Arizona State was in helmets, no shoulder pads on another beautiful morning in Tempe on Wednesday.
Personnel:
WR Johnny Wilson was once again not practicing on Wednesday due to a hamstring injury.
TE Jake Ray was not spotted during practice.
OL Armon Bethea continues to work with the offensive line.
First-team offense:
The offense came out in a double tight-end heavy package with FB Case Hatch and TE Curtis Hodges. WR Bryan Thompson and WR LV Bunkley-Shelton were the two receivers in on the play, with RB Rachaad White as the tailback. Loud crowd noise was pumped in on the speakers during the 11-on-11 period.
Positional Drills:
The offensive line began practice with a scout look from the second team, picking up blitz looks and sliding to pick up outside pressure. OL coach Mike Cavanaugh mixed his looks from the defensive front, requiring RG Henry Hattis to slide all the way from his spot on the right side of the line to the outside on the left due to a lack of assignment. Cavanaugh emphasized punch with the hands and footwork.
The tight ends began their individual period on the line of scrimmage before shuffling hard to the left and picking up outside pressure. Hatch and Hodges looked to be the most proficient with their footwork and ability to pick up the rush of interim tight ends coach Juston Wood.
Quarterbacks and running backs began practice with their normal option looks, stressing going through the correct gaps and making the right reads and decisions. White, RB DeaMonte Trayanum, and RB Daniyel Ngata all looked smooth and swift carrying the ball.
The wide receivers worked on jumping, contested catches in the air out of their individual lines. They later moved on to routes-on-air with QBs Jayden Daniels, Trenton Bourguet, and Nathan Manning.
The tight ends and running backs each had their own routes-on-air sessions with the remaining quarterbacks Ethan Long and Daylin McLemore. The running backs ran quick routes out into the middle of the field and towards the sideline, both coming out of the backfield. The tight end routes-on-air session was much of the same, rather from the line of scrimmage.
The practice concluded with the offensive line and running backs coming together to work on full pass protection looks. The backup offensive linemen and backup running backs joined forces on all-out blitzes in an effort to scramble the communication of the offensive line. On Tuesday, RB Jackson He was a force on the scout team, but on Wednesday, it was RB Deonce Elliott who took his place. Despite all of his bold efforts, as well as those of the second team, the starting offensive look held firm in pass protection.
Defense
Here are notes and observations of the Arizona State defense for Wednesday’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 AZ time/8 pm Utah time:
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 in base 4-3 defense (three linebackers), Davis and Jones play the 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, the 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 for the second consecutive day.
Safety Evan Fields, who played against Stanford but was held out the previous week against UCLA with a hamstring injury, was also not spotted practicing with the defensive backs on Wednesday. RJ Regan could have possibly returned to practice; multiple players were spotted with catapult vests in the secondary, but the numbers were unidentifiable from our position in the south end of the Kajikawa complex.
Defensive end Michael Matus participated in practice.
Undisclosed timetable for return: DE Amiri Johnson, LB Dylan DeVito, DT Matthew Palo-Mao, S Cam Phillips
Out for the season: DT Jermayne Lole, DE Travez Moore
Positional Drills
Today’s practice began at 9:57 am. Players were in skeletons, and media was allowed to see the first 15 minutes of the positional drills period. Wednesday was a sunny but cool day and a crisp 60 degrees.
Defensive line coach Robert Rodriguez began positions drills on the red blocking dummies by the Verde Dickey Dome. The players began by drilling a two-step roll into a stand-up thrust. Rodriguez kept close overwatch and made minor tweaks to each lineman as they took multiple reps in front of him.
“Put your palms on the thing,” Rodriguez instructed nose tackle T.J. Pesefea. “Put your palms on the thing. This ain’t a bench press; this is a heavy-weight fight.”
Once the group was finished, Rodriguez brought his group in a huddle for specific advice regarding hand technique and accuracy.
There was no doubt about what linebackers coach Chris Claiborne had planned for today. “We got wrap-ups and reroutes,” Claiborne said. So, the linebackers did exactly that, starting first with work on the padded sled and tackling around the midsection with proper form. Next, the linebackers lined up facing the end zone and provided resistance to receivers that entered their zone. After the target had passed, each linebacker would spiral out to cover the flat.
The two defensive groups joined forces toward the second half of the positional drill period. The first team linebackers practiced with the two-deep of the defensive line. The two sides discussed specific pass rush duties and roles in coverage against Utah’s two tight-end looks.
The rest of the linebackers worked with the defensive back group, who began with backpedaling and ball-tracking exercises. Following the completion of the activity, the defensive backs worked on sticking with the outside hip of receivers on slants and other in-breaking routes.
Head coach Herm Edwards personally oversaw the cornerbacks, while interim defensive backs coach Donnie Henderson worked with the safeties.
With the linebackers in the fold, the group transitioned to route concept work and improving coordination throughout the team’s zone defense.
As always, we will answer any questions you may have on Wednesday’s practice.
Personnel:
WR Johnny Wilson was once again not practicing on Wednesday due to a hamstring injury.
TE Jake Ray was not spotted during practice.
OL Armon Bethea continues to work with the offensive line.
First-team offense:
The offense came out in a double tight-end heavy package with FB Case Hatch and TE Curtis Hodges. WR Bryan Thompson and WR LV Bunkley-Shelton were the two receivers in on the play, with RB Rachaad White as the tailback. Loud crowd noise was pumped in on the speakers during the 11-on-11 period.
Positional Drills:
The offensive line began practice with a scout look from the second team, picking up blitz looks and sliding to pick up outside pressure. OL coach Mike Cavanaugh mixed his looks from the defensive front, requiring RG Henry Hattis to slide all the way from his spot on the right side of the line to the outside on the left due to a lack of assignment. Cavanaugh emphasized punch with the hands and footwork.
The tight ends began their individual period on the line of scrimmage before shuffling hard to the left and picking up outside pressure. Hatch and Hodges looked to be the most proficient with their footwork and ability to pick up the rush of interim tight ends coach Juston Wood.
Quarterbacks and running backs began practice with their normal option looks, stressing going through the correct gaps and making the right reads and decisions. White, RB DeaMonte Trayanum, and RB Daniyel Ngata all looked smooth and swift carrying the ball.
The wide receivers worked on jumping, contested catches in the air out of their individual lines. They later moved on to routes-on-air with QBs Jayden Daniels, Trenton Bourguet, and Nathan Manning.
The tight ends and running backs each had their own routes-on-air sessions with the remaining quarterbacks Ethan Long and Daylin McLemore. The running backs ran quick routes out into the middle of the field and towards the sideline, both coming out of the backfield. The tight end routes-on-air session was much of the same, rather from the line of scrimmage.
The practice concluded with the offensive line and running backs coming together to work on full pass protection looks. The backup offensive linemen and backup running backs joined forces on all-out blitzes in an effort to scramble the communication of the offensive line. On Tuesday, RB Jackson He was a force on the scout team, but on Wednesday, it was RB Deonce Elliott who took his place. Despite all of his bold efforts, as well as those of the second team, the starting offensive look held firm in pass protection.
Defense
Here are notes and observations of the Arizona State defense for Wednesday’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 AZ time/8 pm Utah time:
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 in base 4-3 defense (three linebackers), Davis and Jones play the 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, the 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 for the second consecutive day.
Safety Evan Fields, who played against Stanford but was held out the previous week against UCLA with a hamstring injury, was also not spotted practicing with the defensive backs on Wednesday. RJ Regan could have possibly returned to practice; multiple players were spotted with catapult vests in the secondary, but the numbers were unidentifiable from our position in the south end of the Kajikawa complex.
Defensive end Michael Matus participated in practice.
Undisclosed timetable for return: DE Amiri Johnson, LB Dylan DeVito, DT Matthew Palo-Mao, S Cam Phillips
Out for the season: DT Jermayne Lole, DE Travez Moore
Positional Drills
Today’s practice began at 9:57 am. Players were in skeletons, and media was allowed to see the first 15 minutes of the positional drills period. Wednesday was a sunny but cool day and a crisp 60 degrees.
Defensive line coach Robert Rodriguez began positions drills on the red blocking dummies by the Verde Dickey Dome. The players began by drilling a two-step roll into a stand-up thrust. Rodriguez kept close overwatch and made minor tweaks to each lineman as they took multiple reps in front of him.
“Put your palms on the thing,” Rodriguez instructed nose tackle T.J. Pesefea. “Put your palms on the thing. This ain’t a bench press; this is a heavy-weight fight.”
Once the group was finished, Rodriguez brought his group in a huddle for specific advice regarding hand technique and accuracy.
There was no doubt about what linebackers coach Chris Claiborne had planned for today. “We got wrap-ups and reroutes,” Claiborne said. So, the linebackers did exactly that, starting first with work on the padded sled and tackling around the midsection with proper form. Next, the linebackers lined up facing the end zone and provided resistance to receivers that entered their zone. After the target had passed, each linebacker would spiral out to cover the flat.
The two defensive groups joined forces toward the second half of the positional drill period. The first team linebackers practiced with the two-deep of the defensive line. The two sides discussed specific pass rush duties and roles in coverage against Utah’s two tight-end looks.
The rest of the linebackers worked with the defensive back group, who began with backpedaling and ball-tracking exercises. Following the completion of the activity, the defensive backs worked on sticking with the outside hip of receivers on slants and other in-breaking routes.
Head coach Herm Edwards personally oversaw the cornerbacks, while interim defensive backs coach Donnie Henderson worked with the safeties.
With the linebackers in the fold, the group transitioned to route concept work and improving coordination throughout the team’s zone defense.
As always, we will answer any questions you may have on Wednesday’s practice.
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