Arizona State’s offense has the pieces necessarily to match its elite level from throughout head coach Todd Graham’s tenure.

But until the team takes the field for its season opener on Sept. 3 against NAU, that’s all they are – pieces.

The quarterback situation remains unsolved, even as injury and youth have appeared to remove Bryce Perkins and Dillon Sterling-Cole from the situation. The running back duo of Demario Richard and Kalen Ballage should be one of the Pac-12’s best, but they will have to run behind an offensive line that will be replacing four of its five starters. The receiving corps introduces new, young pieces to pair with Tim White and a now-healthy Cam Smith, but the productivity simply hasn’t been there yet off the practice field.

The team had its first scrimmage on Saturday at Sun Devil Stadium, conducting media days shortly after. So what questions remain?

A new face

Chip Lindsey will be beginning his first full season as offensive coordinator after being hired to replace Mike Norvell (who took the head coaching job at Memphis). Lindsey, who produced one of the nation’s most productive offenses during his time at Southern Miss, has been well-known for his aggressiveness. His Golden Eagles teams frequently went for it on fourth down, challenged defenses in early downs and was never afraid to go into the bag of tricks.

Even with two new quarterbacks – redshirt sophomore Manny Wilkins and redshirt freshman Brady White – competing for time next to a brand-new offensive line and rebuilt receiving corps, don’t expect that to change.

“We try to make it simple as we can where it’s not really complicated,” Lindsey said of his system, which patterns a lot of what Norvell brought and was inspired by Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn. “That’s something that I pride myself on, something where I can let these guys play and use their ability and not have to be frozen by thinking too much.”

Redshirt senior receiver Tim White said the team has gone “full throttle” during the first couple weeks of fall camp, something he got a brief taste of when Lindsey made his debut with the team and called plays for the team’s appearance in the Cactus Bowl – a rarity for a new hire. The noted “quarterback guru” also quickly got to work with developing his quarterback group, finding a trust that allows him to challenge them with his scheme.

“Being the quarterback and knowing that your [offensive coordinator] and your quarterback coach has a lot of trust in you is a great feeling,” Brady White said. “You’ve got to have that great connection with that guy who’s putting you on the field, or you’re second-guess yourself and he can’t trust you.”

The battle continues

The season opens for the Sun Devils on Sept. 3, but that doesn’t mean that’s the deadline to make a decision as to who is starting at quarterback.

“We won’t make a decision on the quarterback until we play,” Lindsey said. “We’re not in any hurry. We’re going to make sure we get the right guy. It’s very important that whoever we pick as our quarterback can lead our team.”

Lindsey added that he’s confident that both Wilkins and White can lead this team to a successful season, even by possibly having the two play together in games and see who stands out there.

“I would never rule out anything,” he said. “I think they’re both very capable. Obviously, we don’t want to tip our hand on what we’re going to do, but you never rule out anything, for sure.”

Both quarterbacks said Saturday they would be open to the idea, but until then will have to continue the ongoing evaluation progress. Wilkins said the battle has remained competitive, removing itself from any potential distractions.

“Even though it’s a quarterback battle or whatever, it’s not a battle in our minds or in that film room,” Wilkins said. “We’re not bickering or any of that. We’re just working together to work hard.”

The Sun Devils have just one player returning who has thrown a collegiate pass – punter Matt Haack – so they’ll have to see what happens when the two competitors work on live reps.

“There’s a lot of bodies out in front of you, big bodies too,” White said. “You’ve got to see different things, know where to put the ball in different situations and I think that was just the biggest focus for myself coming out of spring. It’s situational football – knowing when it’s this situation or they’re bringing this type of pressure, where to spin it or where to deal it.”

The two each took snaps in the team’s scrimmage Saturday, with Wilkins tossing a pair of touchdowns and White throwing one of his own.

Building a backfield

Richard and Ballage return as one of the best one-two punches in the conference after combining for 1,757 yards on the ground last season, and should only continue to take a step up as the running game will likely take a larger precedent in Lindsey’s offense.

“Doesn’t matter where I’ve been, we’ve tried [to run the ball],” he said. “How much? I don’t know. It depends on the game and the game flow, and so forth. We’ve got two really good running backs that we feel great about, so we definitely want to get those guys touches and make sure that they’re part of the game plan.”

Richard has quickly assumed the role as one of the vocal leaders on the team, as he and Ballage could very well carry the ASU offense if the two remain healthy. Behind them are a pair of young, unproven backs in redshirt freshmen Nick Ralston and Jason Lewis, each of which has made an impression on Lindsey.

“Nick [Ralston] had a great spring, first of all, and he’s topped it off with a pretty good fall camp thus far,” he said. “His development and the development of Jason Lewis is important for us because in this league you’re going to have some times when you need a third or fourth guy to take some reps.”

Young receivers

Tim White was electrifying in his first season as a Sun Devil last year (57 catches, 633 yards, eight touchdowns), and will finally get a chance to pair up with Cam Smith after the latter missed all of last season with a knee injury. What’s behind them, however, remains unknown.

Redshirt sophomore Jalen Harvey has been impressive when healthy but suffered a broken collarbone during Camp Tontozona last season that knocked him out for most of the year and a leg injury that has limited him in fall camp. Redshirt junior Ellis Jefferson and redshirt senior Fred Gammage have always excelled on the practice field but have yet to put things together consistently in a game setting.

The group has also brought together an impressive group of young freshmen trying to avoid a redshirt, the most notable for the group being a local 5-star stud prospect N’Keal Harry. Harry, despite having some minor injury knocks, has been as advertised for the Sun Devils and showed up to fall camp impressing physically.

Numerous teammates noted Harry’s physical nature, particularly in blocking schemes and also while serving as a large target for his quarterback. Fellow freshman, Kyle Williams has also turned it on of late, flashing a dual ability as an explosive receiver and a strong kick returner.

“It’s not just N’Keal,” Lindsey said. “I think that whole unit has been good. Kyle Williams, Jeremy Smith have been impressive. Frank Darby’s been impressive. I like that group. I think we’re going to be better down the road, for sure.”

Tim White said he’s been impressed with the group, which could need as much help as it can get as far as providing consistent targets in the passing game.

“We’ve been extremely explosive in practice,” he said. “We’ve been taking the defensive backs up top, going down low and just are competing with each other. Coach Lindsey is getting used to us, and our timing with the quarterbacks is just improving with every single day that we’re out there. Any chance we get to go out there and go work, we just know we have to go full speed.”

The tight end position is also beginning to take form, with a top three – Kody Kohl, Raymond Epps, and Jay Jay Wilson – emerging above impressive youngsters such as Tommy Hudson and Jared Bubak. Wilson is the most athletic of the bunch – an ideal fit for the “H-back” spot that is critical in Lindsey’s scheme, and has been reliant on the senior presence of Kohl this fall camp.

“You’re looking for [Kody] to provide a lot of leadership as a senior that’s played a lot,” Lindsey said. “Raymond Epps is really talented, and so is Jay jay so I really like what I have in those three guys.”

Protection

The offensive line has just one returning starter – redshirt senior left tackle Evan Goodman – from a group that last year had several problems of its own. However, it seems like a starting line is starting to take shape with Goodman, Sam Jones, Stephon McCray, Quinn Bailey and Zach Robertson. It’s an athletic bunch, which should help the versatile Sun Devils as they try to maintain tempo.

“Those guys were all playing basketball and stuff in high school,” Wilkins said. “They’ve got hips, and they can move when they need to move. They’re super long on the outside, and they’re looking really good.”

The second unit is flashing the line’s youth, with freshmen Cohl Cabral and Alex Losoya working their way into the two-deep. Cabral, a 6-foot-5, 286-pound center, was quick to make an impression on Lindsey.

“He’s impressive physically,” Lindsey said. “Very mature for a freshman. You wouldn’t walk in and think, ‘Well, he’s an 18-year-old freshman.’ He carries himself with confidence, but not arrogance. It’s a big adjustment to play offensive line in Division I football right out of high school. I think his future is very bright, and he’s shown some flashes.”