Can ASU football be better next year?

[HooverDam]

So for some time it seems everyone has been resigned to the idea that 2011 was ASUs year to win quite a few game and that 2012 would be a step back. While ASU definitely has a huge Senior class, the more I think about it, the less worried I am about next year.

ASU will lose some key players, especially a bunch of Wide Receivers and Offensive Lineman, but otherwise it seems like they'll be OK. We all thought losing Omar Bolden would be tough, but they didn't have him this year so its not really a loss. Additionally his absence has helped younger guys grow & get experience.

On the offensive side of the ball ASU will have a Senior QB and a Senior RB next year. Plus Deantre Lewis will be back to give ASU that nice "thunder & lightning" combo in the backfield that is so key in college football. Losing Willie, Robinson, Pflugrad & Bell at WR is tough, but Middlebrooks comes back and I like him a lot. Plus JJ Holiday will be a JR and Pickens a SR, so maybe ASU won't be totally without weapons.

On the defensive side of the ball ASU may actually be better than this year. We all expect Burfict to leave, but maybe with Magee coming back he'll stay around. Before this year I thought the chances of Burfict returning were 0, but now I do have some hope. A LB corp with Seniors Magee & Burfict would be killer.

The defensive secondary will be more experienced, all JRs and SRs: Darby, Ayers, K. Johnson & Carr--- not too shabby. Plus I think the D line will be real tough: DE Sutton, DT Latau, DT Adams, DE Onyeali.

Depth and experience will be an issue, but I'm hoping 2012 can be even better than 2011. If ASU finishes out this season the way they should--- 10-3, Alamo Bowl appearance-- the recruiting class should end up pretty solid, and its off to a good start already.

So what do you think? Does it look like ASU could be back to back Pac 12 South Champs (yes I know, counting chickens WAY before they hatch) or are the Devils in for a 7 or so win season next year?

 

[Gaddabout]

Burfict should come back, but I don't think he will. I also don't believe Magee's made up his mind either. He got drafted in baseball and had to really think about it before deciding to come back for football. I think Bradford will be a more productive MLB, anyway, in the way Colin Parker has made up for the loss of Magee. However, Bradford actually has more upside because he's so much more of a better athlete than the scouts suggested.

Defensively, I think it will be critical for ASU to find a legitimate 1-gap tackle. Burfict hides a lot of weaknesses there with his size over the A-gap, but ASU still gets pushed around in the middle.

Offensively, I wouldn't be so bold to count Lewis as coming back. He's a shell of his former self, not just mentally and emotionally, but physically. The bullet did some damage and one leg may never be the same again. It's hard to tell. The bigger issue there is the offensive line. ASU loses three senior starters, which is huge. Yes, others have had starting experience, but even this year they've shown they should be backups. I don't know how much of a leap those guys can make between now and next year. IMO, returning starters along the offensive line is always the biggest indicator of how an offense will do. I expect to see at least two more losses next year because of it.