This morning marked the first scrimmage of Spring Camp for Arizona State as the Sun Devil offense put on a show for the fans who came out to watch and cheer them on.
For the second consecutive Saturday there was a good size crowd on hand. Of course, ASU hosted its youth clinic after the scrimmage which obviously helped boost the numbers.
While Marcus Ball was the only player on both sides of the ball in a green non-contact jersey, there were others who did not participate in the scrimmage, including Vi Teofilo, Raymond Epps, and Christian Westerman on offense.
Coltin Gerhart was in attendance for the first time this Spring and watched from the sidelines (he did not dress out).
Former Sun Devils Jamil Douglas, Damarious Randall, De'Marieya Nelson and Andrew Walter also stopped by.
Bryce Perkins and Perkins family came out to watch as well. So too did Brady White's father.
Mike Bercovici, Jordan Simone and Lloyd Carrington all wore the PT-42 practice jersey with the flame helmets. A number of other guys wore the flame helmets, including Jacom Brimhall, Kalen Ballage, Demario Richard, Kody Kohl, Nick Kelly, Ami latu, James Johnson, Tashon Smallwood, and Ellis Jefferson.
One player who wore neither, shockingly, was D.J. Foster.
First team offense: Mike Bercovici (QB), Demario Richard (RB), D.J. Foster (WR), Gary Chambers (WR), Eric Lauderdale (WR), Kody Kohl (TE), Sam Jones (LT), Stephon McCray (LG), Nick Kelly (C), Devin Goodman (RG), and Billy McGehee (RT).
Second team offense: Manny Wilkins (QB), Jacom Brimhall (RB), Ellis Jefferson (WR), Jalen Harvey (WR), Tyler Whiley (WR), Dan Vear (TE), Steve Miller (LT), Jack Powers (LG), Tyler McClure (C), Stephon McCray (RG), Quinn Bailey (RT).
It was a really good day for both Mike Bercovici and Manny Wilkins. Wilkins, of course, had performed well on both Tuesday and Thursday and he continued to ride that wave of momentum on Saturday as the frosh threw for four touchdowns by my (unofficial) count. One might have been a two point attempt as the team worked at the opposite end of the field from the spectators.
On Wilkins' first score of the scrimmage, he and the running back actually had a miscommunication on the handoff exchange as he went right and Brimhall went left, leaving Manny standing there. But rather than panicking and running, he dropped back and heaved a beauty down the sideline which probably traveled 45 yards in the air before Jefferson hauled it in for the score, beating Ronald Lewis down the sideline.
Wilkins also threw a 75 yard TD to Brimhall on a wheel route where Brimhall just snuck past the defense and then simply out-ran everyone for the score.
Wilkins also had a 25 yard TD to Daniel Groebner and another short TD pass, also to Groebner, which might have been the two point attempt.
Bercovici didn't throw an interception today. In fact, none of the quarterbacks did. But Berco did pass for two scores, including a beautiful pump-n-go to Gary Chambers early on for a 25 yard touchdown and then later had a short TD strike to Jefferson. He also had a long completion to Eric Lauderdale.
Kalen Ballage was terrific this morning. If he and Richard continue on their paths, I don't know who else in the Pac-12 can compete with them in terms of a backfield duo.
All Spring Ballage has been terrific at catching passes out of the backfield but today he showed off his speed in the run game (and special teams) as well. The play of the day, or at least one of them, was a Ballage run where started on the left hash mark, ran all the way to the right as he broke through the line of scrimmage and then as he turned things up field ended up coming all the way back around to the left as he followed his blockers. It was a 70 or so yard run but he probably ran closer to 110 on the play. And probably the best part of the run was at the end when he was finally wrestled down, he had the wherewithal to change hands with ball and wrap up before contact, something that Coach Bo Graham has been stressing to him in the first two weeks of camp. Ballage has a tendency to favor the right arm when he runs.
Ballage added a short yardage TD later on in the session but also had another explosive play when he ripped off a kickoff return for what I'm calling a touchdown. It looked like the ref gave D.J. Foster credit for the tackle but I'm not convinced he wouldn't have scored. Ballage with a full head of steam on a breakaway is not coming down easily.
And speaking of kickoff returns, De'Chavon Hayes also returned one for a touchdown this morning. You knew it was coming too. It was only a matter of time.
Ballage and Hayes will be deadly this season on special teams. When was the last time ASU had two guys with the ability to take it to the house??
Demario Richard was his usual self...a mini-bowling ball of havoc. He had a nice 30 yard run on a cutback which got the offense within the five yard line early. Unfortunately they had to settle for three points.
Richard also added a pair of short yardage touchdown runs.
Not much from the tight ends today or from Nick Ralston. Jack Powers limped off about mid-way through but I believe he came back in. Harvey, Whiley and even Foster (until late) were kind of quiet. Harvey and Whiley have both had unimpressive weeks. If they don't pick it up, Terrell Chatman is going to have a good shot to sneak into the two-deep depth chart when he arrives in the Fall.
Once again, no W drill today.
After getting praised by Coach Graham on Thursday, Matt Haack was a bit of an adventure today punting. He shanked his first attempt and then shanked another one later on so badly that it landed in the parking lot.
But to be fair, Haack also had a couple of bombs and was effective kicking out of the back of the end zone as well.
We finally got to see Edgar Gastelum attempt kickoffs today and he looked solid. While Hayes and Ballge returned two for TD's, they weren't because of bad kicks. Gastelum has a strong leg. Nearly all of his kicks were a couple yards into the end zone.
Zane Gonzalez is a machine. Like, he might really be one. The junior attempted probably 15 or so kicks today and only missed one..which was from 47 and hit the right post. Nothing else even came close to being questionable.
Nothing else to add from the offense right now. I believe Inna interviewed Foster afterwards, so expect that in a bit, and then comments from Coach Graham.
For the second consecutive Saturday there was a good size crowd on hand. Of course, ASU hosted its youth clinic after the scrimmage which obviously helped boost the numbers.
While Marcus Ball was the only player on both sides of the ball in a green non-contact jersey, there were others who did not participate in the scrimmage, including Vi Teofilo, Raymond Epps, and Christian Westerman on offense.
Coltin Gerhart was in attendance for the first time this Spring and watched from the sidelines (he did not dress out).
Former Sun Devils Jamil Douglas, Damarious Randall, De'Marieya Nelson and Andrew Walter also stopped by.
Bryce Perkins and Perkins family came out to watch as well. So too did Brady White's father.
Mike Bercovici, Jordan Simone and Lloyd Carrington all wore the PT-42 practice jersey with the flame helmets. A number of other guys wore the flame helmets, including Jacom Brimhall, Kalen Ballage, Demario Richard, Kody Kohl, Nick Kelly, Ami latu, James Johnson, Tashon Smallwood, and Ellis Jefferson.
One player who wore neither, shockingly, was D.J. Foster.
First team offense: Mike Bercovici (QB), Demario Richard (RB), D.J. Foster (WR), Gary Chambers (WR), Eric Lauderdale (WR), Kody Kohl (TE), Sam Jones (LT), Stephon McCray (LG), Nick Kelly (C), Devin Goodman (RG), and Billy McGehee (RT).
Second team offense: Manny Wilkins (QB), Jacom Brimhall (RB), Ellis Jefferson (WR), Jalen Harvey (WR), Tyler Whiley (WR), Dan Vear (TE), Steve Miller (LT), Jack Powers (LG), Tyler McClure (C), Stephon McCray (RG), Quinn Bailey (RT).
It was a really good day for both Mike Bercovici and Manny Wilkins. Wilkins, of course, had performed well on both Tuesday and Thursday and he continued to ride that wave of momentum on Saturday as the frosh threw for four touchdowns by my (unofficial) count. One might have been a two point attempt as the team worked at the opposite end of the field from the spectators.
On Wilkins' first score of the scrimmage, he and the running back actually had a miscommunication on the handoff exchange as he went right and Brimhall went left, leaving Manny standing there. But rather than panicking and running, he dropped back and heaved a beauty down the sideline which probably traveled 45 yards in the air before Jefferson hauled it in for the score, beating Ronald Lewis down the sideline.
Wilkins also threw a 75 yard TD to Brimhall on a wheel route where Brimhall just snuck past the defense and then simply out-ran everyone for the score.
Wilkins also had a 25 yard TD to Daniel Groebner and another short TD pass, also to Groebner, which might have been the two point attempt.
Bercovici didn't throw an interception today. In fact, none of the quarterbacks did. But Berco did pass for two scores, including a beautiful pump-n-go to Gary Chambers early on for a 25 yard touchdown and then later had a short TD strike to Jefferson. He also had a long completion to Eric Lauderdale.
Kalen Ballage was terrific this morning. If he and Richard continue on their paths, I don't know who else in the Pac-12 can compete with them in terms of a backfield duo.
All Spring Ballage has been terrific at catching passes out of the backfield but today he showed off his speed in the run game (and special teams) as well. The play of the day, or at least one of them, was a Ballage run where started on the left hash mark, ran all the way to the right as he broke through the line of scrimmage and then as he turned things up field ended up coming all the way back around to the left as he followed his blockers. It was a 70 or so yard run but he probably ran closer to 110 on the play. And probably the best part of the run was at the end when he was finally wrestled down, he had the wherewithal to change hands with ball and wrap up before contact, something that Coach Bo Graham has been stressing to him in the first two weeks of camp. Ballage has a tendency to favor the right arm when he runs.
Ballage added a short yardage TD later on in the session but also had another explosive play when he ripped off a kickoff return for what I'm calling a touchdown. It looked like the ref gave D.J. Foster credit for the tackle but I'm not convinced he wouldn't have scored. Ballage with a full head of steam on a breakaway is not coming down easily.
And speaking of kickoff returns, De'Chavon Hayes also returned one for a touchdown this morning. You knew it was coming too. It was only a matter of time.
Ballage and Hayes will be deadly this season on special teams. When was the last time ASU had two guys with the ability to take it to the house??
Demario Richard was his usual self...a mini-bowling ball of havoc. He had a nice 30 yard run on a cutback which got the offense within the five yard line early. Unfortunately they had to settle for three points.
Richard also added a pair of short yardage touchdown runs.
Not much from the tight ends today or from Nick Ralston. Jack Powers limped off about mid-way through but I believe he came back in. Harvey, Whiley and even Foster (until late) were kind of quiet. Harvey and Whiley have both had unimpressive weeks. If they don't pick it up, Terrell Chatman is going to have a good shot to sneak into the two-deep depth chart when he arrives in the Fall.
Once again, no W drill today.
After getting praised by Coach Graham on Thursday, Matt Haack was a bit of an adventure today punting. He shanked his first attempt and then shanked another one later on so badly that it landed in the parking lot.
But to be fair, Haack also had a couple of bombs and was effective kicking out of the back of the end zone as well.
We finally got to see Edgar Gastelum attempt kickoffs today and he looked solid. While Hayes and Ballge returned two for TD's, they weren't because of bad kicks. Gastelum has a strong leg. Nearly all of his kicks were a couple yards into the end zone.
Zane Gonzalez is a machine. Like, he might really be one. The junior attempted probably 15 or so kicks today and only missed one..which was from 47 and hit the right post. Nothing else even came close to being questionable.
Nothing else to add from the offense right now. I believe Inna interviewed Foster afterwards, so expect that in a bit, and then comments from Coach Graham.
