Ahead of the season opener against Morgan State, Arizona State Head Coach Kenny Dillingham shared key insights from the latest scrimmage, highlighting offensive growth and defensive pressure.

  • Offense showed significant improvement in running drives and big plays.
  • Special teams are seeing intense competition for kicking and punting roles.
  • Edge rushers are performing well, but pass protection remains a critical weakness.
  • Defensive back Nigel Pringle is out for the season due to injury.

As the September 5 season opener against Morgan State approaches, the Arizona State Sun Devils held a crucial scrimmage at Mountain America Stadium on August 22. Head Coach Kenny Dillingham expressed cautious optimism, noting that while the offense has begun to execute large plays, there is still significant work to be done across the roster.

Special Teams: A Battle for Dominance

The competition within the special teams unit is fiercer than ever. In the placekicking department, both Carson Smith and Carston Kieffer demonstrated impressive range by hitting 52-yard field goals. Smith appeared slightly more consistent, also converting a 38-yarder late in the session. Meanwhile, the punting battle between incumbent Kanyon Floyd and Ohio State transfer Nick McLarty is neck-and-neck, with both delivering high-quality kicks inside the 20-yard line.

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Defensive Pressure vs. Offensive Protection

One of the bright spots for the Sun Devils is their edge rushing capability. Joshua Shanklin and Emar'rion Winston each recorded two sacks, proving that the defensive front can disrupt opposing quarterbacks. However, this success highlighted a glaring vulnerability: the offensive line's pass protection.

Why This Matters

BozokMedia analysis shows that the gap between ASU's defensive aggression and their offensive pass protection could become a deciding factor in early-season matchups. If the offensive line cannot stabilize, even a high-powered offense will struggle to find rhythm under pressure.

The offense is hitting big plays, but the defense needs to create more turnovers to truly dominate.

The tight end position remains a point of frustration for Dillingham. The unit struggled significantly with blocking assignments, which directly allowed defensive ends to penetrate the pocket. This struggle is compounded by the absence of star tight end Khamari Anderson, who is recovering from a broken leg.

On a positive note, the running back depth looks promising. Players like Jason Brown and Demarius 'Man Man' Robinson showed reliability, while sophomore Grayson Rigdon highlighted the team's versatility by hauling in an 80-yard scoring pass from Mikey Keene.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. When is the first ASU football game?
Answer: The season kicks off on September 5 against Morgan State.

2. Who are the key players to watch in the Sun Devils' defense?
Answer: Edge rushers Joshua Shanklin and Emar'rion Winston are currently leading the defensive charge.

Did You Know?: Sophomore Grayson Rigdon recorded the longest play of the scrimmage with an 80-yard touchdown reception.