Hey guys, ASU (2-2) was back on the practice fields today giving us a final look before Saturday's game against Oregon State. Here's what Jeff Griffith and I saw during this morning's media viewing period.
LOCATION: Kajikawa Practice Field
ATTIRE: Shells
MEDIA AVAILABILITY: First three periods, approximately 40 minutes
STRETCH MUSIC: "Crank That" by Soulja Boy // "Proud" by 2 Chaniz feat. YG & Offset
IN GREEN: Eno Benjamin (So./RB), Kyle Williams (Jr./WR), Stanley Lambert (Fr./LB), Tyler Johnson (R-Fr./LB)
PERSONNEL NOTES
-- Following the opening stretch period, we noticed the following players head into the bubble: Ty Thomas (Soph./S), Jay Jay Wilson (Sr./LB), Casey Tucker (R-Sr./OL), Ryan Kelley (R-Fr./QB), Terrell Chatman (R-Jr./WR), Das Tautalatasi (R-Sr./Till) and Khaylan Kearse-Thomas (R-Jr./LB).
-- Wilson, Tucker and Tautalatasi were both sidelined again Wednesday after being non-participants on Tuesday. Of those three, both Tucker and Wilson did play on Saturday – so it's safe to assume that the injuries occurred during the Washington game.
-- After not participating yesterday, wide receiver Kyle Williams was back out on the field Wednesday, but wearing a green, non-contact jersey.
-- Linebacker Khaylan Kearse-Thomas did not participate in 11-on-11 for the second-straight day. His situation is interesting because he is in his full gear and stands on the side during 11-on-11 like he's among the next guys to go in.
First Offense
QB: Manny Wilkins
RB: Eno Benjamin/Trelon Smith/Isaiah Floyd
WR: N'Keal Harry, Kyle Williams, Frank Darby
TE: Tommy Hudson
OL: LT Zach Robertson, LG Alex Losoya, C Cohl Cabral, RG Steve Miller, RT Quinn Bailey
-- Wide receiver Kyle Williams had separation on a comeback route but the pass from Wilkins was too high. On the next play, though, N'Keal Harry ran the same route and the ball was on the money.
-- Just thought it was interesting to look back at the start of fall camp when it was expected that Brock Sturges and A.J. Carter would have a solid workload. Then fast-forward to Wednesday and those two aren't among the five-deep at the position.
Second Offense
QB: Kurt Walding
RB: Paul Lucas/Nick Ralston
WR: Brandon Aiyuk, Geordon Porter, Curtis Hodges
TE: Jarick Caldwell/Jared Bubak
OL: LT Tyson Rising, LG Roy Hemsley, C Jarrett Bell, RG Cade Cote, RT Spencer Lovell
FIRST-TEAM DEFENSE
DL: Jalen Bates, Renell Wren, Doug Subtyl
LB: Merlin Robertson, Darien Butler, Malik Lawal
CB: Chase Lucas, Kobe Williams
TILLMAN: Jalen Harvey
S: Aashari Crosswell (Field Ranger), Demonte King (Boundary Ranger)
-- On the short screen and dump passes into the flats, Kobe Williams continues to impress with how fast he gets to those guys and puts himself in a good spot to make the tackle.
-- Merlin Robertson had great coverage on a slant route to Eno Benjamin.
SECOND-TEAM DEFENSE
DL: Joran Hoyt/Darius Slade, George Lea/D.J. Davidson, Jermayne Lole/Shannon Foreman
LB: Kyle Soelle, Merlin Robertson, Koron Crump
TILLMAN: Evan Fields
CB: Terin Adams, Dom Harrison
S: Langston Frederick (Field Ranger), Cody French (Boundary Ranger)
-- Merlin Robertson switched over from outside linebacker to middle linebacker as the second-team unit came on to the field. Don't know if this was because Kearse-Thomas wasn't playing or if the coaches wanted to give Robertson some more looks at the Mike.
-- There was one play where Darius Slade kind of fell before he was about to 'sack' Manny. I don't know if he just fell as to not touch the quarterback or if he genuinely tripped.
-- Koron Crump began practice working with the defensive linemen, but then remained at outside linebacker for the 11-on-11 and individual periods.
SPECIAL TEAMS UPDATE
Here are today's return men: N'Keal Harry, Brandon Aiyuk, Isaiah Floyd, Ryan Newsome, Paul Lucas, Jalen Harvey.
Kicker Brandon Ruiz took four kicks during today's practice, here were the outcomes:
From 28 yard: GOOD
From 40 yards: NO GOOD -- he pushed it right
From 50 yards: NO GOOD -- wasn't even close. Looked to be a bad hold; special teams coordinator Shawn Slocum started yelling at what looked to be the holder after the botched kick.
From 50 yards: GOOD
QUOTE OF THE DAY
As the defensive linemen began dropping back in coverage, waiting for defensive line coach Shaun Nua to throw the ball in their vicinity to practice interceptions, a defensive assistant coach called over to another coach with a video camera.
"If you want to see the best hands segment, watch Wren go next time," he shouted over.
As the coach with the video camera walked over, the defensive coach hollered over to Nua, "Coach, do you want Renell to go so we can film this?"
Wren did go with the video camera fixated on him, but Nua's pass was so high that Wren didn't even have a chance to show off his hands.
That's about it for today's practice. Stay tuned for more coverage throughout the week as the Sun Devils get ready to return home and take on OSU. If you have any questions, feel free to ask.
LOCATION: Kajikawa Practice Field
ATTIRE: Shells
MEDIA AVAILABILITY: First three periods, approximately 40 minutes
STRETCH MUSIC: "Crank That" by Soulja Boy // "Proud" by 2 Chaniz feat. YG & Offset
IN GREEN: Eno Benjamin (So./RB), Kyle Williams (Jr./WR), Stanley Lambert (Fr./LB), Tyler Johnson (R-Fr./LB)
PERSONNEL NOTES
-- Following the opening stretch period, we noticed the following players head into the bubble: Ty Thomas (Soph./S), Jay Jay Wilson (Sr./LB), Casey Tucker (R-Sr./OL), Ryan Kelley (R-Fr./QB), Terrell Chatman (R-Jr./WR), Das Tautalatasi (R-Sr./Till) and Khaylan Kearse-Thomas (R-Jr./LB).
-- Wilson, Tucker and Tautalatasi were both sidelined again Wednesday after being non-participants on Tuesday. Of those three, both Tucker and Wilson did play on Saturday – so it's safe to assume that the injuries occurred during the Washington game.
-- After not participating yesterday, wide receiver Kyle Williams was back out on the field Wednesday, but wearing a green, non-contact jersey.
-- Linebacker Khaylan Kearse-Thomas did not participate in 11-on-11 for the second-straight day. His situation is interesting because he is in his full gear and stands on the side during 11-on-11 like he's among the next guys to go in.
First Offense
QB: Manny Wilkins
RB: Eno Benjamin/Trelon Smith/Isaiah Floyd
WR: N'Keal Harry, Kyle Williams, Frank Darby
TE: Tommy Hudson
OL: LT Zach Robertson, LG Alex Losoya, C Cohl Cabral, RG Steve Miller, RT Quinn Bailey
-- Wide receiver Kyle Williams had separation on a comeback route but the pass from Wilkins was too high. On the next play, though, N'Keal Harry ran the same route and the ball was on the money.
-- Just thought it was interesting to look back at the start of fall camp when it was expected that Brock Sturges and A.J. Carter would have a solid workload. Then fast-forward to Wednesday and those two aren't among the five-deep at the position.
Second Offense
QB: Kurt Walding
RB: Paul Lucas/Nick Ralston
WR: Brandon Aiyuk, Geordon Porter, Curtis Hodges
TE: Jarick Caldwell/Jared Bubak
OL: LT Tyson Rising, LG Roy Hemsley, C Jarrett Bell, RG Cade Cote, RT Spencer Lovell
FIRST-TEAM DEFENSE
DL: Jalen Bates, Renell Wren, Doug Subtyl
LB: Merlin Robertson, Darien Butler, Malik Lawal
CB: Chase Lucas, Kobe Williams
TILLMAN: Jalen Harvey
S: Aashari Crosswell (Field Ranger), Demonte King (Boundary Ranger)
-- On the short screen and dump passes into the flats, Kobe Williams continues to impress with how fast he gets to those guys and puts himself in a good spot to make the tackle.
-- Merlin Robertson had great coverage on a slant route to Eno Benjamin.
SECOND-TEAM DEFENSE
DL: Joran Hoyt/Darius Slade, George Lea/D.J. Davidson, Jermayne Lole/Shannon Foreman
LB: Kyle Soelle, Merlin Robertson, Koron Crump
TILLMAN: Evan Fields
CB: Terin Adams, Dom Harrison
S: Langston Frederick (Field Ranger), Cody French (Boundary Ranger)
-- Merlin Robertson switched over from outside linebacker to middle linebacker as the second-team unit came on to the field. Don't know if this was because Kearse-Thomas wasn't playing or if the coaches wanted to give Robertson some more looks at the Mike.
-- There was one play where Darius Slade kind of fell before he was about to 'sack' Manny. I don't know if he just fell as to not touch the quarterback or if he genuinely tripped.
-- Koron Crump began practice working with the defensive linemen, but then remained at outside linebacker for the 11-on-11 and individual periods.
SPECIAL TEAMS UPDATE
Here are today's return men: N'Keal Harry, Brandon Aiyuk, Isaiah Floyd, Ryan Newsome, Paul Lucas, Jalen Harvey.
Kicker Brandon Ruiz took four kicks during today's practice, here were the outcomes:
From 28 yard: GOOD
From 40 yards: NO GOOD -- he pushed it right
From 50 yards: NO GOOD -- wasn't even close. Looked to be a bad hold; special teams coordinator Shawn Slocum started yelling at what looked to be the holder after the botched kick.
From 50 yards: GOOD
QUOTE OF THE DAY
As the defensive linemen began dropping back in coverage, waiting for defensive line coach Shaun Nua to throw the ball in their vicinity to practice interceptions, a defensive assistant coach called over to another coach with a video camera.
"If you want to see the best hands segment, watch Wren go next time," he shouted over.
As the coach with the video camera walked over, the defensive coach hollered over to Nua, "Coach, do you want Renell to go so we can film this?"
Wren did go with the video camera fixated on him, but Nua's pass was so high that Wren didn't even have a chance to show off his hands.
That's about it for today's practice. Stay tuned for more coverage throughout the week as the Sun Devils get ready to return home and take on OSU. If you have any questions, feel free to ask.