Caleb with the offense and myself with the defense
Saturday practice was the first of Spring ball, moved to the evening to adjust to the busy Tempe schedule hosting Pat’s Run. Under the lights at the Kajikawa Practice Facility, the team saw two extensive 11v11 periods broken up by one special teams period in front of fans. Yet, it was a shorter scrimmage than the one a week ago today.
Offensive Two-Deep
First Team
LT Josh Atkins
LG Ise Matautia
C Sean Na’a
RG Kyle Scott
RT Jalen Klemm
QB Trenton Bourguet
RB Raleek Brown/Cam Skattebo
SLOT Melquan Stovall
WR Jake Smith
WR Derek Eusebio
TE Markeston Douglas
Second Team
LT Emmit Bohle
LG Ben Coleman
C Leif Fautanu
RG Makua Pule
RT Max Iheanachor
QB Sam Leavitt
RB Kyson Brown/George Hart III
SLOT Kaleb Black
WR Jordyn Tyson
WR Korbin Hendrix
TE Bryce Pierre
As the team started practice as media and fans walked in, the offense quickly dispersed into individual groups as a warm-up for the ensuing scrimmage-like period. Running backs worked on footwork over bags, offensive linemen blocked in groups of three, and quarterbacks, receivers, and tight ends ran routes on air in preparation.
As the team came together on the near field, Trenton Bourguet led the first group out. Unfortunately for the offense, the first drive would be telling of the defensive discipline coming to later drives. Two Cam Skattebo runs, and an incompletion led to a three-and-out. The defense trying to set the tone after a subpar practice on Thursday.
Sam Leavitt led the second team out with similar results to the first. Leavitt threw a ball to Kaleb Black, which was complete, but eventually could not build off of it to find a first down. Three-and-out. This was then followed by a three-and-out by a third group led by freshman quarterback Navi Bruzone.
The first group came back in, and things seemed to go from bad to worse. Colby Garvin was replaced by Jalen Klemm for the remainder of practice. Josh Atkins committed a false start and was replaced by Emmit Bohle on the drive, but after a completion to Korbin Hendrix, it was another three-and-out.
It was not until the fifth offensive drive the second group was bailed out on third down by a defensive offside, which led to a Skattebo run for a first down. The first of practice to that point. A short completion to Jordyn Tyson and a Leavitt scramble led to a first before a completion to Black led to the third first down of the drive. Tyson caught a “prayer” ball on third down to extend the drive, setting up a 15-yard Skattebo touchdown run. This ended in a short scuffle between some players, arguing about the allowed physicality level of the practice.
The third group stalled again, which led the first group to back out with a different quarterback. Jaden Rashada took his first snaps in 11v11 team portions after Kenny Dillingham assured the media he would not participate in such portions through Spring. Rashada did not do much as the drive ended quickly, and the second group did not find success after that either.
After a special teams intermission, Rashada came back out with the first group. After a first-down completion to Melquan Stovall, the drive stalled after a Jake Smith drop and George Hart III getting hit hard on third down.
It was then that Leavitt came back out to the field and found Tyson over the middle for a 60-yard gain. Kyson Brown and Raleek Brown combined in the backfield to make it first and goal. Leavitt then rolled out and found Tyson again for a touchdown, the group's second of the day.
The team transitioned into a red-zone style offense which saw the first group with Bourguet at the helm fail to score. It was the second group again that got off to a rocky start with a holding call. On third down, though, Leavitt gave a second-level ball in the corner of the endzone for Tyson, connecting yet again for another touchdown.
A short special teams period saw both Carston Kieffer and Ian Hershey kick from 45 yards at both hashes. Kieffer was 2-2, while Hershey was 0-2. Kieffer continuing to stay consistent before other kickers arrive in the fall.
At the end of practice, the first team behind Bourguet got one more shot. Bourguet found Stovall for a first down. This set up a Kyson Brown catch out of the backfield as he pounded through three tackles at the goal line for a touchdown that had the offense fired up.
The second group again ended on a high note as the running backs got the ball down to the half-yard line. Raleek Brown tried to pound it in but was stopped. The offense decided to go for it on fourth down and Leavitt used his legs on a rollout to get in to end practice. A better end to a slow start for the offense today.
A note for post-practice: newly hired wide receivers coach Hines Ward collected the receivers and talked to them, inheriting them right away. Ward was at practice watching and wasted no time trying to get involved. He will be coaching his group on the field next week, although it is unclear whether it will be on Tuesday or Thursday.
Defensive Two-Deep
First Team
DE Elijah O’Neal
DT CJ Fite
DT Jeffrey Clark
DE Clayton Smith
LB Keyshawn Elliott
LB Zyrus Fiaseu
Nickel Macen Williams
CB Ed Woods
CB Javan Robinson
Safety Shamari Simmons
Safety Xavion Alford
Second Team
DE Prince Dorbah
DT JP Deeter
DT Blazen Lono-Wong
DE Justin Wodtly
LB Jordan Crook
LB Martell Hughes
Nickel Cole Martin
CB Rodney Bimage
CB Latterance Welch
Safety Myles Rowser
Safety Montana Warren
The defense definitely had its way in the first handful of series during the scrimmage.
Great push up front disrupted the quarterbacks from getting comfortable in the pocket as well as halting the running game time after time. Prince Dorbah and Justin Wodtly stood out in the pass rush department. Defensive backs did just okay, and ironically, when they did not cover as well, the wide receivers, more often than not, dropped passes that could have moved the chains and then some. Perhaps the absence of Troy Omiere had a bigger impact than expected when it came to the collective performance of his teammates.
Xavion Alford had a near interception thrown by Trenton Bourguet, as well as a pass breakup, as did Tony-Luis Nkuba. Martell Hughes came close to notching an interception. I thought Chris Johnson had a few reps where he displayed good past coverage skills, forcing incompletions, but he also showed his lack of experience by getting called for pass interference on two occasions. Latterance Welch in coverage prevented a Jake Smith touchdown. Keith Abney II did a great job sniffing out a screen pass. Offensive coordinator Marcus Arroyo admitted that the quarterbacks collectively did struggle for the most part in the scrimmage but needless to say that the defense definitely had a hand in that caliber of performance.
But as a scrimmage progressed, I don't know if the defense was tiring or what, but suddenly, the quarterbacks had more time to operate in the pocket, and as Caleb mentioned, it became the Jordyn Tyson show. It's impossible to overstate how much Tyson has stood out these past two weeks. Can Skattebo took a while to get going but definitely did some damage on the ground in the last few series. I thought Kyson Brown really flexed his muscles on a few runs, and on one of them, scoring a short touchdown when he had no fewer than three defenders trying to stop him on the goal line. Raleek Brown flashed a bit, too, towards the end of scrimmage.
As Caleb mentioned, there was a special teams intermission, if you will, in the middle of the scrimmage, during which they worked on gunners getting to the punt returner.
The punt returners were Jordyn Tyson, Melquan Stovall, Jake Smith, and Raleek Brown.
The gunners were Macen WIlliams, Cole Martin, Clayton Smith, Kamari Wilson, and Roman Pitre.
ASU President Michael Crow, Interim Athletic Director Jim Rund, and former players Jaelen Strong and Kalen Ballgae attended practice. Sun Devil great Jake Plummer addressed the team during practice.
Saturday practice was the first of Spring ball, moved to the evening to adjust to the busy Tempe schedule hosting Pat’s Run. Under the lights at the Kajikawa Practice Facility, the team saw two extensive 11v11 periods broken up by one special teams period in front of fans. Yet, it was a shorter scrimmage than the one a week ago today.
Offensive Two-Deep
First Team
LT Josh Atkins
LG Ise Matautia
C Sean Na’a
RG Kyle Scott
RT Jalen Klemm
QB Trenton Bourguet
RB Raleek Brown/Cam Skattebo
SLOT Melquan Stovall
WR Jake Smith
WR Derek Eusebio
TE Markeston Douglas
Second Team
LT Emmit Bohle
LG Ben Coleman
C Leif Fautanu
RG Makua Pule
RT Max Iheanachor
QB Sam Leavitt
RB Kyson Brown/George Hart III
SLOT Kaleb Black
WR Jordyn Tyson
WR Korbin Hendrix
TE Bryce Pierre
As the team started practice as media and fans walked in, the offense quickly dispersed into individual groups as a warm-up for the ensuing scrimmage-like period. Running backs worked on footwork over bags, offensive linemen blocked in groups of three, and quarterbacks, receivers, and tight ends ran routes on air in preparation.
As the team came together on the near field, Trenton Bourguet led the first group out. Unfortunately for the offense, the first drive would be telling of the defensive discipline coming to later drives. Two Cam Skattebo runs, and an incompletion led to a three-and-out. The defense trying to set the tone after a subpar practice on Thursday.
Sam Leavitt led the second team out with similar results to the first. Leavitt threw a ball to Kaleb Black, which was complete, but eventually could not build off of it to find a first down. Three-and-out. This was then followed by a three-and-out by a third group led by freshman quarterback Navi Bruzone.
The first group came back in, and things seemed to go from bad to worse. Colby Garvin was replaced by Jalen Klemm for the remainder of practice. Josh Atkins committed a false start and was replaced by Emmit Bohle on the drive, but after a completion to Korbin Hendrix, it was another three-and-out.
It was not until the fifth offensive drive the second group was bailed out on third down by a defensive offside, which led to a Skattebo run for a first down. The first of practice to that point. A short completion to Jordyn Tyson and a Leavitt scramble led to a first before a completion to Black led to the third first down of the drive. Tyson caught a “prayer” ball on third down to extend the drive, setting up a 15-yard Skattebo touchdown run. This ended in a short scuffle between some players, arguing about the allowed physicality level of the practice.
The third group stalled again, which led the first group to back out with a different quarterback. Jaden Rashada took his first snaps in 11v11 team portions after Kenny Dillingham assured the media he would not participate in such portions through Spring. Rashada did not do much as the drive ended quickly, and the second group did not find success after that either.
After a special teams intermission, Rashada came back out with the first group. After a first-down completion to Melquan Stovall, the drive stalled after a Jake Smith drop and George Hart III getting hit hard on third down.
It was then that Leavitt came back out to the field and found Tyson over the middle for a 60-yard gain. Kyson Brown and Raleek Brown combined in the backfield to make it first and goal. Leavitt then rolled out and found Tyson again for a touchdown, the group's second of the day.
The team transitioned into a red-zone style offense which saw the first group with Bourguet at the helm fail to score. It was the second group again that got off to a rocky start with a holding call. On third down, though, Leavitt gave a second-level ball in the corner of the endzone for Tyson, connecting yet again for another touchdown.
A short special teams period saw both Carston Kieffer and Ian Hershey kick from 45 yards at both hashes. Kieffer was 2-2, while Hershey was 0-2. Kieffer continuing to stay consistent before other kickers arrive in the fall.
At the end of practice, the first team behind Bourguet got one more shot. Bourguet found Stovall for a first down. This set up a Kyson Brown catch out of the backfield as he pounded through three tackles at the goal line for a touchdown that had the offense fired up.
The second group again ended on a high note as the running backs got the ball down to the half-yard line. Raleek Brown tried to pound it in but was stopped. The offense decided to go for it on fourth down and Leavitt used his legs on a rollout to get in to end practice. A better end to a slow start for the offense today.
A note for post-practice: newly hired wide receivers coach Hines Ward collected the receivers and talked to them, inheriting them right away. Ward was at practice watching and wasted no time trying to get involved. He will be coaching his group on the field next week, although it is unclear whether it will be on Tuesday or Thursday.
Defensive Two-Deep
First Team
DE Elijah O’Neal
DT CJ Fite
DT Jeffrey Clark
DE Clayton Smith
LB Keyshawn Elliott
LB Zyrus Fiaseu
Nickel Macen Williams
CB Ed Woods
CB Javan Robinson
Safety Shamari Simmons
Safety Xavion Alford
Second Team
DE Prince Dorbah
DT JP Deeter
DT Blazen Lono-Wong
DE Justin Wodtly
LB Jordan Crook
LB Martell Hughes
Nickel Cole Martin
CB Rodney Bimage
CB Latterance Welch
Safety Myles Rowser
Safety Montana Warren
The defense definitely had its way in the first handful of series during the scrimmage.
Great push up front disrupted the quarterbacks from getting comfortable in the pocket as well as halting the running game time after time. Prince Dorbah and Justin Wodtly stood out in the pass rush department. Defensive backs did just okay, and ironically, when they did not cover as well, the wide receivers, more often than not, dropped passes that could have moved the chains and then some. Perhaps the absence of Troy Omiere had a bigger impact than expected when it came to the collective performance of his teammates.
Xavion Alford had a near interception thrown by Trenton Bourguet, as well as a pass breakup, as did Tony-Luis Nkuba. Martell Hughes came close to notching an interception. I thought Chris Johnson had a few reps where he displayed good past coverage skills, forcing incompletions, but he also showed his lack of experience by getting called for pass interference on two occasions. Latterance Welch in coverage prevented a Jake Smith touchdown. Keith Abney II did a great job sniffing out a screen pass. Offensive coordinator Marcus Arroyo admitted that the quarterbacks collectively did struggle for the most part in the scrimmage but needless to say that the defense definitely had a hand in that caliber of performance.
But as a scrimmage progressed, I don't know if the defense was tiring or what, but suddenly, the quarterbacks had more time to operate in the pocket, and as Caleb mentioned, it became the Jordyn Tyson show. It's impossible to overstate how much Tyson has stood out these past two weeks. Can Skattebo took a while to get going but definitely did some damage on the ground in the last few series. I thought Kyson Brown really flexed his muscles on a few runs, and on one of them, scoring a short touchdown when he had no fewer than three defenders trying to stop him on the goal line. Raleek Brown flashed a bit, too, towards the end of scrimmage.
As Caleb mentioned, there was a special teams intermission, if you will, in the middle of the scrimmage, during which they worked on gunners getting to the punt returner.
The punt returners were Jordyn Tyson, Melquan Stovall, Jake Smith, and Raleek Brown.
The gunners were Macen WIlliams, Cole Martin, Clayton Smith, Kamari Wilson, and Roman Pitre.
ASU President Michael Crow, Interim Athletic Director Jim Rund, and former players Jaelen Strong and Kalen Ballgae attended practice. Sun Devil great Jake Plummer addressed the team during practice.
