As usual, it was Jack Loder (@JackLoder_) reporting on the offense and Cole Topham (@HamAnalysis) reporting on the defense.
Offense
Some heavy rainfall and general cloud cover has kept the Arizona State preseason practices cooler than usual this August. After four days without a media attended practice, the scorching heat was back for Sunday’s session.
“I’m hot. I’m tired,” tight end Jalin Conyers said as he walked by in the beginning of practice. “But it’s game week!” He sprang into action and sprinted to join the tight ends. The heat is a bother, but the Sun Devils won’t allow it to dampen their spirits or take away from their focus as game day is now just days away.
Arizona State will practice again on Monday and Tuesday
Attendance
Left Tackle Emmit Bohle was dressed and participating in practice for the first time in over two weeks on Sunday. While Bohle had been dealing with an undisclosed injury, Isaia Glass had been taking first team reps in his place. Fellow offensive lineman Thomas Leboucher was not observed at practice. The quarterbacks and skill position players had perfect attendance, continuing what has been a very healthy preseason slate for the entire offense.
Position Drills
Based on what we saw today, Xazavian Valladay and Daniyel Ngata will have a prominent role in the ASU passing game this season. Each back, along with George Hart III and Tevin White, took turns running quotes out of the backfield and catching passes from Emory Jones, Trenton Bourguet and Paul Tyson. Jones and Ngata had great chemistry during this period. The Florida transfer QB hit Ngata in stride three times in the drill. The timing was perfect on both sides.
The offensive line was working on installing game day plays. While the media was barred from filming the session, we were able to view it up close. The group looks dynamic, with both interior and exterior players getting quickly off the ball and moving as one to the second level. Expect an athletic offensive line in the run game. They have spoken at length about taking pride in being able to anchor pass protection as well as get downfield in the run game. That dual ability was on display on Sunday.
Wide receivers and tight ends worked on run blocking in the early part of team drills. Jalin Conyers starred in this period, exhibiting stellar technique while vocally coaching up teammates in between his turns. When the focus turned to route running and pass catching, Elijhah Badger and Cam Johnson were two of Jones’s favorite targets. The group worked on crossing routes as well as posts, with some sideline work mixed in for good measure. Before throwing to receivers, the quarterbacks worked amongst themselves, throwing into a net after executing three and five step drops.
11 on 11
QB Emory Jones
RB Xazavian Valladay/Daniyel Ngata
WR Andre Johnson
WR Cam Johnson
WR Elijhah Badger/Bryan Thompson
TE Messiah Swinson/Jalin Conyers
O-line from left to right: Emmit Bohle/Isaia Glass, Ladarius Henderson, Ben Scott, Chris Martinez, Des Holmes
It appears that if Bohle is healthy enough, he’ll get the starting nod at left tackle on Thursday night. At right guard, Chris Martinez still has a slight edge over Joey Ramos, who has taken some first-team reps lately. Expect a lot of shuffling on opening night, assuming coach Mike Cavanaugh has the luxury of mixing and matching his guys in what should be a comfortable win.
It was a forgettable performance for the offense in 11 on 11. The defensive line dominated their offensive counterparts for the entire media-open portion. Jones found Cam Johnson on a quick out route, as well as Ngata out of the backfield. Trenton Bourguet took second-team quarterback reps, but he didn’t have much success. Under pressure from the ever-present D-line, he delivered a throw high and late intended for Chad Johnson Jr.
Herm Edwards could be heard laying into the offensive linemen on multiple snaps, specifically unhappy with the left side. A clean pocket was non-existent for most of the snaps we observed. Edwards and Cavanaugh weren’t shy about their disapproval of the line’s performance.
Procedurally, Jones had a couple of mishaps. He took his eye off the first snap, causing him to put the ball on the ground. On another one of his snaps, Elijhah Badger beat Ro Torrence on a deep post route, but Jones failed to see him, dumping it off instead. He’ll look to clean the little things like that up before the lights come on Thursday night.
Offense
Some heavy rainfall and general cloud cover has kept the Arizona State preseason practices cooler than usual this August. After four days without a media attended practice, the scorching heat was back for Sunday’s session.
“I’m hot. I’m tired,” tight end Jalin Conyers said as he walked by in the beginning of practice. “But it’s game week!” He sprang into action and sprinted to join the tight ends. The heat is a bother, but the Sun Devils won’t allow it to dampen their spirits or take away from their focus as game day is now just days away.
Arizona State will practice again on Monday and Tuesday
Attendance
Left Tackle Emmit Bohle was dressed and participating in practice for the first time in over two weeks on Sunday. While Bohle had been dealing with an undisclosed injury, Isaia Glass had been taking first team reps in his place. Fellow offensive lineman Thomas Leboucher was not observed at practice. The quarterbacks and skill position players had perfect attendance, continuing what has been a very healthy preseason slate for the entire offense.
Position Drills
Based on what we saw today, Xazavian Valladay and Daniyel Ngata will have a prominent role in the ASU passing game this season. Each back, along with George Hart III and Tevin White, took turns running quotes out of the backfield and catching passes from Emory Jones, Trenton Bourguet and Paul Tyson. Jones and Ngata had great chemistry during this period. The Florida transfer QB hit Ngata in stride three times in the drill. The timing was perfect on both sides.
The offensive line was working on installing game day plays. While the media was barred from filming the session, we were able to view it up close. The group looks dynamic, with both interior and exterior players getting quickly off the ball and moving as one to the second level. Expect an athletic offensive line in the run game. They have spoken at length about taking pride in being able to anchor pass protection as well as get downfield in the run game. That dual ability was on display on Sunday.
Wide receivers and tight ends worked on run blocking in the early part of team drills. Jalin Conyers starred in this period, exhibiting stellar technique while vocally coaching up teammates in between his turns. When the focus turned to route running and pass catching, Elijhah Badger and Cam Johnson were two of Jones’s favorite targets. The group worked on crossing routes as well as posts, with some sideline work mixed in for good measure. Before throwing to receivers, the quarterbacks worked amongst themselves, throwing into a net after executing three and five step drops.
11 on 11
QB Emory Jones
RB Xazavian Valladay/Daniyel Ngata
WR Andre Johnson
WR Cam Johnson
WR Elijhah Badger/Bryan Thompson
TE Messiah Swinson/Jalin Conyers
O-line from left to right: Emmit Bohle/Isaia Glass, Ladarius Henderson, Ben Scott, Chris Martinez, Des Holmes
It appears that if Bohle is healthy enough, he’ll get the starting nod at left tackle on Thursday night. At right guard, Chris Martinez still has a slight edge over Joey Ramos, who has taken some first-team reps lately. Expect a lot of shuffling on opening night, assuming coach Mike Cavanaugh has the luxury of mixing and matching his guys in what should be a comfortable win.
It was a forgettable performance for the offense in 11 on 11. The defensive line dominated their offensive counterparts for the entire media-open portion. Jones found Cam Johnson on a quick out route, as well as Ngata out of the backfield. Trenton Bourguet took second-team quarterback reps, but he didn’t have much success. Under pressure from the ever-present D-line, he delivered a throw high and late intended for Chad Johnson Jr.
Herm Edwards could be heard laying into the offensive linemen on multiple snaps, specifically unhappy with the left side. A clean pocket was non-existent for most of the snaps we observed. Edwards and Cavanaugh weren’t shy about their disapproval of the line’s performance.
Procedurally, Jones had a couple of mishaps. He took his eye off the first snap, causing him to put the ball on the ground. On another one of his snaps, Elijhah Badger beat Ro Torrence on a deep post route, but Jones failed to see him, dumping it off instead. He’ll look to clean the little things like that up before the lights come on Thursday night.
