ASU's Burgess learned on job at CB

Bring up Rudy Burgess’ cornerback experiment last year for Arizona State, and most Sun Devil fans would likely cringe.

Locker still has room to improve

Read Blogging with the Devils

Not because his move to defense was a failure, but because it was brief. In his second start, Burgess sprained an ankle at Washington in October and was lost until a brief appearance in the Hawaii Bowl.

But before one assumes that nothing good came from the cornerback stint, Burgess would submit his play at slotback this season. Some of his success, he said, is due to the knowledge of defense he gained while on that side of the ball.

“My experience at cornerback has given me a lot of familiarity with schemes on defense,” Burgess said. “I can look at a coverage, and they might try to disguise it, but I know that they are going to switch to something else. I can anticipate, run better routes and get open easier.”

The senior did not have a catch last week at Washington State but is tied for second on the team in receiving, despite missing one game. In fact, Burgess and Kyle Williams, the first-team slotback, have nearly identical numbers.

Both have 18 receptions for 256 yards. Williams has three touchdown catches, Burgess two.

“Kyle is a great player, like all of our receivers, but when all is said and done, Rudy Burgess can probably do the most for us because of experience,” quarterback Rudy Carpenter said. “He’s got a great feel for the game to make difficult catches across the middle or by coming back to me.

“Those are the plays that veterans make. We need that from him.”

INJURY REPORT

Linebacker Jamarr Robinson (knee) worked out with the second-team defense on Tuesday and has been cleared to play. The redshirt freshman, who was hurt in the spring game, figures to contribute on special teams.

“Hopefully, he can help us,” coach Dennis Erickson said. “He was one of our better special-teams players before he got hurt. It’s going to take him time to get back into it, but it’s good to see him out.”

Williams (hip) and tight end Brent Miller (knee) spent time riding exercise bikes on the side. Miller remains day-to-day, but Erickson said that Williams’ ailment is not serious.

LOCKER UP

An opposing dual-threat quarterback is typically the most difficult to simulate in practice, and the Sun Devils are relying on multiple scout-team players to fill the role of Washington’s Jake Locker.

This week, a scout-team quarterback is running the passing plays, while a running back handles the rushing.

“It’s so hard to imitate him,” Erickson said. “I don’t know that you can ever get a guy that will be even close to the real thing. It will be like a lot of things on Saturdays — you won’t know until you see it.

“You watch him on tapes, and he reminds me of a young Vince Young with the plays that he makes.”