Blogging with the Devils

After what he called a “heartbreaking” 2007, Arizona State receiver Brandon Smith is aiming to keep his eyes on the ball. (Jennifer Grimes/Tribune)

During a recent Arizona State football spring practice, cornerback Omar Bolden took a few seconds on the sideline to get in the face of wide receiver Brandon Smith.

“When are we going to see No. 9?” Bolden kept repeating, a reference to the unfulfilled promise that describes the ASU career of Smith, a junior whose tools have been described by coaches as NFL-caliber. But they were never displayed last season, as Smith did not make a catch while battling ankle and hamstring injuries.

A year ago, Smith was a spring-drills chatterbox after a redshirt freshman season in which he emerged late, totaling six catches for 167 yards and two touchdowns, including one in the 2006 Hawaii Bowl.

Now? Smith never responded to Bolden. After last year’s lesson in humility, he said that he is done talking.

“Last spring, I was out here talking it up to everybody,” Smith said. “This spring, it’s different. Everyone is looking for the hype from me. I still have it, but I’m keeping it inside. I’m motivated. I’m just thinking about what I have to do, which is get out on the field and get better.”

The 6-foot-2, 213-pounder is getting every chance to redeem himself. With Michael Jones playing baseball, Smith has worked with the first-team offense all spring. He feels that he has been productive so far.

“I’m happy with where I am right now,” Smith said. “I’ve had a few mental errors, but I feel I’ve been (focused). The first day of practice was tough, because I expected to get back where I was (in 2006). I realized I had to slow things down.”

Even if Smith starts becoming a playmaker by the end of drills, he plans to remain cognizant that the true test awaits in September. After all, he had a good spring last year.

“When I was hurt last year, it was heartbreaking,” Smith said. “The cornerbacks (joked) about wanting to go up against me to gain confidence. Now, I’m trying to get them back. Every one of them, I want to show them the real me.”

After Saturday’s scrimmage at Sun Devil Stadium, ASU will be halfway through spring drills. Coach Dennis Erickson said that he would love to have more time, but considering that the players have had to digest a lot of new stuff — four-receiver sets and more quick screens on offense; blitz packages on defense — things are going as smoothly as could be expected.

“We’re pass protecting better and getting the ball off quicker,” Erickson said. “And we have more in on defense than we had a year ago. We’re doing what we need to. …

“Saturday will be a landmark for where we are at. Sunday and Monday, (the coaches) will sit down and decide if we need to add things or stay with what we’re doing.”

Erickson said that no clear favorites have emerged at center, where Thomas Altieri and Garth Gerhart are competing for the starting job, and at cornerback, where junior-college transfer Terell Carr is currently on the first team but has at least three others on his tail. The CB competition might not be decided until the fall.

Running back Keegan Herring (neck) and tight end Jovon Williams (concussion) wore orange (non-contact) jerseys. Linebacker Oliver Aaron and defensive tackle David Smith were limited due to what Erickson said were minor injuries. Filling Smith’s spot on the first team was David Bertrand, a walk-on who previously played at Arizona.

As Samson Szakacsy tries to build arm strength after November elbow surgery, fellow redshirt freshman Chasen Stangel might be the No. 3 quarterback if fall practice began today. While at ASU, Stangel has displayed good mechanics but spotty accuracy. Erickson suggested that could be changing.

During a drill on Thursday, Stangel delivered a gorgeous deep pass down the right sideline that went over the cornerback’s shoulder and hit receiver T.J. Simpson in stride.

“The last two practices, a light came on,” Erickson said. “He’s throwing the ball better, getting it where he wants to throw it. I’ve been impressed.”

This entry was posted on Thursday, April 3rd, 2008 at 8:54 pm and is filed under Football. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.