Even though Todd Graham's post-practice comments indicated this was the best all-around practice of the spring thus far, the offense had it's share of struggles, especially in the passing game.
First string consisted of Berco, with Demario Richard in the backfield and De'Chavon Hayes in the slot. Foster and Lauderdale were on the edges (Chambers took turns with the first-teamers as well), and Kody Kohlwas in at tight end. The offensive line had four players in flame helmets, corresponding with the four players Graham had said deserve starting roles. (Westerman at LG, Kelly at C, McCray at RG and McGehee at RT) LT was manned exclusively by Sam Jones for the entire practice, and he performed well. Hod posted Byron Kline's feature on this in the forums yesterday, Jones is definitely making a real case for that starting LT role.
Saturday's practice featured a short team stretch, and then two and a half solid hours of scrimmaging. Here's a breakdown of the initial drives for the first and second team:
Drive 1: (First Team)
Demario Richard 40+ yard run up the left sideline, short pass to Hayes on the right, three consecutive short runs by Richard (TD)
Drive 2: (Second Team)
Hayes fumbled the kickoff return, but offense recovered. Wilkins sacked, Wilkins hits Gammage on a short slant, Wilkins intercepted by 33 (not on listed roster) on pass meant for Kalen Ballage.
Drive 3: (First Team)
Chambers and Ballage subbed in. Ballage short run, Berco incomplete intended for Lauderdale, Berco incomplete pass- three and out.
Drive 4: (Second Team)
Brady White subbed in- White intercepted for a TD by DeAndre Scott
Drive 5: (Special Teams)
De'Chavon Hayes cuts left, returns kickoff untouched for a TD.
Drive 6: (First Team)
Demario Richard screen pass left- 20+ yards, short pass from Berco to Richard, short run by Richard, Incomplete pass, Zane Gonzalez FG
Drive 7: (Second Team)
Manny Wilkins in at QB- Wilkins short gain on a run, Jacom Brimhall 30+ yard run behind Steven Miller/Evan Goodman blocks, short completion, Brimhall short run, Brimhall short run, Wilkins sacked by Kalen Ballage, Zane Gonzalez FG
Drive 8: (First Team)
Berco bubble screen backed up in own end zone (short gain), short pass to Foster for 20+ yard catch and run, incomplete pass to Foster, Ballage short run to the right, incomplete deep ball to Hayes, Punt.
Drive 9: (Second Team)
Brady White in at QB- incomplete pass to Whiley, short handoff, white short run left, punt.
Some highlights of the later drives include a short rushing TD by Ballage outside the left tackle (Jones) after Richard had been denied by Carlos Mendoza up the middle. Bercovici was intercepted by 25 (not on roster), and then later by Chad Adams on a deep ball where he had been chased out of the pocket by Boateng, and threw 40 yards down the field back across his body. No ASU QB had a passing TD until late into practice, when Bercovici found DJ Foster wide open on a 12 yard pass to the left side of the field. Berco later found Demario Richard open for a TD on a similar play call.
Zane Gonzalez missed two field goal attempts after making his first two, but made every attempt for the rest of practice.- Both attempts that he missed on were wide left. Matt Haack got away all of his punts outside of one, which was "blocked" in the end zone by walk on DB Levi Sterling )once a player reaches the punter they have to allow him to punt anyway).
Wide receivers Jalen Harvey, Gary Chambers and Eric Lauderdale all dropped passes on Saturday, but most of the throws from all three quarterbacks were off target, or slightly late getting there- still, the first team moved the ball well enough with screen passes that the downfield options being negated didn't completely cripple the offense.
This post was edited on 4/4 3:46 PM by Ralph Amsden
First string consisted of Berco, with Demario Richard in the backfield and De'Chavon Hayes in the slot. Foster and Lauderdale were on the edges (Chambers took turns with the first-teamers as well), and Kody Kohlwas in at tight end. The offensive line had four players in flame helmets, corresponding with the four players Graham had said deserve starting roles. (Westerman at LG, Kelly at C, McCray at RG and McGehee at RT) LT was manned exclusively by Sam Jones for the entire practice, and he performed well. Hod posted Byron Kline's feature on this in the forums yesterday, Jones is definitely making a real case for that starting LT role.
Saturday's practice featured a short team stretch, and then two and a half solid hours of scrimmaging. Here's a breakdown of the initial drives for the first and second team:
Drive 1: (First Team)
Demario Richard 40+ yard run up the left sideline, short pass to Hayes on the right, three consecutive short runs by Richard (TD)
Drive 2: (Second Team)
Hayes fumbled the kickoff return, but offense recovered. Wilkins sacked, Wilkins hits Gammage on a short slant, Wilkins intercepted by 33 (not on listed roster) on pass meant for Kalen Ballage.
Drive 3: (First Team)
Chambers and Ballage subbed in. Ballage short run, Berco incomplete intended for Lauderdale, Berco incomplete pass- three and out.
Drive 4: (Second Team)
Brady White subbed in- White intercepted for a TD by DeAndre Scott
Drive 5: (Special Teams)
De'Chavon Hayes cuts left, returns kickoff untouched for a TD.
Drive 6: (First Team)
Demario Richard screen pass left- 20+ yards, short pass from Berco to Richard, short run by Richard, Incomplete pass, Zane Gonzalez FG
Drive 7: (Second Team)
Manny Wilkins in at QB- Wilkins short gain on a run, Jacom Brimhall 30+ yard run behind Steven Miller/Evan Goodman blocks, short completion, Brimhall short run, Brimhall short run, Wilkins sacked by Kalen Ballage, Zane Gonzalez FG
Drive 8: (First Team)
Berco bubble screen backed up in own end zone (short gain), short pass to Foster for 20+ yard catch and run, incomplete pass to Foster, Ballage short run to the right, incomplete deep ball to Hayes, Punt.
Drive 9: (Second Team)
Brady White in at QB- incomplete pass to Whiley, short handoff, white short run left, punt.
Some highlights of the later drives include a short rushing TD by Ballage outside the left tackle (Jones) after Richard had been denied by Carlos Mendoza up the middle. Bercovici was intercepted by 25 (not on roster), and then later by Chad Adams on a deep ball where he had been chased out of the pocket by Boateng, and threw 40 yards down the field back across his body. No ASU QB had a passing TD until late into practice, when Bercovici found DJ Foster wide open on a 12 yard pass to the left side of the field. Berco later found Demario Richard open for a TD on a similar play call.
Zane Gonzalez missed two field goal attempts after making his first two, but made every attempt for the rest of practice.- Both attempts that he missed on were wide left. Matt Haack got away all of his punts outside of one, which was "blocked" in the end zone by walk on DB Levi Sterling )once a player reaches the punter they have to allow him to punt anyway).
Wide receivers Jalen Harvey, Gary Chambers and Eric Lauderdale all dropped passes on Saturday, but most of the throws from all three quarterbacks were off target, or slightly late getting there- still, the first team moved the ball well enough with screen passes that the downfield options being negated didn't completely cripple the offense.
This post was edited on 4/4 3:46 PM by Ralph Amsden
