AZTEC NOTEBOOK / SCOTT MILLER : Duff Regains Starting Job but at a Different Position

In one of the longer delays between starts in school history, defensive lineman Jamal Duff is expecting to resume his place in the San Diego State starting lineup when the Aztecs open against USC on Sept. 5.

An imposing presence since his arrival on campus two years ago, Duff, 6 feet 7 and 235 pounds, started the season opener as a true freshman at Oregon in 1990.

And he hasn’t started since.

“It’s been rough,” Duff said. “I’ve gone through some changes, but I’ve dealt with them.”

After suffering a deep thigh bruise in that Oregon game, Duff sat out the rest of the season and was declared a redshirt. Last season, Duff had problems with a hamstring and didn’t play often.

Aztec coaches moved him from linebacker to the defensive line midway through last season and now Duff, along with Ty Morrison (6-3, 255) and Sebastian Glaze (6-1, 255) probably will start across the defensive front against the Trojans.

“That area has taken a tremendous jump from a year ago,” Coach Al Luginbill said. “We’re so much bigger and stronger and deeper there than at anytime since I’ve been here.”

Backing them up will be Turaj Smith (6-3, 245), who started six games on the defensive line a year ago; George Glaze (6-4, 245), who started five games a year ago; Steve Matuszewicz (6-5, 240), who started 10 of 12 games in 1989; Ramondo Stallings (6-7, 280), who started four games a year ago; and freshman La’Roi Glover (6-2, 275), who probably will not be redshirted this season.

“Guys in the 240- to 270-pound range,” Luginbill said. “We’re talking linebacker-type speed in front.”

Duff said he preferred to play linebacker but, given his limited playing time the past two seasons, is not complaining.

“I like linebacker a lot better because you’re more free to pursue the ball,” he said. “But I can see where this will help the defense in getting pressure up the field.”

Duff also confirmed what many believed two years ago, that his thigh bruise was not bad enough to keep him out for the entire season.

“Definitely,” Duff said when asked if he could have played. “I had plans to play as a freshman.”

Regardless, he was happy to be back among the first-teamers when the Aztecs held their first intrasquad scrimmage on Saturday.

“It went pretty good,” Duff said. “There were some things I set goals for and didn’t meet, but it went pretty good.”

Specifically, he said, he had hoped to get two sacks--but didn’t get any.

“I came close on a couple, though,” he said.

The most interesting moments in a routine scrimmage came about midway through, when Luginbill and All-American running back Marshall Faulk had an animated argument on the sideline.

It came after Faulk, who has been nursing a sprained ankle, thought defensive back Damon Pieri hit him late on a play near the far sideline. Faulk got up screaming at Pieri and then, when Luginbill removed Faulk, aimed his anger at Luginbill.

“I try to look out for it and avoid it, but sometimes people come at you late,” Faulk said. “Sometimes it’s not intentional, though.

“I’m usually calm and relaxed on the field. I just blew a fuse. Coach has never seen me like that. He tried to calm me down, but when I’m up there, I’m up there.

“It doesn’t help my game--I play better relaxed.”

Asked what was said on the sideline, Faulk smiled and said: “We discussed some things among ourselves.”

Said Luginbill: “He just lost his poise. In competitive situations, sometimes that’s going to happen. . . . He’s just got to keep his poise. An opponent will try to rattle him if he gives them an opportunity to do it.”

Pieri didn’t think the hit was late but said he understood Faulk’s anger.

“I guess he’s just sensitive because he’s had ankle problems,” Pieri said. “He just got a little feisty. I can understand where he’s coming from.”

The biggest problem for SDSU was filling the offensive line positions. The Aztecs had only seven linemen for 10 positions in their first and second teams, so they were constantly shuffling people in and out.

Adam Norberg (stomach flu), Aaron Mertens (urinary tract infection), Brandon Bejarano (calf strain), Burton Ewert (recovering from the removal of a wart on his foot) and Louis Zumstein (ankle) sat out.

Although everyone on the first-team offensive line is healthy, the absence of most of the second team has slowed the Aztecs.

“It’s holding back our progress,” Luginbill said. “We’ve never experienced this here before. It started happening the second week of the spring and it has continued into fall camp.”

Faulk carried 15 times for 61 yards, with the longest carry 20 yards.

Other scrimmage numbers: Quarterback David Lowery completed eight of 18 passes for 101 yards and one interception.

Receiver Keith Williams caught three passes for 46 yards and returned a punt 67 yards for a touchdown.

Receiver Jake Nyberg, working with the second team, caught 10 passes for 43 yards.

Freshman defensive back Freddie Edwards returned a punt 70 yards but was tackled on the five-yard line.

Andy Trakas kicked a 47-yard field goal and freshman Peter Holt added a 37-yarder.

The first-team offense did not score on the first-team defense.

“Things weren’t meshing together,” Lowery said. “The offensive line, quarterbacks, running backs and receivers were not meshing.

“I think it’s a first-scrimmage thing. We were rotating our offensive line a lot. We should be fine.”