On a cloudy Tuesday morning in Tempe, Arizona State practiced in shells – shoulder pads and helmets – ahead of a road trip to Washington. The New York Giants, New York Jets, and Houston Texans were observed in attendance to scout the Sun Devils.
Offensive Attendance Report
OL Henry Hattis was not observed during the media viewing period. Hattis left ASU’s 31-16 win over USC with an injury but rode the stationary bike throughout the second half Saturday.
A day after WR Geordon Porter announced he would enter the transfer portal, the Sun Devils practiced without WR’s Johnny Wilson and Andre Johnson. Neither Wilson nor Johnson played against the Trojans. Wilson has missed four of the past five games, seeing limited snaps in ASU’s loss to Washington State.
TE Curtis Hodges – who played against USC but was not targeted – practiced in a green jersey. Hodges has been wearing the green jersey during practice for the past two weeks.
FB Case Hatch was also not observed at Tuesday’s practice. Hatch did not play Saturday, his first missed game of the season.
First Team Offense
QB Jayden Daniels
RB Rachaad White/DeaMonte Trayanum
WR Ricky Pearsall
WR LV Bunkley-Shelton
WR Bryan Thompson
TE Curtis Hodges
OL left to right: Kellen Diesch, LaDarius Henderson, Dohnovan West, Jarrett Bell, Ben Scott
Second Team Offense
QB Trenton Bourguet
RB Daniyel Ngata
WR Chad Johnson Jr.
WR Elijhah Badger
WR Lonyatta Alexander Jr.
TE John Stivers/Jalin Conyers
OL left to right: Isaia Glass, Ben Bray, Ezra Dotson-Oyetade, Spencer Lovell, Sione Veikoso
Practice Observations:
Without Henry Hattis available, ASU’s usual backup center Jarrett Bell slid into the starting right guard spot as offensive line coach Mike Cavanaugh organized his first unit. Against USC on Saturday night, redshirt junior Spencer Lovell was inserted at right guard when Hattis exited. Cavanaugh bellowed instructions to his unit early in Tuesday’s practice. “Strike em! Elbows in!” he yelled as the group worked on run blocking.
The blocking drills that are a staple of interim tight ends coach Juston Wood’s opening practice script included the use of a weighted medicine ball today. Wood and other ASU staff held onto the heavy object to give the unit a tougher time with each rep. Despite wearing a green, non-contact jersey, Curtis Hodges participated in each drill. John Stivers, Jalin Conyers, and Ryan Morgan followed with each rep.
With fumbles in back-to-back weeks for sophomore running back DeaMonte Trayanum and redshirt freshman Daniyel Ngata also coughing up the football against Washington State, the importance of ball security. Running backs coach Shaun Aguano ran the ASU RBs through a drill that featured a ball-carrier surrounded by two defenders punching at the ball.
Following the ball-protection drill, ASU’s RBs worked on blocking alone and then with the offensive line. Arizona State’s QBs and WRs went through routes on air. Multiple receivers slipped coming out of breaks due to the wet turf but junior quarterback Jayden Daniels looked sharp during his reps, working with Ricky Pearsall, LV Bunkley-Shelton, Bryan Thompson, and Chad Johnson Jr.
As Wood and the tight ends finished out the position group period, redshirt freshman quarterback Daylin McLemore threw passes to the group. One ball thrown behind Conyers forced the Oklahoma transfer to rotate his body mid-air and adjust for the catch. “Ooh damn,” Conyers exclaimed joyfully in awe of his own adjustment for the catch.
Defense
Here are notes and observations of the Arizona State defense for Tuesday’s media viewing window.
Based on what we have seen from practice and over the last eight games, here is the tentative two-deep as the team prepares for its second home game following the bye week against USC, its seventh conference opponent, on Saturday at 5:00 pm:
First-team defense
Left DE Michael Matus
3-technique Omarr Norman-Lott
Nose T.J. Pesefea
Right DE Tyler Johnson
SAM Merlin Robertson
MIKE Kyle Soelle
WILL Darien Butler
S DeAndre Pierce
S Evan Fields
CB Jack Jones
CB Chase Lucas
Nickel CB: Jordan Clark
Second-team defense
Left DE Stanley Lambert / Joe Moore
3-technique BJ Green
Nose Corey Stephens
Right DE Anthonie Cooper / Gharin Stansbury
SAM Eric Gentry
MIKE Will Shaffer
WILL Connor Soelle
S T Lee
S Kejuan Markham
CB Timarcus Davis
CB Macen Williams
Nickel CB: Tommi Hill
When the Sun Devils line up in base 4-3 defense (three linebackers), Chase Lucas and Jack Jones play the left and right-field cornerback positions. When the Sun Devils substitute for nickel personnel, Robertson typically comes off the field for a third cornerback which has typically been Timarcus Davis. The incoming third cornerback would take the outside corner position outside while Lucas assumed the slot corner role. If both starters stay, Jordan Clark is the likely choice to see first-team nickel action.
Attendance
Cornerback Jack Jones was back at practice Tuesday after missing last Wednesday’s session and the USC game.
3-technique Shannon Forman did not run through warmups or practice with the team.
Nose tackle DJ Davidson was not observed during the media viewing window.
Linebacker Caleb McCullough sported a green non-contact jersey but stretched and participated in the positional drill period. Freshman Jaydon Williams also returned to practice after being out for a couple of months, had a brace on his left knee.
Positional Drills
The defense began positional drills with a brief sprint-out exercise. The unit ran out and lined up in groups of seven, advanced a few steps, then broke off in pursuit toward one of the sidelines. Each player ran through the activity once before settling into their respective groups.
Defensive line coach Robert Rodriguez kicked off practice with a few clarifications on pass rush stunts and play calls. After he had finished correcting his observations, Rodriguez directed the group to the blocking dummies. There, the defensive line worked out of a two-step roll and struck the dummies. “Don’t lose ground, gain ground,” Rodriguez encouraged.
After a complete rotation, the players engaged the dummies out of a three-point stance, held the dummy for a half-second while keeping active feet, then shed the dummy in a quick crossover maneuver to either side. “I want you guys to prove to the world that I don’t care how big these guys are,” Rodriguez said.
After finishing up at the dummies, Rodriguez sent the defensive ends to practice with assistant coach Steven Beard and anticipate rotating running backs in pass protection. Rodriguez himself stayed near the dummies and went over some fundamentals and hand technique with the 3-techniques.
Linebackers coach Chris Claiborne started his group on a padded beam, which each player struck before finding the outside and squaring up. Next, Claiborne brought out the medicine balls and threw them at the linebackers as they practiced keeping their eyes up and momentum forward through contact. Finally, the linebackers ran through a wrap-up drill before Claiborne oversaw coverage work.
The defensive backs began practice with a forward-and-back backpedal drill that ended with each player catching a ball on their return to the sideline. The group split into cornerbacks and safeties soon after. The safeties worked with interim defensive backs coach Donnie Henderson on ball in the air exercises. Each safety would peel out to their landmark from their position in the box, find the ball, then adjust to its trajectory. Meanwhile, the cornerbacks fine-tuned their zone and off-coverage skills against the second-team receivers.
As always, we will answer any questions you may have on Tuesday’s practice.
Offensive Attendance Report
OL Henry Hattis was not observed during the media viewing period. Hattis left ASU’s 31-16 win over USC with an injury but rode the stationary bike throughout the second half Saturday.
A day after WR Geordon Porter announced he would enter the transfer portal, the Sun Devils practiced without WR’s Johnny Wilson and Andre Johnson. Neither Wilson nor Johnson played against the Trojans. Wilson has missed four of the past five games, seeing limited snaps in ASU’s loss to Washington State.
TE Curtis Hodges – who played against USC but was not targeted – practiced in a green jersey. Hodges has been wearing the green jersey during practice for the past two weeks.
FB Case Hatch was also not observed at Tuesday’s practice. Hatch did not play Saturday, his first missed game of the season.
First Team Offense
QB Jayden Daniels
RB Rachaad White/DeaMonte Trayanum
WR Ricky Pearsall
WR LV Bunkley-Shelton
WR Bryan Thompson
TE Curtis Hodges
OL left to right: Kellen Diesch, LaDarius Henderson, Dohnovan West, Jarrett Bell, Ben Scott
Second Team Offense
QB Trenton Bourguet
RB Daniyel Ngata
WR Chad Johnson Jr.
WR Elijhah Badger
WR Lonyatta Alexander Jr.
TE John Stivers/Jalin Conyers
OL left to right: Isaia Glass, Ben Bray, Ezra Dotson-Oyetade, Spencer Lovell, Sione Veikoso
Practice Observations:
Without Henry Hattis available, ASU’s usual backup center Jarrett Bell slid into the starting right guard spot as offensive line coach Mike Cavanaugh organized his first unit. Against USC on Saturday night, redshirt junior Spencer Lovell was inserted at right guard when Hattis exited. Cavanaugh bellowed instructions to his unit early in Tuesday’s practice. “Strike em! Elbows in!” he yelled as the group worked on run blocking.
The blocking drills that are a staple of interim tight ends coach Juston Wood’s opening practice script included the use of a weighted medicine ball today. Wood and other ASU staff held onto the heavy object to give the unit a tougher time with each rep. Despite wearing a green, non-contact jersey, Curtis Hodges participated in each drill. John Stivers, Jalin Conyers, and Ryan Morgan followed with each rep.
With fumbles in back-to-back weeks for sophomore running back DeaMonte Trayanum and redshirt freshman Daniyel Ngata also coughing up the football against Washington State, the importance of ball security. Running backs coach Shaun Aguano ran the ASU RBs through a drill that featured a ball-carrier surrounded by two defenders punching at the ball.
Following the ball-protection drill, ASU’s RBs worked on blocking alone and then with the offensive line. Arizona State’s QBs and WRs went through routes on air. Multiple receivers slipped coming out of breaks due to the wet turf but junior quarterback Jayden Daniels looked sharp during his reps, working with Ricky Pearsall, LV Bunkley-Shelton, Bryan Thompson, and Chad Johnson Jr.
As Wood and the tight ends finished out the position group period, redshirt freshman quarterback Daylin McLemore threw passes to the group. One ball thrown behind Conyers forced the Oklahoma transfer to rotate his body mid-air and adjust for the catch. “Ooh damn,” Conyers exclaimed joyfully in awe of his own adjustment for the catch.
Defense
Here are notes and observations of the Arizona State defense for Tuesday’s media viewing window.
Based on what we have seen from practice and over the last eight games, here is the tentative two-deep as the team prepares for its second home game following the bye week against USC, its seventh conference opponent, on Saturday at 5:00 pm:
First-team defense
Left DE Michael Matus
3-technique Omarr Norman-Lott
Nose T.J. Pesefea
Right DE Tyler Johnson
SAM Merlin Robertson
MIKE Kyle Soelle
WILL Darien Butler
S DeAndre Pierce
S Evan Fields
CB Jack Jones
CB Chase Lucas
Nickel CB: Jordan Clark
Second-team defense
Left DE Stanley Lambert / Joe Moore
3-technique BJ Green
Nose Corey Stephens
Right DE Anthonie Cooper / Gharin Stansbury
SAM Eric Gentry
MIKE Will Shaffer
WILL Connor Soelle
S T Lee
S Kejuan Markham
CB Timarcus Davis
CB Macen Williams
Nickel CB: Tommi Hill
When the Sun Devils line up in base 4-3 defense (three linebackers), Chase Lucas and Jack Jones play the left and right-field cornerback positions. When the Sun Devils substitute for nickel personnel, Robertson typically comes off the field for a third cornerback which has typically been Timarcus Davis. The incoming third cornerback would take the outside corner position outside while Lucas assumed the slot corner role. If both starters stay, Jordan Clark is the likely choice to see first-team nickel action.
Attendance
Cornerback Jack Jones was back at practice Tuesday after missing last Wednesday’s session and the USC game.
3-technique Shannon Forman did not run through warmups or practice with the team.
Nose tackle DJ Davidson was not observed during the media viewing window.
Linebacker Caleb McCullough sported a green non-contact jersey but stretched and participated in the positional drill period. Freshman Jaydon Williams also returned to practice after being out for a couple of months, had a brace on his left knee.
Positional Drills
The defense began positional drills with a brief sprint-out exercise. The unit ran out and lined up in groups of seven, advanced a few steps, then broke off in pursuit toward one of the sidelines. Each player ran through the activity once before settling into their respective groups.
Defensive line coach Robert Rodriguez kicked off practice with a few clarifications on pass rush stunts and play calls. After he had finished correcting his observations, Rodriguez directed the group to the blocking dummies. There, the defensive line worked out of a two-step roll and struck the dummies. “Don’t lose ground, gain ground,” Rodriguez encouraged.
After a complete rotation, the players engaged the dummies out of a three-point stance, held the dummy for a half-second while keeping active feet, then shed the dummy in a quick crossover maneuver to either side. “I want you guys to prove to the world that I don’t care how big these guys are,” Rodriguez said.
After finishing up at the dummies, Rodriguez sent the defensive ends to practice with assistant coach Steven Beard and anticipate rotating running backs in pass protection. Rodriguez himself stayed near the dummies and went over some fundamentals and hand technique with the 3-techniques.
Linebackers coach Chris Claiborne started his group on a padded beam, which each player struck before finding the outside and squaring up. Next, Claiborne brought out the medicine balls and threw them at the linebackers as they practiced keeping their eyes up and momentum forward through contact. Finally, the linebackers ran through a wrap-up drill before Claiborne oversaw coverage work.
The defensive backs began practice with a forward-and-back backpedal drill that ended with each player catching a ball on their return to the sideline. The group split into cornerbacks and safeties soon after. The safeties worked with interim defensive backs coach Donnie Henderson on ball in the air exercises. Each safety would peel out to their landmark from their position in the box, find the ball, then adjust to its trajectory. Meanwhile, the cornerbacks fine-tuned their zone and off-coverage skills against the second-team receivers.
As always, we will answer any questions you may have on Tuesday’s practice.
