Never at a loss for words
August 6th, 2008, 11:53 pm · Post a Comment · posted by Dan Zeiger
Pierre Singfield
Our paper’s Arizona State football coverage from Wednesday consists of a feature on the defensive line and notebook that leads with why running back Keegan Herring had his right arm in a sling during practice. I don’t have much more to add.
There were three noteworthy scenes from the workout.
Even with the team’s biggest chatterbox, Herring, sidelined, players continued to talk it up to one another. The most memorable exchange I heard was between two players that came to Tempe on opposite fanfare spectrums.
During 11-on-11 drills, freshman receiver Gerell Robinson, he of the college-choice announcement on live national television, was covered by cornerback Pierre Singfield, an unheralded walk-on transfer from Pima Community College in Tucson.
Singfield had an impressive spring and has made some plays during fall camp, said to Robinson after a play: “You’re so slow. That’s why I caught up with you.”
Replied Robinson: “I had a cramp in my leg.”
Such jawing between players during drills has been a staple of coach Dennis Erickson’s teams since his days at Miami (Fla.).
“The game has to be fun, and the greatest teams I’ve ever coached had fun at practice, getting on each other in a friendly way and competing,” Erickson said. “It’s all about competing and making each other better, and that’s what these guys do a lot.”
The first-team offense ran a no-huddle offense against the starting defense. Afterward, defensive coordinator Craig Bray brought his first unit together and warned that it would be subjected to that drill often during camp.
He cited the Sun Devils’ game at Oregon in 2007, when the Ducks had success with a no-huddle approach.
“You have to focus on conditioning — mental conditioning as much as the physical,” Bray told the players. “You have to tell yourself that you’re not tired.”
Wide receiver Michael Jones made a nice over-the-shoulder catch against cornerback Omar Bolden for a 45-yard touchdown during 11-on-11 work. Erickson said that Jones has quickly gotten up to speed after playing minor-league baseball.
I am off on Thursday, so the ASU doings will be ably documented by Kyle Odegard.