Saturday marked the second full day of pads for the Sun Devils and overall, it was not a very good session for the first team offense.
The only players in green non-contact jerseys were Laiu Moeakiola, Jay Jay Wilson, and Cameron Smith.
Antonio Longino joined the likes of Lloyd Carrington, Jordan Simone, and James Johnson in the PT-42 jerseys. It was a first for the senior linebacker and he proved his worthiness in this morning's practice.
Before we dive into the depth chart and team drills action, I just wanted to point out a few new wrinkles to the practice format. It seems like the team has been incorporating more of what they used to do outside now inside the dome. The special teams players, who used to practice outside (or inside, depending on where the team was that day) and on their own for the most part are now inside the dome and practicing along the sidelines where they can still interact with the team and, most importantly, Coach Slocum.
Rather than just having the punt and kick return guys stand around and wait while the rest of the special teams players work on things like blocking, staff members are using the JUGGS machine to simulate punts and kickoffs for them practice.
It might seem like not a big deal, but there are just way more things going on at all times inside the dome now when the team practices than in the past.
First team offense: Mike Bercovici (QB), Kalen Ballage (RB), D.J. Foster (WR), Gary Chambers (WR), Fred Gammage (WR), Kody Kohl (TE), Evan Goodman (LT), Christian Westerman (LG), Nick Kelly (C), Stephon Vi Teofilo (RG), and Billy McGehee (RT).
First team defense: Demetrius Cherry (DE), Corey Smith (N), Tashon Smallwood (Tiger), AJ latu (Devil), Antonio Longino (WILL), Salamo Fiso (SAM), DJ Calhoun (SPUR), Lloyd Carrington (CB), Kweishi Brown (CB), Jordan Simone (S), and James Johnson (S).
Second team offense: Manny Wilkins (QB), Jacom Brimhall (RB), Ellis Jefferson (Wr), Eric Lauderdale (WR), Tim White (WR), Raymond Epps (TE), Steve Miller (LT, Sam Jones (LG), Tyler McClure (C), Quinn Bailey (RG), and Zach Robertson (RT).
Second team defense: Edmond Boateng (DE), Renell Wren (N), Emmanuel Dayries (Tiger), Ismael Murphy-Richardson (Devil), DJ Calhoun (WILL), Christian Sam (SAM), Marcus Ball (SPUR), Solomon Means (CB), Ronald Lewis (CB), Armand Perry (S), and Chad Adams (S).
With Laiu Moeakiola out, DJ Calhoun worked as the first team SPUR and second team WILL. Kweishi Brown has also wrestled the starting CB position opposite Lloyd Carrington away from Solomon Means.
Like I said, it was a rough morning for the first team offense. On the very first play of team drills, Bercovici was intercepted by his roommate, Jordan Simone, on a short pass to the near sideline which the senior safety took to the house for a score, thus ending the first drive for the starting offense.
When the group returned to the field later in the practice, Bercovici was immediately sacked by Longino. After the defensive line stuffed Ballage on a short run, they forced Bercovici out of the pocket and to throw the ball away before taking another sack.
Ballage finished the series with a second short run after being brought down by Longino again.
The offensive line, and in particular the right side, really seemed to have a difficult time controlling the defense's pass rush.
The second team offense didn't fare much better, although Wilkins was able to convert downfield to Nick Ralston for a first down.
Renell Wren added a TFL for the defense.
The team once again spent a great deal of the first hour working on special teams. Punt blocking was a key point of emphasis this morning. Guys like Simone, Murphy-Richardson, and James Johnson stood out.
I stil haven't seen Zane Gonzalez attempt a FG this week despite being inside the dome for the duration.
On the recruiting front, Chase Lucas was in attendance to watch this morning's practice. We did not see N'Keal Harry although chances are he likely arrived after the media was asked to leave.
Like always, if you have any questions, fire away. We'll try to answer them as best and quickly as possible.
The only players in green non-contact jerseys were Laiu Moeakiola, Jay Jay Wilson, and Cameron Smith.
Antonio Longino joined the likes of Lloyd Carrington, Jordan Simone, and James Johnson in the PT-42 jerseys. It was a first for the senior linebacker and he proved his worthiness in this morning's practice.
Before we dive into the depth chart and team drills action, I just wanted to point out a few new wrinkles to the practice format. It seems like the team has been incorporating more of what they used to do outside now inside the dome. The special teams players, who used to practice outside (or inside, depending on where the team was that day) and on their own for the most part are now inside the dome and practicing along the sidelines where they can still interact with the team and, most importantly, Coach Slocum.
Rather than just having the punt and kick return guys stand around and wait while the rest of the special teams players work on things like blocking, staff members are using the JUGGS machine to simulate punts and kickoffs for them practice.
It might seem like not a big deal, but there are just way more things going on at all times inside the dome now when the team practices than in the past.
First team offense: Mike Bercovici (QB), Kalen Ballage (RB), D.J. Foster (WR), Gary Chambers (WR), Fred Gammage (WR), Kody Kohl (TE), Evan Goodman (LT), Christian Westerman (LG), Nick Kelly (C), Stephon Vi Teofilo (RG), and Billy McGehee (RT).
First team defense: Demetrius Cherry (DE), Corey Smith (N), Tashon Smallwood (Tiger), AJ latu (Devil), Antonio Longino (WILL), Salamo Fiso (SAM), DJ Calhoun (SPUR), Lloyd Carrington (CB), Kweishi Brown (CB), Jordan Simone (S), and James Johnson (S).
Second team offense: Manny Wilkins (QB), Jacom Brimhall (RB), Ellis Jefferson (Wr), Eric Lauderdale (WR), Tim White (WR), Raymond Epps (TE), Steve Miller (LT, Sam Jones (LG), Tyler McClure (C), Quinn Bailey (RG), and Zach Robertson (RT).
Second team defense: Edmond Boateng (DE), Renell Wren (N), Emmanuel Dayries (Tiger), Ismael Murphy-Richardson (Devil), DJ Calhoun (WILL), Christian Sam (SAM), Marcus Ball (SPUR), Solomon Means (CB), Ronald Lewis (CB), Armand Perry (S), and Chad Adams (S).
With Laiu Moeakiola out, DJ Calhoun worked as the first team SPUR and second team WILL. Kweishi Brown has also wrestled the starting CB position opposite Lloyd Carrington away from Solomon Means.
Like I said, it was a rough morning for the first team offense. On the very first play of team drills, Bercovici was intercepted by his roommate, Jordan Simone, on a short pass to the near sideline which the senior safety took to the house for a score, thus ending the first drive for the starting offense.
When the group returned to the field later in the practice, Bercovici was immediately sacked by Longino. After the defensive line stuffed Ballage on a short run, they forced Bercovici out of the pocket and to throw the ball away before taking another sack.
Ballage finished the series with a second short run after being brought down by Longino again.
The offensive line, and in particular the right side, really seemed to have a difficult time controlling the defense's pass rush.
The second team offense didn't fare much better, although Wilkins was able to convert downfield to Nick Ralston for a first down.
Renell Wren added a TFL for the defense.
The team once again spent a great deal of the first hour working on special teams. Punt blocking was a key point of emphasis this morning. Guys like Simone, Murphy-Richardson, and James Johnson stood out.
I stil haven't seen Zane Gonzalez attempt a FG this week despite being inside the dome for the duration.
On the recruiting front, Chase Lucas was in attendance to watch this morning's practice. We did not see N'Keal Harry although chances are he likely arrived after the media was asked to leave.
Like always, if you have any questions, fire away. We'll try to answer them as best and quickly as possible.
