Notebook: CKD Play-calling Revamp, Conover Ready If Needed, Good News on Injuries

As the Sun Devils look to open conference play this weekend, changes are starting to be made.

After the ASU offense struggled throughout the first three games of the season. A great deal of that can be chalked up to injuries, but head coach Kenny Dillingham also made a change in the play-calling. During Tuesday’s practice, Dillingham took over play-calling duties from offensive coordinator Beau Baldwin, and that could also be the case for Saturday’s game against USC.

Injury Update

Speaking of injuries, Dillingham gave media updates on the following:

Drew Pyne “probably will return” for Saturday’s action
Cade Briggs “small chance” to return this week
Clayton Smith and Trenton Bourguet are “very, very doubtful”
Anthonie Cooper and Jalin Conyers are back

Conover Ready To Go

Arizona State has already played four quarterbacks this year, and Jacob Conover was thrust in a position to finish the game on Saturday after Jaden Rashada, Trenton Bourguet and Drew Pyne were unavailable due to injury. 

It was a learning experience for Conover, who had been getting minimal reps. The Sun Devils will seemingly have Conover and Pyne healthy for Saturday’s matchup, and the former Chandler quarterback will be ready if his name is called.

“Each and every one of us needs to train like we’re the starter,” Conover said. “Each of us are trying to make each other better each and every day and whoever gets their name called on Saturday, they’re going to be ready and the guy behind him will also be ready.”

Conover and ASU running backs coach Shaun Aguano teamed up for three state titles while at Chandler High School, and Aguano went in-depth on what he saw from Conover’s performance against Fresno State and what to expect moving forward.