There’s No Way to Figure SDSU Streak Season : Offense and Defense Have Been Good and Bad . . . and Not at the Same Time

Everybody involved recognizes the topsy-turvy trend of San Diego State’s football team, but few can figure why it’s happening.

The Aztec offense played very well the first four games and not-so-well the last three. The defense didn’t play very well the first four games, but has played very well the last three.

For once, the Aztecs would like both units to play well in the same game.

“We had our problems early defensively,” said Tim McConnell, defensive coordinator. “We were kind of floating along. Now, the tide has turned. We’re making more big plays defensively and slipping offensively. When you don’t make big plays, and it doesn’t matter whether it’s offense or defense, your performance suffers.”

In the first four games, SDSU’s defense allowed an average of 33.3 points and 397.5 total yards. In the last three games, it has allowed an average of 16.3 points and 297.3 yards.

The offense averaged 29 points and 391 yards in the first four games. But in the last three games, it has averaged 11.7 points and 292 yards.

“It’s weird,” quarterback Todd Santos said. “I was thinking about that, too, and couldn’t come up with an answer.”

The offense worked smoothly in the first four games, with the exception of a 45-14 loss to UCLA.

Alfred Jackson caught a 38-yard touchdown pass from Santos to beat Cal State Long Beach, 27-24. Kenny Moore’s 41-yard reception led to a last-minute touchdown that beat Utah, 37-30. After losing to UCLA, the Aztecs beat New Mexico, 38-34.

So what has happened since then?

Part of the problem has been the loss of Santos, who broke a wrist against New Mexico. He was replaced by Jim Plum in a 17-10 loss against Stanford, but Santos has played the last two weeks.

Even with Santos, the offense has struggled. It made numerous mistakes in a 15-10 victory against Texas El Paso, then was nearly non-existent in last week’s 22-10 loss to the Air Force Academy.

“Maybe the quarterback change slowed us down a little,” Coach Denny Stolz said. “Plus, we have played against better defensive teams. What the heck, USC only scored 10 points on Stanford. It’s not hard to explain those things.”

It is difficult to explain the chances SDSU has squandered in the last three weeks.

--In the second half against the Cardinal, the Aztecs got inside Stanford’s 30 three times, scoring one touchdown.

--The Aztecs were penalized 13 times for 100 yards against UTEP, and they had a touchdown and field goal nullified by penalties. They were able to score only six points in the first-half though driving to UTEP’s 17, 11 and 8.

--Against Air Force, SDSU was unable to score five times when it got inside the Air Force 40.

“Moving the ball and scoring are two different things,” Stolz said. “What we’d like to have would be a long touchdown pass or a long touchdown run by (Chris) Hardy. You’d like to have a big play now and then. We’ve had the potential for big touchdown plays and haven’t scored on them. You just can’t drive the ball forever.”

Against Air Force, Santos overthrew Moore and underthrew Jackson when each receiver had beaten the defense. And Hardy, who had two 92-yard runs for touchdowns last year, slipped on what might have been a breakaway.

“I’m trying to figure it out, too,” Hardy said. “When we get inside the 30, things stop clicking for some reason. Every time I look at films, I see where I’m a fraction of an inch from breaking a long run. In the last three games, I’ve been one man away from breaking 80 or 85-yard runs. I’m just waiting for that one game to come. Maybe that one man will slip or something.”

It’s evident that the offense has slipped since Santos was injured. Stolz, who said he prefers not to make excuses for Santos, thinks the injury is still on Santos’ mind.

“You’re somewhat conscious of it, no matter whether you want to be,” Stolz said. “There’s that certain amount of doubt. But Todd had some people open against Air Force that he certainly should have hit.”

Santos said the injury still bothers him at times, but he’s getting better every day. He feels restricted by having his wrist taped. Before this week, the tape went to his wrist and between his thumb and index finger. The tape now ends at Santos’ wrist, making him feel less restricted.

Santos said the tape may have affected his ability to throw long.

“Plus, we haven’t worked on the long ball too much,” he said. “The timing has to be there, too.”

The defense didn’t seem to have its timing down the first four games. The only question each week was whether the opposition would succeed by running or passing.

Against an average New Mexico team, the Aztecs allowed a school-record 690 yards total offense.

“We sort of got embarrassed,” said Levi Esene, defensive tackle. “Although we won, we felt like we had lost because of the way they kept marching on us. After that week, we decided to improve.”

And so they have.

The next week, the Aztecs held Stanford to 306 yards total offense. Next, they held UTEP’s Sammy Garza to 165 passing yards, more than 100 yards below his average. And against Air Force, the defense created four turnovers, two leading to SDSU’s only scores.

Some players said they needed time to adjust to the new coaching staff’s system.

“All systems take a little time to get used to,” safety Steve Lauter said. “I think we’re adjusting very well now.”

McConnell said the new defense is “not even remotely related” to last year’s defense.

“I think our players are starting to feel more comfortable and understand what we expect,” McConnell said. “They believe it works. Those things take time. Things don’t happen overnight, no matter what you say.”

Since playing against New Mexico, the Aztecs have become more aggressive, forcing plays rather than letting the opposition dictate action.

“New Mexico was the exception, not the rule,” McConnell said. “We have good players, so there is no reason why we shouldn’t have a good defense. The way we’ve played the last few weeks is the way we ought to play. I know there is an unwritten rule in this league that nobody plays defense. That doesn’t have to be.”

Aztec Notes

Coach Denny Stolz on the loss to Air Force: “We don’t make more or less out of a win or loss than what it is. If you lose the seventh game of the World Series, you’ve lost the World Series. If you lose one football game, you lose one football game. No big deal. Our kids thought, without question, they would win the Air Force ballgame. When you look at the films, you see we had our chances. We moved the ball well and played good defense.” . . . The Holiday Bowl is concentrating on teams from the Pacific 10, Big Ten and Texas A&M;, Executive Director John Reid said. The Western Athletic Conference champion plays an at-large team this year. “The WAC might not be decided until Dec. 6 when BYU plays Air Force,” Reid said. “We hope it’s decided by then because it might mean San Diego State is in the game. We’ve been waiting for that day.” Four teams have one conference loss--SDSU, BYU, Air Force and Colorado State. All but Colorado State would figure to attract a good crowd. “In all candor, Colorado State hasn’t had a great following at home until this year,” Reid said. “Our attitude is why worry about what we can’t control. Our hope is that Colorado State fans would be sufficiently enamored that they would want to follow their team to San Diego.”

SDSU AVERAGES OFFENSE

Points Yards First 4 Games 29 391 Last 3 Games 11.7 292 Totals 21.6 348.6

DEFENSE

Points Yards First 4 Games 33.3 397.5 Last 3 Games 16.3 297.3 Totals 26 354.6