Spring special-teams search
March 26th, 2008, 9:44 pm · Post a Comment · posted by Dan Zeiger
ASU wide receiver Nate Kimbrough catches a pass during Tuesday’s practice. He later left with a hamstring injury. (Jennifer Grimes/Tribune)
Arizona State on Thursday will devote some of its third spring practice, the first in pads, to start the process of filling two unheralded but important vacancies, snapper and holder on field-goal and extra-point attempts.
Coach Dennis Erickson said that he would like to have those two jobs manned by the end of spring drills, enabling that threesome — there are no problems at kicker, with Lou Groza Award winner Thomas Weber back — to continue working over the summer.
“Getting that snapper and new holder is critical,” Erickson said on Wednesday. “That’s a bigger deal than people think.”
Among the snapper candidates are linebackers Travis Goethel and Mike Nixon and walk-ons Thomas Ohmart and Clay Davie. The holder could be wide receiver Chris McGaha, backup quarterback Danny Sullivan or the third-string QB: Samson Szakacsy or Chasen Stangel.
Erickson said that Zach Richards is improving as a punter and hinted that Weber could have competition for that job in the fall.
Szakacsy, who was the No. 3 quarterback before undergoing elbow surgery in November, has been throwing during drills and said that he is at about 80 percent.
“I’m not where I want to be in terms of arm strength,” Szakacsy said. “But that will come as I keep throwing. I thought I would have to take it slow the first few days of spring, but it’s feeling good. I’m feeling good with the offense and learning every day, and that’s the most important thing.”
When healthy, Szakacsy throws the hardest, tightest spirals of any quarterback on the ASU roster. This spring is big for the 6-foot-3, 195-pounder, as his competition with fellow redshirt freshman Stangel resumes, and Jack Elway arrives in the fall.
“I have to come out and prove myself every day,” Szakacsy said. “Spring ball is always important, but these practices are key to showcase myself a little more.”
Receiver Nate Kimbrough did not participate in Wednesday’s practice after tweaking his hamstring during a drill on Tuesday. He will likely be unavailable until next week.
For the second time in eight months, sophomore receiver Rodney Glass is not with the team due to what Erickson labeled an academics issue.
“He’s dismissed for now,” Erickson said. “There’s a chance he (could return).”
Glass, who was recruited as a running back, missed practice time in August.
