Mac Friday reporting on the offense, and Cole Topham on the defense.
The fourth day of fall camp came with much cooler conditions as it was the first night practice conducted thus far. The team was in shells – helmets and shoulder pads for another day out at the Kajikawa Practice Fields (Team is scheduled to be in full pads for the first time Thursday the 12th). With head coach Herm Edwards absent from practice today to induct his former player John Lynch into the Hall of Fame, offensive coordinator Zak Hill and defensive coordinator Antonio Pierce split up coaching duties to their respective sides of the ball. The format was nearly identical to earlier practices this week, with individual work emphasizing ball security and fundamentals, as well as one-on-ones for skill players and lineman, inside run, and full 11-on-11 action.
Attendance on offense during Saturday evening was as follows:
WR Elijhah Badger returned to practice for the first time this fall camp and participated in all individual drills but was held out of team segments in practice.
WR Andre Johnson missed the later portions of practice.
OL Sione Veikoso and RB Rachaad White were not present at Saturday’s session.
RB Jackson He visited the tent halfway through practice with an arm injury which was put into a sling.
TE Jalin Conyers did not participate in team drills for the fourth consecutive day – he told Pierce’s wife that he would hopefully be back on Monday.
TE Curtis Hodges did not participate in full team activities.
First-team offense
QB Jayden Daniels
RB DeaMonte Trayanum
OL left to right Kellen Diesch, LaDarius Henderson, Dohnovan West, Henry Hattis and Ben Scott
WR Johnny Wilson
WR Ricky Pearsall (slot)
WR Andre Johnson
TE John Stivers
WR Geordon Porter, WR Bryan Thompson, WR LV Bunkley-Shelton, and TE/H Case Hatch all took reps with the first team, rotating from in and out of the first and second-team offenses.
Second-team offense
QB Trenton Bourguet
RB Daniyel Ngata
OL left to right Isaia Glass, Ralph Frias, Jarrett Bell, Spencer Lovell, and Austin Barry
WR Bryan Thompson
WR LV Bunkley-Shelton
WR Geordon Porter
TE/H Case Hatch
WR Chad Johnson Jr., WR Lonyatta Alexander Jr., WR Giovanni Sanders, RB Deonce Elliott, TE Jake Ray, and TE Ryan Morgan all took reps with the second team in a variety of packages and rotations.
Saturday’s practice was the final rung of the ladder to climb out of the first week for ASU football, yet many of the same teething troubles for the squad that have been an issue this week remain. Ball security, footwork, and basic blocking schemes are still very relevant for the young members of this team attempting to get into a groove. Saturday might have been the toughest day thus far for the offensive side, as for the fourth consecutive day, the team was unable to reach the endzone during team periods.
Practice began with typical three-on-three fundamental work for the offensive line. Saturday’s focus was climbing to the second level. The quarterbacks worked on accuracy, throwing into nets before the skill guys came out for stretches. Following this, the team went into its customary opening session of 11-on-11 work. The highlight play of this short session was a double-digit gain on a slant across the middle as Daniels found Pearsall. Thompson also had a significant gain on an end-around play courtesy of a nice block downfield from Ray.
The quarterbacks and running backs then went to work on a sweep handoff concept, as well as the end around, while the running backs worked on finding the edge and cutting to it. Daniels and the quarterbacks also practice rollout passes. The offensive line focused on pass protection and picking up blitzes for the second day in a row against the front seven of the defense.
Wide receivers worked on ball security, cutting after the catch and contested catches behind another player moving in the opposite direction. This drill called for two receivers to be running directly at each other before one group of receivers would catch the pass shortly after moving past their opponent.
All three quarterbacks, Daniels, Bourguet, and Finn Collins, all looked stellar in the skeleton work with the wide receivers, and Wilson had several nice catches; however those would be his only significant grabs of the practice.
The offensive and defensive lines, as well as the linebackers and third and fourth-string quarterbacks, headed to inside run while Daniels and Bourguet continued to throw routes to the receivers. The defense came to fight today, looking the most formidable they have throughout the first four days. The first team offensive line managed to hold their own against the first defense for short gains, but the same could not be said for the second group, who struggled to muster a push and even got chippy with the opposing defense.
In the next team session, Daniels struggled to link up with his receivers. Many of them were either falling during their releases or routes, and those that didn’t fall struggled to catch the ball or receive a good throw from the quarterback. Trayanum and Elliott both had good, gritty runs up the middle working with their respective groups.
Saturday was the second consecutive day of OL vs. DL one-on-ones, and the battles were just as intense as day one. Hattis took a win and a loss against DT Jermayne Lole. Ben Scott took one of three from DE Michael Matus. West beat NTs DJ Davidson and TJ Pesefea. Henderson took one of two from Omarr Norman-Lott, who’s looked tremendously impressive thus far. Diesch lost to DE Tyler Johnson and took one of two from DE Travez Moore. From the twos, Glass was perhaps the most impressive, beating DE Joe Moore twice - I scratched their third rep together as a no contest without a clear winner.
The final team period was another display of defensive dominance. Daniels made connections with Hatch, Ngata, and Trayanum, all for short gains, but struggled otherwise. West really struggled to get a clean snap to his quarterback on Saturday, and when he did, Daniels had a hard time making a good pass, or the defense just proved to be too good. CB Chase Lucas blew up an excellent ball to Wilson, preventing a double-digit gain. CB Jack Jones laid the boom on Pearsall on a dodgy, risky pass from Daniels. The offense attempted the Thompson end around from earlier twice more, but both times it was blown up. Daniels also missed Thompson in the endzone, the best chance the offense has had at six points thus far in camp. The highlight play of the entire session came shortly later, as Bourguet connected with Alexander Jr. for an incredible contested catch inside the five. The practice came to an end after LB Darien Butler dropped a surefire interception; a pass was batted down and a bad snap.
Overall, the defense was dominant this week, but the offense certainly didn’t do themselves very many favors.
The fourth day of fall camp came with much cooler conditions as it was the first night practice conducted thus far. The team was in shells – helmets and shoulder pads for another day out at the Kajikawa Practice Fields (Team is scheduled to be in full pads for the first time Thursday the 12th). With head coach Herm Edwards absent from practice today to induct his former player John Lynch into the Hall of Fame, offensive coordinator Zak Hill and defensive coordinator Antonio Pierce split up coaching duties to their respective sides of the ball. The format was nearly identical to earlier practices this week, with individual work emphasizing ball security and fundamentals, as well as one-on-ones for skill players and lineman, inside run, and full 11-on-11 action.
Attendance on offense during Saturday evening was as follows:
WR Elijhah Badger returned to practice for the first time this fall camp and participated in all individual drills but was held out of team segments in practice.
WR Andre Johnson missed the later portions of practice.
OL Sione Veikoso and RB Rachaad White were not present at Saturday’s session.
RB Jackson He visited the tent halfway through practice with an arm injury which was put into a sling.
TE Jalin Conyers did not participate in team drills for the fourth consecutive day – he told Pierce’s wife that he would hopefully be back on Monday.
TE Curtis Hodges did not participate in full team activities.
First-team offense
QB Jayden Daniels
RB DeaMonte Trayanum
OL left to right Kellen Diesch, LaDarius Henderson, Dohnovan West, Henry Hattis and Ben Scott
WR Johnny Wilson
WR Ricky Pearsall (slot)
WR Andre Johnson
TE John Stivers
WR Geordon Porter, WR Bryan Thompson, WR LV Bunkley-Shelton, and TE/H Case Hatch all took reps with the first team, rotating from in and out of the first and second-team offenses.
Second-team offense
QB Trenton Bourguet
RB Daniyel Ngata
OL left to right Isaia Glass, Ralph Frias, Jarrett Bell, Spencer Lovell, and Austin Barry
WR Bryan Thompson
WR LV Bunkley-Shelton
WR Geordon Porter
TE/H Case Hatch
WR Chad Johnson Jr., WR Lonyatta Alexander Jr., WR Giovanni Sanders, RB Deonce Elliott, TE Jake Ray, and TE Ryan Morgan all took reps with the second team in a variety of packages and rotations.
Saturday’s practice was the final rung of the ladder to climb out of the first week for ASU football, yet many of the same teething troubles for the squad that have been an issue this week remain. Ball security, footwork, and basic blocking schemes are still very relevant for the young members of this team attempting to get into a groove. Saturday might have been the toughest day thus far for the offensive side, as for the fourth consecutive day, the team was unable to reach the endzone during team periods.
Practice began with typical three-on-three fundamental work for the offensive line. Saturday’s focus was climbing to the second level. The quarterbacks worked on accuracy, throwing into nets before the skill guys came out for stretches. Following this, the team went into its customary opening session of 11-on-11 work. The highlight play of this short session was a double-digit gain on a slant across the middle as Daniels found Pearsall. Thompson also had a significant gain on an end-around play courtesy of a nice block downfield from Ray.
The quarterbacks and running backs then went to work on a sweep handoff concept, as well as the end around, while the running backs worked on finding the edge and cutting to it. Daniels and the quarterbacks also practice rollout passes. The offensive line focused on pass protection and picking up blitzes for the second day in a row against the front seven of the defense.
Wide receivers worked on ball security, cutting after the catch and contested catches behind another player moving in the opposite direction. This drill called for two receivers to be running directly at each other before one group of receivers would catch the pass shortly after moving past their opponent.
All three quarterbacks, Daniels, Bourguet, and Finn Collins, all looked stellar in the skeleton work with the wide receivers, and Wilson had several nice catches; however those would be his only significant grabs of the practice.
The offensive and defensive lines, as well as the linebackers and third and fourth-string quarterbacks, headed to inside run while Daniels and Bourguet continued to throw routes to the receivers. The defense came to fight today, looking the most formidable they have throughout the first four days. The first team offensive line managed to hold their own against the first defense for short gains, but the same could not be said for the second group, who struggled to muster a push and even got chippy with the opposing defense.
In the next team session, Daniels struggled to link up with his receivers. Many of them were either falling during their releases or routes, and those that didn’t fall struggled to catch the ball or receive a good throw from the quarterback. Trayanum and Elliott both had good, gritty runs up the middle working with their respective groups.
Saturday was the second consecutive day of OL vs. DL one-on-ones, and the battles were just as intense as day one. Hattis took a win and a loss against DT Jermayne Lole. Ben Scott took one of three from DE Michael Matus. West beat NTs DJ Davidson and TJ Pesefea. Henderson took one of two from Omarr Norman-Lott, who’s looked tremendously impressive thus far. Diesch lost to DE Tyler Johnson and took one of two from DE Travez Moore. From the twos, Glass was perhaps the most impressive, beating DE Joe Moore twice - I scratched their third rep together as a no contest without a clear winner.
The final team period was another display of defensive dominance. Daniels made connections with Hatch, Ngata, and Trayanum, all for short gains, but struggled otherwise. West really struggled to get a clean snap to his quarterback on Saturday, and when he did, Daniels had a hard time making a good pass, or the defense just proved to be too good. CB Chase Lucas blew up an excellent ball to Wilson, preventing a double-digit gain. CB Jack Jones laid the boom on Pearsall on a dodgy, risky pass from Daniels. The offense attempted the Thompson end around from earlier twice more, but both times it was blown up. Daniels also missed Thompson in the endzone, the best chance the offense has had at six points thus far in camp. The highlight play of the entire session came shortly later, as Bourguet connected with Alexander Jr. for an incredible contested catch inside the five. The practice came to an end after LB Darien Butler dropped a surefire interception; a pass was batted down and a bad snap.
Overall, the defense was dominant this week, but the offense certainly didn’t do themselves very many favors.
