DIFFERENT OFFENSE WHEN BELL IS HEALTHY
San Diego State played a football season that took forever and went by quickly, if that’s possible.
The 2020 season was delayed two months, getting a late October reprieve after originally being postponed to the spring.
SDSU (4-4) then played eight games over eight straight weeks — one of fewer than a dozen FBS teams that were able to do that — to complete the truncated regular season.
Is there still a chance for one more game, a postseason appearance that would extend the program’s schoolrecord, 10-year bowl streak?
It’s doubtful, but the Aztecs will hold some hope through the coming week.
Here are three things we learned Saturday from SDSU’s 28-14 loss to BYU at LaVell Edwards Stadium:
1. They missed Greg Bell
There were moments Saturday night where Greg Bell was Greg Bell.
Like when he caught a short pass from Jordon Brookshire on the first play of the second half and turned it into a 28-yard gain.
And followed it with a 22-yard run on the very next play.
Half the field in two touches. Those f lashes of brilliance are what Bell brought to the SDSU offense this season.
Unfortunately, there wasn’t
enough Bell against the Cougars. Just like there wasn’t enough of him during the season.
He had 17 carries for 68 yards against BYU, numbers limited, certainly, by the Achilles injury that has limited him since midseason.
Bell was the bell cow for the Aztecs over the season’s first four games, placing himself among the nation’s rushing leaders, before missing most or all of the next three games.
He injured his right foot being tackled on the first series against Nevada and gamely returned brief ly in the second half after getting treatment.
Then he missed the Colorado game and rushed just once for 4 yards against Colorado State before brief glimpses of himself against BYU.
Still, Bell led the Mountain West in rushing with 637 yards.
Staying healthy would have meant a 1,000-yard season. Would it also have meant another win or two? Could be.
Bell will be tempted now to declare for the 2021 NFL Draft and embark on a professional career.
It says here that he would be better served by sticking around another year, putting together big numbers and dozens of highlights over a full season and really making an impression for NFL scouts to consider.
2. QB leadership
Watching BYU’s Zach Wilson at work leaves the impression that that’s how quarterbacking is supposed to be.
Wilson (25 for 34, 310 yards, 3 TDs) completed nearly 75 percent of his passes against one of the nation’s top defenses.
“He’s going to make some accurate throws,” SDSU safety Dwayne Johnson Jr. said.
“You look at some plays down (late) in the ballgame and they were all on the money. They were timed perfect. Right as the receiver turned his head, the ball was there. That’s just one thing you have to account for.”
Wilson completed short screen passes, medium-range balls over the middle and aired it out on occasion to keep the Aztecs honest.
He bought time with his feet and made good decisions.
He also managed the clock well, taking BYU from its own 32 to the SDSU 33 in just more than a minute to position the Cougars for a 50-yard field goal that provided a 17-14 halftime lead.
In short, he did everything you want a quarterback to do in a productive offense.
It doesn’t seem like a big ask.
3. Kothe can catch
Elijah Kothe came to SDSU from Las Vegas in the summer of 2018.
There were practice observers, this one included, who believed the 6-foot-4 wide receiver had the best hands of anyone to appear on the Mesa in nearly a decade.
Kothe showed toughness, too, like the time he dislocated a finger in practice, disappeared for a few minutes to have it popped back into place and taped up and was back on the field moments later.
Glimpses of Kothe’s ability have been few and far between the past three seasons.
His biggest moment came late in the first quarter against BYU when Kothe caught a 15-yard TD pass from Brookshire.
Running down the right sideline, Kothe cut left in the end zone, then broke back to the ball for a diving catch in front of BYU defensive back Troy Warner. It was one of the more athletic catches you’ll see at this — or any — level.
The catch proves Kothe has the ability to make plays.
He had only seven catches for 111 yards in eight games. That shouldn’t be his season total but his average per game.
Maybe the catch against the Cougars will be the spark Kothe needs for next season.