San Diego Union-Tribune (Sunday)
OFFENSIVE QUESTIONS BRING ZING TO SPRING
Identifying Mayden’s targets one of issues facing SDSU football
A year ago, San Diego State couldn’t wait to return to the practice field and learn how it would follow up a school-record 12-win season.
The Aztecs are again eager for spring practices, which begin Monday afternoon. In this case, they want to put a 7-6 season behind them.
“It was disappointing to say the least, but I think we learned a lot through some adversity,” SDSU coach Brady Hoke said. “We have to have a good spring. We’ve got to identify our playmakers, identify the guys who are going to play with great discipline and toughness.”
Here are five things to watch over the next five weeks of spring practice:
1. Evolving offense
SDSU fans thirsting for a 21st-century passing game could expect just that with new offensive coordinator Ryan Lindley.
Except for one thing. SDSU lost two of its primary playmakers with the graduation of senior wide receivers Jesse Matthews and Tyrell Shavers.
Indications are the Aztecs will get their tight ends and running backs more involved in the offense, which will be led by quarterback Jalen Mayden.
The Aztecs also graduated starting running backs Jordan Byrd and Chance Bell, though depth remains in the running backs room.
Lindley will be tasked with finding ways to get the ball to speedy Kenan Christon out in space.
Redshirt freshmen Lucky Sutton and Sheldon Canley II and sophomore Cam Davis are next up in the backfield.
Senior tight ends Mark Redman and Jay Rudolph also can expect more targets.
Former walk-on wide receiver Mekhi Shaw has more receptions (29) and touchdowns (2) than all the other returning receivers combined.
Senior Brionne Penny, who had his moments last season, is among those expected to step up.
One question will be whether highly regarded redshirt freshman Hassan Mahasin can make his mark.
Mahasin spent last season recovering from a high school knee injury.
Junior transfer Raphael Williams Jr. (Western Carolina) is a newcomer to watch.
Lindley will go where the talent takes him, so a true sense of his play-calling preferences may not be apparent this season. Of course, that may give fans a better sense of his creativity.
2. About that O-line
Offensive success will hinge on an O-line that was expected to come into its own as it gained experience last season, but remained inconsistent throughout the year.
Expectations are similar this year, though tempered by last season’s ups and downs.
SDSU lost its best player on the line — center Alama Uluave — to graduation. Then came the unexpected announcement from starting right tackle Josh Simmons two weeks ago that he was entering the transfer portal.
Simmons was the most penalized player on the line last year, but he was viewed with substantial upside.
Senior left tackle Brandon Crenshaw-dickson and junior left guard Cade Bennett both return. So do junior Thomas Mirabella and sophomore Ross Ulugalumoseuli, who split starts at right guard last season.
Junior Dean Abdullah, who started three games last season, is the leading candidate to replace Uluave at center.
Junior Joey Wright and sophomore Christian Jones will be bidding for playing time after getting backup reps all season.
Junior Kyle Stanback, a JC transfer from Ventura College, has been added to the mix. If nothing else, most of Stanback’s linemates will look up to him. He’s 6-foot-7.
Potential depth has been diminished with the departure of juniors Jonathan Harrison and Kyle Trombley. Their culling from the roster has not been explained, though Trombley never came back from a foot injury that sidelined him all last season.
3. Getting to know you
In addition to Lindley’s new role, there are three other new assistant coaches on the staff. Ron Gould will coach running backs, while Jonathan Krause will handle wide receivers and Bojay Filimoeatu will be in charge of the defensive line.
All three were hired within the past month, giving them time for little more than a meet and greet so far.
How players respond to personality differences between their former position coaches and their new ones will be interesting to watch.
A fresh approach — whether it’s drills or concepts — can be invigorating. It also can provide opportunities for pigeonholed players to make a second first impression.
Gould, who was also given the title of associate head coach, is the most experienced of the new coaches. In addition to 24 years of Power Five experience as an assistant (at Stanford, Cal and Oregon State), Gould was head coach at UC Davis.
4. Defensive replacements
While most of the intrigue is on the offensive side of the ball, the defense is not without its question marks.
This is particularly true on the defensive line, where three new starters must be identified.
Seniors Garret Fountain (41 tackles, 3 sacks), Wyatt Draeger and Daniel Okpoko all emerged in reserve roles last season.
Are they ready to take the next step?
Sophomore Darrion Dalton is among returning challengers bidding to start.
The defense includes a handful of transfers, led by senior Samuela Tuihalamaka (Oklahoma State) and JC transfers Tupu Alualu and Talib Salahuddin.
The Aztecs also need to find a couple new starters at linebacker.
Senior Cooper Mcdonald and sophomore Zyrus Fiascu were part-time starters last season, giving them a leg up on the others.
Junior transfer Cody Moon (New Mexico) is highly regarded. He was an honorable mention all-mountain West selection last season with 105 tackles, 41⁄2 sacks and 91⁄2 tackles for loss.
Most of the starters in the secondary return, but junior transfer JD Coffey (Texas) bears watching at safety.
5. Mark your calendar
SDSU’S 15 practices will culminate with the annual Spring Game, which this year makes its Snapdragon Stadium debut.
The game is scheduled for a midweek evening — Thursday, March 23 at 6 p.m. — providing fans with the first real glimpse of the 2023 team.
SDSU’S schedule should be firmed up by then.
Dates for nonconference home games against Ohio (Aug. 26), Idaho State (Sept. 2) and UCLA (Sept. 9) and at Oregon State (Sept. 16) already are set.
Dates for Mountain West games — home opponents are Boise State, Fresno State, Nevada and Utah State and road opponents are Air Force, Colorado State, Hawaii and San Jose State — are expected to be announced within the next two weeks.
kirk.kenney@sduniontribune.com