ASU football’s starting junior left tackle Dan Knapp returned to practice on Tuesday in limited action after spraining his medial collateral ligament in the first quarter of the Sun-Devils’ 42-31 loss to Oregon last Saturday.
“We think he has a chance [to play against Oregon State],” ASU coach Dennis Erickson said. “He did more than I thought he was going into practice. He wants to play badly and to me it is a confidence factor with him also and he got some things done. I would think that by Thursday he will be good.”
Sophomore left tackle Kyle Johnson struggled in place of Knapp on Saturday.
The Sun Devils received similarly good news, if not far more surprising, when fourth year varsity graduate student and projected starting guard Jon Hargis participated in one-on-one drills. Hargis tore his anterior cruciate ligament on April 17.
“We think that in the next couple of weeks he will be ready to go,” Erickson said. “He was doing one on one stuff today so I think he will play the last half of the season.”
The Sun Devils gave redshirt junior transfer Aderious Simmons first team repetitions at right tackle on Tuesday. Simmons is considered one of ASU’s most talented linemen, though he has been unable to play many meaningful snaps, Erickson said, because he has yet to fully learn the position.
Erickson also indicated that junior transfer and starting right tackle Brice Schwab would likely not move inside to guard to accommodate Simmons at tackle — at least not yet.
Though young and inexperienced at every position but center, Erickson said he is pleased with the depth at offensive line compared to previous years.
“The great thing about our front is that we have some depth,” Erickson said.
Moos watch
Junior defensive tackle Bo Moos has received more repetitions this year than in the previous two seasons, due in part to the loss of depth suffered when sophomore defensive tackle William Sutton was ruled ineligible, but also because Moos’ play has stood out through four games.
“He’s emerged as a really good player,” Erickson said. “He’s developed. Two years ago I don’t know if I would have saw this. Because of his work ethic and the things he has done and how hard he plays he has become a real good football player for us.”
Moos had three tackles against Oregon and was a key factor in helping shut down inside running lanes against a potent Duck attack, which featured Heisman hopeful LaMichael James — who was held to just over four yards per carry last week. The Sun Devils’ defense will be tested against another Heisman candidate running back in Oregon State’s Jacquizz Rodgers. Rodgers ran for 133 yards in 2008 and 81 last year in the Beavers’ two victories over ASU.
“They are similar backs,” Moos said. “I just think that the scheme is what is different. They are both real small, quick, and go lateral a lot and bounce around before they make their cuts.”
With three Pac-10 road games in a row up coming, Moos knows the defense will have to buckle down if ASU is going to have a chance to come back to Tempe with bowl aspirations.
“We have to be road warriors,” Moos said. “Wisconsin was a good game for us to be able to get adjusted to what it is going to be like on the road. You just have to be ready and focused and understand that everything that happens at this point of the season is going to happen a little faster.”
Reach the reporter at nick.ruland@asu.edu
