‘Gotten a little bit soft’: Arizona State ratchets up practice intensity with live tackling

TEMPE — Kenny Dillingham adjusted Arizona State practice to place more of an emphasis on physicality after its 42-10 loss at Utah exposed some weaknesses.

ASU went into live tackling mode and lived there, which Dillingham called very uncommon for a Tuesday practice during the season.

“I’ve gotten a little bit soft with a veteran group, and that’s 100% on me,” the coach said. “I think that it’s showing up too much on tape, and so we kind of changed how we practice.”

Dillingham said he’s reached out to other coaches to help him determine how to approach practices with injuries starting to mount on both sides of the ball. It’s a tough balance to strike considering how much more physicality is needed after the blowout loss.

But a ramp-up was needed after ASU allowed 276 rushing yards to Utah. The Utes averaged 7.0 yards per carry, in large part thanks to missed tackles on the Sun Devils’ part and Utah quarterback Devon Dampier’s 120 rushing yards on just 10 carries.

It’s important the issue is corrected sooner rather than later, as No. 7 Texas Tech awaits with the best pass rush in the nation, the 10th-best pass blocking and 17th-best run blocking in Power Four, per PFF.

“We got guys with green jerseys that can’t (have) contact, took them out and said the guys that can practice, we’re tackling, we’re playing physical,” the coach said. “And whoever can’t (practice), you got to sit out and then we got to (decide) if those players are good enough to sit out of the intensity and play, which everybody’s different.”

It had the desired effect.

“They loved it. … That was one of our better Tuesdays,” Dillingham said of the players’ response. “I don’t know from like a schematic standpoint how many (missed assignments) and all that stuff, I don’t really care.

“From my perspective, what we’re trying to get cleaned up is the standard of how we practice. Even with vets, even with guys dinged up, we have to reelevate that. And that starts with me, and that’s 100% on me. The reason it’s kind of gone down was by design, but poor design by me. Live and learn, can’t let that happen.”

The increase in intensity was apparent, from the louder cracking of pads to more trash talk. Coaches were also more demonstrative than usual about being on the details.

Catch ASU-Texas Tech at 1 p.m. MST on Saturday on 98.7 and the Arizona Sports app. It will be televised on FOX.

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