TEMPE, Ariz. -- With just two practices and the spring game before ASU football breaks for the summer, coach Todd Graham expressed a need Saturday for some separation in the three-man race for the starting quarterback job.
"All spring, nobody's really separated themselves," Graham said. "We can't practice all fall camp with three different guys (running the first-team offense). You can't get any symmetry about what you're doing, you can't get any rhythm about what you're doing."
ASU held its second intrasquad scrimmage of the spring at Sun Devil Stadium on Saturday morning and continued splitting repetitions equally between sophomore Mike Bercovici, redshirt sophomore Taylor Kelly and redshirt freshman Michael Eubank.
Graham said he didn't expect a leader to have emerged by this point, given the limited amount of practice time the team has had while learning a new offense, but would now like to see someone take hold of the race.
"We've got to give them all the opportunity, but it is difficult to (use) that many guys," Graham said. "The way we've done it, we planned it that way, but we've waited for somebody to say, 'OK, this is the guy. He's pushed into the front.'"
In Saturday's scrimmage, Eubank stood out a bit from the rest. In regulation quarters, Eubank threw three touchdowns and rushed for roughly 80 yards, displaying a mobility that could prove key in Graham's system.
"Eubank has really showed some signs of doing some great things," Graham said.
Eubank did struggle a bit passing, though, completing only a handful of passes and throwing two interceptions. He also threw in front of or behind receivers on multiple occasions. Despite the interceptions, Eubank was able to move the ball down the field more consistently than either Bercovici or Kelly.
Kelly may have displayed the most passing prowess on the day, as he connected for a touchdown in regulation and two in simulated overtime situations, but Graham wants to see more from him.
"Taylor's been consistent, but we want him to make bigger plays," Graham said. "I think we threw the ball down the field twice today."
Bercovici, meanwhile, was a little spottier. He made a few long passes and at one point early on completed six straight passes in a drive, but later struggled completing passes and converting third downs. Bercovici looked perhaps best in overtime, throwing two touchdowns, and also displayed decent mobility through the whole game.
"I've really been working on running the ball," Bercovici said. "I don't have a lot of experience running the ball, so sometimes I hesitate"
Graham and his staff aren't putting too much stock in the spring results from quarterbacks, as it's been difficult for each to develop a rhythm with so much switching. Still, Graham would like to achieve more clarity as spring practice winds down. He also said he could see a situation where he would use some combination of two quarterbacks.
"We're a long way from being game ready, I can tell you that," Graham said. "That's the reality of it, so we've got a lot of work to do, but I'm pleased with where their progression's at."
DEFENSE DOMINATES
While there was plenty of scoring in Saturday's scrimmage, Graham spoke glowingly of his defense afterward, saying it won the day.
"Last Saturday our scrimmage was dominated by the offense," Graham said. "Today our defense dominated. That's a good sign."
Cornerbacks Osahon Irabor and Deveron Carr both hauled in interceptions, while Anthony Jones and another unspecified player forced fumbles. Carr recovered one of the fumbles. The defense also forced three turnovers on downs and limited a number of early drives to field goals.
There was also significant pressure on the quarterbacks, as both junior defensive end Gannon Conway and sophomore end Jordan McDonald recorded sacks. Graham was pleased with the defensive performance but seems to want more consistency out of the group.
"We just can’t be up and down," Graham said. "That's what I keep talking to these guys about, but it was good today. I thought the defense really dominated and did some great things."
PENALTIES A PROBLEM BUT IMPROVING
ASU committed 12 penalties in the scrimmage, which was officiated, and afterward Graham stressed again that limiting penalties is a top priority.
"We're working hard on that," Graham said. "That's something we chart every day, focus on every day. It's something that's a No. 1 goal."
Graham wasn't happy with the high number of penalties Saturday but wasn't overly upset either because, he said, all but one or two were procedural type penalties -- illegal formations, delay of game, etc. -- rather than 15-yard penalties. Still, he'd like even those to be fewer and said after each game this season he will use penalties as a barometer of discipline.
"Every Sunday when I come in, (penalties are) the only thing I'll talk to our guys about," Graham said. "I'll say we had this many penalties for this many yards. And that's a direct measurement of what our discipline is as a football team. We're not going to tolerate penalties."
NOTES
Sophomore place kicker Alex Garoutte made three of four field goals in regulation, from distances of 42 yards, 32 yards and 28 yards. His lone miss came from 35 yards. He was also 2 for 3 on PATs. … ASU practiced without running backs Cameron Marshall (ankle) and Kyle Middlebrooks (shoulder). Graham said he'll use James Morrison and Deantre Lewis carefully in next week's spring game to avoid a further depth loss. … Recent 2013 commitment Nick Brown from Florence High School was in attendance for the scrimmage, as were a number of other recruits for a "Grilling with Graham" event.
