Arizona State was out in shells – helmets and shoulder pads – for Tuesday’s practice in the beautiful Tempe fall weather, with a cool breeze and practically no clouds this Tuesday morning.
Personnel Update:
WR Johnny Wilson was still out due to a hamstring injury. He hasn’t played in the last two games.
OL Armon Bethea continues to practice with the offensive line on Tuesday in a maroon jersey.
TE Jake Ray remains absent.
First team offense:
The first team offense came out in split back formation with RB DeaMonte Trayanum and RB Rachaad White. The only wide receivers we saw were Ricky Pearsall and LV Bunkley-Shelton in the set.
Positional Drills:
The offensive line began practice split up in two groups: the first and second team groups were banded together, while the freshmen and walk-ons made up another group. The groups were split up into pairs, as they worked on differing blocking strategies, starting with one knee on the ground. The emphasis here was pad lift, pad level and working their angles correctly. Head coach Herm Edwards came over to share some words with left tackle Kellen Diesch.
The tight ends worked an individual drill with interim tight ends coach Juston Wood, which required them to begin in a three-point stance, before exploding out and driving Wood down the length of about three yards as he held a heavy medicine ball. Wood was knocked over on one of the reps much to the enjoyment of his players.
The wide receivers began individual drills emphasizing footwork as they cut around several cones before making a quick reception. They would later link up with QBs Jayden Daniels and Trenton Bourguet for routes-on-air, joining forces with the tight ends as well.
The quarterbacks and running backs worked a variety of handoff and option gap plays, including a jet sweep concept and a play action rollout concept.
While the tight ends and wide receivers took routes-on-air from Daniels and Bourguet, QBs Daylin McLemore and Finn Collins stuck around with the running backs for their own routes-on-air session, mostly working on short routes/passes out of the back field. RB Daniyel Ngata had a nice one-handed grab off of his own deflection.
The offensive individual period ended with the running backs and offensive linemen working on pass protection against a variety of blitzes. RB Jackson He proved to be a fierce blocking assignment, as the scout team “linebacker” tried to break through the protective scheme.
Defense
Here are notes and observations of the Arizona State defense for Tuesday’s media viewing window.
Based on what we have seen from practice and over the last five games, here is the tentative two-deep as the team hits the road for the third time to face Utah, its fourth conference opponent, on Saturday at 7:00 pm:
First team defense
Right DE Tyler Johnson
3-technique Shannon Forman
Nose D.J. Davidson
Left DE Michael Matus
SAM Merlin Robertson
MIKE Kyle Soelle
WILL Darien Butler
S DeAndre Pierce
S Kejuan Markham
CB Jack Jones
CB Timarcus Davis
Nickel CB: Jordan Clark
Second team defense
Right DE Anthonie Cooper / Gharin Stansbury
3-technique Omarr Norman-Lott / BJ Green
Nose T.J. Pesefea / Corey Stephens
Left DE Stanley Lambert / Joe Moore
SAM Eric Gentry
MIKE Will Shaffer
WILL Caleb McCullough
S T Lee
S Willie Harts
CB Macen Williams
CB Ed Woods
Nickel CB: Tommi Hill
When the Sun Devils line up base 4-3 defense (three linebackers), Davis and Jones play the boundary corner positions. When the Sun Devils substitute for nickel personnel, Robertson typically comes off the field for a third cornerback. With Lucas’ status in doubt for Saturday’s game, we expect Jordan Clark to handle the majority of slot duties. Previously, they third cornerback would take the outside corner position outside while one of the starters assumed the slot corner role. However, with the Sun Devils having length and size in mind, we do not expect this to happen this weekend.
Attendance
Cornerback Chase Lucas, who exited the Stanford game early in the first quarter with a back injury, was not observed at practice.
Safety Evan Fields, who played against Stanford but was held out the previous week against UCLA with a hamstring, was also not spotted practicing with the defensive backs. RJ Regan, listed as the third Tillman safety on the depth chart, was dressed but did not practice with the team.
Defensive end Michael Matus who didn’t play against Stanford was dressed and practicing.
Undisclosed timetable: DE Amiri Johnson, LB Dylan DeVito, DT Matthew Palo-Mao, S Cam Phillips
Out for season: DT Jermayne Lole, DE Travez Moore
Positional Drills
Today’s practice began at 9:57 am. Players were in pads and media was allowed to see the first 15 minutes of the positional drills period. Tuesday easily one of the best days for practice in terms of weather the team has experienced yet.
Defensive line coach Robert Rodriguez started his group off on the blocking dummies located near the white Verde Dickey Dome at the south end of the Kajikawa complex. Rodriguez had his players crouch in front of each red object and strike the opposite side of the dummy, maintaining their balance from the squatted position.
“Let’s be explosive with our hands,” Rodriguez said, peering through his sunglasses.
The line drilled power punches and contact accuracy on the dummy’s outside shoulder from various techniques. It was in this portion where the reasons for the impressive development of 3-tech B.J. Green were present. Rodriguez specifically worked with Green on improving his form.” Everything you have has to go through the target,” Rodriguez said.
After this session at the “money makers” finished up, the defensive ends split off from the main group to work with defensive coordinator Antonio Pierce on ball-tracking skills. Each defensive end would peel off out of their stance and run vertical downfield. AP lofted each player an over-the-shoulder ball. The highlight of this period was when Tyler Johnson hauled in a slightly overthrown ball from Pierce using just his left hand. “Brings you back to your tight end days,” Pierce joked.
Linebackers coach Chris Claiborne began positions drills with the same variation of the medicine ball drill. Each player would engage a long, padded beam multiple times before being forced to bat down a medicine ball once they reached the end. Next, the linebackers transitioned into wrap-up sled work and focused on driving from the lower body and up. Finally, the group worked on rerouting receivers over the middle and spreading out to cover the flats, where they also worked on their receiving skills.
The defensive line and strong-side (SAM) linebackers joined forces toward the end of practice for a joint drill. The group worked on stunt packages and filling gaps both inside and on the edge.
“Get high on the racecar,” Rodriguez boomed to Gharin Stansbury at the left defensive end spot. “That’s why they (Utah) like to get you on with the two tight-end look they love.”
The rest of the linebackers offered support to the defensive backs, who began practice with backpedaling and ball tracking exercises. Later, they spent time drilling route concept work and effective counter-measures to Utah’s dynamic offensive weapons.
As always, we will answer any questions you may have on Tuesday’s practice.
Personnel Update:
WR Johnny Wilson was still out due to a hamstring injury. He hasn’t played in the last two games.
OL Armon Bethea continues to practice with the offensive line on Tuesday in a maroon jersey.
TE Jake Ray remains absent.
First team offense:
The first team offense came out in split back formation with RB DeaMonte Trayanum and RB Rachaad White. The only wide receivers we saw were Ricky Pearsall and LV Bunkley-Shelton in the set.
Positional Drills:
The offensive line began practice split up in two groups: the first and second team groups were banded together, while the freshmen and walk-ons made up another group. The groups were split up into pairs, as they worked on differing blocking strategies, starting with one knee on the ground. The emphasis here was pad lift, pad level and working their angles correctly. Head coach Herm Edwards came over to share some words with left tackle Kellen Diesch.
The tight ends worked an individual drill with interim tight ends coach Juston Wood, which required them to begin in a three-point stance, before exploding out and driving Wood down the length of about three yards as he held a heavy medicine ball. Wood was knocked over on one of the reps much to the enjoyment of his players.
The wide receivers began individual drills emphasizing footwork as they cut around several cones before making a quick reception. They would later link up with QBs Jayden Daniels and Trenton Bourguet for routes-on-air, joining forces with the tight ends as well.
The quarterbacks and running backs worked a variety of handoff and option gap plays, including a jet sweep concept and a play action rollout concept.
While the tight ends and wide receivers took routes-on-air from Daniels and Bourguet, QBs Daylin McLemore and Finn Collins stuck around with the running backs for their own routes-on-air session, mostly working on short routes/passes out of the back field. RB Daniyel Ngata had a nice one-handed grab off of his own deflection.
The offensive individual period ended with the running backs and offensive linemen working on pass protection against a variety of blitzes. RB Jackson He proved to be a fierce blocking assignment, as the scout team “linebacker” tried to break through the protective scheme.
Defense
Here are notes and observations of the Arizona State defense for Tuesday’s media viewing window.
Based on what we have seen from practice and over the last five games, here is the tentative two-deep as the team hits the road for the third time to face Utah, its fourth conference opponent, on Saturday at 7:00 pm:
First team defense
Right DE Tyler Johnson
3-technique Shannon Forman
Nose D.J. Davidson
Left DE Michael Matus
SAM Merlin Robertson
MIKE Kyle Soelle
WILL Darien Butler
S DeAndre Pierce
S Kejuan Markham
CB Jack Jones
CB Timarcus Davis
Nickel CB: Jordan Clark
Second team defense
Right DE Anthonie Cooper / Gharin Stansbury
3-technique Omarr Norman-Lott / BJ Green
Nose T.J. Pesefea / Corey Stephens
Left DE Stanley Lambert / Joe Moore
SAM Eric Gentry
MIKE Will Shaffer
WILL Caleb McCullough
S T Lee
S Willie Harts
CB Macen Williams
CB Ed Woods
Nickel CB: Tommi Hill
When the Sun Devils line up base 4-3 defense (three linebackers), Davis and Jones play the boundary corner positions. When the Sun Devils substitute for nickel personnel, Robertson typically comes off the field for a third cornerback. With Lucas’ status in doubt for Saturday’s game, we expect Jordan Clark to handle the majority of slot duties. Previously, they third cornerback would take the outside corner position outside while one of the starters assumed the slot corner role. However, with the Sun Devils having length and size in mind, we do not expect this to happen this weekend.
Attendance
Cornerback Chase Lucas, who exited the Stanford game early in the first quarter with a back injury, was not observed at practice.
Safety Evan Fields, who played against Stanford but was held out the previous week against UCLA with a hamstring, was also not spotted practicing with the defensive backs. RJ Regan, listed as the third Tillman safety on the depth chart, was dressed but did not practice with the team.
Defensive end Michael Matus who didn’t play against Stanford was dressed and practicing.
Undisclosed timetable: DE Amiri Johnson, LB Dylan DeVito, DT Matthew Palo-Mao, S Cam Phillips
Out for season: DT Jermayne Lole, DE Travez Moore
Positional Drills
Today’s practice began at 9:57 am. Players were in pads and media was allowed to see the first 15 minutes of the positional drills period. Tuesday easily one of the best days for practice in terms of weather the team has experienced yet.
Defensive line coach Robert Rodriguez started his group off on the blocking dummies located near the white Verde Dickey Dome at the south end of the Kajikawa complex. Rodriguez had his players crouch in front of each red object and strike the opposite side of the dummy, maintaining their balance from the squatted position.
“Let’s be explosive with our hands,” Rodriguez said, peering through his sunglasses.
The line drilled power punches and contact accuracy on the dummy’s outside shoulder from various techniques. It was in this portion where the reasons for the impressive development of 3-tech B.J. Green were present. Rodriguez specifically worked with Green on improving his form.” Everything you have has to go through the target,” Rodriguez said.
After this session at the “money makers” finished up, the defensive ends split off from the main group to work with defensive coordinator Antonio Pierce on ball-tracking skills. Each defensive end would peel off out of their stance and run vertical downfield. AP lofted each player an over-the-shoulder ball. The highlight of this period was when Tyler Johnson hauled in a slightly overthrown ball from Pierce using just his left hand. “Brings you back to your tight end days,” Pierce joked.
Linebackers coach Chris Claiborne began positions drills with the same variation of the medicine ball drill. Each player would engage a long, padded beam multiple times before being forced to bat down a medicine ball once they reached the end. Next, the linebackers transitioned into wrap-up sled work and focused on driving from the lower body and up. Finally, the group worked on rerouting receivers over the middle and spreading out to cover the flats, where they also worked on their receiving skills.
The defensive line and strong-side (SAM) linebackers joined forces toward the end of practice for a joint drill. The group worked on stunt packages and filling gaps both inside and on the edge.
“Get high on the racecar,” Rodriguez boomed to Gharin Stansbury at the left defensive end spot. “That’s why they (Utah) like to get you on with the two tight-end look they love.”
The rest of the linebackers offered support to the defensive backs, who began practice with backpedaling and ball tracking exercises. Later, they spent time drilling route concept work and effective counter-measures to Utah’s dynamic offensive weapons.
As always, we will answer any questions you may have on Tuesday’s practice.
