“It’s scary to have three backs like we do. To know what we are capable of and know that we are not near the peak of our games yet." Even for a group that achieved much success last season, the chip on the shoulder factor for the ASU RB's is still alive and well. Story by Gabe Swartz

Mac Friday is in Las Vegas and will be handing the @DevilsDigest Twitter

Yours truly will be here on the game thread

Starting five for ASU:

G Holland Woods
G Remy Martin
G Alonzo Verge Jr.
F Kimani Lawrence
F Jalen Graham

WSU's leading scorer Isaac Bonton who missed the ASU OT win is playing and starting for the Cougars.

ASU's running backs coach Shaun Aguano has the proverbial "good headache" with a deep and proven group. As Gabe Swartz reports, Aguano knows that a unit that was solely made up of newcomers last year still needs to hone their skills and fully realize their abilities

Jayden Daniels' grandpa passed away and he's flying today for the viewing. Since he has to have a negative test upon arrival back hard to say when he can resume practices.

Hurley just announced

Aside from my own observations in practice wanted to give you some more information about the team since I'm obviously not able to attend each and every spring practice, but did talk to some individuals within the team.

The coaches, like myself, have been very impressed with QB Finn Collins. While there is no doubt that Daylin McLemore has shown improvement from last year and was able to gain some necessary weight, there's also no denying that Collins, in comparison, has really hit the ground running. After the first spring practice, my assertion that Collins could be the favorite to win the no. 2 quarterback job has been confirmed with folks who are close to the situation. Besides being able to effectively grasp the scheme better than expected this early in his ASU career and display an impressive arm talent for such a young signal-caller, Collins' athleticism is really what's allowing him to shine. Movement in the pocket and getting out of jams with his feet if needed are abilities Collins displays at a better than expected level. It's not that a Zak Hill scheme necessarily does heavily lean on a very mobile quarterback, but it's certainly a trait that can only enhance your overall abilities to run this offense, and this was one trait that was (and no longer is) a question mark with Collins when you compare him to McLemore. I still want to be cautious and not paint a picture stating that Macklemore has no chance whatsoever to be the no. 2 quarterback. But one thing I can say for sure is that the overall talent in the quarterback room is more impressive than this time last year, and that's significant in the most important two-deep position on the team.


The move of Dohnovan West to center has been going well so far. I would be cautious about etching it in stone at this point as the season opening starter because there's certainly a chance that Ben Scott will still be tried at center as well, but as long as the snap exchange Daniels is going smoothly for the most part that is certainly a good sign. The ball's not hitting in the ground, which is really paramount for obvious reasons in those exchanges, but keeping the snaps lower on average is something West will still have to work on, although it's not as if I would characterize that as a dire factor in need of repair.

LaDarius Henderson's play at left guard, West's position last year, and one that earned him All Pac-12 honors has naturally allowed West's shift to center. For such a young player, it seems like Henderson has had some sharp peaks and valleys, starting nearly his entire freshman year at left tackle, a move that's really unheard of among the vast majority of Power 5 programs then the following year, he loses his starting position altogether with the emergence of Ben Scott occupying the right tackle position and obviously the arrival of Texas A&M transfer Kellen Diesch who has been a godsend at left tackle.

And it goes without saying that when you move such a young player between different positions (remember, at times, he played both right tackle and right guard last year) that in some ways, you are doing a disservice to him. I'm not implying the coaches were careless or incompetent in this regard; it's just the unfortunate circumstances where there are better options ahead of Henderson on the offensive line, which necessitated all these position moves for him. He's the norm not being able to handle all these transitions seamlessly, and West being successful in that regard as an underclassman is an exception.

It certainly not out of the question for Henderson to settle at left guard, but this will depend not only on his own showing in spring practice but also on assuming that West has settled himself on the center position and ultimately does present the best option in that role. I don't know if enigma is too strong of a word to describe North Carolina transfer Triston Miller who, by the way, could end up being a swing tackle himself, but I don't believe I'm in the minority thinking that he's one newcomer you probably expected a stronger first week of spring practice from. It will be interesting to see if he can change the narrative these next couple of weeks.

A newcomer on the offensive line that has been a pleasant surprise early on is local Queen Creek product Isaia (pronounced eye-sa-ya) Glass. His athleticism was a known commodity but still has been encouraging to see how well it's serving him at the next level for such an inexperienced player. He's on the third team these days but knocking pretty loudly on the second team door.

Prior to spring practice, I mentioned the fact that ASU was in a two-tight end sets 57% of the time. There's no reason to see that figure significantly diminish in 2021, and that's not to say it would significantly increase either, but the bigger question is, what is the exact personnel we'll see in those alignments. Curtis Hodges and Case Hatch right now are the preferable tandem in that regard. So what about Oklahoma transfer Jalin Conyers and his prospects in a two-tight end set? Well, this ties into his abilities of being a blocking tight end. The jury is still out on whether he can develop as one, but I do get the sense that the coaches will not rush that aspect and really have him shine the best he can as a receiving tight end. So Hodges and Conyers on the field at the same time is going to be work in progress, but something I believe we will definitely see at times during the season and with Conyers' development rate determining their frequency of his presence in that alignment.

I'll preface my next paragraph saying that I don't think any sirens or red flags should go off concerning the defensive line, but it's fair to say that you really have an incomplete picture with the absences of Jermayne Lole and Tyler Johnson and due to injury not be able to have younger players such as Stephon Wright and Amiri Johnson develop and put themselves in the position to be contributors to this group. Stanley Lambert has been another pleasant surprise early on, but generally speaking, I see the overall pass rush capabilities, at least in this juncture with the currently available personnel, as an unknown. LSU transfer Travez Moore has come in here with tempered expectations, and I can't say I'm surprised that even in a situation where he could really assert himself by default as a veteran player hasn't taken place yet. Like any newcomer, even though he's a senior, there is an acclimation process you just have to go through, and some newcomers have an easier time than others, and the fact that you're a freshman or grad transfer will not always determine the rate of success. I'm very curious to see how this defensive line is going to look at the conclusion of spring practice. Again I'm very cautious of being over critical over here with so many players missing from spring practice, but at the same time, this is one unit that really could use more shining moments, if you will, during the spring just to come into Fall camp with some more swagger knowing that seldom used and newcomer players have really made their mark in the spring enhancing the competition and the overall quality of the front four when those aforementioned absent players are back in the fold in August.

I'll be happy to answer any questions you have about these takeaways or any other player or positions that I did not mention.

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In this episode, Aashari & I discuss a number of topics: why he left, the suspension and the lessons he learned, the support the staff has given him, his NFL Draft preparation and more.

LISTEN & SUBSCRIBE
Web Stream | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | iHeart Radio

Arizona, ASU and Colorado emerging in his recruitment:

1. Pac-12 South Title
2. Pac-12 Conference Title
3. Rose Bowl Win
4. Top Ten National AP/CFP Poll Finish
5. Three 1st Team All-Americans Players
6. Five NFL Draftees
7. National Coach of Year Award - CHE
8. Pac-12 POY Award - JD5
9. Top Three in Conference APR ratings
10. Top Third in Pac-12 Recruiting Rakings (#4, behind: SC, OU & UW)

😇 😇 😇 👍👍👍🏈🏈🏈🍀🍀🍀🏆🏆🏆🥇🥇🥇🎯🎯🎯

The high volume of proven players on ASU's starting defense is undeniable, but as Gabe Swartz reports, ASU's DC Antonio Pierce is highly confident in the reserves' abilities and isn't apprehensive of a potential drop-off. “It’s real simple. Our 2s could be starters, and we’d be comfortable with that."

Listening to the radio in Tucson Robbins made comments he want Miller as his coach and long term, wants to put this all behind them and move on.

Unless the is a form of smoke and mirrors for the press or legal issues it shows just how arrogant they are about sports down here. It's like, we got caught, so what.

Hard to believe cheating doesn't matter to a College administration...... great teaching tool for a student body. Not that I'm totally surprised by in your face logic.

James Sanchez becomes the fifth Sun Devil in the last year to sign a professional contract.

Story: https://arizonastate.rivals.com/news/james-sanchez-signs-ahl-deal-with-hartford-wolf-pack

Will pass on more details as I get them, but we talk about this possibility last week so no surprise

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There was plenty of incentive for Evan Fields to stay on with the Sun Devils for one more year, and the goals that need to be fulfilled aren't only personal but also team feats he and his teammates strive for. More here from Mac Friday

No other sport has this type of "strength of brand"... NFL has "pricing power"...
Dak's contract in Dallas is crazy. I would have traded for Wilson or Watson for this level of Jack($$$).

DP is a bit above average, and so is Dallas.

The compensation level, while it helps vs. a franchisee tag this year, does little to build L/T value, IMO.

Cryboys are in big Trouble, in Big-D... no Super Bowls in DK's next 4-year term.
Contract was a CYA, for Dallas and they "caved" to the cancel culture agenda...

I'll bet Jimmy would have done "it" differently!
Jerry Jones is no match for Jimmy J.'s football acumen!

PS: Wish Cards would hire Louis Reddick, as he is solid in the front office, with HC Marvin Lewis!

Mornin Mates...

Today's Topic = Player Development

I had to turn off the Utes dunk-a-thon yesterday, shortly after halftime, and turned on golf that tells you all you need to know about how this men's BB season has gone for our Sun Devils...at least for me...

I still like Bobby and Remy but this "one and done" deal was an absolute bust as far as I can tell...we basically got nothing out of it, aside from giving a scholarship to one five-star's brother who is not a Div 1 talent or even close to it...

Yes, the pandemic makes it hard to judge just about anything related to our BB program but, meanwhile, up in Eugene, where the pandemic is just as prevalent, the last I looked, the Ducks are once again atop of the PAC where they have usually resided on top or near it under Dana Altman...

Altman has won 72% of all of his games at Oregon and 66% of his PAC games while there...also won three PAC championships (probably a fourth PAC championship after they probably beat the Beavers later today) and taken the Ducks to the Dance 7 times and for an 8th time after this season...he's also taken the Ducks to the Elite 8 once and the next year to the Final Four...

So, how does he do it..??

According to Hansen, in the Daily Star, this past week, he does it "by spotting and developing hoops talent" and we are not talking necessarily about five-star, one-and-done talent, either, although the Ducks have had some high profile players that worked out but just as many that did not...

Hansen lists these four things as key to Altman's success at Oregon...

1) Coaching stability - two of his assistants have been with Altman his entire time at UO and his third has been there for the past seven years...

By contrast, Sean Miller has had 10 different assistants during that same time and I wonder how many assistants Bobby has had at ASU during his tenure there...

And, we all know that a key Sun Devil assistant is now ready to move on to a head coaching job in the Midwest...

2) The Ducks have identified and developed players like PG Payton Pritchard who was a four-star PG coming out of HS and stay with the Huskies for four years...

Of course, the Devils, under Bobby, brought in Remy who has stayed all four years at ASU and he has been a difference maker of sorts but he hasn't had the supporting cast that Altman gave Pritchard at Oregon...

Which leads us to this third point...

3) Altman and his staff "have been adept - masterful, really - at evaluating and acquiring transfers...just check out this year's Ducks' team that has these three key transfers...Chris Duarte, LJ Figueroa and Eugene Omoruyi...

Duarte may be the best player in the PAC and he came from Florida SW JC who had offers from UCF, NM State, W Kentucky, and Temple, etc...

4) Players develop under Altman and his staff as shown by Pritchard who averaged 9 pts a game as a FR and 21 ppg as a senior when he was the PAC POY...

Hansen concludes by saying this..."it's easy to say college BB is all about recruiting, but player development is no worse than 1-A...it's the difference between Arizona and Oregon"...

Do you agree with what Hansen is saying..??

How much of it applies to the Sun Devils under BH, if anything..??

And, most importantly, what has to change for the Sun Devils to move up in the PAC..??

Do we need a new head coach..??

(that choice certainly wouldn't be in line with Hansen's first point)

Who should Hurley hire as his next assistant...a great recruiter, better Xs and Os guy, former NBA player, etc..??

What about going to an NBA model or is that even applicable to basketball..??

The football program, under Herm, has certainly made strides in getting bigger, stronger, faster and more powerful players following an NFL model and Bobby is an ex-NBA player with a high profile reputation but does any of that apply to BB..??

And, this season, Herm's third, we should start seeing whether Herm and his staff are developing players the way they need to be developed to win championships, the way Altman has done it in BB at Oregon...

As you know, I'm a big Talent Is Destiny guy but based on what has transpired or not transpired with the five-star BB talent on BH's team this season, maybe it's more about player development than just plain talent..??

Maybe both Bagley and Christopher were over-rated..??

I still would rather have four and five star recruits on my teams but not in favor of this "one and done" deal in BB as it doesn't lead to team continuity, etc, moving forward...

And, does this one-and-done deal apply to transfers, as well..??

Anyway, I'll be interested to see what you all come up with...

G'day Mates and Go Devils!!!

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Big time loss for Hurley as his right-man departs, as well as the best X's and O's and recruiter on his staff. An already challenging off-season for Hurley has now kicked up a god several notches. Burno played at DePaul and has some ties to the area that played a factor here.

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