The Way Too Early SDSU Preview

The fireworks are over, it's getting hot outside, and I'm ready to finally start talking some football. Thus starts the Charlie's Nasties Way Too Early enemy scouting report series. Check back every week or so to read in on our future opponents.

Week 1: The San Diego State Aztecs

While far from the greatest show on turf, the Aztecs of San Diego State put together a fairly respectable offense in 2007. Quarterback Kevin O’Connell impressed the Patriots enough to use a 3rd round pick on him; last year the QB was efficient in moving his team through the air (3000 yards and 15 TDs) and on the ground (over 400 rush yards and 11 TDs). Receivers Chaz Schilens and Brett Swain also brought explosiveness to the Aztec offense before being selected in the 7th round of the NFL Draft, and while running back Lynell Hamilton never heard his name called, he did get picked up in free agency by the New Orleans Saints. Fortunately the Irish won’t have to deal with any of those players (I seriously think that a mobile quarterback with a decent ground game and capable wide receivers could have destroyed us early last year), and additionally, the Aztecs will only return one starter (guard Mike Schmidt) on the offensive line for the 2008 campaign.

Does this sound familiar to anyone yet? Star quarterback and two excellent receivers leave to play at the next level and a very capable running back gets signed as an NFL free agent? The O-line also loses NFL talent (G Brandyn Dombrowski was also signed in free agency) and is projected to start multiple youngsters (C Tommie Draheim, T Kurtis Gunther and T Mike Matamua are all redshirt freshmen)? What’s more, SDSU is still deciding who will be under center; 3 different quarterbacks saw action in the spring game, and no one appeared to seize the job. If Notre Dame, who put up explosive offensive numbers in 2006, was reduced to a national laughing stock on offense after graduating playmakers at virtually every position on offense, what is in store for San Diego State, who only won 4 games last season with all of these future NFL players?

Mr. OptimisticDomer: Awesome! There’s no way we can lose to such a terrible team. That would be great to start the season off with a shutout. I’m going to make reservations for Rocko’s right now so I can be sure to celebrate an easy victory with some pizza pies.
Not so fast, Mr. OptimisticDomer. The Aztecs were never in consideration for a BCS game last year, but they weren’t losing because of their offense. To steal from Sunday Morning Quarterback, the SDSU defense was so terrible last season that words don’t really do it justice. Here is a comparison of San Diego State’s defense among its Mountain West opponents:

U.G.L.Y. you ain’t got no alibi.

Mr. OptomisticDomer: AND their defense is terrible? Forget Rocko’s, I think I’m going to penny up for a tailgating bus to make sure I can really celebrate a good win.
While SDSU graduated a considerable chunk of its offense, the defense will return 8 starters, including linebacker Russell Allen, who lead the team in tackles with 119. Rising sophomore Miles Burris also seems to have a nose for the football, leading the defense in tackles throughout the spring, and even though there really may not be anywhere to go but up, the defensive front looks like it may be considerably better than last year:

Defensive coordinator Bob Elliott is convinced that his strength in the trenches is improved with the development of sophomore DT Ernie Lawson and juniors Peter Nelson and Avery Williams. DE Ryan Williams, a transfer from Ohio State, looked like an immediate contributor as a pass-rushing threat, and head Coach Chuck Long seems particularly excited about the development of the secondary, which returns both Aaron Moore and Vonnie Holmes, each of whom recorded four picks in 2007. In order to jumpstart the development of his young football squad, Long has made sure that his team has been practicing while the rest of the school is partying. It has been rumored that the Aztec squad has been among the hardest working in the country this off season. In fact, they might have been practicing too much, as Long is apparently facing allegations of violating NCAA rules. Any snaps that SDSU earned in this way weren’t made apparent in the school’s annual Red and Black game this spring. The quarterback carousel went 9-24 for just 89 yards, and the starting job has apparently been handed to consensus top 100 recruit (redshirt freshman) Ryan Lindley after his competition succeeded in looking as inexperienced as he did. Talking like a good leader should, Lindley refused to throw his newly earned offense under the bus after their dismal performance:
“I think this year and next year you're going to see this offense get explosive."
Sorry Ryan, but a spring game like the one you had points to the opposite direction of explosiveness. I know. I’ve seen it.

Unlike the Irish of 2007, the Aztecs will have a chance to work out a few kinks in a season opener against Cal-Poly before facing Notre Dame (who is hopefully a more formidable opponent) September 6th. However, after suffering through last year, I can say fairly confidently that any team like San Diego State will likely experience some hefty growing pains early in the season. The young offensive line and green skill players should provide for an entertaining introduction to the warped schemes of John Tenuta, and an improving but still poor defense will allow Clausen and company to get off to a good start offensively. If our new offensive line isn’t able to open up the running game and quarterback pressure forces a few turnovers, this one could be fairly close, but I predict Notre Dame to come out of the gates strong in 2008, taking down San Diego State 31 to 9.

Go ahead and rent your bus.