(Photo: Tyler Rittenhouse/WCSN)
The Sun Devil football team held their final Spring practice of the year Friday night in front of a full house at Sun Devil Soccer Stadium.
The wind was rampant throughout the night, most evident in the number of botched snaps in both drills and scrimmages.
“It’s just about adapting,” starting quarterback Manny Wilkins said of the conditions. “It’s nice though, it’s good to practice in this.”
The team started with drills after a pre-practice autograph session for the fans.
The first one that was popular was a defensive pass-rushing drill that more or less simulated rushing the passer, forcing a strip sack and returning it for a touchdown. The return was just to gain enough speed to finish the drill with a dramatic leap over an obstacle onto a mat, garnering reactions from the fans.
The other highlight of the drill portion was 3-on-3 running drills. The whole team gathered around the end zone forming a running lane, where the ball was handed off to a running back and he had to make it through without being tackled. The three pairs of blocker and defender were set up in a straight line to the back, forcing the ball carrier to run based on how the running lane developed.
This portion got players and coaches alike riled up, with guys chirping back and fourth adding some vigor to the practice.
Scrimmaging got underway after special teams drills. Here’s some notes from the last session of ASU Spring football:
“Have fun. This is a fun game,” coach Herm Edwards said after practice. “Football’s about mistakes, and I’ve always told players ‘the good players, they’ve got selective memory they let it go- gotta play the next one.’ And I think they’re learning that now, they’re learning hey don’t worry about it just keep playing.”
ASU will begin official practice ahead of the 2018 season on August 3, with Camp Tontozona, or “Camp Kush” as Edwards calls it, set for August 6-11. The Sun Devils open the season September 1 against UTSA.
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