Fewer flights for ‘Air Koetter’

SEATTLE – The days of “Air Koetter” may not be entirely over, but there’s no question that Arizona State’s offense is racking up nearly 364 yards a game with a different mindset than past teams coached by Dirk Koetter.

Out is the pass first, second, third and fourth philosophy that used to be Koetter’s mantra, and in is a more straight-ahead running game. While ASU ranks 70th in the nation in passing offense, it is 27th in rushing offense.

“We are a run-first team now,” said Koetter, who leads his team into Husky Stadium at 4 p.m. Saturday.

“It’s different for me because the last five years here and the three years I was head coach at Boise State, we were definitely a pass-first team. But you have to build around the team we have. Right now the premier players on our offensive team are Zach Miller, our tight end, and Ryan Torain, our tailback. You’ve got to adjust and do what those guys do best.”

It has been quite an adjustment.

Koetter was one of the top quarterback coaches in the nation in the 1990s, coaching Matt Hasselbeck at Boston College as well as Joey Harrington, Akili Smith and A.J. Feeley at Oregon. Each made it to the NFL.

He then became head coach at Boise State, where the Broncos employed a devastating passing attack and one year had the nation’s leading offense. Koetter brought that offense to Arizona State, where the Sun Devils have ranked in the Top 20 nationally in passing offense the past four years. In 2004, ASU ranked fifth at 317.3 yards a game and last year, it was third at 373.4 a game. Under Koetter in 2005, quarterback Rudy Carpenter led the nation in pass efficiency as a redshirt freshman.

So yes, to see the Sun Devils as a running team certainly takes some getting used to. But as Koetter said, much of it has to do with adjusting to the personnel.

ASU isn’t as strong at receiver as it has been, and instead relies more on the running of Torain and a shorter pass attack that features Torain and Miller. Miller leads the team with 25 catches and Torain is tied for third with 12. No receiver has more than 13 catches.

“The back’s a really good back, there’s a big offensive line, the tight end’s a good player,” UW defensive coordinator Kent Baer said. “(Koetter’s) just been smart about what they can do offensively and they continue to do it.”

Carpenter made his starting debut against Washington last season and passed for 401 yards and three touchdowns. This year, he’s been decent, though not quite what was expected. He’s completed 57.9 percent of his passes for 190.9 yards a game and 13 touchdowns, but also leads the conference with nine interceptions. (He had just two last year). But Koetter said Carpenter has turned things around the past two weeks, when he’s gone a combined 26-for-36 for 284 yards and two TDs with no interceptions.

“Rudy played probably his most efficient game of the year (last week),” Koetter said. “I feel like he’s getting back to having the rhythm and timing he needs.”

While Carpenter has struggled, ASU’s running game has kept the ball moving, thanks to the play of Torain, a transfer from Butler Community College. A year ago, it was freshman Keegan Herring carrying the load, gaining 870 yards. But Koetter wanted a more physical attack and got that with the 216-pound Torain, who ranks fifth in the league in rushing at 87.7 yards a game and averages 5.5 yards a carry.

“At the end of last season we were very happy with Keegan Herring,” Koetter said. “All of our backs in the past have been in the 185-to-190-pound range. We felt like we needed to add a bigger back presence. … Ryan has the ability to run through arm tackles. He’s a slasher. He has good speed.”

Washington’s Scott White said the Huskies have to pressure Carpenter while focusing their attention on Torain and Miller. Much of that responsibility will fall to White and Dan Howell.

“They’re a little bit of a different team,” White said. “They’re probably not going to put it up as many times as they did last year.”

Baer said he doesn’t care how much the Sun Devils move the ball as long as his defense is able to keep them out of the end zone.

“I could care less about yards,” Baer said. “What I care about is points. It’s amazing how many NFL teams give up over 300 yards passing every week and still win games. … As long as we keep it out of the end zone, I don’t care.”