The veterans were back it again this morning after opening the 2015 Fall Camp yesterday. Despite the morning clouds and surprisingly decent outdoor temps, Coach Graham had the team once again practicing inside the Verde Dickey Dome and without pads.
Similar to yesterday, only Cam Smith and Vi Teofilo wore the green non-contact jerseys. However, unlike yesterday, Teofilo participated both in OL drills AND the team drills (11-on-11), working with the first team OL at RG.
Yesterday after practice, Graham told the media he was under the impression that the senior offensive lineman was 100% after having knee surgery following last season and expected him to be out there with the starting OL again soon.
With Teofilo back at RG, it gives the Sun Devils a starting OL unit consisting of four seniors and one redshirt junior.
For the send consecutive day, running back Demario Richard was the first player to arrive. Back in the spring, Richard mentioned that he wants to be a leader for the running backs and seems to be taking on that role with his actions.
Kalen Ballage was back on offense this morning as the primary back-up to Richard at running back. And redshirt frosh Ismael Murphy-Richardson, who practiced last night with the newcomers, was out there this morning as the back-up Devilbacker to help balance the numbers with Ballage suiting up on offense.
First team offense: Mike Bercovici (QB), Demario Richard (RB), D.J. Foster (WR), Gary Cambers (WR), Fred Gammage (WR), Kody Kohl (TE), Evan Goodman (LT), Christian Westerman (LG), Nick Kelly (C), Vi Teofilo (RG), and Billy McGehee (RT).
First team defense: Demetrius Cherry (DE), Ami Latu (N), Tashon Smallwood (DT), Chans Cox (Devil), DJ Calhoun (WILL), Salamo Fiso (SAM), Laiu Moeakiola (SPUR), Lloyd Carrington (CB), Solomon Means (CB), Jordan Simone (S), and James Johnson (S).
Second team offense: Manny Wilkins (QB), Kalen Ballage (RB), De'Chavon Hayes (RB), Ellis Jefferson (WR), Devin Lucien (WR), Eric Lauderdale (WR), Sam Jones (LT), Christian Westerman (LG), Stephon McCray (C), Nick Kelly (RG), and Quinn Bailey (RT).
Second team defense: Edmond Boateng (DE), Connor Humphreys (N), Emmanuel Dayries (DT), Ismael Murphy-Richardson (Devil), Antonio Longino (WILL), Christian Sam (SAM), Marcus Ball (SPUR), Kweishi Brown (CB), Ronald Lewis (CB), Armand Perry (S), and Chad Adams (S).
The player who stood out the most in the limited amount of 11-on-11 action the media was allowed to see was Kalen Ballage. The bruising running back had a nice run up the middle and then later caught a swing pass along the near sideline that was whistled dead after Armand Perry put two hands on him but most likely would have gone for much more in a live game situation because Ballage running downhill with space is not a good position to be in for opposing defenses.
Mike Bercovici had a slow start yesterday but looked much sharper this morning, twice connecting on short passes with D.J. Foster and then hit Gammage along the far sideline for a nice catch & run.
Speaking of Foster, he and Lloyd Carrington continue to have some of the best 1-on-1 battles dating back to the spring. Carrington missed the near INT yesterday and had another nice PBU today defending the senior WR.
I tried to watch Chans Cox a bit more today, especially since he was going up against the starters. Granted the sample size was small, but it looked like he was having some trouble fighting off blocks from Evan Goodman and Billy McGehee on either end. Coach Shipp recently had positive things to say about Cox's development at the Devilbacker position so he'll be one guy we'll keep an eye on over the next few weeks.
The team spent a great deal of time working on special teams this morning. Coach Slocum put a heavy emphasis on blocking and creating lanes for both PR and KR. Guys like DJ Calhoun, Marcus Ball, Kweishi Brown and Armand Perry stood out.
Gump Hayes and Ballage were the primary kickoff returners, backed up by Chad Adams and Foster.
Matt Haack looked fresh, sending nearly each of his punts into the ceiling of the dome. They also had a back-up punter on hand but he isn't yet on the roster (#32).
Not much more to report this morning. Let me know if you have any questions. Hod and Adam will be out there again this evening for the newcomers second session.
Similar to yesterday, only Cam Smith and Vi Teofilo wore the green non-contact jerseys. However, unlike yesterday, Teofilo participated both in OL drills AND the team drills (11-on-11), working with the first team OL at RG.
Yesterday after practice, Graham told the media he was under the impression that the senior offensive lineman was 100% after having knee surgery following last season and expected him to be out there with the starting OL again soon.
With Teofilo back at RG, it gives the Sun Devils a starting OL unit consisting of four seniors and one redshirt junior.
For the send consecutive day, running back Demario Richard was the first player to arrive. Back in the spring, Richard mentioned that he wants to be a leader for the running backs and seems to be taking on that role with his actions.
Kalen Ballage was back on offense this morning as the primary back-up to Richard at running back. And redshirt frosh Ismael Murphy-Richardson, who practiced last night with the newcomers, was out there this morning as the back-up Devilbacker to help balance the numbers with Ballage suiting up on offense.
First team offense: Mike Bercovici (QB), Demario Richard (RB), D.J. Foster (WR), Gary Cambers (WR), Fred Gammage (WR), Kody Kohl (TE), Evan Goodman (LT), Christian Westerman (LG), Nick Kelly (C), Vi Teofilo (RG), and Billy McGehee (RT).
First team defense: Demetrius Cherry (DE), Ami Latu (N), Tashon Smallwood (DT), Chans Cox (Devil), DJ Calhoun (WILL), Salamo Fiso (SAM), Laiu Moeakiola (SPUR), Lloyd Carrington (CB), Solomon Means (CB), Jordan Simone (S), and James Johnson (S).
Second team offense: Manny Wilkins (QB), Kalen Ballage (RB), De'Chavon Hayes (RB), Ellis Jefferson (WR), Devin Lucien (WR), Eric Lauderdale (WR), Sam Jones (LT), Christian Westerman (LG), Stephon McCray (C), Nick Kelly (RG), and Quinn Bailey (RT).
Second team defense: Edmond Boateng (DE), Connor Humphreys (N), Emmanuel Dayries (DT), Ismael Murphy-Richardson (Devil), Antonio Longino (WILL), Christian Sam (SAM), Marcus Ball (SPUR), Kweishi Brown (CB), Ronald Lewis (CB), Armand Perry (S), and Chad Adams (S).
The player who stood out the most in the limited amount of 11-on-11 action the media was allowed to see was Kalen Ballage. The bruising running back had a nice run up the middle and then later caught a swing pass along the near sideline that was whistled dead after Armand Perry put two hands on him but most likely would have gone for much more in a live game situation because Ballage running downhill with space is not a good position to be in for opposing defenses.
Mike Bercovici had a slow start yesterday but looked much sharper this morning, twice connecting on short passes with D.J. Foster and then hit Gammage along the far sideline for a nice catch & run.
Speaking of Foster, he and Lloyd Carrington continue to have some of the best 1-on-1 battles dating back to the spring. Carrington missed the near INT yesterday and had another nice PBU today defending the senior WR.
I tried to watch Chans Cox a bit more today, especially since he was going up against the starters. Granted the sample size was small, but it looked like he was having some trouble fighting off blocks from Evan Goodman and Billy McGehee on either end. Coach Shipp recently had positive things to say about Cox's development at the Devilbacker position so he'll be one guy we'll keep an eye on over the next few weeks.
The team spent a great deal of time working on special teams this morning. Coach Slocum put a heavy emphasis on blocking and creating lanes for both PR and KR. Guys like DJ Calhoun, Marcus Ball, Kweishi Brown and Armand Perry stood out.
Gump Hayes and Ballage were the primary kickoff returners, backed up by Chad Adams and Foster.
Matt Haack looked fresh, sending nearly each of his punts into the ceiling of the dome. They also had a back-up punter on hand but he isn't yet on the roster (#32).
Not much more to report this morning. Let me know if you have any questions. Hod and Adam will be out there again this evening for the newcomers second session.
