Per ASU's request, we are not reporting on two-deeps
Offensive report by Caleb
Tuesday morning's practice would be the last practice of the season open to media as the team prepares to face their in-state rival. Players came out on this cool morning in shorts, foam shoulder pads and helmets. The energy was high in stretch lines as everyone knows, there is nothing left after this week.
As the team wrapped up their opening portion, placekicker Dario Longhetto led the field goal unit out. Longhetto did not miss a kick this morning from various distances lined up at 35, 40, and 45 yards. “Points on the board”, as one assistant coach exclaimed as hopefully, this level of perfection is an indicator of the team's focus.
After the first special teams period, the quarterbacks and other skilled positions ran routes on air as almost all quarterbacks are at least suited up and participating. On the closer end of the field, the offensive line warmed up on a dive-blocking drill. Today, Offensive lineman Sione Finau was a full participant for the first time since playing Cal in week five.
After that small portion, the offense got into their first team period of the day. It was very relaxed as the players were not in full pads. In terms of play, there was a healthy balance to start between run and pass. Running back DeCarlos Brooks got a good amount of playtime today as he works back from a hamstring injury. Brooks was last seen against Washington State where he has been a great compound with Cam Skattebo. Kenny Dillingham said that Brooks will play on Saturday.
Quarterback Jaden Rashada continues to practice as he did last week. Rashada still looks to be taking some of the rust off as a reminder, Rashada is still somewhat making the transition from high school to college football. Missing in game reps since week two is a lot to adjust to especially going into a rivalry week.
Touching on the individual portions of practice, tight ends had a heavy emphasis on blocking today starting on the sled. After their routes on air segment (will be touched on), they got right back to working under a hurdle, eventually washing down on a bag, or blocking the bag. In the tight end portion of routes on air, things looked very sharp and so did the quarterbacks for the most part. Routes were ran short and quick as things seemed to be clicking.
As the tight ends did their thing with the quarterbacks, quarterback Drew Pyne was throwing to running backs as they also ran shorter routes. Pyne still has not seen any time in team segments as he continues to rehab from injury this season.
With the wide receivers, routes were very sharp much like the tight ends. As everyone asks about Rashada, again it was apparent that timing is still in the works as he also gets his spiral back. Some balls were a little wobbly or over led, but missing ten weeks is something to consider. Other quarterbacks like Trenton Bourguet and Jacob Conover delivered nice balls today.
The team got into their second special teams’ period as walk on Ian Hershey looks to assume the punting duties this week. Hershey has been in and out as it was a point of interest to retain the Idaho State transfers’ red shirt. Longhetto will now stick to placekicking as he did when the team went through kickoff. Skattebo might get a break from the punting as well with Hershey taking the long snaps.
The team would go into another team period as again there was good balance in play calling today versus the usual passing heaviness. Things moved very efficiently as wide receiver Jordyn Tyson was very involved today having two beautiful catches working over the middle. Wide receivers Kaleb Black and Melquan Stovall also had nice catches in the second level.
Kenny Dillingham slowed a lot of these team periods quickly for direction and installation. A change of pace but players would say ‘yes sir’ as they would run the play. Dillingham even ran a route and caught a ball of his own today.
The offense played some seven on seven against the starting defense as there was a bit of regression. Balls were at some points misplaced or simply fall incomplete. It was very one step forward, two steps back as the quick game would work with the occasional second-third level ball but then a ball or two would fall incomplete.
Practice for the offense would wrap up in a team segment with more heavy stoppage for clarification before the team came together for a break. As a reminder this is the last media availability practice of the year.
Defensive report by Scott
That time of the year again. If the adage “you play how you practice” applies to ASU, the energy they displayed on the defensive side of the ball shows they are more than ready for the 97th edition of the Territorial Cup on Saturday. Entering the Bill Kajikawa practice fields, the vibe was not of a 3-8 team with nothing to play for, rather than that of a team hungry to ruin the season of their arch-enemy.
“It’s not a game,” defensive line coach Vince Amey told me during practice.
Having played many impressive games this season, Amey’s defensive line got bullied in ASU’s blowout loss to Oregon. While the physicality of the Ducks can take credit, Amey and his players share the blame, and they wasted no time getting back into it on Tuesday. The focus was block-shed-in position drills, from the “three strikes” to the rip-and-pull technique.
“Be quick and be sudden,” Amey would emphasize.
In addition, there were traditional 1v1 and 2v2 scenarios against the offensive line and various rushing techniques deployed. These include the bull rush, twists (both interior and edge), and dive rushing. There weren’t any notable standouts in live play, but the collective pass rush was strong, forcing quick and inaccurate throws from the scout team QB before routes could fully develop.
In linebacking drills this position group focused on play recognition, pre-snap movement, and run pursuit. Run pursuit was harped in on in live play, specifically on outside runs, which the opponent deploys often. One aspect that took up a little bit more time today was QB containment, as Dillingham said that Arizona signal caller Noah Fifita doesn't take sacks. In live play, Caleb McCullough had an impressive showing, securing two interceptions off the scout team quarterback in 7v7s. Both instances were on a jump of a short route, one a curl and the other a crosser.
While the front seven did its thing, the defensive backs showed out too on Tuesday. Although the scoreboard on Saturday would indicate a major let-down performance, much of ASU’s pass-defending woes last week were more of a credit to Bo Nix and the Oregon offense, and the Sun Devils proved that today. Dee Ford and Chris Edmonds will grab the headlines with the interception they each grabbed against the scout team QB in 7v7, but the overall work in coverage was lockdown. Very rarely were receivers open downfield, and the help on coverages came when it was needed, as can be seen in the pass breakup by Josiah Cox as well. The routes defended against were of a wide variety, but the ones with the most emphasis appeared to be vertical deep balls and against the bubble screen. Facing a creative and explosive offense, ASU harped in on doing, as they say, their 1/11th on Tuesday.
Offensive report by Caleb
Tuesday morning's practice would be the last practice of the season open to media as the team prepares to face their in-state rival. Players came out on this cool morning in shorts, foam shoulder pads and helmets. The energy was high in stretch lines as everyone knows, there is nothing left after this week.
As the team wrapped up their opening portion, placekicker Dario Longhetto led the field goal unit out. Longhetto did not miss a kick this morning from various distances lined up at 35, 40, and 45 yards. “Points on the board”, as one assistant coach exclaimed as hopefully, this level of perfection is an indicator of the team's focus.
After the first special teams period, the quarterbacks and other skilled positions ran routes on air as almost all quarterbacks are at least suited up and participating. On the closer end of the field, the offensive line warmed up on a dive-blocking drill. Today, Offensive lineman Sione Finau was a full participant for the first time since playing Cal in week five.
After that small portion, the offense got into their first team period of the day. It was very relaxed as the players were not in full pads. In terms of play, there was a healthy balance to start between run and pass. Running back DeCarlos Brooks got a good amount of playtime today as he works back from a hamstring injury. Brooks was last seen against Washington State where he has been a great compound with Cam Skattebo. Kenny Dillingham said that Brooks will play on Saturday.
Quarterback Jaden Rashada continues to practice as he did last week. Rashada still looks to be taking some of the rust off as a reminder, Rashada is still somewhat making the transition from high school to college football. Missing in game reps since week two is a lot to adjust to especially going into a rivalry week.
Touching on the individual portions of practice, tight ends had a heavy emphasis on blocking today starting on the sled. After their routes on air segment (will be touched on), they got right back to working under a hurdle, eventually washing down on a bag, or blocking the bag. In the tight end portion of routes on air, things looked very sharp and so did the quarterbacks for the most part. Routes were ran short and quick as things seemed to be clicking.
As the tight ends did their thing with the quarterbacks, quarterback Drew Pyne was throwing to running backs as they also ran shorter routes. Pyne still has not seen any time in team segments as he continues to rehab from injury this season.
With the wide receivers, routes were very sharp much like the tight ends. As everyone asks about Rashada, again it was apparent that timing is still in the works as he also gets his spiral back. Some balls were a little wobbly or over led, but missing ten weeks is something to consider. Other quarterbacks like Trenton Bourguet and Jacob Conover delivered nice balls today.
The team got into their second special teams’ period as walk on Ian Hershey looks to assume the punting duties this week. Hershey has been in and out as it was a point of interest to retain the Idaho State transfers’ red shirt. Longhetto will now stick to placekicking as he did when the team went through kickoff. Skattebo might get a break from the punting as well with Hershey taking the long snaps.
The team would go into another team period as again there was good balance in play calling today versus the usual passing heaviness. Things moved very efficiently as wide receiver Jordyn Tyson was very involved today having two beautiful catches working over the middle. Wide receivers Kaleb Black and Melquan Stovall also had nice catches in the second level.
Kenny Dillingham slowed a lot of these team periods quickly for direction and installation. A change of pace but players would say ‘yes sir’ as they would run the play. Dillingham even ran a route and caught a ball of his own today.
The offense played some seven on seven against the starting defense as there was a bit of regression. Balls were at some points misplaced or simply fall incomplete. It was very one step forward, two steps back as the quick game would work with the occasional second-third level ball but then a ball or two would fall incomplete.
Practice for the offense would wrap up in a team segment with more heavy stoppage for clarification before the team came together for a break. As a reminder this is the last media availability practice of the year.
Defensive report by Scott
That time of the year again. If the adage “you play how you practice” applies to ASU, the energy they displayed on the defensive side of the ball shows they are more than ready for the 97th edition of the Territorial Cup on Saturday. Entering the Bill Kajikawa practice fields, the vibe was not of a 3-8 team with nothing to play for, rather than that of a team hungry to ruin the season of their arch-enemy.
“It’s not a game,” defensive line coach Vince Amey told me during practice.
Having played many impressive games this season, Amey’s defensive line got bullied in ASU’s blowout loss to Oregon. While the physicality of the Ducks can take credit, Amey and his players share the blame, and they wasted no time getting back into it on Tuesday. The focus was block-shed-in position drills, from the “three strikes” to the rip-and-pull technique.
“Be quick and be sudden,” Amey would emphasize.
In addition, there were traditional 1v1 and 2v2 scenarios against the offensive line and various rushing techniques deployed. These include the bull rush, twists (both interior and edge), and dive rushing. There weren’t any notable standouts in live play, but the collective pass rush was strong, forcing quick and inaccurate throws from the scout team QB before routes could fully develop.
In linebacking drills this position group focused on play recognition, pre-snap movement, and run pursuit. Run pursuit was harped in on in live play, specifically on outside runs, which the opponent deploys often. One aspect that took up a little bit more time today was QB containment, as Dillingham said that Arizona signal caller Noah Fifita doesn't take sacks. In live play, Caleb McCullough had an impressive showing, securing two interceptions off the scout team quarterback in 7v7s. Both instances were on a jump of a short route, one a curl and the other a crosser.
While the front seven did its thing, the defensive backs showed out too on Tuesday. Although the scoreboard on Saturday would indicate a major let-down performance, much of ASU’s pass-defending woes last week were more of a credit to Bo Nix and the Oregon offense, and the Sun Devils proved that today. Dee Ford and Chris Edmonds will grab the headlines with the interception they each grabbed against the scout team QB in 7v7, but the overall work in coverage was lockdown. Very rarely were receivers open downfield, and the help on coverages came when it was needed, as can be seen in the pass breakup by Josiah Cox as well. The routes defended against were of a wide variety, but the ones with the most emphasis appeared to be vertical deep balls and against the bubble screen. Facing a creative and explosive offense, ASU harped in on doing, as they say, their 1/11th on Tuesday.
