Arizona State on Tuesday returned to practice to continue preparations for Texas Tech. Saturday marks their first road contest of the season.

The Sun Devils might have a few changes in store.

On the offensive line

For the first two weeks, ASU has lined up like this:

LT Cohl Cabral

LG Sam Jones

C A.J. McCollum

RG Steven Miller

RT Quinn Bailey

On Tuesday, the first team looked like this:

LT Zach Robertson

LG Jones

C Cabral

RG Miller

RT Bailey

McCollum was bumped to the second team. 

A word of caution: This is just how the Sun Devils lined up during the media-viewing period, which lasts about 30 minutes. They did something similar last Tuesday, but returned to their normal starting five as the week progressed. In fact, Cabral said putting him at center was just to get him experience in case something happens to McCollum (an injury or if his helmet were to pop off and he had to come out, etc.,) during a game. So please keep that in mind. However, given ASU’s struggles to run the ball, change would make sense, and it seems line coach Rob Sale has been itching to give Robertson a chance.

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“There’s lots of things we can do, especially fundamentally,” Graham said about improving the run game. “Making sure we don’t have mental errors. We have good players. That’s not the issue. We just got to get them playing better fundamentally and make sure we eliminate the errors.”

Entering Saturday’s contest, ASU ranks last in the Pac-12 in rushing offense at 61.5 yards per game.

On defense

For the most part, ASU’s first-team remained the same except for one change: Junior Demonte King lined up in place of junior Dasmond Tautalatasi at down (strong) safety. 

King is a 6-1, 193-pound junior-college transfer. A shoulder injury limited him all of preseason practice and kept him out of ASU’s first two contests. Defensive coordinator Phil Bennett, however, consistently has referred to King as a potential starter. “A plus,” he called him. King last season teamed with sophomore cornerback Kobe Williams at Long Beach City College.

Since King has not yet played, it might be risky to start him against pass-happy Texas Tech, but coaches may think the safety is ready. We’ll have to see how that turns out.

I did not see Tautalatasi at practice.

Observations

– Sophomore Michael Sleep-Dalton was back to punting with his right (dominant) foot. For the past two weeks, Sleep-Dalton had punted with his left because of a minor issue with his right. This is something he has done throughout his career. Sleep-Dalton did fine in Week 1, but struggled in Week 2. Graham suggested Monday that if Sleep-Dalton’s right leg wasn’t better, ASU might have to go to Option B.

– After suffering a leg injury in last Saturday’s loss, sophomore John Humphrey was restricted at practice, but he actually moved OK. Graham says the receiver is questionable for Saturday.

Up next

Who: ASU (1-1) at Texas Tech (1-0).

When: Saturday at 5 p.m.

TV: FSAZ Plus.

Radio: 620 AM.