With No Recruits Remaining, Linebackers Have Become . . . : SDSU’s Thin Line of Defense

There appears to be an open-door policy among linebackers at San Diego State. More often than not, that door is an exit.

The Aztecs lose linebackers to more than injuries or academic problems.

This season, the Aztecs lost recruits to (a) the ministry, (b) the military, (c) fatherhood and (d) minor league baseball. So much for good plans and good recruiting.

“We’ve gotten burned at that position,” said Tim McConnell, SDSU’s linebacker coach and defensive coordinator. “We recruited four at that position and ended up with none. It’s not like we didn’t try to recruit linebackers. For unforeseen circumstances, none of them set foot on the field for us.”

Players aren’t the only linebacker “recruits” who didn’t set foot on the field.

Al Tanara, who coached at Nevada Las Vegas last season, was an offensive line coach for SDSU during spring practice. When Coach Denny Stolz asked Tanara to help McConnell coach linebackers, Tanara refused and accepted a position in SDSU’s promotions department.

Among the linebackers who stayed, there have been a couple of positives. Richard Brown and Randy Kirk, holdover reserves from an otherwise senior-oriented corp in 1985, have both played well.

Depth, or lack of it, is a factor, however. Kirk has a bruised shoulder and Brown has a bruised knee. Both will play this week at Stanford, but their time may be limited.

“My reaction is that there’s nothing we can do about what has happened,” McConnell said. “Crying about it won’t help at all. We have to find solutions and step forward. If we have to give up 690 yards to win, I won’t like it, but I’ll take it.”

SDSU allowed a school-record 690 yards last week in a 38-34 victory at New Mexico. Brown and Kirk were sidelined a majority of the game with injuries, partially accounting for New Mexico’s success.

What do the Aztecs have after their top two linebackers?

--Chuck Nixon, a 190-pound converted safety.

--Kris Jensen, who has gone from linebacker to defensive end to linebacker in 1 1/2 seasons at SDSU.

--Andy Damon, who didn’t play a down at linebacker last season.

If Brown and Kirk don’t play extensively this week, Nixon will be the only starter among the three remaining linebackers against Stanford.

Nixon said there is little adjustment from safety to outside linebacker when the Aztecs play pass-oriented teams. But against run-oriented teams such as UCLA, he must often face offensive linemen who outweigh him by at least 80 pounds.

“I’m getting more comfortable each game,” Nixon said. “I still haven’t come into my own yet. Since I played defense before, it’s not like coming over from offense. That would be tougher. Once I settle in, this will be a good position for me. I won’t have to think, I’ll just react.”

Jensen has had to react to the whim of coaches since transferring from Glendale (Ariz.) College.

Last season, he backed up four-year letterman Jack Eaton at linebacker. This spring, he was switched to defensive end. Three weeks ago, he returned to linebacker.

“It feels like I’m coming home,” Jensen said. “I’m rusty in a lot of things--certain reads and stuff like that. Strangely enough, I don’t feel out of place like I could have.”

Jensen was named SDSU’s defensive player of the game for his work against New Mexico.

He recorded one tackle, two assists and one fumble recovery. And he caused a fumble that was recovered in the end zone for a touchdown, giving SDSU a 38-28 lead.

“Finally, we had someone rise up in that situation and make a play,” McConnell said. “In hindsight, moving him back (to linebacker) was a great move now that we don’t have many linebackers.”

Before Saturday, Damon had strictly been a special teams player since transferring from Mesa (Ariz.) College before last season. He had four assists on tackles against New Mexico.

“I had hoped to get in during our first three games against Long Beach State, Utah and UCLA,” Damon said. “When my time came, I wasn’t mentally ready to play. When it came to the fourth week, I was wondering if I’d only play a couple of plays a game. You prepare better when you know you will play. From here on out, I’ll be prepared for 1 or 60 plays.”

This weekend, SDSU must prepare for the worst at linebacker if it suffers more injuries. The next in line are Thane Fisher, a freshman redshirt last season; and 5-7 Brett Branco.

SDSU’s defense will be facing Stanford quarterback John Paye, who ranks third behind John Elway and Jim Plunkett in career passing yards and total offense for the Cardinal.

Paye often throws to his running backs, who must be covered by SDSU’s patchwork linebackers.

“If I were him, I’d come right at our linebackers,” McConnell said. “And if one of our linebackers gets hurt, we’ll start looking toward the stands for players.”

Aztec Notes

New Mexico came within three yards of tying an NCAA record with 690 yards total offense during last Saturday’s 38-34 loss to SDSU. Stanford set the all-time total offense record in a losing effort with 693 yards on Oct. 24, 1981, when it lost to Arizona State, 62-36. . . . Offensive tackle Greg Williamson and defensive tackle Craig Skaggs will both be sidelined again this week with sprained knees, Coach Denny Stolz said Wednesday.