Spring game evaluations: Offense

Saturday’s annual spring game for Arizona State football fans offered the first glimpse at a team many Sun Devil fans expect to contend for the Pac-12 championship in 2013.  The pace was fast and furious from the start and several new faces stepped up and performed well in the contest, answering questions about depth in several areas of the game.

Here is a look at who stood out above the rest at Sun Devil Stadium on Saturday.

WR: Kevin Ozier – Ozier came into the game expected to be Taylor Kelly’s primary target at the wide receiver position, but this was mostly due to Ozier being the only senior at the position with any resemblance of playing time in years past.  My biggest question with Ozier was whether or not he could get enough separation on his routes to be more than just a jump-ball, red-zone target.

The answer? A resounding yes.

Working against one of the Pac-12’s most talented corners, Osahon Irabor, Ozier looked fluid in and out of his breaks, working the middle of the field well and allowing tight end Chris Coyle and slot receiver Rick Smith to work down the field more. Ozier tied for the team lead with seven receptions and (although the Sun Devils played a press defense far less than usual) when Irabor did press, Ozier was able to work around him and stay on his route.

A former walk-on who had to earn his scholarship at ASU, Ozier knows the receivers can be a bigger factor this year.

“There’s opportunity,” Ozier said.  “A lot of people say this offense is based around the running backs and tight ends, but there’s opportunity for the receiver, we just have to get open.  We won’t get the ball if we aren’t open.”

The receiving corps as a whole impressed on Saturday, with Smith getting down the field quickly and senior Alonzo Agwuenu also finding open space often despite a lack of targets.

But Ozier was the star of the group.

RB: Marcus Washington – Washington was a useful running back two years ago, but when Todd Graham arrived last spring, Washington was moved to the newly created 3-back position.  Needless to say, that experiment failed.  Washington (6’0”, 208 lbs) is not built to play any type of tight end; he lacks the size to be a physical blocker, and the experience to run routes and catch the ball down the field.

This spring, the team moved Washington back to his natural position at running back, and it could pay huge dividends.

Washington was the most physical presence on offense on Saturday, lineman included.  He had just five carries, but went for 40 yards on those touches and often carried the pile.  He runs with his head up, but he keeps his pad level low, essential for a power back, and that’s exactly what the Sun Devils need him to be this year.

With Cameron Marshall graduated, Washington has an opportunity to take over as the third running back behind Marion Grice and D.J. Foster, and more importantly, Washington can become the short-yardage back.  If the Sun Devils can get four carries for 15-20 yards per game from Washington, with a handful of touchdowns on the season, it will go a long way towards preserving Grice and Foster and making the Sun Devil offense more efficient.

SUMMARY:

One thing that is important to remember is neither the offense nor the defense showed anything close to all of their plays on Saturday.  With the game televised and open to the public, coach Graham kept things simple, limiting blitzes on defense and limiting motions on offense.  The Sun Devils did use a triple-option often, bringing the slot receiver (usually Smith) in motion as the third man, and that intrigues me.

It was a productive afternoon for the Sun Devils, especially since they suffered no serious injuries, and now the coaching staff can focus on strength and conditioning and preparing for the arrival of a highly anticipated recruiting class.

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