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ASU football continues spring practice with emphasis on team offense, defense

New coordinators have led to a change in the way the Sun Devils go about training

ASU redshirt sophomore quarterback Manny Wilkins (5) fakes a handoff to junior running back Demario Richard (4) in the first half of a game versus WSU in Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Arizona, on Saturday, Oct. 22, 2016.
ASU redshirt sophomore quarterback Manny Wilkins (5) fakes a handoff to junior running back Demario Richard (4) in the first half of a game versus WSU in Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Arizona, on Saturday, Oct. 22, 2016.

ASU practiced at Sun Devil Stadium Friday, rather than its usual Bill Kajikawa football practice fields, but the change in field did not affect the Sun Devils’ intensity.

First year ASU defensive coordinator Phil Bennett spent a good portion of his time working with the defensive backs, a group that ranked dead last in passing defense last season, giving up 357.4 yards per game.

Bennett wanted his defensive backs to focus on staying low during back pedaling and to work on fluid hip turns.

It's still early in spring football and it will likely take time before the defense gets adjusted to Bennett’s coaching style.

On the other side of the field was former Alabama wide receivers coach and first year ASU offensive coordinator Billy Napier.

Napier had two offenses running without a defense.

No defense meant the running backs were unable to compete in a team session with the linebackers, however, head coach Todd Graham said he is excited to see what the season has in store for one of the Sun Devils’ most versatile skill groups.

“Obviously you got Kalen (Ballage) and Demario (Richard), and then you got Eno (Benjamin) that’s chomping at the bit to get out there,” Graham said. “So we got a very very talented group of skill players on offense.”

Senior running back Demario Richard, who dealt with injuries last season, said he is focused on having a successful final year.

“I’m just trying to stay down in weight, come in in shape, and just win ball games,” Richard said.

While the running backs are often the subject of choice when talking ASU football, the quarterback competition has generated much more anticipation and attention.

Redshirt junior quarterback Manny Wilkins took first team reps with redshirt sophomore and Alabama transfer Blake Barnett commanding the second offense.

Both offenses ran without junior tight end Jay Jay Wilson, who was working on the stationary bike.

Wilson was not the only Sun Devil limited in practice.

Redshirt sophomore quarterback Bryce Perkins was one of five players wearing non-contact jerseys. Another three players, one of which being Wilson, was sidelined to do muscle exercises and ride the stationary bike.

With ASU being only 10 days into spring practice, it is not a comforting sight to have eight players either limited or out of drills.


Reach the reporter at atotri@asu.edu or follow @Anthony_Totri on Twitter.

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