Hey everyone, Arizona State football went through their fifth spring practice today. Here are our notes and observations from the two-hour session:
LOCATION: Practice Fields -- outdoors
ATTIRE: Shells
MEDIA AVAILABILITY: Full two hours
Green non-contact jerseys: CB Jack Jones
Personnel Notes:
-- Merlin Robertson was back at practice Tuesday after missing Saturday's session to attend to the passing of his father, Vince. Robertson and a majority of ASU's coaches will be attending the funeral on Thursday, which is why practice got moved from Thursday to Friday. I admire his courage -- have no clue how he was able to practice in such circumstances.
-- Darien Butler and Willie Harts both went into the bubble for the second straight practice. We have yet to learn what they're dealing with.
-- Both TE Nolan Matthews and QB Trenton Bourguet missed a majority of the practice with a stomach illness. Bourguet got through just about the entire practice before sitting on the training table for the last 35 minutes. Matthews on the other hand, let's just say the entire practice field knew he was sick before stretching had even begun.
-- Did not spot OL Dohnovan West or S Aashari Crosswell at practice. Not sure why both were absent but it's the first time they haven't practiced all spring.
- Safety Cam Phillips was not spotted at practice for the fifth straight day. When asked about it Thursday, co-defensive coordinator Antonio Pierce said Phillips "working on school." Interpret that as you will.
- Wide receiver Frank Darby was out of his boot for the first time since sustaining a moderate calf strain on Thursday. Darby is expected to return before spring practices end in late March.
FIRST TEAM OFFENSE
QB: Jayden Daniels
RB: DeaMonte Trayanum
WR: Geordon Porter, Ricky Pearsall, Andre Johnson
TE: Curtis Hodges
OL: LT Kellen Diesch, LG Ben Bray, C Ben Scott, RG Jarrett Bell, RT LaDarius Henderson
SECOND TEAM OFFENSE
QB: Trenton Borguet/Jack Smith
RB: A.J. Carter/Daniyel Ngata
WR: Keith Davis, Jordan Kerley, Brandon Pierce, Tannor Park, Angel Ruiz
TE: Curtis Hodges/Ethan Long
OL: LT Spencer Lovell, LG Jacob Nunez, C Cody Shear, RG Roman DeWys, RT Ralph Frias
FIRST TEAM DEFENSE
DL: Shannon Forman, Jermayne Lole, D.J. Davidson, Michael Matus
LB: Elijah Juarez, Merlin Robertson
CB: Chase Lucas, Jack Jones, Jordan Clark (Nickel)
S: Keon Markham, Evan Fields
SECOND TEAM DEFENSE
DL: Amiri Johnson, Stephon Wright, TJ Pesafea, Stanley Lambert
LB: Kyle Soelle, Jordan Banks
CB: Timarcus Davis, Kejuan Markham, T Lee (Nickel)
S: KJ Jarrell, Connor Soelle
OFFENSIVE NOTES:
-- Ethan Long no longer a quarterback. Yep, you read that right. On Tuesday, Long was out of the grey quarterback jersey and in the regular maroon jersey for offensive players. While the quarterbacks were throwing on the west field, Long was working on special teams with Shawn Slocum. Then during individual drills, Long hopped around with the tight ends, working on blocking and pass-catching.
Asked about it afterward, Long confirmed he is going to go forward as an H- or Y-receiver, which is essentially a slot or wing receiver. In Zak Hill's offense, expect that to be almost like a tight end, where Long will block a lot but then also be able to come out of the slot and catch passes. Asked about going to defense, Long kind of shot it down: "My last option is going to be defense."
Long said this is a permanent switch "for now." He said he went into Zak Hill's offense before spring and said he wanted to get on the field any way possible, even admitting that he realized he would probably have to redshirt this season, if he stayed at QB, given Jayden is already the guy. He also noted that Bourguet has been so hot during spring practice that he garnered all the second-team reps, leaving Long without a real spot.
"I was like, 'I may as well pave my own way and not try to wait on opportunities. I'll just make my own opportunity,'" Long said.
-- When we ask guys, "How are you adjusting to Zak Hill's offense?" most of them kind of shrug and give this wide-eyed look. It hasn't even been two weeks. They're still learning their assignments and trying to understand their responsibilities -- all while new pieces of the playbook are being introduced daily. Nonetheless, practice has shown a few glimpses of some interesting concepts. On Tuesday, there was a play where Jayden faked a handoff on what looked like a normal option. He ran toward the outside and, just before he reached the line of scrimmage, he threw a screen pass to Rickey Pearsall. It was basically a triple-option play that worked really well.
DEFENSIVE NOTES:
-- The coaches seemed to pay some extra focus to redshirt sophomore linebacker/edge-rusher Stanley Lambert throughout practice today. Coach Edwards was shouting to him to make sure he was aligned correctly early in scrimmages, then co-defensive coordinator Marv Lewis was making him double-check his stance during position drills with the defensive line. More than anything, it shows the belief this staff has in the potential of a healthy Lambert to be a difference-maker setting the edge, or rushing from it. He worked through a knee injury all of last season, so there's no precedent of what he can do once he hits the field, which leaves a lot to the imagination
-- "Rhythm guys, 1,000 times we'll do this," defensive line coach Robert Rodriguez said to his unit during position drills. Rodriguez worked extensively with the unit on different techniques and leveraging, showing the guys, with demonstrations, how to use inside leverage to push-off and get around o-linemen, using their inside foot and inside hand to do so. He also showed guys how opening their hips at the wrong time, or getting in too rigid of a stance makes them easy to stop for opponents. He wasn't playing around on this, making a couple guys do push-ups when they turned in a rep that he didn't believe showed adequate effort.
-- Also, I thought this was interesting. We really didn't get to see Marvin Lewis coach last season because of his advisor role, but he's diving into it as the new co-DC:
OTHER NOTES:
-- Kick Returners:
Geordon Porter
Brandon Pierce
T Lee
Daniyel Ngata
Cristian Zendejas, Jack Luckhurst and Josh Plaster all took field goal reps, in that order, on Tuesday. Most would assume it's Zendejas' job because of his performance last season, but if Luckhurst or Plaster can have Zendejas' accuracy with about 10-15-yards of longer range, then there may be a real competition.
-- Former ASU players in linebacker Khaylan Kearse-Thomas and cornerback Kobe Williams were seen in attendance, as it seems like they continue to work out around the facility in preparation for ASU's pro day. Both guys are graduating seniors.
QUOTES:
-- During the special teams period, Jack Jones, wearing his green non-contact jersey, was kneeling down under the goal post. Herm Edwards went up to him and said, "When are you going to take that Christmas jersey off?"
"I'm just waiting for you to make the call," Jones chirped back.
Responded Edwards, carrying along with his Christmas joke: "I thought you were gonna take it off after New Years."
-- "Stay out his face, 30. That's a foul! Don't hit him in the face," Edwards said to linebacker Elijah Juarez during kickoff return drills, as he was on the blocking team for the returners
-- "Let's go GP, get on that track! Run this b----," Frank Darby screamed from the sidelines as Porter was getting set to return a kickoff in special teams drills. Despite being out with a calf strain, he has remained a full participant from the sidelines, always making his voice heard.
--
PART 1/2 ...
LOCATION: Practice Fields -- outdoors
ATTIRE: Shells
MEDIA AVAILABILITY: Full two hours
Green non-contact jerseys: CB Jack Jones
Personnel Notes:
-- Merlin Robertson was back at practice Tuesday after missing Saturday's session to attend to the passing of his father, Vince. Robertson and a majority of ASU's coaches will be attending the funeral on Thursday, which is why practice got moved from Thursday to Friday. I admire his courage -- have no clue how he was able to practice in such circumstances.
-- Darien Butler and Willie Harts both went into the bubble for the second straight practice. We have yet to learn what they're dealing with.
-- Both TE Nolan Matthews and QB Trenton Bourguet missed a majority of the practice with a stomach illness. Bourguet got through just about the entire practice before sitting on the training table for the last 35 minutes. Matthews on the other hand, let's just say the entire practice field knew he was sick before stretching had even begun.
-- Did not spot OL Dohnovan West or S Aashari Crosswell at practice. Not sure why both were absent but it's the first time they haven't practiced all spring.
- Safety Cam Phillips was not spotted at practice for the fifth straight day. When asked about it Thursday, co-defensive coordinator Antonio Pierce said Phillips "working on school." Interpret that as you will.
- Wide receiver Frank Darby was out of his boot for the first time since sustaining a moderate calf strain on Thursday. Darby is expected to return before spring practices end in late March.
FIRST TEAM OFFENSE
QB: Jayden Daniels
RB: DeaMonte Trayanum
WR: Geordon Porter, Ricky Pearsall, Andre Johnson
TE: Curtis Hodges
OL: LT Kellen Diesch, LG Ben Bray, C Ben Scott, RG Jarrett Bell, RT LaDarius Henderson
SECOND TEAM OFFENSE
QB: Trenton Borguet/Jack Smith
RB: A.J. Carter/Daniyel Ngata
WR: Keith Davis, Jordan Kerley, Brandon Pierce, Tannor Park, Angel Ruiz
TE: Curtis Hodges/Ethan Long
OL: LT Spencer Lovell, LG Jacob Nunez, C Cody Shear, RG Roman DeWys, RT Ralph Frias
FIRST TEAM DEFENSE
DL: Shannon Forman, Jermayne Lole, D.J. Davidson, Michael Matus
LB: Elijah Juarez, Merlin Robertson
CB: Chase Lucas, Jack Jones, Jordan Clark (Nickel)
S: Keon Markham, Evan Fields
SECOND TEAM DEFENSE
DL: Amiri Johnson, Stephon Wright, TJ Pesafea, Stanley Lambert
LB: Kyle Soelle, Jordan Banks
CB: Timarcus Davis, Kejuan Markham, T Lee (Nickel)
S: KJ Jarrell, Connor Soelle
OFFENSIVE NOTES:
-- Ethan Long no longer a quarterback. Yep, you read that right. On Tuesday, Long was out of the grey quarterback jersey and in the regular maroon jersey for offensive players. While the quarterbacks were throwing on the west field, Long was working on special teams with Shawn Slocum. Then during individual drills, Long hopped around with the tight ends, working on blocking and pass-catching.
Asked about it afterward, Long confirmed he is going to go forward as an H- or Y-receiver, which is essentially a slot or wing receiver. In Zak Hill's offense, expect that to be almost like a tight end, where Long will block a lot but then also be able to come out of the slot and catch passes. Asked about going to defense, Long kind of shot it down: "My last option is going to be defense."
Long said this is a permanent switch "for now." He said he went into Zak Hill's offense before spring and said he wanted to get on the field any way possible, even admitting that he realized he would probably have to redshirt this season, if he stayed at QB, given Jayden is already the guy. He also noted that Bourguet has been so hot during spring practice that he garnered all the second-team reps, leaving Long without a real spot.
"I was like, 'I may as well pave my own way and not try to wait on opportunities. I'll just make my own opportunity,'" Long said.
-- When we ask guys, "How are you adjusting to Zak Hill's offense?" most of them kind of shrug and give this wide-eyed look. It hasn't even been two weeks. They're still learning their assignments and trying to understand their responsibilities -- all while new pieces of the playbook are being introduced daily. Nonetheless, practice has shown a few glimpses of some interesting concepts. On Tuesday, there was a play where Jayden faked a handoff on what looked like a normal option. He ran toward the outside and, just before he reached the line of scrimmage, he threw a screen pass to Rickey Pearsall. It was basically a triple-option play that worked really well.
DEFENSIVE NOTES:
-- The coaches seemed to pay some extra focus to redshirt sophomore linebacker/edge-rusher Stanley Lambert throughout practice today. Coach Edwards was shouting to him to make sure he was aligned correctly early in scrimmages, then co-defensive coordinator Marv Lewis was making him double-check his stance during position drills with the defensive line. More than anything, it shows the belief this staff has in the potential of a healthy Lambert to be a difference-maker setting the edge, or rushing from it. He worked through a knee injury all of last season, so there's no precedent of what he can do once he hits the field, which leaves a lot to the imagination
-- "Rhythm guys, 1,000 times we'll do this," defensive line coach Robert Rodriguez said to his unit during position drills. Rodriguez worked extensively with the unit on different techniques and leveraging, showing the guys, with demonstrations, how to use inside leverage to push-off and get around o-linemen, using their inside foot and inside hand to do so. He also showed guys how opening their hips at the wrong time, or getting in too rigid of a stance makes them easy to stop for opponents. He wasn't playing around on this, making a couple guys do push-ups when they turned in a rep that he didn't believe showed adequate effort.
-- Also, I thought this was interesting. We really didn't get to see Marvin Lewis coach last season because of his advisor role, but he's diving into it as the new co-DC:
OTHER NOTES:
-- Kick Returners:
Geordon Porter
Brandon Pierce
T Lee
Daniyel Ngata
Cristian Zendejas, Jack Luckhurst and Josh Plaster all took field goal reps, in that order, on Tuesday. Most would assume it's Zendejas' job because of his performance last season, but if Luckhurst or Plaster can have Zendejas' accuracy with about 10-15-yards of longer range, then there may be a real competition.
-- Former ASU players in linebacker Khaylan Kearse-Thomas and cornerback Kobe Williams were seen in attendance, as it seems like they continue to work out around the facility in preparation for ASU's pro day. Both guys are graduating seniors.
QUOTES:
-- During the special teams period, Jack Jones, wearing his green non-contact jersey, was kneeling down under the goal post. Herm Edwards went up to him and said, "When are you going to take that Christmas jersey off?"
"I'm just waiting for you to make the call," Jones chirped back.
Responded Edwards, carrying along with his Christmas joke: "I thought you were gonna take it off after New Years."
-- "Stay out his face, 30. That's a foul! Don't hit him in the face," Edwards said to linebacker Elijah Juarez during kickoff return drills, as he was on the blocking team for the returners
-- "Let's go GP, get on that track! Run this b----," Frank Darby screamed from the sidelines as Porter was getting set to return a kickoff in special teams drills. Despite being out with a calf strain, he has remained a full participant from the sidelines, always making his voice heard.
--
PART 1/2 ...
