Huskies hope to bend a win out of ASU

When the best passing quarterback in the conference goes up against the worst pass defense in the conference, you can usually put a pretty sure bet on which side is likely to give.

But Washington coach Tyrone Willingham has a unique perspective on his secondary's ability to survive the crush of the Sun Devils' passing attack, which is led by quarterback Sam Keller and his Pac-10-best 309 yards passing per game.

Citing his team's "bend-but-don't-break" tactic, Willingham hopes to sustain the pressure of ASU's offense.

"Based on how we're trying to be with our personnel -- a bend-but-don't-break team -- we don't give up the big plays," Willingham said. "That's one of the sacrifices we have to make."

The Huskies (0-4 Pac-10, 1-6 overall) will need to be plenty flexible not to snap Saturday at Arizona State (1-3, 3-4). While ranking ninth in the conference in terms of yardage surrendered (282 yards per game), the Huskies also have the worst interception-touchdown ratio in the conference, picking off just six balls while surrendering 17 passing scores.

Add to those numbers the fact that the Husky secondary is surrendering passes at a rate of 69 percent.

"Just 50 percent would disturb me," Willingham said.

Washington's cornerback crew, a sparse group to begin with, is still missing Josh Okoebor to a hamstring injury. Now, utilizing more nickel and dime packages, they must contend with senior receiver Derek Hagan and ASU's four-receiver sets.

Hagan, among the leaders in Pac-10 receivers, has 715 receiving yards, more than double any UW player, and six touchdowns. And with a team average of 372 yards passing per contest, the Husky defense is more into containment than control.

"If we had a preference, I'd prefer to give up three or for short ones to a long one," Willingham said. "One long one is too many."

One long season is what the Huskies have had so far. With six losses, Washington has been eliminated from bowl consideration for the second consecutive year and is staring at a repeat 1-10 season.

"It's frustrating as a senior, because you want to go out as a winner," said linebacker Joe Lobendahn, entering his final four games as a Husky. "It's tough when you're losing. You want to set an example for the younger guys."

If winning is an example to set, the Sun Devils are perhaps Washington's easiest competition since Idaho. After playing against four straight ranked opponents, ASU, whose defense is giving up over 450 yards per game, provides an opportunity for the Huskies to get on track.

That prospect begins on defense.

"We're not satisfied," Lobendahn said. "We're improving every week. If we continue to do that, the wins will come."

Additional notes:

-- While Louis Rankin is still questionable with an injury, Willingham said the starting running back will be a tossup between Kenny James and James Sims.

--Fullback Ty Eriks is also questionable to play. With Sims moving to tailback this week, walk-on Mark Palaita will likely take on the vast majority of blocking duties.