While the ASU football team seems to have undergone a night and day transformation from its play of a season ago, perhaps no single player has improved more than senior tight end Mike Pinkard.
With just three regular season games remaining in the Sun Devils' 2002 campaign, Pinkard is second on the team in receiving yards (335) and touchdown catches (5) and is tied for third with 19 receptions.
Pinkard's numbers dwarf those that he put forth a year ago.
"I've improved a lot since last season," Pinkard said. "I really wasn't that good last season. I've been able to do things a little bit better this year, like (improving) my footwork and being more aggressive. I think I had a better summer, better off-season workouts and have gained the coaches' confidence.
"Everybody wants to be involved in the offense and do things. I'll basically do whatever I have to do to help the team win."
Pinkard appeared unsure of himself at times last season when he took over the tight end position from former All-American, and first-round NFL draft pick of the Baltimore Ravens, Todd Heap. While ASU's former coaching staff, headed by Bruce Snyder, threw to the tight end constantly in 2000 with Heap in the lineup, current head coach Dirk Koetter didn't have the same confidence with Pinkard last season. Pinkard caught just nine balls for 158 yards and single score while being used primarily as a blocker.
The coaching staff's confidence in its tight end has obviously taken a turn for the better this season, as he is the lone senior starter on offense.
"[Mike] has made a lot of improvement from a year ago," tight ends coach Tom Osborne said. "I think he's shown in practice he's catching the ball with more consistency than he did a year ago. He's more reliable."
Pinkard had likely the finest game of his career during a 44-22 loss to Washington State on Saturday in which he caught four passes for 82 yards and touchdown catches of 35 and 23 yards.
"[On the first touchdown] he made probably the best single play that he's made since I've been here, and I'd be willing to bet the best play he's made in his career," Koetter said.
The touchdown, coming with 13:32 left in the game, was ASU's first touchdown and one of the offense's few impressive plays on the day.
"I was able to break a couple tackles," Pinkard said. "The quarter before that the same guy dove and cut my legs out so I anticipated that and just jumped over top of him."
This season has been a climax to a somewhat sporadic career for Pinkard. He was recruited in 1998 as the No. 5 tight end in the nation, according to Superprep Magazine. Shortly after joining the team, he was converted to defensive end as a freshman before being moved back to offense in 2000.
Even despite his success this year, Koetter said Pinkard has yet to get the most out of his abilities as he has still been known to drop passes that he is capable of catching. Koetter added, however, if Pinkard continues to bloom, the NFL could be a part of his future.
"Pink is a frustrating player," Koetter said. "He's improved a lot and he's playing harder than he ever has and he has a good attitude. Pink is a very, very talented guy who doesn't always get the most out of his talent, but when he does, he's fun to watch. There was a couple of those plays [on Saturday], but there are some plays that frustrate you.
"Mike is a guy I wish we had a couple more years with. He's getting better and better and, because of his physical attributes, he's going to get a look at the next level. He's going to play for somebody and if he gets with the right team, he has a chance to have a good career [in the NFL]."
Reach the reporter at christopher.drexel@asu.edu.
