Spartans going for bounceback victory
Spartan pride is at its peak. From banners hanging on the buildings to a parade on campus, homecoming is here for San Jose State.
Coming off what coach Brent Brennan called one the most heartbreaking losses of his career at San Jose State, his Spartans will look to create reason for celebration when San Diego State comes to town.
The Spartans are undefeated after losses this year, but they’ll face one of the stoutest defensive forces in the Mountain West tonight at CEFCU Stadium.
“I really think this is the best football team we’ve faced all year,” Brennan said of the Aztecs.
Here are three things to watch for when the Spartans take on SDSU: STRONG REBOUNDING >> After a 75-yard Nevada touchdown on the first play of the second half last week, San Jose State found itself down 21 points. The Spartans clawed back to tie the game at 38, but hopes for a win were snuffed out by a 40-yard Wolf Pack field goal as time expired.
“Nevada was a disappointing loss for us. I’m proud of the team and how they fought back,” Brennan said. “We didn’t make the plays that we needed to make to give us a chance to win it.”
The Spartans have shown a penchant for turning around after losses in 2019.
Their 31-24 upset win over Arkansas came after losing to Tulsa, and they rebounded from a loss to Air Force to beat New Mexico.
In each of those wins, the Spartans threw for over 400 yards while completing over 65 percent of their passes. On the other side of the ball, San Jose State has held teams to a sub-60 percent completion percentage while limiting passing offenses to just 258 yards through the air on average.
It’s this ability to bounce back after losses that gives San Jose State a chance to stand up against San Diego State and hand the Aztecs their second loss of 2019. AZTEC DEFENSE A PROBLEM >> Something that may derail San Jose State’s quest for a homecoming win is the SDSU defense, which ranks No. 1 in the Mountain West
Conference in points allowed per game (13.2). Boise State is second, more than six points behind the stout Aztec defense.
“Coach (Rocky) Long has built an incredible program there over time and year in and year out, they’re one of the most fundamentally sound defenses,” Brennan said.
San Diego State uses a 3-3-5 defense, which is atypical in the college football landscape. With three down linemen, three linebackers and five defensive backs, the Aztecs throw a curveball at most teams.
Long frequently morphs that defense, sliding a linebacker up to the line of scrimmage and moving a safety up, creating a typical seven-man box, but with unique personnel.
It’s this approach that’s allowed the Aztecs to keep teams to 64 rushing yards per game on average this year, which leads the MWC.
San Jose State is the worst rushing team in the conference, averaging 90.7 yards per game.
KEEP AIRING THE BALL OUT >> Perhaps the one weakness in San Diego State’s defense has been its inability to stop the pass. Allowing 206 yards per game through the air, the Aztecs rank fifth in the conference.
The Spartans’ passing offense is No. 2 in the Mountain West, averaging 326 yards and two touchdowns per game.
Leading this charge has been quarterback Josh Love, who is in the midst of his best season as a Spartan.
“I think Josh has had the benefit of seeing a lot in his time as a quarterback and I think that helps him make good decisions and go to the right places with the ball,” Brennan said.
With 1,832 yards through six games, Love has a chance to double his highest single-season output of 1,963 yards in 2018. But as Brennan mentioned, his ability to distribute the ball to an array of receivers has made life hard for opposing defenses.
Love’s favorite target has been junior Tre Walker, who has 31 catches for 447 yards through four games.