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38-3, Aztecs Over the Cowboys

Posted: November 16, 2015 in Uncategorized

The dominance continues. The Aztec defense is a close to perfect as a defense can get. Wow-wee. 62 rushing yards (less than 2 yards per rush) allowed. 129 passing yards allowed. 5 sacks. Wyoming was 1 for 13 on third down conversions. All Aztecs played well. “Flying to the ball” was in full force.

The tone was set in the first quarter as San Diego State had the ball for better than 10 minutes. The tone was reset in the fourth quarter as the Aztec offense had the ball for 9+ minutes. Refreshing to see mostly mistake free football given the 3 penalties for 40 yards. Much better than recent games. Keeping our wits about us and not letting emotions drive bad decision-making. 6 for 6 in the red zone. 25 SDSU first downs compared to 12 for the Cowboys. Well done. Maxwell Smith registering 12/19/138 and 3 scores is further proof of maintaining a sense of consistency. By the way, another game without an interception. Of course, the running game was another fine version of pound and ground. Chase Price scoring twice and generally running over Wyoming defenders was a pleasant sight.

7-3/6-0. A bowl awaits. I don’t care which one. May the bowl chosen pay well.

A Tale of Two Games With A Win, 41-17 Over Colorado State

Posted: November 1, 2015 in Uncategorized
Tags: Aztec, CSU, Dakota Gordon, Damontae Kazee, Donnel Pumphrey, Donny Hageman, Jeff Horton, Malik Smith, Maxwell Smith, Q, Rams, Rashaad Penny, Redd Foxx, Wyoming

Oy, the first half was ugly. Or to paraphrase Redd Foxx, so ugly, we were hit with the ugly stick. Why was Jeff Horton running the majority of plays to the Aztec right? One stuff after another. We could not block on our right side the entire half. No momentum was developed less the opening drive (which was nice). Malik Smith loses his mind during the second quarter. Rocky should have removed him from the game. Mr. Smith was completely out of control. Shame.

Speaking of shame, 13-10 at the half.

We finally arrived to play in the second half. Maxwell Smith produced his best game as an Aztec quarterback. 11/14/180 yards. No interceptions. Plus, he averaged just shy of 13 yards per completion. Not bad. Donny Hageman nailing a 54 yard field goal was a team boost. Donnel Pumphrey and Rashaad Penny both averaged 6 yards a carry. Mr. Penny looked especially impressive against the CSU defense. Dakota Gordon rumbled (all fullbacks rumble) for 52 yards on 4 carries. The offense provided the most balanced performance of the season.

The Aztec defense started poorly, but ended well. Three picks. Damontae Kazee returning his interception for a touchdown was a spear to the Rams offensive heart. The back seven allowed the Rams a paltry 7.3 yards per completion. A solid second half effort. During the first half, I’m wondering “who are these guys?” Thankfully, they disappeared.

Next week is our off week. Soak the bumps and bruises. Enjoy next Saturday. Grab some sand. Three MWC games remain. 5-0 in conference play is stellar. Wyoming rolls into the Q Saturday, November 14. The Cowboys feature an above average running game. However, as long as Rocky keeps the boys focused, I’m leaning towards a 6-0 Mountain West result.

San Diego State 48, Utah State 14

Posted: October 25, 2015 in Uncategorized
Tags: Aztec, Aztecs, Dakota Gordon, Damontae Kazee, Jake Fely, Kent Myers, Na'im McGee, SDSU, USU, Utah State

Dominating. Absolutely dominating. Both sides of the ball. Firing on all cylinders and all other similar analogies apply. Utah State’s first three offensive possessions: 3 and out, lost fumble, 3 and out. The tone was set.

The defense was punishing. Kent Myers was crushed, slammed and treated badly by the Aztec defense. After Fely’s hit in the second quarter, Mr. Myers took a while to return to form. He was playing with, um, great hesitancy. Mr. Myers finished 8/19/93 yards. The SDSU defensive line was camped in the Utah State backfield. Keeping the lid on the USU offense to the result of 14 points was testament to a job well done. The Aggies were a mere 3/11 on third down conversions. Na’im McGee had his best game of the year with 10 tackles. Domantae Kazee’s first half hit that removed the USU player’s helmet was an early exclamation point. So much to enjoy.

Donnel Pumphrey (23/181), Chase Price (21/97), Rashaad Penny (10/38) and Dakota “I Don’t Like To Be Tackled” Gordon (3/18) enjoyed great blocking on behalf of the Aztec offensive line and receiving corps to the total of 336 rushing yards. As mentioned in the San Jose State post, the return of Darrell Greene has solidified the o-line. He was missed. The Aztec offense scored three of four quarters including 14 fourth quarter points. 7 of 8 red zone opportunities resulted in scores. Solid football.

Yes, I’m giddy. Especially contrasted against the horrible 1-3 non-con start. 4-0 and sitting in first place in the West division. Ah, what a view. Bowl game number 7 in a continuing series seems (never assume too much) to be close enough to touch or at least contractually say “yes”. Colorado State on Halloween awaits. Fort Collins’ psychotic weather enters the equation along with the altitude. Will we be greeted by snow? Blizzard conditions? Fifty mile an hour winds? A balmy afternoon in the mid-50s? Game time in Fort Collins is always intriguing.

30-7. SDSU’s Defense Is Beyond Description

Posted: October 18, 2015 in Uncategorized
Tags: Aztec, Chase Price, Donnel Pumphrey, Donny Hageman, Maxwell Smith, Ronley Lakalaka, San Jose State, SDSU, SJSU, Tanner Blain, Trey Lomax, Tyler Ervin, Utah State

Three consecutive games of unbelievable defense. Comprehensive in every sense of the word. Less idiotic penalties, dare I say, perfect? Perhaps I’m gushing, but the complete shut down of the offenses of Fresno State, Hawaii and San Jose State is impressive, awe-inspiring and downright wow.

Let us review the complete San Jose State beating: 35 yards rushing. The much mentioned Tyler Ervin was held to 31 yards in 17 carries. Mr. Ervin certainly had his opportunities. SJSU rushing attempts yielded 1 yard per rush. 1 yard. 36 inches of grass and dirt. As for the air, 113 yards passing. That equates to barely 8 yards gained per completion. Whether by foot or by air, the Spartans averaged less than a first down. 4 sacks (16 for the year), 2 interceptions and 2 forced fumbles. Applause, and lots of it, for the Aztec defense. An Aztec defense without Dakota Turner and Trey Lomax. An Aztec defense that featured J.J. Whitaker losing his mind via assaulting a Spartan wide receiver, thereby receiving the obligatory personal foul (this stuff must stop. 9 flags for 76 yards is stupid). An Aztec defense featuring true freshman Ronley Lakalaka subbing for Jake Fely in the second half. 148 yards of total offense allowed by this stellar defense.

Darrell Greene’s return to the offensive line was notable. Nothing against Robert Craighead, but Mr. Greene knows the business of blocking and pummeling his defensive opponent. Addressing the obvious, Mr. Greene’s presence related directly to Maxwell Smith’s comfort. While I continue to find astounding Mr. Smith’s lack of air production, he was much more a quarterback than any prior game. 10/14/144 is, again, serviceable. No picks is extra nice. The running game was almost as phenomenal as the SDSU defense. Donnel Pumphrey (20/153) and Chase Price (10/47) led the way to the end zone and impressive drives. However, I found at least one of Donny Hageman’s field goals should have been a touchdown (okay, two of his kicks should have been touchdowns), but I find confidence in his 3/3 evening via his foot.

Speaking of feet, Tanner Blain was NFL good by landing all three punts inside the fifteen, two of which were inside the ten. Well done.

3-0. Utah State is next. The Aggies destroyed Boise State. Not a team to be taken lightly. Thankfully, at the Q is helpful. The run continues.

28-14, Somewhere Over The Rainbow

Posted: October 11, 2015 in Uncategorized
Tags: Aztec, Aztecs, Christian Heyward, Curtis Anderson, Damontae Kazee, Donnel Pumphrey, Hawaii, III, J.J. Whitaker, Jon Sanchez, Maxwell Smith, MWC, Noble Hall

Having roundly criticized Maxwell Smith for better than a month, I now congratulate him on an unspectacular, yet solid effort against Hawaii. 11/15, 1 touchdown, no interceptions and 184 yards is serviceable. However, my call for change continues.

Donnel Pumphrey was stellar especially playing with the dread high ankle sprain. 3 touchdowns cures a lot of injury. 218 total yards rushing is testament to the offensive line getting a whole lot of push. Congrats to Curtis Anderson, III for leap frogging four teammates to receive playing time and make his first catch of the year.

The Aztec defense was superb. 4 sacks, 2.5 by defensive linemen (Jon Sanchez, Christian Hayward and Noble Hall), was a job well done. Ending the last two Hawaii drives in the fourth quarter with interceptions (Damontae Kazee and J.J. Whitaker) took what little momentum and/or hope retained by Hawaii. The Rainbow Warriors (we can do better in the nickname/mascot category) were held to a total of 53 rushing yards and 251 total offensive yards. Nice job, Aztecs.

2-0 in MWC play. Change nothing. Except the quarterback.

Aztecs 21, Fresno State 7. But, We’re Awful. Offensively Speaking.

Posted: October 4, 2015 in Uncategorized
Tags: Aztec, Bulldog, Calvin Munson. Maxwell Smith, Chase Price, Christian Chapman, Dakota Gordon, Donnel Pumphrey, Fresno State, Jeff Horton, Rocky Long

Yeah, a win is a win is a win. But, the San Diego State offense remains a memory. Distant memory.

You’re asking yourself, why so glum? 305 total rushing yards. 400+ total offensive yards. Do the math. Therein lies my complaint.

Congrats to Donnel Pumphrey prior to injury for 23/129. Chase Price certainly delivered as much with 27/151. Dakota Gordon had a fullback kind of game with 5/34. Well done. The offensive line was pushing the Bulldog front four off the line the majority of the game. 8/18 on third down conversions is definite improvement. As was having the ball for better than 37 minutes.

The Aztec defense was marvelous. 6 Fresno State first downs. 89 total offensive yards including an unheard of 12 yards rushing. Wow! 1.9 yards per play. 0/12 on third down. 10 punts. The defense was stellar, almost perfect and a sight for sore eyes. Thank you.

However, not mentioned in the offensive summation above is another stale and unimpressive performance delivered by Maxwell Smith. 5/12. Yuck. How and why Rocky Long and Jeff Horton continue to purposefully turn a blind eye to Mr. Smith’s lack of quarterbacking skills is beyond me. Candidly, at this point in the season, I wonder how he ever threw for significant yardage during his Kentucky days. Again, please escort Mr. Smith to the sideline . . . permanently. Christian Chapman needs a chance to display the ability to avoid a sack as well as connect with an open receiver on a regular basis.

If Aztec faithful want smash-mouth football, we have exclusively that brand of football. Those of us who remember the days of footballs flying downfield for 50+ yards at a time are feeling rather lonely and uncomfortable. Especially during the game in our near future during which the running game is corralled.

1-0. The MWC table run begins. I hope.

37-21, Aztecs Lose In Happy Valley

Posted: September 27, 2015 in Uncategorized
Tags: Atzec, Aztecs, Christian Chapman, Donny Hageman, Fresno State, Jeff Horton, Maxwell Smith, Mountain West, San Diego State

The San Diego State Aztecs are a bad football team. We are inept and ill prepared. Five sacks, four fumbles, three of which were lost and the inability to catch a punt is indicative of a football team searching for its collective soul.

I, again, call for the end of Maxwell Smith’s reign as starting quarterback. 10 for 29 is not an Aztec quarterback. Another anemic performance (and I’m being polite). While acknowledging he was sacked five times, those sacks emphasize Mr. Smith’s lack of mobility that in turn results in an astonishingly bad 242 total yards of offense. This is Aztec football? Christian Chapman eludes some of those sacks because he can move from side to side, step into the pocket and actually run forward. Mr. Smith was the primary author of 6 yards gained in the first quarter. 6. The number found between 5 and 7. In the second quarter, he revved up the offense to 72 total yards. Feel the excitement. Why does Rocky continue to start Mr. Smith? Why does Jeff Horton remain blind to the need for change? Finally, when a starting quarterback’s longest completed pass is 31 yards, the defense stuffs any and all attempts to establish a running game since the first seven guys can stand at the line of scrimmage and wave “hello” to Pumphrey, Price, Penny and Gordon.

Our field position was so bad that Donny Hageman was not handed a single field goal opportunity. We converted a lousy 5 of 17 third down opportunities. Boo.

8:16 represents the Aztecs time of possession for the entire first half. Unbelievable. In the second quarter, we had the ball for less than 4 minutes. Incredible for the wrong reason.

The defense played better than the Cal and South Alabama games, but we continue to allow too many big plays especially on the back-end of the secondary.

Mountain West play begins this weekend. We stumble into MW town with a 1-3 record looking disheveled, dirty and disoriented. We haven’t played well the entire four games leading to MW play. Cold comfort can be found that the rest of the West division played about as poorly as we did in non-conference games. Fresno State and their loyal hordes of fans (yes, I’m jealous) roar into the Q next Saturday. Candidly, the Aztecs must steam roll the rest of the schedule for any chance at a bowl game. I trust change is underway and we will see a mobile, smart, redshirt freshman by the last name of Chapman directing our offense that will finally resemble an Aztec offense we can recognize.

Losing At Home In Overtime To South Alabama, 34-27

Posted: September 22, 2015 in Uncategorized
Tags: Aztec, Maxwell Smith, San Diego State, South Alabama, Xavier Johnson

So much is sad and disappointing about the title.

Losing.

At home.

In overtime.

To South Alabama.

We should be 2-1, alas, coulda, shoulda, woulda. Or wish in one hand while spitting in the other. You get the point.

I wrote assuredly of our able defense at the beginning of the season. I watched a pathetic, patchwork Aztec defensive effort yield 511 (!) total yards of offense on behalf of South Alabama. Xavier Johnson averaged 7.5 yards per carry. All 19 of them. Our defensive line was of little effect. Our linebackers overwhelmed. Need further proof? South Alabama scores on passing plays of 46 and 57 yards while also enjoying a lengthy touchdown run of 74 yards.

Maxwell Smith must sit. Mr. Smith makes poor decisions, is absolutely immobile and fails to register any SEC seasoning on the field. 12 for 26 is not an Aztec quarterback. Consider the 5 of 16 third down conversions. Against South Alabama. We cannot and do not move the football. 305 paltry offensive yards the entire game speaks to an anemic offense at best. Finally, during the fourth quarter, San Diego State had the ball for better than 9 minutes. We scored once.

Happy Valley will be a sad place for Aztec fans this Saturday.

35-7, Cal Whomps The Aztecs

Posted: September 13, 2015 in Uncategorized
Tags: Aztec, Cal, Christian Chapman, Damontae Kazee, Daniel Lasco, Malik Smith, Maxwell Smith, Rashaad Penny, SDSU, Tanner Blain, Vic Enwere

First, the good since the game wasn’t all bad. The Aztec offense had the ball for 34 plus minutes. Granted, we did little to nothing with the ball, but we at least possessed the ball. Tanner Blain had 4 of 9 punts land inside the 20 yard line. Plus, Mr. Blain averaged 40.6 yards per boot. Rashaad Penny had a rushing line of 5/34 for better than six and a half yards per carry. So much for the good.

Now for the bad. The flags were flying. Each time offensive momentum seemed to build, behold, the yellow flag. 12 penalties for 136 yards stops a lot of momentum. 5 personal fouls (a couple seemed less than devious, though bad football cannot be explained away by less than average officiating) indicates an unprepared team.

During the third quarter, Cal found their running game. Daniel Lasco and Vic Enwere (especially) ran through the San Diego State defense like a fat man cutting a steak. Both Mr. Lasco and Mr. Enwere averaged 6.5 yards per carry. Both these gentlemen were well acquainted with the Aztec defensive backs because those five were all that stood between Mr. Lasco and Mr. Enwere consuming more yardage.

The combined efforts of Maxwell Smith and Christian Chapman resulted in 14/32 for 173 yards with 2 interceptions (one each). After the impressive first drive that resulted in the only SDSU score, Mr. Smith returned to his USD game demeanor: largely ineffective. Mr. Chapman displayed impressive mobility coupled with bad decision-making. Aztec coaches Long, Horton and Morgan must decide between Mr. Smith’s 10/19/136 or Mr. Chapman’s 4/14/37 performance to determine the best season solution at the quarterback spot. I’m not a fan of rotating quarterbacks, though I’m sure none of the above mentioned coaches care. While my prior posts have shown a clear preference for Mr. Smith to be the starting quarterback, I now find myself lobbying on behalf of the more dynamic (he can run when he needs to) Mr. Chapman, youth be damned. Candidly, when the Aztecs register a grand total of 325 offensive yards and a long pass of a pathetic 33 yards, let us lean decidedly to the future development of a redshirt freshman.

Speaking of total yards, our lauded Aztec defense was awful. Specifically, Damontae Kazee and Malik Smith were less than stellar. While the blitz was occasionally effective, our lack of defensive pressure allowed the Cal quarterback far too much time far too often. Yet, I do not offer that fact as an excuse for our bad pass coverage. Allowing 485 total yards on the road or home or anywhere is further proof of an unprepared defense.

Thus, game two.

As for next week against South Alabama, beware and be prepared.

37-3, Aztecs Butt Ugly Over USD

Posted: September 6, 2015 in Uncategorized
Tags: Aztecs, Cal, Calvin Munson. Maxwell Smith, Donny Hageman, USD

Aztecs be concerned. 37-3 should be a time to expand the chest and walk about in pride. But, not this game. While not calling for fear, do find substantial pause for thought.

Granted, the defense was tremendous. But, they should be tremendous against USD. Holding the Toreros to less than 200 yards total offense deserves praise. As does five picks. As does two defensive touchdowns. A great first game against a team that did not have a chance (no offense, USD).

And now for the concern. Maxwell Smith was awful. I mean Nick Bawden awful. 9/21 with an interception. 100 yards. Sailing the ball past wide open receivers (and tight ends and running backs) all night. Mr. Smith was appallingly ineffective. Further proof (do you need any?) includes the 6/14 on third down conversions. Against USD. Please. The offensive line must improve quickly. As in the next few practices prior to Cal or we score no more than 10 points against the Bears. The Aztec offense generated a measly 305 total yards. Boo. One offensive touchdown. One. Our defense outscored our offense. Say those words again. How about the 15 first downs? Put up 15 first downs against any other opponent, even South Alabama, and we lose. Badly.

Speaking of offense, thank you, Donny Hageman. 3/3 from 33, 36 and 37. Confidence. Perhaps the rest of the offense will consult with you. Charge a fee.

To those of us sporting those ugly rose-colored glasses, lose them. Stomp on those distorters (new word). Smash. Grind into the asphalt. Say, “grrr” while doing so. Very little to cheer about this effort.

On behalf of the 48,785 (a third of whom wandered in during the fourth quarter to discover a football game in progress), thank you.