(Photo: Tyler Strachan/WCSN)
Three days removed from their stunning Hail Mary win against USC, the Sun Devil football team took to the practice field Tuesday for another day of work.
As much as head coach Todd Graham attempted to emphasize that the practice was simply an everyday desire to get fundamentally and fanatically better-type practice, the reality is that it was not.
Though emotions had certainly been normalized and refined, the Hail Mary was a frequent talking point, and players and coaches did not fail to recognize its monumental impact it had on the excitement surrounding the team.
Level-headed Reaction to the Hail Mary
Normally confined to a Wednesday post-practice interview session, DJ Foster spoke today—a blatant indication that the Tuesday practice was not just any ordinary day.
“It was unbelievable,” said Foster in regards to the Hail Mary. “I lost the ball in the air. I was looking for the tip back, that’s my job in that play. I kind of lost the ball, but I saw Jaelen on my right come across and make a play. It was unbelievable to see that. It’s something that a lot of people haven’t experienced and probably never will.”
Offensive coordinator and quarterbacks’ coach Mike Norvell offered his sideline perspective:
“We’ve got some tremendous playmakers,” he said. “The five guys up front did a great job of protecting to give Bercovici time. Berc gave our guys an opportunity to go up and make a play. And then we’ve got a tremendous football player that made the most of the opportunity.”
The third-year then proceeded to quickly distribute the credit and decipher the game in a more encompassing manner:
“It wasn’t just the Hail Mary play,” Norvell said. “That’s obviously the play that gets all the attention, but I think of all the plays that led up to it—Cameron Smith’s big play, the 98-yard drive before that. Guys that were really unsung heroes, guys that nobody talked about at the start of the season—Gary Chambers, Ellis Jefferson all making big plays. That’s what made that victory so special. Ending it with the Hail Mary is like the cherry on top.”
Back to Business
Though Graham did acknowledge his happiness for Mike Bercovici, the bulk of his post-practice interview focused on the tasks at hand for his football team.
“We have 23 practices left in the season that are guaranteed,” Graham said. “Obviously, we want to be playing on December 5th, we want to be playing on January 1st, we want to be playing on January 12th. If you think of it in those terms, we’ve got a lot of improvement that has to be made. On the same hand, we’ve also got a belief that we can do it. You just have to be willing to put the work in.”
With a full two weeks of practice to prepare for Stanford—the second bye week in the last four total weeks for the Sun Devils—Graham was asked if this time off is a blessing to allow his team to recuperate from a possible hangover after such an emotionally-draining win.
“It’s a blessing because we get healed up,” Graham countered. “We needed it for Taylor and to get better fundamentally. You watch today’s practice and it’s like a spring practice. We went good on good; we cracked the pads; we got after it. This week could not have been more perfect timing from that standpoint.”
The task at hand is a daunting one. While Stanford has already dropped two games in 2014 and has an offense that is leaking massive oil, the Cardinal have won back-to-back Pac-12 championships thanks to a shut-down defense. Ranking first in the country in points against, and second in defensive efficiency, total yards allowed per game and pass yards allowed per game, it is clear that little has changed in that facet.
Graham concurs, but relishes the challenge it poses to his 20th ranked squad.
“We know what to expect,” Graham said. “We’ve learned a lot playing them, but obviously this year is a different year. They’re the defending champion and so to unseat them you have to be twice as prepared and twice as motivated.”
First-Team Defense
Defensive Line: Marcus Hardison (End), Jaxon Hood (Nose Tackle), Tashon Smallwood (Tiger)
Linebackers: Marcus Ball (SPUR), Salamo Fiso (SAM), Antonio Longino (WILL), Demetrius Cherry (Devilbacker)
Cornerbacks: Kweishi Brown (Boundary), Lloyd Carrington (Field)
Safeties: Jordan Simone (Bandit), Damarious Randall (Field)
Practice Notes
- In regards to Taylor Kelly, who shed his crutches Tuesday and sported a new hybrid-looking grey walking boot, Graham said, “I think he’ll be practicing by the end of the week.”
- Both Graham and Norvell reiterated that Taylor Kelly is the starting quarterback once he is healthy.
- Senior defensive lineman Marcus Washington suffered a career ending torn ACL against USC on Saturday. Graham said that it is a big loss for the special teams unit and even more sad for Washington, who’s contributed extensively in his Sun Devil career.
- Corey Smith, Laiu Moeakiola and Viliami Latu all sported green no-contact jerseys
- Graham said that he plans on resting Moeakiola and De’Marieya Nelson this week, and that Latu has just a few “knick knacks.”
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