francisco allowed him to catch six passes for just 71 yards. His longest gain was 25 yards.

"San Francisco is one of those teams, they're going to say, 'You are not going to throw the ball downfield, you are going to beat us underneath,' " Fitzgerald told The Arizona Republic.

He was double-teamed for most of the night. This should be expected. Fitzgerald caught the attention of every defensive coordinator in the NFL. They couldn't stop him last season, so now some of the brightest minds in football are coming up with new schemes and coverages to keep the ball out of Fitzgerald's hands. Keep in mind teams watch trends and figure out ways around them like taxes. Their mothers didn't raise any fools.

Here we are, one week into the season and defenses have moved the first piece on the board. This season will be a game of chess for Fitzgerald---not checkers. The Cardinals will have to work on strategy and find different ways to get him the football. Arizona can also help take away pressure by receiving production from other receivers like Anquan Boldin or Steve Breaston. A good running game from Beanie Wells or Tim Hightower would help, as well. It's a challenge this season for Fitzgerald and the Cardinals. This season will be a different one. Even with all the attention, Fitzgerald can still become the best receiver in football. He just has to make the proper adjustments.

COMMENTARY: Cardinals Cut Long In Numbers Game

What helped him make the roster ultimately spelled receiver Lance Long's demise.

Scout.com is reporting the Arizona Cardinals have released Long Monday. Long's journey has been one of surprises and more surprises.

This is just another step and another visit from the unexpected for the former Mississippi State product that recorded just one career collegiate touchdown--on a fumble recovery.

The road to the NFL hasn't been easy for Long and it never will be. He didn't start for his college team, wasn't highly recruited coming out of high school and had to earn his way onto the Cardinals' roster the last two years, playing on the practice squad last season before earning a place on the active roster this season.

The Cardinals suffered two key injuries to their receiving core this preseason when Anquan Boldin, Early Doucet and Steve Breaston had gone down and missed time. It was probably the best thing that has happened to Long. With Boldin and Breaston, two 1,000-yard receivers, taking less snaps, Long, all 5-foot-11 and 186 pounds of him, was given an opportunity to make an impression.

And he did exactly that. Long was one of the best route runners on the team, had arguably the best hands next to Larry Fitzgerald, and carried the confidence of a Pro-Bowler. He impressed the coaching staff and gave the Cardinals no choice but to add him to the active roster when the 2009 season began. The worst thing for Long? The worst thing was that the season began the way it did, a 20-16 loss to the San Francisco 49ers at home. The Cardinals didn't look like the Cardinals of old and Long dropped a pass. Arizona, upset and disappointed, had to make a move and it did. The Cardinals feel confident Doucet, Boldin and Breaston are ready to come back and play a major role again. And that leaves Long, the seventh receiver on the roster, as the odd man out.

He can still be re-signed by the team as a practice player, but for now his status with Arizona is up in the air. Over the preseason, he made a name for himself and caught the attention of several NFL teams which were interested if he was released by the Cardinals.

For Long, the numbers game and injuries served as both a benefit and a disadvantage. His story was an interesting one. Now as it takes another twist, it may just have to continue somewhere else.

Cardinals Want To Seal Leaks

If they weren't worried then, the Arizona Cardinals are concerned now.

After struggling through the preseason offensively, the Cardinals' attack sputtered again in a 20-16 loss to the San Francisco 49ers Sept. 13 at University of Arizona Stadium. The Cardinals are taking this week to improve and make sure this week's game against the Jacksonville Jaguars Sept. 20 on the road is different.

"You're dang right we're upset," safety Adrian Wilson told The Arizona Republic. "and that's why there's going to be a lot of yelling around here in the next 48 hours."

The Cardinals are looking for more production after a disappointing performance. Arizona gained just 299 yards of total offense. Quarterback Kurt Warner threw two interceptions and the Cardinals gained just 40 yards on the ground.

When the Cardinals begin preparation for the Jaguars Wednesday, the focus will be on making sure there is not a repeat of Week One.

The Cardinals would like to make sure they create plays and not take them away. Arizona, on top of its two turnovers, committed 12 penalties.

Despite the offensive problems, the Arizona defense played well holding San Francisco to 203 total yards and 19 yards rushing.

"They kept us in the game in the first half and played very well," Whisenhunt said. "If we can hold teams to 203 yards of total offense and we get our offense going, which I expect us to do, we are going to win some games."

A subpar performance has captured the Cardinals' attention. They're worried. Another performance such as that could have them scared.

Running Game Is Wildcats' Identity

After two weeks of the college football season, what we know now is that the Arizona Wildcats can run the football.

The Wildcats doubled up the Northern Arizona Lumberjacks 34-17 Sept. 12 at Arizona Stadium. The win was fueled by a 207-yard, two touchdown performance by running back Nic Grisby.

Arizona, 2-0, dominated at the line of scrimmage, rushing for 365 yards. Keola Antolin added 60 yards and quarterback Matt Scott rushed for 48 yards.

For the second week in a row, the Wildcats were able to gain more than 240 yards on the ground. In a 19-6 victory over Central Michigan in Week One, the Willdcats rushed for 246 yards.

The Wildcats, who struggled early last week, had no problem putting together good drives in the first half against the Lumberjacks. Grisby showed an ability to be physical between the tackles and break the long run. He scored on touchdowns of 25 and 30 yards in the first quarter. He also broke a 93-yard run later in the game.

"He's a game-changer and a game-breaker," Arizona coach Mike Stoops told The Arizona Republic. "He's a guy that can hit the home run, and we need that."

If there were any questions about the Wildcats' identity, they're coming closer and closer to being answered. Arizona, over the first two weeks of the season, has been a team which thrives on its rushing attack and strong defense. Every team needs an identity or something to rely on when the going gets tough. Arizona seems to have found its niche early. Arizona can use three different options in the running game. Grisby has been more than effect, Antoli s is a constant and quarterback Matt Scott puts pressure on a defense with his ability to pull the ball down and run.

But is the Arizona rushing attack truly this effective? It's possible the Wildcats may not find out for some time. The Wildcats, for the first time this season, will face a formidable opponent in the Iowa Hawkeyes, Sept. 19 in Iowa City, Iowa. The Hawkeyes are 2-0 with wins over Northern Iowa and Iowa State, but they did surrender 190 rushing yards to the Cyclones.

Like milk to the body, a good running game can do a whole team good. Arizona's defense, which has played well over the first two games of the year, will be rested. The Wildcats' passing game would be more effective and opposing defenses would feel the sting of fatigue by the final quarter.

With tough games at Washington (Oct. 10), at home against Standford (Oct. 17) and UCLA (Oct. 24), and road games against California (Nov. 14) and USC (Dec. 5), a good running game will always give the Wildcats a chance.