ASU football notebook: Pads go on, intensity goes up

The big hitting, trash talking and shorter tempers at Kajikawa Practice Facility on Monday night meant one thing — the Arizona State football team was in full pads for the first time.

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The practice culminated in an 11-on-11 full-contact session which the offense took control of by the end.

“There was a lot of enthusiasm and hitting,” coach Dennis Erickson said. “The scrimmage stuff was productive, even though we made a lot of mistakes. We’ll work on those, but everyone was running around and hitting. That’s the kind of attitude and intensity level we want.

“If you play like that in practice, you’ll do it in games.”

The highlights included a run by backup tailback Keegan Herring, in which he deftly spun away from defenders twice. Receiver Chris McGaha took exception to a rough tackle by Ryan McFoy by quickly rising and firing the football into the linebacker’s back.

However, the night’s signature play was a 60-yard bomb from Rudy Carpenter to wideout Michael Jones, who beat cornerback Justin Tryon and safety Troy Nolan to catch the ball in the end zone.

Carpenter said the offense’s timing was most encouraging.

“I think we had only one incompletion in the 7-on-7 drills, in 12 or 13 plays,” Carpenter said. “We were getting the ball out on time, and the ball was at the receiver when he turned around. And that’s important, especially for the young wideouts.

“In this offense, we are going to beat you with timing and playing fast.”

ASU has its first two-a-day practices today, in helmets and shoulder pads in the morning session and full gear at night. On Wednesday, the team departs for Camp Tontozona.

RAIN PATIENCE

The extended forecast for Payson calls for a 10- to 30-percent chance of precipitation this weekend.

However, that is not always an accurate gauge for Camp Tontozona, which is about 20 miles outside of town. There has been many a day where it has been sunny in Payson and pouring at camp.

ASU is scheduled to be at Tontozona Wednesday through Aug. 15. If enough practices are canceled or relocated to Payson’s Rumsey Park due to inclement weather, Erickson said, he would cut camp short.

OH, BROTHER

The 2007 Press Pass rookie card for Oakland Raiders tight end Zach Miller has a photograph of a player in an Arizona State uniform reaching out to make a reception. One problem — the player is Brent Miller, Zach’s older brother, who is still at ASU.

“My mom was excited that Zach was on a bunch of rookie cards, so she went to buy some,” Brent Miller said. “She was looking at them in the store, saw one and thought, 'Wait a second. That’s not Zach.’ ”