The weight on Vontaze Burfict’s shoulders just got a little heavier.
While fans may have attended ASU’s scrimmage with optimism about the upcoming season, they probably left with a bit of doubt after seeing linebacker Brandon Magee being carted off the field.
According to head coach Dennis Erickson, Magee has torn his Achilles tendon and will miss the 2011 football season.
“I feel extremely bad for him,” Erickson said. “This is damaging to our football team, but we will find out what we are all about.”
The loss of Magee hurts the Sun Devils a little bit more because the defense is already entering the season without Omar Bolden, who tore his ACL, at cornerback.
“Him and Omar were our two leaders,” Erickson said of Magee. “Now some other guys are going to have to step up on defense.”
While the injuries are certainly discouraging for the Sun Devils and their fans, Erickson acknowledges they are part of the game and are simply unavoidable.
“You have those injuries, that’s football,” Erickson said. “The only way I know how not to get injured is just not practice, and that’s difficult.”
Despite Magee’s injury, the defense got the better of the offense in the scrimmage.
Erickson was pleased with his defense’s ability to force turnovers and create big plays, but the coach was not as happy with his starting offense.
“I was very disappointed in their performance,” Erickson said. “They were not very good, that’s the easiest way to put it. I don’t think Brock (Osweiler) had the greatest day of his career by any means.”
Erickson was not the only one disappointed in Osweiler’s performance as the quarterback himself was not pleased.
“I wasn’t very happy with it, but at the same time it’s just one day,” Osweiler said.
While Osweiler’s struggles are the most notable, none of the quarterbacks were entirely impressive as freshman Mike Bercovici was the only quarterback to not throw an interception.
Notes:
Gerell Robinson tweaked his MCL early in the scrimmage and did not return. While Robinson was walking with a noticeable limp, Erickson did not seem concerned and indicated that Robinson will be ready to go in the near future.