With the ASU football spring game just three days away, coach Herm Edwards opted for a practice change.
Typical practices run two hours long. Tuesday’s practice concluded around the hour and forty-minute mark.
The Sun Devils’ spent a hefty portion of the day focusing on long-play drives.
“These are the types of practices that collectively as a team you have to run,” Edwards said. “And the fact that you’re going to go eight plays in a row, it could happen in a series, it could happen on the road against an opponent. I wanted to see where we were at physically and mentally and (we) didn’t do too well to be quite honest.”
Despite the shorter duration, Edwards said the replication of lengthy drives worked the players at a higher level than usual.
Sophomore running back Eno Benjamin was not seen on the practice fields. Sophomore running back Trelon Smith split first-team reps with redshirt senior fullback Mark Cosgrove.
While the backfield remains stagnant with the same players fulfilling roles, the wide receiver group appears ready for another adjustment.
Redshirt junior wide receiver Terrell Chatman took first-team reps during the seventh period moving redshirt sophomore wide out Frank Darby to the second-team.
However, the two have alternated for the last couple weeks.
“When we go on the field, we never know how the depth chart is, who gonna go first, who gonna go second,” Darby said. “You just gotta be ready, and be ready when your name be called.”
Going forward the wide receiver group is likely the deepest of any on the team.
Junior wide out N’Keal Harry is expected to take the No. 1 role with a possibly early trip to the NFL draft at the end of the season. Junior wide receiver Kyle Williams seems to hold a firm grip on the No. 2 spot with some of the crispest route running on the team. It’s the No. 3 spot that Chatman and Darby are playing tug-of-war for.
Outside of those four, the Sun Devils still feature a handful of possible contributors. Incoming freshman Geordon Porter will surely compete for reps in the fall as well.
With Thursday pegged as the final official spring practice till Friday’s game, Darby isn’t shying away from the excitement that stems from the upcoming night show.
“Competing,” Darby said. “Just be ready to play. Show the fans that it’s a new era and we’re ready to go.”
Defensive Notes
Senior safety Demonte King and redshirt sophomore cornerback Chase Lucas were in the “bubble” for the majority of the practice.
Redshirt senior linebacker Koron Crump joined the defensive backs as he progresses through his ACL recovery.
Redshirt senior safety Jalen Harvey snagged an athletic interception in the back of the end zone off a dart from redshirt junior quarterback Blake Barnett.
ASU’s first-team defense held its own against the first-team offense, but the second and third defensive units struggled against their respective opponents.
Reach the reporter at atotri@asu.edu or follow @Anthony_Totri on Twitter.
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