By BJ Querubin — Staff Writer
Starting off the season 1-1 is considered a decent milestone for the San Jose State football program. While the season is still young, there are areas the Spartans need to improve on to have a successful season down the road.
1. DEFENSE:
The problem:
The most glaring flaw in the Spartans’ defense is defending the run. In two games, the Spartans have conceded 826 yards of total offense and 366 yards on the ground.
Although SJSU opened up the season with a 35-18 win against Northern Colorado, it allowed 110 rushing yards and 18 points in a game that was closer than it should’ve been.
Losing 34-16 to Tulsa is the best reality check for the team this season thus far.
It was a one to two score game for the first three quarters, but the Spartans ran out of gas as they couldn’t contain the Golden Hurricane’s relentless offense.
Watching the defense allow 256 rushing yards was exhausting. Tulsa had its way offensively and converted 9 of 16 third downs. Both of its fourth downs were even more gut-wrenching to witness.
Shamari Brooks and T.K. Wilkerson looked like the second coming of Eric Dickerson and Craig James in their SMU days. Blowout losses are nothing new to this football program, but watching their performance on national television was disappointing.
How to solve it:
When allowing the opposing offense to gash the defense with their run game, their offensive arsenal opens up big-play aerial opportunities that can be demoralizing. If you don’t stop the run at all, it leaves the opposing team with an “if it ain’t broke don’t fix it” mentality when play-calling.
One way they can stop the run, or at least slow it down, is to stack more players in the box. In other words, position about 7-8 defenders around the area where the offensive tackles are lined up.
Stacking more players in the box will put the players in a better position to stop a run play for a short gain or no gain. This leaves the offensive coordinator to respect your adjustment and have to defer to a pass play.
However, this does leave the 3-4 remaining cornerbacks in man coverage, which is putting the defense at a risk should the offense run a pass play.
Another way, probably the best way, is to call blitzes and disguise different blitz packages with a coverage.
Stopping the run will also help their secondary out. Their defensive backs are constantly worried about having to make a shoestring tackle after a 20-yard rush that they aren’t focused enough on their number one responsibility: defending the pass.
2. LINEMEN PLAY:
The problem:
Football is a game won in the trenches. Stellar play from linemen on both sides of the ball can make or break a team’s success.
The Spartans have done a decent job protecting Josh Love so far on offense. Love has attempted 61 total passes and has only been sacked twice.
However, he does need assistance in relieving the pressure off of his passing game. Love could be given more time in the pocket so he can progress through his reads more efficiently.
He could also be assisted by an improved rushing attack. The Spartans have accumulated over 200 rushing yards this season.
It could be improved even more, especially with the depth they have at the running back position.
Their defensive line play is pretty solid. Accumulating 4 sacks against UNC is good.
How to solve it:
As mentioned before, the offensive line could relieve some of the load on Josh Love. One way to do that is with a solid rushing attack that compliments the passing game.
The Spartans’ rushing attack could be improved by creating more running lanes for DeJon Packer and company. Against Tulsa, Packer seemed to be getting stifled as soon as he crossed the line of scrimmage.
This didn’t occur on every play, but there was a sense that he could be averaging nearly 6 or 7 yards a carry if he got better blocking.
Packer is talented enough to do so, and this would add another dimension to the Spartans’ offense that they need.
An improved rushing attack would make other teams respect the Spartans’ offense as a whole, making them very difficult to gameplan for.
HOT TAKE:
If there is an improvement in these areas, and a little luck on their side, I predict the Spartans can pull off an above .500 season and even a chance to play for a conference championship.
You heard it here first.
Even if this squad does improve in the areas I mentioned, they won’t guarantee instant victory. However, they will most certainly make games more interesting and the Spartans more difficult to deal with against their conference opponents.
Follow BJ on Twitter @BeeJayCue