Thanks to Senior Associate Athletic Director Rocky Harris for showing us around

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Mornin Mates...

Today's Topic = Coach is ready to go

Graham is eager to go and who can blame him following what happened last season...

Wilkins will start at QB...of that I am sure despite what is published in the media about this still being a two man competition...

The only question I have is whether he will be a Taylor Kelly upgrade or not and I think he will and also think he will fit in nicely with how Lindsey wants to attack opponents...

Graham also has said how much he likes the receiving corps, where we have two home-run hitters in T White and C Smith, and the TE position will be deeper and more physical than in the recent past...

Todd additionally likes what he sees along the OL and who can blame him given the physical presence there, as well...they are also very young and will only get better with experience...

Richard, Ballage and Ralston are the cherry on top of the ice cream sundae that will provide a prolific offense with great balance and do better in the all important Red Zone, if you ask me...

That leaves the defense that has been nursing along a number of players with various bumps and bruises but at least we have better quality numbers across the board this year, which should help out a lot...

Plus, it's amazing how quickly some injuries get better once the season starts...

The big thing about the defense, though, isn't about the personnel to me, as much as about how Graham and Patterson resolve matters, so big plays given up are down dramatically this year, as big plays given up, are like a reverse turnover or however you want to put it...

What's the point of having all those tackles for loss and sacks, etc, if you are letting the other team score 60-70-80 TDs on runs or passes...??

I think it's great that the staff is emphasizing getting turnovers but it is more important, in my mind, that you are tackling and taking the right angles of pursuit in fundamentally sound ways...

Given all this, there is absolutely no way that our Sun Devils are only going to win 3 games this season as one Bay area sportswriter predicted...

Questions for you...is Jo Jo Wicker closer to Will Sutton or Carl Bradford when talking about his defensive abilities..??

Has Tyler Whiley figured things out enough to play a prominent role on defense this year..??

Which true freshmen will play this season..??

It seems N'Keal Harry is a shoe in to play this year but Graham has also mentioned Cohl Cabral, Chase Lucas, Robbie Robinson, Dillon Sterling-Cole and Kyle Williams as having shown a lot in camp so far...

In closing, I think we have the offensive question marks (QB and OL) in a position to being resolved very positively and, with Lindsey and Norvell now on that side of the ball coaching wise, I have a lot of confidence that our offense will be very productive and score lots of points per game...

The secondary is still a concern, as is the defensive philosophy that Graham prefers, but I have to think they are good enough coaches to make it all work this season...

I don't have any concerns regarding either our punter or placekicker and they are our ace in the hole this year, as far as I'm concerned...

I'm not backing away from my bold 9-10+ win total for the year...

The coach isn't the only one ready to go for the season...

G'day Mates...Go Devils!!!

Donning the koolaid man suit, here's a way too early set of predictions for the stars of each game this season.


NAU - Manny: Showcase game of the season, where he shows not only he can run the ball, but hits for a few really nice TD passes. Latu shows he's a load at Nose tackle.

TT - Orr or Perry, Perry or Orr. Both with big games, but think Orr might take one to the house and Devils show some grit defending the quick pass / Slant.

UTSA - Ballage: Proves way too big, way too fast in the second half en route to 2 TD's and 150 yards.

USC - Best defensive line wins this game, and think Smallwood has a monster game, but USC has no answer for DR and he runs wild on the Trojans. Haack with a TD pass on specials.

UCLA - Wicker has been licking his chops for this game, and plants Rosen repeatedly. Think Kohl and Epps work the middle for big games.

Colorado - Tim White gets into the act and can't be covered en route to his biggest receiving day of the year. Wrenn with his best day of the season on defense.

Washington State - Back and forth game and think there is a surprise player --- someone outside the starting 4 in the secodary makes a big play to win this for us. Could be Rhodes, could be Echols, but going with Echols, making a big int late to seal a Win.

Oregon - Snarkiest pick of the bunch... ASU saves all 3 timeouts in the second half and Wilkens drives the team down for a last second QB sneak to win. Game ball goes to Wilkens who in turn gives it back to CTG thanking him for the timeouts.

Utah - Fiso already leading the team in tackles wraps up 20 Utes this game en route to a big win at home. Harry with his biggest game of the season on offense.

Washington - Feels like this one is where the seniors need to step up. Likely a cold wet game up in the northwest... Feels like a game that LM makes his biggest stand of the year, and shakes loose a couple turnovers to surprise the huskies.

UA - We've been saving our secret weapon all season for this. DR starts running well, Ballage gets in on the act, but Nick Ralson, scores 4 tds near the goal line en route to holding up the cup.

We talked about the walk-on defensive lineman as a possibility to earn a scholarship and sure enough he tweeted out the good news

Tramel‏@Big_Tank52
IM HAPPY TO SAY THAT ALL MY HARD WORK HAS PAID OFF... EARNED MY SCHOLARSHIP TODAY.. ALL PARISE TO JESUS AND THANKFUL FOR MY FAMILY SUPPORT

Yes, we address the quarterback battle but also every other position on this side of the ball.

Preseason Snapshot: Offense

Reading @Joe Healey 's post here, got me to thinking...."what was ASU's most disappointing season?" I know it's not something we like to think about but it's a good conversation topic, especially in a year like this one where there are so few expectations for us anyway.

I've posted a poll and granted I only go back to the mid-90's since that's about how long I've been following ASU. I'm certain there are more than the ones I've mentioned here but I am not aware of them. Maybe some of our more seasoned ASU fans could assist me if there are but these are my choices:

1998

EXPECTATION: ASU is coming off a very surprising 9-3 record the year before, one which almost lead to a Fiesta Bowl berth, and a share of the Pac title. With almost the entire team returning, expectations are very high in Tempe. ASU starts out the season ranked #8 and some are predicting we'd be one of the teams to play in one of the inaugural BCS matches.

REALITY: ASU loses a heart breaker in its season opener to Washington where on a 4th and 17 play, a dump off pass to a tight-end in the closing seconds turns out to be a game winning touchdown. A very deflated ASU squad then loses badly to BYU in Provo the following week. The Sun Devils don't even make it to a bowl game and go 5-6 that year culminating with a gritty loss to au in Sucton.

2001

EXPECTATION: Dirk Koetter's first season in the Valley. He returns some good talent on defense, a second year starting QB in Jeff Krohn, and a playbook from Boise State that would run up the scoreboard.

REALITY: ASU scores points against weak opponents but their defense is horrendous (something that would be a trademark of the Dirk Koetter years). Throw in there a game against UCLA being delayed due to 9/11 and it makes for just an all around weird year as ASU goes 4-7.

2003

EXPECTATION: ASU returns gun slinging junior Andrew Walter fresh off his record breaking sophomore campaign and a decent stable of receivers including Derek Hagan. Once more all the buzz is about Dirk Koetter's offensive tendencies and with the right QB the ability to put up points. ASU starts the season #15 in the pre-season polls.

REALITY: ASU's passing game is still decent but its running game is still practically non-existent. (Another Dirk Koetter trademark) ASU struggles with NAU and Utah State at home, gets waxed on the road against Iowa and then Oregon State. ASU fails to secure a bowl bid going 5-7 but does manage to beat up a rotten 2-10 rat squad in Tempe.

2006

EXPECTATION: ASU returns not just one but two excellent QBs in Sam Keller and Rudy Carpenter. While expectations aren't riding super high, ASU is expected to have a decent year after picking up an 8-5 record the year before including a win in the Insight Bowl over Rutgers.

REALITY: We all remember the Keller-Carp debacle and it set into motion a series of bad events. Like 2003, ASU starts the year off struggling to put away NAU. Unlike 2003, ASU manages to make it to a bowl game only to lose it pretty bad. The 7-6 final tally on the season is enough to make the restless fan base send Dirk packing and paves the way for Erickson to come in. (One bad season lead to many bad seasons to come)

2008

EXPECTATION: Coming off a 10-3 season with a share of the conference title, ASU returns senior QB Rudy Carpenter and many of his favorite targets. Erickson also puts together a decent recruiting class which has everyone buzzing thinking ASU might have a shot at repeating a share of the Pac title.

REALITY: ASU's offensive line was ranked dead last in pass protection giving up what seemed like at least one sack per drive. Rudy played banged up for much of the season and his locker-room antics lead to a lot of resentment and splintering within the team. (Having Erickson at the helm didn't help any with this either) ASU failed to make a bowl game for the first time in five years going 5-7 capped off by a loss to the rats in Sucton by three scores, the worst in 20+ years. This was also the year of the infamous blocked FG against UNLV

2011

EXPECTATION: Junior Brock Osweiler (who was 6'8" and recruited by Gonzaga to play hoops by the way) takes an explosive offense under his wing and has a vicious defense full of talent on the other side of the ball, including Vontaze Burfict, Shelly Lyons, and Brandon Magee. Many believe that ASU had a very realistic shot of being the first representative in the Pac-12 championship game with USC on probation for violations.

REALITY: Despite a 6-2 start (with a pathetic loss to an anemic Illinois team) ASU was rolling through the difficult part of the season until it met UCLA in the Rose Bowl. 4th and 32 later.....ASU would go on a five game losing streak against what many believed would be the easiest part of the schedule. ASU ended up firing Dennis Erickson as a result of the 6-7 finish.

2015

EXPECTATION: Todd Graham brings in a highly touted veteran team lead by senior Michael Bercovici following a surprising 10 win campaign the year before. ASU starts the season #15 and is picked by Kirk Herbstreit to be the Dark Horse of the Pac to make the playoffs.

REALITY: ASU gives up nine sacks in its first outing against Texas A&M on a "neutral field" in Houston. The season just starts off bizarre with coaches leaving the program a couple of weeks before the first game, players contracting mono, and for what was made of the closeness of this team, there seemed to be a growing rift between Graham and some of the other coaches. Despite the pre-season hype of the "no-fly zone" ASU's pass defense goes on to be the worst ever being ranked dead last in the NCAA. ASU's offense would put up good numbers but would never be able to get a TD when it needed to the most. ASU would go on to a 6-7 record losing their bowl game to a mediocre West Virginia squad that, like all others before it that season, burned them through the air.

Can you buy season tickets for the upcoming season? And what does the Donation cost mean, it's pretty excessive, is that a write off?

ASU's HC discusses today's scrimmage and its standouts

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Hey guys, this is Ben Parker, the hoops guy at Cal Rivals. I try to maintain a presence across all Pac-12 message boards, so you should see me around from time to time. Anyways, I found this little nugget of information about Arizona State basketball. They are one of two schools going after 2017 Italian guard Davide Moretti the hardest. I don't know anything about him other than that Arizona State is after him.

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In 2012 TK faced NAU in the first start of his career as a redshirt soph
In 2016 MW will face NAU in the first start of his career as a redshirt soph
TK went 15-19 247 yds, 1 TD, 0 INTs
TK had 6 carries for 43 yards (with a long of 23)
TK completed 8 passes to WRs (well above his average of 4.8 for the season) for 124 yards, 6 to RBs for 60 yds and 2 to TE for 65 yds
We beat NAU 63-6 and they ultimately ended up going 8-3 on the season
This season they are picked to win the Big Sky conference and are ranked between 18th & 24th in FCS
We had 20 pass attempts and 51 rushes
I'm expecting to see Wilkins with very similar numbers (although the completion percentage of 79% is going to be tough to match but I think he will

In 2015 it was Matt Lynch, who was later upgraded to a 3-star rating.

Today Austin Burton flipped from his commitment to Boston College.

They missed on Ryan Kelley and Jack Sears, and conventional wisdo states Rosen is gone after next year. They're really hoping Devon Modster works out.

I love great moments in Sun Devil Sports! I love them even more when they're followed by an iconic picture or the modern equivalent, a good gif. There have been plenty through the years but I thought I'd post some and take a poll on it. This time I'm doing it a little bit different. I'm going to allow three votes which will give us an idea of the top three for everyone. These are just ten that came to mind for me but if you have some other great ones, post in the comment section.

1) The Catch

2) Kush Being Carried Off Field After Final Game

3) First Rose Bowl

4) Jake Plummer vs Nebraska

5) Keith Poole vs Chris McAllister

6) 2010 Blocked Kick vs Arizona

7) The Aftermath of Blocked Kick

8) Rat Dance Party

9) 2012 Shocked Rat Fans

10) Todd Graham's First Territorial Cup

I was curious what everyone thinks about this idea of cheering for PAC12 schools when they play OOC games because there is a very real perception from fans and writers that your conference is not for real if you cannot win a majority of your OOC games - especially against the tougher power 5 schools. For me, I am torn on this question about being a PAC 12 supporter first over my inner love to watch all of our PAC12 foes lose.

So the first week of interesting OOC games for the PAC 12 has the following:

• OSU vs. Minnesota - I say we need OSU to win. Do not want to lose to a bottom 5 Big 10 team.
• Kansas State vs. Stanford. Hope Standford loses. Just because.
• Rutgers vs. Washington. Love to see Udub choke and lose this one because they have a bunch of undeserving love from the media right now.
• UCLA vs. Texas A&M. Can they both lose?
• USC vs. Alabama - I am really sick of the Alabama juggernaut but I somehow do not want USC to win because we all know what that means.
• BYU vs. AZ - Love to see BYU win this one, but again it reflects badly on the conference. Oh well let it reflect badly then.

Figured this was coming, but didn't see any official word other than Doug's RTs

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Admittingly, with limited practice viewing periods there is some educated guessing here, but all in al we feel that we have a pretty good grasp on the pecking order of the various positions.

A few points to consider:

On second team offensive line, lots of movement there considering that A.J. McCollum is now practicing. So I listed him at second-team center but we know that if Cohl Cabral has looked very good in that role and only recently took snaps at left tackle.

At tight end Raymond Epps is listed as second-team but we have seen him lining up with Kohl on the first team when there is a two-tight end alignment.

Yes, I listed Geroge Lea as the backup at Nose and Tiger as he can play both roles better than any reserve right now. We did see Corey Smith take some reps at Nose but I don't think he would see the field before Lea would.

Reserve linebackers such as Malik Lawal and Korn Crump are likely to see snaps while lining up with D.J. Calhoun and Christian Sam on passing downs, etc. So their role isn't soley backing up those starters.

There have been a lot of injuries with the backup safeties so in some ways it's hard to sort out a depth chart here, but I feel that Marcus Ball along with J'Marcus Rhodes will be the first safeties off the bench.

At punt returner, I wouldn't be surprised not to see Tim White as part of the rotation if Kyle Williams continues to show well and obviously the coaches feel comfortable with De'Chavon "Gump" Hayes as the primary returner.

Kyler Murray and Kyle Allen Transfer
Tate Martell decommits
Tate Martell convinces Tyjon Lindsey and Trevon Grimes to come with him to Ohio State. Word is they'd have followed him anywhere.

CHROLLO‏@jerm2_acee
Proud to announce my commitment to Boise State. Let's be legendary #GoBroncos #ATF17


Somewhat unexpected since once he moved with his mother from California to Virginia, it seemed as if those East Coast schools were in the running for him. Sure enough, now he commits to a school in the Western region. Something tells me that his recruitment process isn't over although ASU has seemingly moved on from him for a while now.

From ASU's Media Relations:

AP rankings came out this weekend. Below are the seven times ASU started the season unranked but finished ranked (four times in last 12 years).

ASU IN PRESEASON/FINAL AP RANKINGS
1957: NR/12
1975: NR /2
1986: NR /4
1997: NR /14
2004: NR /19
2007: NR /16
2013: NR /21

ASU returns only 7 Offensive Seniors/Grad Students, tied for fifth fewest in the country. It has a total of 19 seniors on the 2016 roster.

With two weeks prior to the 2016 opener we examine the various positions on this side of the ball

Preseason Snapshot: Defense

What up guys?? It's been a minute since I've posted.. 8 months I believe?? I appreciate all of you that have hit me up on Twitter and asked me questions regarding my 2015 Ellis Jefferson predictions, to the recruitment of local athletes, and even my opinion on the current and just passed QB situation.. Ellis is due to break out in someway shape or form.. Just be patient.. But I'd like to address the QB situation mostly.. I know there's some concerns.. And some people have hit me up with questions about it.. "Maybe they are too young??", "Are we gonna lose someone that could be potentially great??"

This is what I say..

NO! To all the above..However it might mean that we only get one year of service from a QB here and there, but I see White playing two seasons (16 & 17) then taking off to the L.. DSC redshirts this year.. Perkins gets a medical rs year for '16.. Wilkins gets a season to play (18) then bounces to the league.. Perkins plays 2 seasons (19 & 20).. DSC plays one season (21) and takes his talents to Sunday's.. Incoming Ryan Kelly takes snaps (22 & 23).. No reason for concern, or concerns Devils fans.. We're ok.. But let me know your thoughts.. Please feel free to tweet me @JustChilly

Forks up!

Just Chilly

Figured I'd take y'all behind enemy lines.

He's supposed to be a QB at the HS level, but it looks like Arizona may have pressured him into playing a utility role for Sabino this year. He ran for 4TDs, and caught for nearly 100 yards, but he fumbled three times and left the game due to injury (cramps) 4 times. He told me he's just not in the kind of shape he needs to be in to get 30 touches in a hybrid role, and play on defense. He's definitely all of 6-4, and looks to me to be a WR. It looks very strange to have a kid that tall running the ball and standing upright while taking hits down low. Sabino is in a tough place though because they have to get him the ball in order to win, but they are not a passing team, and will have a hard time getting him touches on the outside.

Bottom line, he'll be a project while they figure out the right fit in Tucson as a freshman, but I believe this is one of the times where Arizona will strike gold with a local recruit. I asked him if he was leaving the door open for anybody else to come in, and he said no.