If Arizona State football were a high school classroom, they would have earned top marks for perfect attendance on Wednesday. For the first time this spring, every rostered offensive player– even the illusive Case Hatch– was present and taking part in workouts. On a perfect spring day, the Sun Devils labored in helmets and shoulder pads, with coaches taking a more active role than they had in previous days.
Hatch retreated to the bubble after warming up and doing a few drills with the offensive backfield, and LV Bunkley-Shelton dawned a green non-contact jersey during team stretch and kept it on for the rest of the viewing period.
Here’s how the offense stacked up on Wednesday:
First team:
QB: Trenton Bourguet
RB: Xazavian Valladay
WR: Bryan Thompson
WR: Ricky Pearsall
WR: Elijhah Badger
TE: Jalin Conyers
OL left to right: Isaia Glass, LaDarius Henderson, Ben Scott, Chris Martinez, Des Holmes.
Second team:
QB - Paul Tyson
RB - Daniyel Ngata
WR - Chad Johnson Jr.
WR - Giovanni Sanders
WR - Shawn Charles
TE - Messiah Swinson
Ol left to right: Emmit Bohle, Armon Bethea, Ezra Dotson-Oyetade, Spencer Lovell, Austin Barry.
During the 2021 season, Arizona State was one of the most heavily penalized teams in college football. These fouls, often procedural, were a huge problem on the road. Hostile environments like BYU, Utah and Washington contributed to false starts, early snaps, and ultimately a headache for the coaching staff. They have emphasized the importance of limiting penalties consistently during spring ball, and Wednesday that emphasis was shown on the field. When the first team offense lined up for 11 on 11, artificial crowd noise blared from the facility’s speakers.
Trenton Bourguet barked orders at his linemen, and put receivers in motion according to plan. Based on the way the players first reacted to the cacophony, it was clear they hadn’t been warned of the plot. While piping in noise may seem like overkill in a late March spring practice, the coaching staff believes there is no time like the present.
“No time like now!” Herm Edwards could be heard shouting through the noise. “Best preparation time is now!”
The often vocal LaDarius Henderson was also eager to get through to his teammates.
“Next play! Get your heads on straight, let’s go,” Henderson encouraged.
Trenton Bourguet took the first four snaps with the first team offense, while Paul Tyson worked mostly with the second team. Both looked sharp as they have all spring, executing crisp drop backs and firing passes on the money to covered receivers during team period. Bourguet’s chemistry with the receivers and tight ends is visibly improving with each passing practice. He hit Badger over the middle with perfect timing before putting a fastball on Bryan Thompson towards the sideline. Tyson’s rapport is also gaining traction. He worked out with Messiah Swinson during the offseason, and it showed on Wednesday when Tyson found him multiple times.
As long as the day ends in “Y,” offensive line coach Mike Cavanaugh will make himself heard at practice. Wednesday was no different, especially when his unit didn’t run a drill as he pleased. That was the case multiple times this morning. He barked orders and expressed frustration at second team guard Armon Bethea and first team tackle Des Holmes. When the linemen expressed disdain with their body language, Cavanaugh reminded them of the alternative.
“I could be like the last guy, and not coach you at all,” he said. “Let’s go, get in a stance.”
The offensive skill players had fun with a number of gadgets on Wednesday. Running backs practiced fighting through first contact by high stepping with the ball while a coach held them back with a long rubber leash. The receivers channeled their inner downhill skier, zigzagging between strategically placed flags before catching a short pass and running upfield.
One blemish:
Jalin Conyers was called for a false start on the second snap of the team period. The yellow laundry should bring up some PTSD for ASU fans, but the group is set on not making it a habit.
“I didn’t move! I moved?” Conyers said as he retreated to the backline to watch. “Alright I did lean, my bad.”
Hatch retreated to the bubble after warming up and doing a few drills with the offensive backfield, and LV Bunkley-Shelton dawned a green non-contact jersey during team stretch and kept it on for the rest of the viewing period.
Here’s how the offense stacked up on Wednesday:
First team:
QB: Trenton Bourguet
RB: Xazavian Valladay
WR: Bryan Thompson
WR: Ricky Pearsall
WR: Elijhah Badger
TE: Jalin Conyers
OL left to right: Isaia Glass, LaDarius Henderson, Ben Scott, Chris Martinez, Des Holmes.
Second team:
QB - Paul Tyson
RB - Daniyel Ngata
WR - Chad Johnson Jr.
WR - Giovanni Sanders
WR - Shawn Charles
TE - Messiah Swinson
Ol left to right: Emmit Bohle, Armon Bethea, Ezra Dotson-Oyetade, Spencer Lovell, Austin Barry.
During the 2021 season, Arizona State was one of the most heavily penalized teams in college football. These fouls, often procedural, were a huge problem on the road. Hostile environments like BYU, Utah and Washington contributed to false starts, early snaps, and ultimately a headache for the coaching staff. They have emphasized the importance of limiting penalties consistently during spring ball, and Wednesday that emphasis was shown on the field. When the first team offense lined up for 11 on 11, artificial crowd noise blared from the facility’s speakers.
Trenton Bourguet barked orders at his linemen, and put receivers in motion according to plan. Based on the way the players first reacted to the cacophony, it was clear they hadn’t been warned of the plot. While piping in noise may seem like overkill in a late March spring practice, the coaching staff believes there is no time like the present.
“No time like now!” Herm Edwards could be heard shouting through the noise. “Best preparation time is now!”
The often vocal LaDarius Henderson was also eager to get through to his teammates.
“Next play! Get your heads on straight, let’s go,” Henderson encouraged.
Trenton Bourguet took the first four snaps with the first team offense, while Paul Tyson worked mostly with the second team. Both looked sharp as they have all spring, executing crisp drop backs and firing passes on the money to covered receivers during team period. Bourguet’s chemistry with the receivers and tight ends is visibly improving with each passing practice. He hit Badger over the middle with perfect timing before putting a fastball on Bryan Thompson towards the sideline. Tyson’s rapport is also gaining traction. He worked out with Messiah Swinson during the offseason, and it showed on Wednesday when Tyson found him multiple times.
As long as the day ends in “Y,” offensive line coach Mike Cavanaugh will make himself heard at practice. Wednesday was no different, especially when his unit didn’t run a drill as he pleased. That was the case multiple times this morning. He barked orders and expressed frustration at second team guard Armon Bethea and first team tackle Des Holmes. When the linemen expressed disdain with their body language, Cavanaugh reminded them of the alternative.
“I could be like the last guy, and not coach you at all,” he said. “Let’s go, get in a stance.”
The offensive skill players had fun with a number of gadgets on Wednesday. Running backs practiced fighting through first contact by high stepping with the ball while a coach held them back with a long rubber leash. The receivers channeled their inner downhill skier, zigzagging between strategically placed flags before catching a short pass and running upfield.
One blemish:
Jalin Conyers was called for a false start on the second snap of the team period. The yellow laundry should bring up some PTSD for ASU fans, but the group is set on not making it a habit.
“I didn’t move! I moved?” Conyers said as he retreated to the backline to watch. “Alright I did lean, my bad.”
