Upcoming Pac-12 games will be big tests for Spartans
The next two weeks will rain Cougars and Ducks on the Spartans.
They visit two energized Pac-12 teams who feasted on their Week 1 opponents.
The Spartans play at Washington State today, which beat Wyoming and its top-ranked defense 41-19. Graduate transfer quarterback Gardner Minshew erased any doubts of his ability to command the passing attack, racking up 319 yards and three touchdowns.
Washington State is a 35-point favorite and will expect to gorge on SJSU’s defense if it can’t pressure Minshew enough or hold back the Cougars’ run game.
The following week the Spartans are in Eugene to play 23rdranked Oregon, which easily overcame Bowling Green 58-24 last week. Ducks offensive coordinator Marcus Arroyo is a former Spartans quarterback and was among the head coach candidates for SJSU before Brent Brennan won the job. The consolation for the Spartans will be the $1.6 million payday to play the Ducks.
THE EXPERIENCE FACTOR >> In what is expected to be two more Spartans losses can also be a learning experience.
While visiting Pullman and Eugene, the Spartans will experience the commitment to football they dream of — great facilities, great support and great football communities that are difficult to emulate in a decentralized location such as San Jose.
Success is a two-way street from what we see with the product on the field and the behind-the-scenes forces that can shape a program … or not.
COACHING STAFF’S BIG TEST >> One of the disturbing takeaways from the UC Davis loss was Brennan’s admission that SJSU was outcoached by Dan Hawkins’ staff.
Davis’ quick perimeter attack gives an advantage to a capable quarterback who can read the defense, but when Spartans defensive coordinator Derrick Odum stacked the box and got creative
with his linebackers, SJSU slowed and stalled the Aggies to help get back in the game.
As any Pac-12 game is a guaranteed high-caliber test, the Spartans’ play-calling and scheming must be on-point — but can it? A big theme for the Spartans is to be creative, not vanilla — meaning, however they can keep them off-balance and guessing, do it as much as possible, because man-toman, SJSU is overmatched.
QB PLAY IS HUGE >> Montel Aaron is the only hope the Spartans have for a positive season.
Based on Aaron’s play last year and last week, he’s the only productive quarterback in the corral. So, the offensive line better be in secret service protection mode for Aaron, because if he gets hurt, the season is lost.
Aaron will also keep the offense on the field longer and he’ll get the ball more to tight end Josh Oliver and wide receiver Bailey Gaither. Gaither had eight catches for 137 yards and two touchdowns against Davis, and could have produced more if Aaron had been in the game earlier.
Success is predicated on Aaron’s production — especially, for the Spartans’ defense.
A good showing by Aaron against the Cougars and the Ducks, even in losses, will be a good sign for the Spartans come Mountain West play. A great showing by Aaron, even in losses, will mean the Spartans were competitive, which is all anyone can expect as a positive sign right now.