TEMPE — Mistakes happen in football.
Every ball carrier has likely seen an example of a ball being dropped right before a touchdown, yet the play still seems to happen every year or two, as it did with Arizona Cardinals running back Emari Demercado on Sunday.
Arizona State nearly had the same thing happen during its win over Texas State, when Raleek Brown broke off a 75-yard touchdown run, dropping the ball just after crossing the plane.
“I ran over there and grabbed him and tried to coach it up,” ASU coach Kenny Dillingham said on Monday.
The coach said ASU spends 10-15 minutes each Friday honing in on situational plays by showing examples that don’t usually happen but are still important to prepare for.
The Demercado play is one example. Dillingham included catching a kickoff with one foot out of bounds to get the ball at the 35 and what to do if a kickoff is muffed then rolls out of the end zone as two others.
He has previously cited Larry Fitzgerald quickly handing the ball to an official during a two-minute drill as another example.
“We try to go through every scenario possible so our guys are prepared, but at the end of the day, craziness happens,” Dillingham said. “That’s part of it.”
He said it’s been tough to see Jonathan Gannon and the Cardinals drop the consecutive walk-off losses in part because of the relationship they’ve developed.
Dillingham spent time with the Cardinals each of the past two offseasons, most recently seeking out potential edges in how to structure practices.
“They’re three plays away from being undefeated,” Dillingham said. “Sometimes you get lost in the result, but coach Gannon’s phenomenal. They’re very close, and to have that play, that’s an unfortunate play.”