IT’S DIFFERENT THIS YEAR

New/old head coach, new venue as Aztecs ready for season during pandemic

Brady Hoke replaced Rocky Long in January as San Diego State’s head football coach, his second stint in the job. A new offensive coordinator, Jeff Hecklinski, and a new defensive coordinator, Kurt Mattix, were hired shortly after.

A quarterback competition loomed with SDSU looking to replace graduated starter Ryan Agnew.

If ever there was a football season with questions looking for answers, the 2020 season was it.

Instead, more questions, including one big one: Would there even be a season?

After months of maybe, maybe not, and no, the answer is yes. Although that could always change before kickoff.

Only six spring practices were conducted before cancellation came because of COVID-19.

On-campus workouts resumed in July, although concerns surrounding COVID-19 continued throughout the summer and the 2020 season was postponed in early August.

That decision was reversed last month and closed practices have been conducted ever since.

Oh, and one other thing occurred between then and now. SDSU announced that it will be playing home games in a different place for the first time in 53 years, at a venue located 111 miles north of SDCCU Stadium.

Not that those fans so inclined will be able to watch in person.

We do know that SDSU will endeavor to improve an offense that has ranked among the worst in the nation — 120th in 2018 and 112th in 2019 — the past two years.

“It’s going to be a little bit more wide open, a little bit more spread out, but at the same time being able to run the football,” Hoke said.

Hoke promised that the 3-3-5 defense Long originally installed in 2009, the one that was among the nation’s leaders last year, will remain.

“We’re not going to change the defense,” said Hoke, before adding, “It’s always unique because everybody has their own interpretation and sometimes has their own flair to it and own exotic set that fits in to what we do.”

Here are five things to watch for with the season opener against UNLV just six days away:

1. The offense

The biggest question comes along an offensive line that must replace two starters — Center Keith Ismael left early for the NFL Draft (he was selected in the fifth round by Washington) and left guard Daishawn Dixon graduated — and performed unevenly last season even with their presence.

Practice observers have seen senior Dominic Gudino, the candidate to replace Ismael at center, wearing a wrap on his right hand that extends up his arm for an undisclosed injury, so his availability is uncertain.

An educated guess for the starters on the line: senior left tackle Kyle Spalding, senior left guard Jacob Capra, junior center Alama Uluave, sophomore right guard William Dunkle and senior right guard Zachary Thomas.

Spalding, Dunkle and Thomas

all are returning starters. Capra was a part-time starter last season who is among the team’s most experienced linemen.

If the line performs well, it will certainly make things more manageable for redshirt sophomore Carson Baker, who was named starting quarterback on Thursday.

Baker is surrounded by as much overall talent at the skill positions as the Aztecs have had in perhaps a decade.

SDSU may not have a D.J. Pumphrey or Rashaad Penny in the backfield this season, but talent and depth remain at the position to make the Aztecs’ running game an asset.

It could be even more effective this season now that SDSU has some semblance of a passing game, which is led by returners Kobe Smith (58 catches, 691 yards, 4 TDS) and Jesse Matthews (48-633, 2 TDS).

Keep an eye out for tight end Daniel Bellinger, a 6foot-6 junior with next level talent. Bellinger had 15 receptions for 201 yards and three touchdowns last season.

One of Bellinger’s TDS came from Baker in his collegiate debut last year against BYU.

A taste of things to come?

2. The X Factor

Running back is again one of the deepest positions on the team.

Senior Chase Jasmin (79 carries, 366 yards, 4 TDS) and juniors Chance Bell (89384, 2 TDS), Jordan Byrd (78355, 3 TDS) and Kaegun Williams (30-110) each showed glimpses of promise a year ago.

In fact, Byrd rushed for a game-high 139 yards in the 2019 New Mexico Bowl and can be a game-changer with his breakaway speed.

But the unknown at the position, the intriguing X Factor, is senior Greg Bell.

The 6-foot, 205-pound Bell transferred in a year ago but missed the 2019 season because of a freak eye injury suffered in an off-campus training session before fall camp opened.

Bell originally committed to SDSU out of Bonita Vista High, where he rushed for 2,632 yards, 34 touchdowns in 2015 and led the Barons to the school’s first section championship.

He was a non-qualifier out of high school, went to Arizona Western junior college for two years and then Nebraska, where he started the first three games of the 2018 season for the Cornhuskers.

Bell carried 35 times for 173 yards (4.9 yards/carry) before deciding to return home for family reasons.

Bell has been waiting two years for this moment. Let’s see what he does with it.

3. The defense

The Aztecs should be strong up front, where junior Keshawn Banks and sophomore Cameron Thomas return on the defensive line.

The secondary is talented and experienced as well, with the return of four starters — junior Darren Hall and seniors Dwayne Johnson Jr., Tariq Thompson and Trenton Thompson.

A key loss is graduated cornerback Luq Barcoo, whose nine interceptions last season represented half the team’s total.

The biggest area of uncertainty is at linebacker, where the Aztecs must replace their spirit, their soul, their MVP — Kyahva Tezino.

Hoke said has liked what he’s seen in junior linebacker Seyddrick Lakalaka. Sophomore Michael Shawcroft also bears watching.

It helps that starting linebackers Caden Mcdonald and Andrew Aleki return.

4. Araiza’s dual role

Redshirt sophomore Matt Araiza was perhaps the most accomplished kicker in section history coming out of Rancho Bernardo High.

Araiza lived up to that potential last season, making a school-record 22 field goals (on 26 attempts) while also handling kickoff duties (51 touchbacks in 65 kicks).

Araiza also is a standout punter with a very strong leg, though those duties were handled by Brandon Heicklen last year while Araiza focused on field goals.

Heicklen has graduated and Hoke said Araiza will handle both the kicking and punting responsibilities this season.

Araiza has been booming punts in practice for three years now. It will be interesting to see if his talent gives the Aztecs an edge in that area as well this season.

5. The games

State health guidelines prohibit spectators from attending sporting events.

So Carson’s Dignity Health Sports Park, which may be an excellent venue for viewing a game, will be without fans this season.

In that regard, it will be similar to the previous three seasons with another team from San Diego.

Those Aztecs fans who typically enjoy seeing games in person will have to watch on TV.

The good news is there will be no games on Facebook or some other online streaming service that are frustrating to find.

Most of the team’s games — vs. UNLV (Oct. 24), at Utah State (Oct. 31), vs. San Jose State (Nov. 7), at Nevada (Nov. 21) and vs. Colorado State (Dec. 5) — will be televised on the CBS Sports Network.

The game at Fresno State (Nov. 27) will be on Fox Sports 1. The season finale against BYU (Dec. 12) will be on an ESPN Network.

TV details are still being determined for the game against Hawaii (Nov. 14).

So sit back, relax and stay for the final whistle, knowing there’s no need to beat the crowd to the exits when you’re already home.

HAYNE PALMOUR IV Will the Aztecs players celebrate on the field with no fans in the stands, as they did here after beating BYU last season at home?

K.C. ALFRED U-T San Diego State's Greg Bell could be an X-factor at running back this season with his size and speed.

HAYNE PALMOUR IV The Aztecs' Matt Araiza made 22 of 26 field goals last season. The sophomore will add punting duties this season. The 22 FGS is a single-season school record.