Pass-happy Cougars face blitz-heavy Sun Devils

PULLMAN — Washington State throws on nearly every down. It’s at the core of why the offense led by Luke Falk goes by the nickname “Air Raid.”

Arizona State is big on the blitz and leads the Pac-12 in sacks.

Something will have to give when the Cougars (5-3, 3-2 Pac-12) host the Sun Devils (4-4, 2-3) on Saturday.

“If we can protect Luke, he’s going to have a field day,” Washington State running back Jamal Morrow said.

Falk is averaging more than 400 yards per game through the air, and the Cougars have an array of good receivers.

But the Sun Devils rank second in the nation with 9.5 tackles for loss per game. They have 29 sacks on the season, three more than any other Pac-12 defense.

“They mix it around and they have different schemes and bring different people at different times,” Washington State coach Mike Leach said.

Arizona State poses a different kind of problem on the other side of the ball. The Cougars have been vulnerable to running quarterbacks this season, and Arizona State’s Mike Bercovici is focused on doing more damage with his legs.

“The quarterback has to use his legs in order for this offense to succeed at the highest level,” said Bercovici, who has rushed for four touchdowns this season.

Said safety Taylor Taliulu: “If we’re all in our right gaps, we should be gapped out and there should be no running lanes for anyone.”