San Diego Union-Tribune (Sunday)
AZTECS SCRIMMAGE: BRIGHT SPOTS, BLEMISHES
Athleticism of top two quarterbacks among positives
Football scrimmages simulate game conditions, but coaches also toss in a few wrinkles to expose weaknesses or bring issues of concern to the forefront.
That explains San Diego State head coach Brady Hoke’s unusual request of game officials before Saturday’s scrimmage at the SDSU practice field.
“We had officials out last week and they didn’t throw a flag,” Hoke said. “So I told them today, ‘You’ve got to help us because, if not, we’ll make bad decisions and dumb penalties (during the season).’
“I think they wanted to throw more flags because I asked them to.”
There were more than a dozen penalties during the midday workout. And that’s a good thing. For now.
It’s an opportunity to learn from mistakes and clean them up before the Aztecs open the season Sept. 3 against Arizona.
Among the positives evident in the scrimmage was the athleticism of SDSU’S top two quarterbacks — graduate transfer Braxton Burmeister and redshirt freshman Will Haskell, who is backing up Burmeister.
Both possess an elusiveness that extends plays and the speed to pick up positive yardage with the ball when other options don’t present themselves.
“Braxton’s got that ability to make you miss and do those kind of things,” Hoke said. “Will does, too. I think Will is trying to be a real, not a pro style quarterback, but he’s working on that craft and knowing what we’re doing.”
The QBS were most productive during red zone work. Burmeister reached the end zone on 20- and 10yard runs up the middle. He also connected with wide receiver Tyrell Shavers in the right corner of the end zone for a 20-yard score.
Haskell reached the end zone on a short keeper up the middle. His most notable completions were earlier, connecting on a pair of 30plus-yard passes to wide receivers Mekhi Shaw and
Brionne Penny.
The catch by 6-foot-3 Penny was particularly impressive. It was contested by cornerback Noah Tumblin, with Penny getting last-second separation and reaching high for the sideline grab.
“He made a nice catch, but there were a couple others that we’ve got to (make),” Hoke said.
Like a flat-out drop on a short inside route early in the scrimmage.
Penny, who had an outstanding spring game, has shown glimpses of becoming a play-maker, but he needs to establish consistency. “No doubt,” Hoke said. It is especially critical now for Penny, among others, to step up and join Jesse Matthews and Shavers as receivers the Aztecs can count on this season.
That’s because senior TJ Sullivan (Mt. Carmel High) could be out for a significant time — if not the season — with a serious right knee injury suffered during practice earlier in the week.
Sullivan moved into a starting role during spring practice and appeared poised to make an impact this fall. And now?
“We’re going to get an MRI and see what’s going on,” Hoke said. “Hoping it’s not the worst, but I don’t know how confident we are. It might be worse than we thought.”
True freshmen Liu Aumavae and Kyle Crum, who were the third and fourth QBS behind center, respectively, also had an opportunity, though their snaps were more limited and not nearly as noteworthy.
Operating behind secondand third-string lines didn’t help. Aumavae, in particular, was the victim of a couple of poor snaps.
SDSU’S offensive line from tackle to tackle to open the scrimmage included junior Brandon Crenshawdickson, sophomore transfer Cade Bennett, senior Alama Uluave and redshirt freshmen Ross Ulugalumaseuli and Josh Simmons.
Most notable was Crenshaw-dickson’s move from right to left tackle, although Hoke didn’t make too much of the change: “We’re just trying to find the best combination for what’s going to work. We’ve got a handful of guys in there that we think are pretty good athletes and can be pretty good players.
“The big thing is getting that right group together.”
Other observations
Any struggles the O-line had could also be attributed to going against a defense that again figures to be among the best in the Mountain West, if not the country.
Those who made plays in the backfield included linebackers Dominic Oliver, Cooper Mcdonald and DJ Herman.
• Asked for first impressions as he came off the field, Hoke noted the efforts of senior defensive lineman
Daniel Okpoko.
“He’s a lot better than he was coming out of the spring,” said Hoke, adding, “One guy I’m always pretty excited about is (transfer tight end) Mark Redman, and (transfer) Mcdonald. Those guys both make us a better football team.”
• Junior safety Kyron White was on the field with a huge protective wrap — Hoke called it a “lollipop” — covering his right hand.
It’s the product of another practice injury, White breaking a finger below the lowest knuckle on his hand.
• Backup punter Zechariah Ramirez, a freshman from Upland, got off the biggest boot of the day with a 65-yarder.
• Established starters, like defensive linemen Keshawn Banks and Jonah and Justus Tavai, saw limited, if any, action to lessen the chance for injury.
Similarly, when the team scrimmages next Saturday at Snapdragon Stadium, Hoke estimated it will be “1015 plays for the veterans.”
• Late in the scrimmage,
Jalen Mayden — who moved from QB to safety in the spring — picked off a tipped pass by Haskell near the goal line and went the distance with the interception.
Mayden actually was chased down by Burmeister, who came off the sideline to try and make a play.
The officials needed to throw a flag on that one.