Kenny Dillingham came away from Arizona State’s Aug. 22 scrimmage at Mountain America Stadium with a mixed verdict on Arizona State Sun Devils football: there were encouraging rushing drives, but the defense produced only one takeaway and the offensive tackles still need to improve in pass protection.
With the Sept. 5 season opener against Morgan State now less than two weeks away, the scrimmage offered a useful late-August snapshot of where the Sun Devils stand. Special teams jobs are still being sorted out, the defensive front is looking for more depth, and the protection issues on offense remain one of the clearest questions heading into opening week.
Dillingham sees the positives, but wants more
The most obvious positive came late, when Dillingham said the offense put together really good rushing drives in the final 30 minutes. He also pointed to an “unbelievable interception” early in the scrimmage, but stressed that the defense still finished with only one takeaway.
That is the balance Dillingham keeps coming back to. Arizona State has repeatedly moved the ball, and the defense has generally limited big plays, but the coach made it clear the group still needs more disruption. “I’d like to see more takeaways created by the defense,” he said, even while praising the way the offense kept working.
His wider read was familiar too. “It was like the first scrimmage, very, very similar again,” Dillingham said. “Offense moves the ball. Defense doesn’t allow big plays. The difference tonight was the offense hit a couple of big plays.”
Shanklin and Winston lead the pass rush
If there was a defensive takeaway from the night, it came from the edge. Joshua Shanklin and Emar'rion Winston each had two sacks, with the pair giving Arizona State a clear reminder that the pass rush can still create game-changing moments.
That matters because Dillingham had already moved defensive end Clayton Smith to the pass-rush position earlier in the week to create more competition. With Nigel Pringle ruled out for the season after suffering a season-ending injury a week earlier in a scrimmage at Camp Tontozona, the Sun Devils are still working through their depth.
Dillingham did not hide the fact that the defense is still a work in progress. “Right now that’s not good,” he said when discussing the takeaways, though he added that it is part of the way the defense plays.
Special teams battles remain open
Arizona State also got evidence that the kicking and punting jobs are far from settled. Carson Smith and Carston Kieffer each made 52-yard field goals, while Dillingham said the special teams battles have been “awesome.”
The punting competition also appears alive. Dillingham said both of his punters are kicking better, and the staff will keep evaluating those jobs before the opener.
Those are the kinds of details that matter in late August. A 52-yard field goal, a strong punt battle, and field-position gains can all shape a game, especially when a team is still defining its depth and roles.
Big plays still arrive on offense
The biggest offensive moment belonged to Grayson Rigdon, who caught an 80-yard scoring pass from Mikey Keene. It was another reminder that Arizona State can still produce explosives even while the coach is asking for better protection up front.
That is the main tension for the Sun Devils now. The offense has shown it can move the ball, and the defense has shown it can make plays, but the pass protection and turnover production still need to sharpen before Morgan State arrives on Sept. 5.
For Dillingham, the message from the scrimmage was simple enough: the foundation is there, but the final pieces are still being tested. The next two weeks will decide whether Arizona State can turn that into a clean start.
