Arizona State practice report from Monday

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Arizona State practiced Monday in preparation for Thursday's showdown against UCLA ...

PRACTICE REPORT

Coach Todd Graham's opening statement to reporters: Because he had his weekly news conference later in the day, Graham didn't talk with reporters after practice.

Graham's post-practice pep talk with team: Four minutes, five seconds.

Attire: Pads.

PERSONNEL

Out: QB Taylor Kelly (nine days, foot); DT Corey Smith (out for the season, hip).

Limited: WR Tyler Whiley (four days, unknown).

Note: For the first time since injuring his right shoulder Sept. 13, sophomore linebacker Laiu Moeakiola did not wear a green no-contact jersey. However, he still seemed limited. He didn't do much during the 25 minutes of practice open to news reporters. In his place, freshman Christian Sam ran with the first-team at the spur position. The Sun Devils also are working in red-shirt freshman Marcus Ball. ... Kelly received treatment during the portion of practice open to reporters. He's still on crutches with his right foot in a protective boot.



NEWS, NOTES & OBSERVATIONS

-ASU's tackling hasn't been perfect -- just OK --but co-defensive coordinator Keith Patterson expects improvement. "Typically with inexperienced teams, it gets better as the year goes on because ... with all the 20-hour (practice) rules, it's almost like you have to play your way into becoming a better tackling team," Patterson said.

-Graham said junior Lloyd Carrington -- the team's best corner -- has been "up and down" this season, and not all of it has been his fault. "Here's how all this works together: The difference is you have to cover them for four seconds or you have to cover them for seven seconds,'' the coach said. "Our ability to impact the quarterback impacts the back end." Graham thinks this season's secondary is better than last year's, but at times against Colorado it struggled. Moving forward he said Carrington has to "knock it out of the park" as the Sun Devils get into the meat of the Pac-12 schedule.

-Junior running back D.J. Foster made a diving catch. Graham's response: Save it for the game. (No need to get hurt).

-Red-shirt freshman Chans Cox worked some with the Devil-backers. Cox has been back and forth for most of the season. He started preseason practice at Devil then moved to defensive end.

-Sophomore Viliami Latu lined up at first-team defensive tackle during the segment of practice open to reporters. There's a chance Latu or junior Demetrius Cherry will start at the three-tech position, replacing freshman Tashon Smallwood

-ASU plans to start freshman walk-on Mitchell Fraboni at long-snapper against UCLA. Fraboni replaced junior Donnie Shields in the second half against Colorado after Shields had a couple shaky snaps that led to rushed punts.

--ASU typically uses six receivers. Monday, the Sun Devils rotated seven during drills: Junior Jaelen Strong, sophomore Cameron Smith, junior Gary Chambers, red-shirt freshman Ellis Jefferson, red-shirt freshman Ronald Lewis, sophomore Frederick Gammage and freshman Jalen Harvey. (Harvey has not yet played this season and could be on the path to red-shirting. He has spent most of the season on the scout team).


ASU'S DEFENSIVE LEADERS IN ...

Exceptional plays (as determined by the staff): BS Jordan Simone, 4.

Big hits: FS Damarious Randall 5.

Critical errors

: DE Edmond Boateng 5, CB Lloyd Carrington 5.

Missed tackles: CB Armand Perry 4.

Missed assignments: LB Antonio Longino 10.


POST-PRACTICE WORK

Up-downs: RB D.J. Foster did some with the offensive line; DE Edmond Boateng, DT Demetrius Cherry.

Passing machine: The tight ends.

Coach instruction: Center Nick Kelly talked with position coach Chris Thomsen. Defensive-line coach Jackie Shipp kept the defensive line after practice longer than any position group I've seen this season.


UP NEXT

ASU will have its final full practice Tuesday morning at Sun Devil Stadium. The Sun Devils will have a walk-through Wednesday.

 

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To beat UCLA, Sun Devils must put heat on QB




The way Arizona State coach Todd Graham teaches defense suits his personality. He wants the Sun Devils aggressive, attacking the quarterback, forcing opponents into mistakes.

Through three games, ASU hasn't done that as well as it has the previous two seasons, but that could change in Thursday's home Pac-12 showdown against No. 11 UCLA, a game the No. 15 Sun Devils consider a "must win" in their quest to defend their South division title.

UCLA ? the preseason pick to win the South ? has struggled protecting junior quarterback Brett Hundley, who is questionable after injuring his left (non-throwing) elbow Sept. 13. According to ESPN.com, Hundley has been sacked 51 times over the past three seasons on plays in which the competition sent four or fewer pass rushers, the most of any quarterback from a Power Five conference.



Last season, the Bruins gave up 2.8 sacks per game, which tied for 108th nationally. This season, they're actually worse, allowing 3.67 sacks per game, which ties for 120th. As a result, it doesn't take a perfect SAT score to guess ASU's approach entering Thursday's contest:

"We're coming," junior Devil-backer Antonio Longino said.

To date, the Sun Devils' pass rush has been average. They have produced just six quarterback sacks all season, which ranks tied for fifth in the Pac-12. The defensive line has produced just 2?. While these numbers sometimes can be misleading ? offenses these days get the ball out quicker than in the past ? ASU needs to improve at just impacting the quarterback, not necessarily sacking him.

"Our guys can rush," Graham said. "They can get after the quarterback, but we need to be able to get after this quarterback with four or five rushers, not always having to bring six."

In ASU's Sept. 13 win over Colorado, Longino showed flashes. After a slow start at Devil-backer ? a rush linebacker of sorts ? the junior posted 10 tackles, including two for loss. He just looked more comfortable on the field, reacting instead of thinking.

"I loved the effort," Graham said. "He made a lot of plays. He has a lot of athletic ability. Really played hard and did a lot of great things; he just has to get better technique-wise. ? He's one of the most improved guys, and he's got to continue to get better."

To help, ASU plans to give senior De'Marieya Nelson more snaps this week. Nelson, who spends most of his time at tight end, has rushed the passer occasionally, mostly on third down. As for the rest of the defensive line, position coach Jackie Shipp kept several players nearly 20 minutes after Monday's practice, working on alignment and technique.

Bercovici's readiness

How concerned is Graham about Mike Bercovici's first start? The coach said he hasn't had one conversation with offensive coordinator Mike Norvell this week about the junior quarterback.

"Not one," Graham said. "The only thing I've said to Coach Norvell is: 'Hey, make sure (freshman quarterback) Manny (Wilkins) is ready.' "

With senior Taylor Kelly out with a foot injury, Wilkins moves up from No. 3 to No. 2. The plan is to redshirt the freshman unless the Sun Devils absolutely need him.

Bercovici says he's ready. He's worked with junior center Nick Kelly on exchanges. He's talked with Taylor Kelly about vision. He's asked offensive-line coach Chris Thomsen about protection, and he's talked with junior receiver Jaelen Strong about when to expect the ball on certain routes.

"I've gotten 1-team reps before in the spring and they mix me in here some time during the year, so I've always felt comfortable with the 1's," Bercovici said.

"I know those guys are the most confident guys on the field. It's just getting that daily progression, getting more and more snaps."




Extra point

ASU is expecting more than 20 NFL scouts for Thursday's game.