TAKE IT AWAY
San Jose State, the nation’s leader in turnover differential, aims to turn the tide vs. Nevada
SAN JOSE >> Don’t look now, but the San Jose State Spartans lead the NCAA in turnover differential heading into their sixth game of the season.
After forcing six turnovers against New Mexico last week, the Spartans’ defense will set its sights on a Nevada offense that has thrown the third-most interceptions in the Mountain West Conference.
Looking to get back-to-back conference wins, the Spartans will head to Mackay Stadium in Reno today to take on the Wolf Pack, who have won nine of the last 10 meetings between the two schools.
“This team has given us fits for years,” Spartans coach Brent Brennan said. “We have not won up there since I was in the fourth grade or something. This is going to be a heck of a battle on the road.”
Along with that, here are three ways the Spartans can achieve their fourth win of the season and position themselves as a force in the Mountain West. NEW IDENTITY >> Thinking back to the first game of the season, setting a goal of being No. 25 in the nation in turnover differential was quite modest for San Jose State.
After six weeks, the Spartans are No. 1 in the country in that category, securing 15 takeaways while coughing the ball up themselves just four times. Plus-11 in turnover margin, San Jose State has crafted an identity of attacking the ball and taking it away from opposing offenses.
“Turnovers are the single-most harpedon aspect of our game this year,” Spartans linebacker Rico Tolefree said after Friday’s 31-21 win over the Lobos. “When we come into a game, our No. 1 thing on our mind is to take the ball away. It’s who we are.”
With a fumble recovery and a gamesealing interception, Tolefree’s pair of turnovers led the Spartans to a seasonhigh six-turnover game. It was also their second game with at least five takeaways.
Moving on to Nevada, the Spartans hope that this level of execution will carry over state lines against a Wolf Pack offense that’s thrown seven interceptions to go along with five lost fumbles.
As a whole, Nevada’s offense has struggled at times, throwing for less than 110 yards in two of its five games this season. Meanwhile, the Spartans defense has held opposing offenses to less than 200 yards through the air three times.
In terms of stopping opponents from airing the ball out, San Jose State has excelled and when teams have tested the Spartans’ secondary, more times than not, they have come away with interceptions.
“I think it means we’re on the right path toward doing the job we want to do in the turnover margin,” Brennan said. “The reality is that we have seven games left and there is a lot of football left to be played. So we have to continue to emphasize those things.”
GET THE RUNNING GAME GOING >> While Nevada has been inept at times throwing the ball, its running game has been a staple of the offense.
In fact, in each of their three wins this season, the Wolf Pack has rushed for at least 109 yards, including a 200-yard, three-touchdown performance against Texas-El Paso on Sept. 21.
In San Jose State’s case, however, its running game has been disappointing, failing to reach 100 yards in each of its last two games. This included a 52-yard letdown against New Mexico.
“Everybody, including myself, would like us to be in a better position in terms of our run game,” Brennan said. “We have to be better.”
From a blocking perspective, San Jose State has held up well. The offensive line, comprised of three upperclassmen and a graduate student, has played up to par, dominating the line of scrimmage.
They’ve also done well in pass blocking, keeping starting quarterback Josh Love clean by allowing just seven sacks this season.
According to Brennan, he and the rest of the Spartans coaching staff have carried too much “scheme” into the running game.
This schematic confusion has been a major problem, particularly in the red zone.
“The stakes go up because you’re in scoring position and so that’s the ongoing conversation with us,” Brennan said. “Who’s the best guy for that situation? And what can we do schematically that makes that really clean for us?”
The Spartans’ leading rusher this year has been backup quarterback Nick Nash, who has 232 yards and three touchdowns on 37 carries.
According to Brennnan, the Spartans hope to get the 6-foot-1, 185-pound freshman more involved because of his multidimensional skill set.
“Is that more of conversation about Nick ?’ Brennan said. “Those are all things we’re kicking around, which I’m sure Nevada knows we’re kicking around.” TAKE ADVANTAGE OF A SHAKY NEVADA SECONDARY >> Love has been playing the best football of his career.
With 1,418 yards through five games, the senior signal-caller is on pace to best his single-season passing total of 1,963 yards set in 2018.
After a career night against New Mexico, which earned him a Mountain West Offensive Player of the Week nod for the second time this season, Love is set to face one of the worst secondaries in the Mountain West when he lines up across from Nevada.
This year, Nevada ranks 125th in the FBS in pass-efficiency defense, allowing teams to complete 67.3 percent of the passes they attempt against the Wolf Pack. On top of that, they’ve also given up 17 passing touchdowns the third most in the country.
Part of what’s made Love so dominant passing the ball this year has been the fact that he’s been able to distribute the ball to an array of pass catchers.
Just against New Mexico, Love completed passes to nine different receivers, finishing the game with 405 yards and two touchdowns.
“It’s just throwing to whoever is open,” Love said. “We have guys that are all capable of getting open.”
Love’s favorite target last Saturday was junior wideout Tre Walker, who caught seven passes for 130 yards.
Love and the Spartans passing offense was able to hit several big plays down field, as well, even posting an 80-yard touchdown run as Bailey Gaither, who is coming off of a torn Achilles in 2018, trotted to the house untouched midway through the second quarter.
In order to make up for the deficiencies in their run game, the Spartans will have to take advantage of Nevada’s shaky secondary.
“I think it’s awesome to see all of this stuff come together and I think Josh is playing with confidence,” Brennan said. “He’s seeing the field well and throwing the ball very accurately.”