Sun Devils hold first spring scrimmage

Guthrie already shining after switch back to tight end

 by Alex Espinoza
 published on Monday, March 31, 2008

Deanna Dent / THE STATE PRESS

PUTTING THE SQUEEZE ON: ASU junior quarterback Danny Sullivan gets hit by junior linebacker Gerald Munns as he releases the ball during Saturday’s mid-morning scrimmage at the Kajikawa Practice Facility. The Sun Devils will scrimmage two more times before April 19’s spring game.

Though the calendar may read March, the ASU football team's preparation for the fall is in full swing.

The spring season is a crucial one for ASU coach Dennis Erickson and his staff, as they try to fill in the holes left by vacating seniors on last year's 10-3 squad that finished as Co-Pac-10 champs.

Erickson raised the level of practice another notch Saturday when he conducted a full-pad, contact scrimmage.

"I thought the first offense was pretty good," Erickson said. "I thought that [senior quarterback] Rudy [Carpenter] did some really good things. Defensively, we flew around real well."

There was a sizeable crowd on hand at the Kajikawa Practice Facility that included former ASU players like last year's starting cornerback Justin Tryon and future Sun Devils like receiver Gerell Robinson from Chandler Hamilton High School and offensive lineman Zach Schlink from Peoria Centennial High School.

The No. 1's started off the intrasquad tilt, but the defense couldn't stop senior quarterback Rudy Carpenter and company from reaching the end zone in methodical fashion.

Senior tight end Dane Guthrie provided the scrimmage's initial first down, hauling in a 20-yard pass on third down. It was just Guthrie's fourth practice at tight end since switching from defensive end in the offseason, but he looked very comfortable with the ball in his hands.

"I still have it," Guthrie said afterward.

Senior running back Keegan Herring added some more fireworks a couple of plays later, breaking off a 20-yard romp and putting a mean juke on sophomore cornerback Omar Bolden in the process. Carpenter scrambled down to the 4-yard line to set up a 1-yard Herring score later in the drive.

Junior running back Dmitri Nance started the No. 2 offensive series strong with his 40-yard-plus carry up the middle. He showed great lateral moves and got into the secondary in a hurry before getting caught by junior college transfer cornerback Terrell Carr.

The drive ended in a goal-line fumble by junior running back Shaun DeWitty. Erickson said DeWitty ran to upright and that he needs to "get down".

To the other side and back

Guthrie has seen it all since graduating high school.

He signed with Florida after Rivals.com ranked the Miami, Fla., native as the No. 15 tight end in the country for the class of 2004. However, he did not see any playing time as a true freshman and transferred to ASU, making him ineligible for the 2005 campaign.

He saw limited action in 2006 and volunteered to switch to defensive end last year after the defensive line suffered a rash of injuries.

But with a new season comes a new duty.

Shortly after ASU's 52-34 loss to Texas in the Holiday Bowl on Dec. 27, Erickson approached Guthrie about switching back to his natural position, tight end.

"Right after the bowl game, on the plane, coach Erickson just said 'get back in tight end shape,'" Guthrie recounted.

Guthrie seemed to have no qualms about changing positions for the second time in two years.

"I prefer to be wherever they need me," Guthrie said. "Wherever gets me playing time. It just so happens to be tight end right now, so I'm just taking advantage of it."

Guthrie, listed at 6 feet 3 inches and 267 pounds, is in firm possession of the No. 1 tight end position entering the 2008 season.

Musical Chairs

With senior wide receiver Michael Jones busy playing ASU baseball, Erickson had a chance to play with some new starting combinations. Juniors Chris McGaha and Brandon Smith started out wide, while sophomore Kerry Taylor got the start in the slot.

Erickson also changed the starting linebackers up a little bit, giving redshirt freshman Oliver Aaron the starting nod at weak side linebacker. Junior Ryan McFoy was the No. 1 earlier in the week.

Aaron is vying to be the replacement for last year's leading tackler, Robert "The Beast" James, who graduated.

Reach the reporter at: alex.espinoza@asu.edu.