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Report from Tuesday's practice: ASU football was forced to move to the Dickey Dome due to inclement weather

Showcasing the game plan was a key component at Tuesday's practice

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ASU redshirt senior quarterback Manny Wilkins (5) lines up under center during an offense versus defense scrimmage in the Verde Dickey Dome in Tempe, AZ, on Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2018.

Another Arizona haboob forced the Sun Devils to practice inside the Verde Dickey Dome on Tuesday. The team had longer time to stretch and loosen up as everything on their practice field was moved inside.


Position-by-position, players warmed up by either exploding off the snap, running through holes or working on sideline catches.

After the teams stretched, coaches focused on pushing the tempo, with the offense finding the open holes against a 3-5-5 zone defense.

On the first play of 11-on-11, the offense, led by redshirt senior quarterback Manny Wilkins, capitalized on a 60-yard flea flicker to junior wide receiver Kyle Williams. Williams beat sophomore cornerback Langston Frederick and found himself in wide open space for the long ball.

The first team offense flowed well as all 11 players have stayed the same for the past few practices. Wilkins continued to find the open man, and that opened up the running game for sophomore running backs Eno Benjamin and Isaiah Floyd.

On the defensive side, the biggest spot to fill was at the Tillman position after the news that senior linebacker Tyler Whiley broke his ankle in Saturday's scrimmage. Filling in for Whiley was redshirt senior defensive back Dasmond Tautalatasi.

Two NFL team scouts (Oakland Raiders and Jacksonville Jaguars) were at practice watching the Sun Devils. Many people believe that these scouts have their eyes narrowed on junior wide receiver N'Keal Harry. Harry's hype has been showcased, as he is on the preseason awards list for the Maxwell, Paul Hornung, and the Fred Biletnikoff awards. 

Harry showcased his hands, catching a fade while beating redshirt sophomore Chase Lucas for a 42-yard completion on Tuesday night.

The team also focused on special teams as they split kickoff returns between redshirt juniors Ryan Newsome and Paul Lucas, as well as junior Brandon Aiyuk and Isaiah Floyd. 

Offensive Coordinator Rob Likens wanted to push the tempo and Wilkins showed how dangerous he can be this coming season. 

Wilkins was hitting receivers left and right, throwing off his left side and showcasing his dangerous dual-threat ability by tucking the ball and running for positive yards.


Walk-on quarterback Kurt Walding saw time with the second team as Likens said their is an open competition between Walding and redshirt sophomore Dillon Sterling-Cole for the backup role.

After splitting up into 7-on-7, the o-line and d-line went to the other indoor field and worked on the machine gun drill. The d-line worked against every member of the line to find a way to reach the ball carrier in the backfield. 

In the final 15 minutes of practice, the team focused on 11-on-11 plays, as Wilkins found Aiyuk in the back of the end zone. 

After rotating teams, Herm Edwards voiced his frustration at Walding as they were practicing certain situations as if it were a game.

"You can't do that," Edwards said after Walding threw a ball away after rolling out to his right and being pressured. 

Other notes: Senior linebacker Koron Crump was at practice in pads as he has been throughout the fall. Crump has yet to participate in drills and full workouts, but his presence was felt on Tuesday while he was active in helping the other linebackers who have filled in for him.


Reach the reporter at sbemanue@asu.edu or follow @SebastianEman24 on Twitter. 

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