Offensive report by Scott Sandulli:
Clear skies, hot sun, let’s dance! Kenny Dillingham’s best attempt at an April Fools’ Day prank to breakout the team’s moves, as well as some of his own, rather than sprints was a welcomed surprise during today’s scrimmage at Sun Devil Stadium. Dillingham’s loose but energetic vibe rubbed off on his players, who exhibited one of their most high-energy sessions of the spring.
The offensive lineups were as follows:
First Group
QB: Trenton Bourguet
RB: Cam Skattebo
WR: Elijhah Badger
WR: Xavier Guillory
TE: Jalin Conyers
TE: Messiah Swinson
OL (Left to Right): Isaia Glass, Max Iheanachor, Leif Fautanu, Matt Katergaris, Emmit Bohle
Second Group
QB: Drew Pyne/Bennett Meredith
RB: DeCarlos Brooks
WR: Javen Jacobs
WR: Gio Sanders
WR: Troy Omeire
TE: Bryce Pierre
OL (Left to Right): Ralph Frias, Danny Valenzuela, Ben Bray, Austin Barry, Bram Walden
Stats
Bourguet: 6/7, TD pass, INT, five drives
Pyne: 5/9, two-point conversion pass, four drives
Meredith: 10/15, five drives
Jaden Rashada: 3/6, one drive
Jacob Conover: 2-5, TD pass, three drives, 0-2 two-point conversions (one of them an interception by Ro Torrence)
Skattebo: eight rushes, two receptions, rushing TD, one Fumble
Brooks: five rushes, two Receptions, three first downs
Jacobs: four rushes, TD run
Coben Bourguet: four receptions, two first downs
Jacobs: three receptions, one first down
Badger: three receptions, one first down, fumble
Andre Johnson: three receptions, TD reception
Chad Johnson Jr: TD reception
Bryce Pierre: two-point reception
Messiah Swinson: two-point reception
Gio Sanders: two receptions
Melquan Stovall: two receptions
Troy Omeire: one reception
Conyers: one reception
Penalties on offense
Three false starts
One offensive pass interference that negated a touchdown
With skill position players rotating in and out frequently, equal opportunities were made for everyone on the field. At first, ASU’s offense didn’t take advantage, as their first three drives went nowhere. Trenton Bourguet was intercepted on his first pass attempt. It was tipped in the middle of the field by LB Travion Brown and scooped up by diving safety Xavion Alford. Drew Pyne and Bennett Meredith, who have split time as the signal-caller of the second team, didn't fair any better. Both Badger and Xavier Guillory had a hard time gaining separation against an ASU defensive back core that has showed out in spring ball thus far.
The second drive of the day, led by Meredith, ended on the first of three false start penalties, with this one costing ASU’s offense a 3rd-and-short opportunity. Kenny Dillingham expressed his displeasure with this play loudly over his inconsistent microphone.
“No chance that can happen and you win the game. No chance.”
Hearing their head coach’s complaints, the offense turned it around after a first drive that ended with a Skattebo fumble. In his first live series, last year’s starter Trenton Bourguet made two chunk-play completions and a scramble of his own to setup an Andre Johnson touchdown grab. The offense was on the board after going down three series to none. Jaden Rashada then stepped up to lead the second touchdown drive of the day, completing three passes before Skattebo maneuvered through tacklers for a rushing touchdown. Rashada’s multiple throwaways to avoid sacks impressed Dillingham and the staff, as they commented after practice.
Commanding the second team, Bourguet then led the team’s third scoring drive in four tries. The signature play of the series came when he connected with brother Coben, who made a medium-yardage grab near the sideline before turning upfield for well over 40 yards. After Javen Jacobs ran it in for a score, spirits were certainly high on the maroon sideline. Kenny Dillingham seemed to crush them by ordering the players on the goal-line. Expecting sprints, they instead got a “main event” segment dance-off between Andrew Johnson and Ro Torrence, which Dillingham capped off with an impressive worm dance rendition.
The good vibes would carry over after the dance party. Bennett Meredith would lead arguably his most productive drive of the day thereafter, completing three passes before the drive stalled out deep in defensive territory. Dario Longhetto would pick him up with a made field goal, one of two on the day for him, along with two more made PAT’s throughout the morning. The football gods had seemingly shined on the ASU offense and it culminated in their next drive, a one-play touchdown pass from Jacob Conover to Chad Johnson Jr. that deflected off a defender.
Unfortunately for the Sun Devil offense, this would essentially mark the extent of their successes on Saturday. Their final three regular drives resulted in just one field goal, as Conover and Pyne both were sacked in their attempts to help separate the offense’s performance from the defense’s.
In a change of situation, Dillingham introduced an overtime simulation portion, in which the Sun Devils would start two drives inside the opponent’s 25-yard line. Neither would culminate in scores or much ground gained, as Bourguet and Meredith took the snaps. A field goal by Longhetto from approximately 50 yards that fell short ended Bourguet’s drive after two completions for no gain. Meredith came in, completing two short passes but not getting past the first-down marker. In three two-point conversion attempts, Drew Pyne would find Messiah Swinson on the first conversion, and Jacob Conover went 0-2 with an incompletion and an interception.
Overall, the quarterbacks’ performance was more consistent in terms of making the right play, completing their passes and getting rid of balls quickly. With the pass-heavy offense that Dillingham is known for, running backs Skattebo and Brooks both made bigger impacts through the air than on the ground. In terms of pass-catchers, this was the most diverse session of the spring, featuring 11 different players hauling in at least one ball. Strides were made more as a group effort rather than in individual players on Saturday, including a cleanup of pass accuracy and yards after the catch.
Clear skies, hot sun, let’s dance! Kenny Dillingham’s best attempt at an April Fools’ Day prank to breakout the team’s moves, as well as some of his own, rather than sprints was a welcomed surprise during today’s scrimmage at Sun Devil Stadium. Dillingham’s loose but energetic vibe rubbed off on his players, who exhibited one of their most high-energy sessions of the spring.
The offensive lineups were as follows:
First Group
QB: Trenton Bourguet
RB: Cam Skattebo
WR: Elijhah Badger
WR: Xavier Guillory
TE: Jalin Conyers
TE: Messiah Swinson
OL (Left to Right): Isaia Glass, Max Iheanachor, Leif Fautanu, Matt Katergaris, Emmit Bohle
Second Group
QB: Drew Pyne/Bennett Meredith
RB: DeCarlos Brooks
WR: Javen Jacobs
WR: Gio Sanders
WR: Troy Omeire
TE: Bryce Pierre
OL (Left to Right): Ralph Frias, Danny Valenzuela, Ben Bray, Austin Barry, Bram Walden
Stats
Bourguet: 6/7, TD pass, INT, five drives
Pyne: 5/9, two-point conversion pass, four drives
Meredith: 10/15, five drives
Jaden Rashada: 3/6, one drive
Jacob Conover: 2-5, TD pass, three drives, 0-2 two-point conversions (one of them an interception by Ro Torrence)
Skattebo: eight rushes, two receptions, rushing TD, one Fumble
Brooks: five rushes, two Receptions, three first downs
Jacobs: four rushes, TD run
Coben Bourguet: four receptions, two first downs
Jacobs: three receptions, one first down
Badger: three receptions, one first down, fumble
Andre Johnson: three receptions, TD reception
Chad Johnson Jr: TD reception
Bryce Pierre: two-point reception
Messiah Swinson: two-point reception
Gio Sanders: two receptions
Melquan Stovall: two receptions
Troy Omeire: one reception
Conyers: one reception
Penalties on offense
Three false starts
One offensive pass interference that negated a touchdown
With skill position players rotating in and out frequently, equal opportunities were made for everyone on the field. At first, ASU’s offense didn’t take advantage, as their first three drives went nowhere. Trenton Bourguet was intercepted on his first pass attempt. It was tipped in the middle of the field by LB Travion Brown and scooped up by diving safety Xavion Alford. Drew Pyne and Bennett Meredith, who have split time as the signal-caller of the second team, didn't fair any better. Both Badger and Xavier Guillory had a hard time gaining separation against an ASU defensive back core that has showed out in spring ball thus far.
The second drive of the day, led by Meredith, ended on the first of three false start penalties, with this one costing ASU’s offense a 3rd-and-short opportunity. Kenny Dillingham expressed his displeasure with this play loudly over his inconsistent microphone.
“No chance that can happen and you win the game. No chance.”
Hearing their head coach’s complaints, the offense turned it around after a first drive that ended with a Skattebo fumble. In his first live series, last year’s starter Trenton Bourguet made two chunk-play completions and a scramble of his own to setup an Andre Johnson touchdown grab. The offense was on the board after going down three series to none. Jaden Rashada then stepped up to lead the second touchdown drive of the day, completing three passes before Skattebo maneuvered through tacklers for a rushing touchdown. Rashada’s multiple throwaways to avoid sacks impressed Dillingham and the staff, as they commented after practice.
Commanding the second team, Bourguet then led the team’s third scoring drive in four tries. The signature play of the series came when he connected with brother Coben, who made a medium-yardage grab near the sideline before turning upfield for well over 40 yards. After Javen Jacobs ran it in for a score, spirits were certainly high on the maroon sideline. Kenny Dillingham seemed to crush them by ordering the players on the goal-line. Expecting sprints, they instead got a “main event” segment dance-off between Andrew Johnson and Ro Torrence, which Dillingham capped off with an impressive worm dance rendition.
The good vibes would carry over after the dance party. Bennett Meredith would lead arguably his most productive drive of the day thereafter, completing three passes before the drive stalled out deep in defensive territory. Dario Longhetto would pick him up with a made field goal, one of two on the day for him, along with two more made PAT’s throughout the morning. The football gods had seemingly shined on the ASU offense and it culminated in their next drive, a one-play touchdown pass from Jacob Conover to Chad Johnson Jr. that deflected off a defender.
Unfortunately for the Sun Devil offense, this would essentially mark the extent of their successes on Saturday. Their final three regular drives resulted in just one field goal, as Conover and Pyne both were sacked in their attempts to help separate the offense’s performance from the defense’s.
In a change of situation, Dillingham introduced an overtime simulation portion, in which the Sun Devils would start two drives inside the opponent’s 25-yard line. Neither would culminate in scores or much ground gained, as Bourguet and Meredith took the snaps. A field goal by Longhetto from approximately 50 yards that fell short ended Bourguet’s drive after two completions for no gain. Meredith came in, completing two short passes but not getting past the first-down marker. In three two-point conversion attempts, Drew Pyne would find Messiah Swinson on the first conversion, and Jacob Conover went 0-2 with an incompletion and an interception.
Overall, the quarterbacks’ performance was more consistent in terms of making the right play, completing their passes and getting rid of balls quickly. With the pass-heavy offense that Dillingham is known for, running backs Skattebo and Brooks both made bigger impacts through the air than on the ground. In terms of pass-catchers, this was the most diverse session of the spring, featuring 11 different players hauling in at least one ball. Strides were made more as a group effort rather than in individual players on Saturday, including a cleanup of pass accuracy and yards after the catch.
