Eric Sorenson
Every Thursday ASU legend, now Pac-12 Network studio analyst Jake Plummer joins Brad Cesmat on Sports360AZ.com presented exclusively by the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl.
Here are some hi-lights from their most recent conversation November 7th.
What are your thoughts on Ka’Deem Carey from what you’ve seen this season and throughout his career in Tucson? “I like running backs that are pure runners and he’s just a pure runner. He’s really fun to watch. We’re going to see him play this weekend against, I think, a very quality linebacking core [at UCLA] and we’re going to get to see the true, real Ka’Deem Carey come out. His skills will be on display and I’m looking forward to seeing that game.”
Thoughts on Thursday’s Oregon-Stanford showdown in Palo Alto: ” A lot of times I think these big games get so blown out of proportion that, even though they’re good games, they’re letdowns because people are waiting and wanting to see this epic game they’ve heard about for so long and now it’s been over two weeks about how prognosticating…who’s going to do what and this-and-that. I think it’s going to be a great game. It’s two different styles of the old school versus the new school and it’s beautiful it’s the two top teams in the Pac-12 and two of the top five teams in the nation.”
Is Oregon’s offense physical enough to matchup with Stanford’s defense? “I think that’s one of the things they ran into last year. A lot of what Oregon does so well is get outside of the tackles and last year Stanford had a plan for that. They kept them inside the tackles. The production outside the tackles was not there for Oregon and so I imagine Stanford’s going to try to do the same thing they did last year. Whether they’re able to accomplish that or not…they’re a smart team. They’re going to be in the right position. It’s going to be a chess-match when Oregon changes the plays. How well is [Shane] Skov going to be able to check the defense and [keep them] in-line…I don’t think they’re going to be able to contain them the whole game.”
What do you think about another former ASU quarterback, Jeff Van Raaphorst, as a replacement for Steve Patterson as ASU’s Athletic Director? “People talk about the Rose Bowl I went to but there’s one guy that’s won a Rose Bowl and that’s Jeff Van Raaphorst. Great guy. Knows sports. A Sun Devil through and through. I’d love to see him get in the mix. That would be awesome. Some guy I actually know. Not somebody who transfers from some other huge college that he’s just transformed into a winner. Get a guy that’s going to put his heart and soul into it. That would be awesome.”
What’s your view of locker room dynamics and what’s happened in Miami with the Richie Incognito-Jonathan Martin hazing incident? “I think it’s the locker room. It’s a private place. I don’t like the fact the media can come in there so I don’t think it’s anybody’s business. What happened is getting so blown out of proportion and out of context. People who had no idea who Richie Incognito was before all this are rushing to judgment. Everyone is different. Every locker room is different. It’s about respect…it’s a bad sign for the NFL. It’s a tough guy league and sometimes if you run out you get tested. Guys want to test you and see if you’re tough and see how far they can take it before you break. That’s been happening for years and it’s never going to stop…what happens is a locker room is privy to the people who are there.”
To hear the rest of the interview click here.
