Aztec Notebook : Questions Remain on Defense, Punting

The quarterbacks, the punters and the defense. Those were the areas that concerned Coach Denny Stolz when he welcomed his San Diego State football team for the start of its two-week preseason training camp. So after camp ended Saturday morning with a 70-minute intrasquad scrimmage, it seemed the proper time to hear an updated word from Stolz on these three topics. On the quarterbacks, or more accurately, the quarterback--the only thing keeping Brad Platt from being called the Aztecs’ starting quarterback is the public announcement from Stolz: “I like what I see. But it is awfully hard to pass judgment on a player until he has played in a game. Brad has had a very good spring and a very good (camp). He is a very talented player. But none of us know how he will react until he plays in a game.”

On the punters or maybe lack thereof, given the inconsistent efforts from the two candidates for the job--Bill Kushner and Joe Santos: “We’re just a little better than we were. I wouldn’t make a call on it now. We might make a call Monday or at the least by Tuesday. It’s an area certainly of concern.”

On the defense or, better yet, the attempt to build one: “I like the situation. We move more; we hit more; we’re more physical (than last season). We will do nothing but get better. They looked all right.”

The Aztecs still have a week to ponder how all of this will look when SDSU opens its season against No. 5 UCLA in the Rose Bowl Saturday night. But as the game draws closer, they realize it will take an exceptional defensive effort.

“We’re just going to have to play super hard,” said Ed Schmidt, who has taken over as defensive coordinator after two seasons as offensive line coach. “Hopefully we can hang in there.”

How far the defense has progressed has been hard to tell from scrimmages such as the one Saturday morning. Most of the time, the first-team defense has been matched against the second-team offense and quarterback Scott Barrick. In those situations, they have dominated.

Barrick completed 3 of 8 attempts for 23 yards Saturday. He threw two interceptions--to strong safety Casey Copeland and to end Milt Wilson, who returned his for a touchdown.

Schmidt said he generally was pleased with the defense but disappointed in their tackling.

“We told them to tone down the late hits, but they toned it down too much,” Schmidt said. “We turned 2-yard losses into 12-yard gains. That is the difference between a bowl team and an also-ran.”

The first-team offense, which mainly has played against the second-team defense, has also showed flashes of strength.

Platt had another strong scrimmage, completing 12 of 14 passes for 158 yards and a touchdown--a 5-yard pass to running back Ron Slack. Paul Hewitt had the only other touchdown on a 4-yard run.

Alfred Jackson led the receivers with 3 catches for 39 yards. Lamont Parks, who played mainly with the second team, led the rushers with 17 yards on 7 carries.

While the defense has questions and the offense appears ready, it is the punting game that is the greatest mystery to Stolz.

Kushner and Santos have been competing for the vacant job, and a clear leader has yet to emerge. Kushner got the better of kicks Saturday, but Stolz said he will withhold a decision until after another such drill Monday.

The best punter in camp last week? Wayne Ross.

Ross, who did not have a punt blocked in four seasons with the Aztecs, was back on campus working out after being cut by the Washington Redskins.

Only two leading players--defensive end Brad Burton and tailback Tommy Booker--were held out of the scrimmage because of injuries.

Booker (shoulder) should return to practice early this week, but Burton (ankle) is listed as questionable for the UCLA game, trainer Don Kaverman said.

The only new injuries were to receiver Dennis Arey, who bruised his ribs while being tackled in the scrimmage, and linebacker Derrick Williams, who sustained a compound dislocation of his middle finger during a practice drill.

Aztec Notes

Emmett Flores, a reserve linebacker, has not passed his physical and is not expected to play this season, trainer Don Kaverman said. Flores, a senior from Reno, Nev., is trying to come back from reconstructive knee surgery. . . . Haywood Mathis, a freshman linebacker from Mount Miguel High School, is being held out of practice because of continuing problems with an ankle he sprained playing basketball in June. . . . The Aztecs still are awaiting word on the academic eligibility of cornerback Randy Peterson, who has missed much of preseason camp to complete summer-school classes. . . . Levi Esene, a defensive lineman on the Aztecs’ 1986 Western Athletic Conference championship team, has joined the staff as a volunteer undergraduate student coach. . . . Willie Buchanon, former Green Bay and Charger defensive back who last week was named as one of the initial inductees in the Aztec Hall of Fame, will provide analysis on Aztec football broadcasts. He will team with Ted Leitner on KFMB, replacing Jim Laslavic, who resigned because of other commitments. . . . William Dixion, a walk-on defensive back who quit the team over the summer, has rejoined the basketball team. Dixion, who was listed as a second-team cornerback after spring football, played sparingly with the basketball team as a walk-on guard last season.