As per usual, it was Jack Loder (@JackLoder_) on offense and Cole Topham (@HamAnalysis) on defense.
Offense
Tuesday morning’s indoor practice had a Christmas Eve feel to it. The team will meet tomorrow, of course. They’ll have walk-throughs and final meetings, but today was the final practice before the season opener. A dress rehearsal, if you will. The only thing more intense than the energy was the focus.
Attendance
For the second straight day, Des Holmes missed practice with a concussion, making his status for Thursday’s opener almost certainly out. Emmit Bohle practiced fully for the third straight day, mixing in at left tackle with Isaia Glass. Joey Ramos took the bulk of the first team reps at right tackle in place of Holmes.
Position Drills
When Arizona State practices outside, the quarterbacks and receivers are tucked away, hidden by two other position groups on the far side of the field. It’s possible to see some throws, and to discern which plays were the most successful. When the Sun Devils practice inside the Dickey Dome, however, the signal callers are on full display. Emory Jones took advantage of the spotlight, delivering some gorgeous balls on deep routes and sideline routes alike prior to the 11 on 11 period. He hit Andre Johnson and Chad Johnson Jr in stride down the sideline on deep balls. He delivered accurate quick shots to the sideline, finding Messiah Swinson and Jalin Conyers with ease. Jones looked every bit of what Herm Edwards and the offensive staff wanted him to be as kickoff approaches.
In the backfield, agility was the focus on Tuesday morning. Working with the quarterbacks, running backs took handoffs and executed quick cuts in the backfield, avoiding coach Aguano’s signature rolling yoga ball before accelerating up field. Starting tandem Xazavian Valladay and Daniyel Ngata each showcased impressive quickness and speed during the drill. Jones took the first five or six snaps. He and the backs seem to have perfect timing and rhythm in their exchanges. Case Hatch served as the lead blocker, ferociously meeting an invisible linebacker at the second level.
The offensive line, suddenly thin without the presence of Holmes, briefly went through normal progressions. Ben Scott has the starting center job locked in, he’ll be flanked on either side by Ladarius Henderson at left guard and Chris Martinez at right guard. With Joey Ramos likely filling in for Holmes at right tackle, the starting right guard battle between Martinez and Ramos seems to be moot, at least for week one. Emmit Bohle and Ralph Frias took second team reps at the tackle positions, while Armon Bethea rotated in on the interior.
11 on 11
QB Emory Jones
RB Xazavian Valladay/Daniyel Ngata
WR Andre Johnson
WR Elijhah Badger
WR Cam Johnson
TE Jalin Conyers/Messiah Swinson
Offensive line from left to right: Isaia Glass, Ladarius Henderson, Ben Scott, Chris Martinez, Joey Ramos
In the last viewing session of the preseason, Emory Jones and the offense had one of their best days of fall camp. What stood out most early on was Jones’s pocket presence. Even with a strong pass rush collapsing the pocket around him, he stood tall in the pocket, going through his reads and delivering strikes late in the play. This poise will be a welcome sight for Sun Devil fans who had become accustomed to Jayden Daniels’ habits of fleeing the pocket too early. He delivered strikes to Giovanni Sanders and Elijhah Badger over the middle, both under heavy duress and with a sea of arms in his face.
While the defensive line has been taking their offensive counterpart’s lunch money for most of the preseason during 11 on 11, the offensive line firmly held its ground on Tuesday. The usual ferocious pass rush was met with sound blocking. As I mentioned the pocket collapsing, it was kept from being catastrophic by strong anchoring on the interior. Ladarius Henderson and Ben Scott picked up extra rushers and held their ground, allowing Jones a perfect field of vision and space to fire when the time was right.
The offense ran a two-minute drill as the viewing session ended. Jones found Andre Johnson twice, as well as Messiah Swinson and Valladay in the short field. They were able to convert on two third down simulations. The passing game is at its best form so far at the perfect time.
After struggling in the two minute drill last week, the Sun Devil offense passed with flying colors on Tuesday morning.
Offense
Tuesday morning’s indoor practice had a Christmas Eve feel to it. The team will meet tomorrow, of course. They’ll have walk-throughs and final meetings, but today was the final practice before the season opener. A dress rehearsal, if you will. The only thing more intense than the energy was the focus.
Attendance
For the second straight day, Des Holmes missed practice with a concussion, making his status for Thursday’s opener almost certainly out. Emmit Bohle practiced fully for the third straight day, mixing in at left tackle with Isaia Glass. Joey Ramos took the bulk of the first team reps at right tackle in place of Holmes.
Position Drills
When Arizona State practices outside, the quarterbacks and receivers are tucked away, hidden by two other position groups on the far side of the field. It’s possible to see some throws, and to discern which plays were the most successful. When the Sun Devils practice inside the Dickey Dome, however, the signal callers are on full display. Emory Jones took advantage of the spotlight, delivering some gorgeous balls on deep routes and sideline routes alike prior to the 11 on 11 period. He hit Andre Johnson and Chad Johnson Jr in stride down the sideline on deep balls. He delivered accurate quick shots to the sideline, finding Messiah Swinson and Jalin Conyers with ease. Jones looked every bit of what Herm Edwards and the offensive staff wanted him to be as kickoff approaches.
In the backfield, agility was the focus on Tuesday morning. Working with the quarterbacks, running backs took handoffs and executed quick cuts in the backfield, avoiding coach Aguano’s signature rolling yoga ball before accelerating up field. Starting tandem Xazavian Valladay and Daniyel Ngata each showcased impressive quickness and speed during the drill. Jones took the first five or six snaps. He and the backs seem to have perfect timing and rhythm in their exchanges. Case Hatch served as the lead blocker, ferociously meeting an invisible linebacker at the second level.
The offensive line, suddenly thin without the presence of Holmes, briefly went through normal progressions. Ben Scott has the starting center job locked in, he’ll be flanked on either side by Ladarius Henderson at left guard and Chris Martinez at right guard. With Joey Ramos likely filling in for Holmes at right tackle, the starting right guard battle between Martinez and Ramos seems to be moot, at least for week one. Emmit Bohle and Ralph Frias took second team reps at the tackle positions, while Armon Bethea rotated in on the interior.
11 on 11
QB Emory Jones
RB Xazavian Valladay/Daniyel Ngata
WR Andre Johnson
WR Elijhah Badger
WR Cam Johnson
TE Jalin Conyers/Messiah Swinson
Offensive line from left to right: Isaia Glass, Ladarius Henderson, Ben Scott, Chris Martinez, Joey Ramos
In the last viewing session of the preseason, Emory Jones and the offense had one of their best days of fall camp. What stood out most early on was Jones’s pocket presence. Even with a strong pass rush collapsing the pocket around him, he stood tall in the pocket, going through his reads and delivering strikes late in the play. This poise will be a welcome sight for Sun Devil fans who had become accustomed to Jayden Daniels’ habits of fleeing the pocket too early. He delivered strikes to Giovanni Sanders and Elijhah Badger over the middle, both under heavy duress and with a sea of arms in his face.
While the defensive line has been taking their offensive counterpart’s lunch money for most of the preseason during 11 on 11, the offensive line firmly held its ground on Tuesday. The usual ferocious pass rush was met with sound blocking. As I mentioned the pocket collapsing, it was kept from being catastrophic by strong anchoring on the interior. Ladarius Henderson and Ben Scott picked up extra rushers and held their ground, allowing Jones a perfect field of vision and space to fire when the time was right.
The offense ran a two-minute drill as the viewing session ended. Jones found Andre Johnson twice, as well as Messiah Swinson and Valladay in the short field. They were able to convert on two third down simulations. The passing game is at its best form so far at the perfect time.
After struggling in the two minute drill last week, the Sun Devil offense passed with flying colors on Tuesday morning.
