By Craig Morgan,
thesundevils.com writer
TEMPE, Ariz. - Spring has always been associated with renewal and hope, but a group of new coaches, new student-athletes and new possibilities had Sun Devils head coach Todd Graham feeling positively rejuvenated as spring football practice began on Monday at the Kajikawa Practice Fields.
"I loved our spirit and our attitude today," Graham told a throng of media members outside the Carson Student-Athlete Center. "When there's newness it creates an energy and synergy."
ASU has plenty of storylines to ponder with the first of 15 spring practices in the books.
Redshirt sophomore Manny Wilkins, redshirt freshman Brady White and redshirt freshman Bryce Perkins are all in the mix to replace Mike Bercovici as the starting quarterback. The Sun Devils must replace four starters on the offensive line, three in the secondary, and work speed receiver Cameron Smith back into the mix after knee surgery sidelined him all of last season.
The resolution of those position battles will take time, as will the adjustment period of offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey, receivers coach Jay Norvell, defensive line coach Joe Seumalo, defensive backs coach T.J. Rushing and running backs coach John Simon.
The greater goals of spring ball are far simpler to Graham.
"Everything about spring is about us getting better and fundamentals and getting the right players in the right spots," he said. "Our goal is to re-establish our identity; the PT-42 mentality. Lay it on the line every day for the guy next to you.. and make sure everybody coming in that's new understands that."
Lindsey's familiarity with Graham's offense means little will change from a philosophical standpoint, but the Devils first-year offensive coordinator said he noticed dramatic differences between the first day of spring ball and every other stop on his coaching tours of duty.
"Night and day different," Lindsey said. "The little things are really emphasized here. That’s a big difference. Not that we were bad at other places but… sometimes the personal relationships and the small things like everybody being in the right clothes and sprinting on and off the field, that’s a constant battle and you fight that all the time. That's a huge emphasis here and I call tell it has been for four years."
Wilkins said the development of relationships between teammates and coaches is as important as the grasp of football concepts.
"The value of spring ball is coming together as a family," he said.
Graham said he hasn’t changed much about spring ball in his four-plus seasons as Arizona State's football coach. He also acknowledged the need to move on from last season's 6-7 campaign, but not forget it.
"We've evaluated that and we're going to teach and learn from it but we feel good about the foundation we've laid," he said.
That foundation has made it easier to move more quickly and more efficiently through spring ball than the Sun Devils could in Graham's first season of culture change -- even with a number of coaching changes this season.
"We're all very excited about the new coaching staff and getting to learn under them," White said. "I think we're looking forward and ready to go attack the future."
Remaining 2016 Spring Practice Dates
(All practices are closed to the public)
March 14 – 8:30 am
March 16 – 8:30 am
March 18 – 8:30 am
March 21 – 8:30 am
March 23 – 8:30 am
March 25 – 8:30 am
March 28 – 8:30 am
March 30 – 8:30 am
April 1 – 8:30 am
April 4 – 8:30 am
April 6 – 8:30 am
April 8 – 8:30 am
April 11 – 8:30 am
April 13 – 8:30 am
*April 16 – 10 am
* – Sun Devil Football will host its annual free Sun Devil Youth Experience Clinic on Saturday, April 16 at the Kajikawa Practice Fields, following the conclusion of the final spring practice. The free youth clinic is open to boys and girls, ages 8-13 who are not enrolled in 9th grade or above. Participants must be 8 years old by March 28 and walk-ups will not be allowed. The clinic is free, as is parking, and is open to the first 700 youths to register. Please check back with thesundevils.com for more information.