ASU notebook: Herring sits out with bum shoulder

Arizona State will be without first-string running back Keegan Herring for at least a day or two because he aggravated a nagging shoulder injury during practice on Tuesday.

Herring watched Wednesday's workout with his right arm in a sling.

"It's the same shoulder thing he's had for his entire career," coach Dennis Erickson said. "He bummed it up a little bit. He'll be out for a couple more days and be fine. He's had it before, so (the trainers) know what it is."

With Herring out, Dimitri Nance, Jarrell Woods, Shaun DeWitty and Ryan Bass figure to get a few extra carries each as they jockey the depth chart.

Despite the lack of pads the first two days of camp, there was much contact during drills, and several players - Herring included - were put in vulnerable situations when they fell to the ground.

On Wednesday, players were in "shells," meaning helmets and shoulder pads. The practice schedule distributed to the media states that the first full-pads workout is on Friday, but ASU could don all of its armor today.

In other injury matters, wide receiver Nate Kimbrough underwent an MRI exam after he was hit in the head with a weight plate on Wednesday.

"Right around the eye," Erickson said. "We should know more (today). It's bad enough when they get hurt on the field, but something like that... it would have been better me than him."

INTO THE FIRE

Conventional wisdom is that three true freshmen - Bass, receiver Gerell Robinson and defensive lineman Lawrence Guy - are expected to play this season. But a number of others are getting every chance to make an impression.

Such newcomers as linebackers Shelly Lyons and Brandon Magee and offensive linemen Zach Schlink and Patrick Jamison have received practice action with the second team.

"We don't have much of a choice," Erickson said. "That's where a lot of the depth in this program is right now, in those freshmen. When we recruited them, we felt that they could help us as freshmen, so we'll give them a chance. That doesn't mean it will happen, but we'll give them a shot."

BLITZ TIME

ASU worked on blitz packages on Wednesday, and - as is often the case early in camp - the defense get the best of the offense. Outside linebackers Travis Goethel and Mike Nixon were bringing the most heat.

"The offensive line is having a lot of things thrown at them," Erickson said. "We don't hold things back, so on the third day, we're blitzing. We're bringing a lot of people, so it's a lot of stuff they have to pick up.

"But it always works out in the end."

EXTRA POINTS

ASU announced that practices inside the new indoor facility will, due to space constraints, be closed to the public. Accommodations for fans could be possible after logistics in the building are ironed out.

The first scheduled workout in the "bubble" structure is on Saturday....

Judd Davis, the 1993 Lou Groza Award winner who presented that trophy to ASU kicker Thomas Weber last year, attended practice. Weber has been getting punting help from Davis, who played at Florida.