07-12-2017, 02:55 PM
We've had a couple of articles about how some of our upcoming opponents see us. Here's one about how to view one of our opponents that we don't see often: San Diego State, week #3, on the road.
I just saw three articles about San Diego State on SBNation.
This one is a run down on their (kind of) unique 3-3-5 defense.
https://www.footballstudyhall.com/2017/7...long-3-3-5
The other is a quick look at depth and returning starters.
https://www.mwcconnection.com/2017/3/9/1...the-aztecs
And, as always, one of the better previews is by Bill Connelly
https://www.sbnation.com/college-footbal...ule-roster
On the road, sandwiched between games vs USC and UCLA, against an in-state team that finished #25 last year in both AP and Coaches polls - this would seem to have the makings of a surprisingly tough matchup.
Last year, the hype was all for their star RB, Donnell Pumphrey. (Pumphrey actually had more all purpose yards (total) than McCaffrey last year, but he played in three more games.) Despite the hype, the strength of the team was its defense. In all of Division 1, SDSU ranked #11 in both total defense and yds allowed per play; #17 in scoring defense; #24 in defensive S&P+, and #26 in FEI defense. All considerably better than their middle of the road offensive stats.
From last year, SDSU loses 6 of 11 from offense and 5 of 11 from defense. Among the losses are the Mountain West offensive player of the year Pumphrey [fourth round pick Eagles] and MW defensive player of the year cornerback Damontae Kazee [fifth round pick Falcons]. Among the losses were 4/5 of the OL and 2/3 of the DL.Â
That's a lot to lose.
Stanford was similar in losing its best player on both offense and defense. In addition, there is reason to think both Stanford's incoming top RB and SDSU's (Penny, 1018 yds) are pretty good. But, Stanford only lost 3 starters on offense (McCaffrey, Rector, Caspers) and 2/3 on defense (Thomas, Lloyd, and Hoffpaiur started several games).
The article on the 3-3-5 defense basically describes it being designed to handle spread offenses by hiding an extra safety in the middle of the field (the Aztec), thus freeing that player up to come make plays on the otherwise free ball carrier. As noted above, their defensive stats were very good last year. However, the only Power 5 team they played was Cal, a game SDSU won in a shootout, 45-40. Cal put up 604 yards (almost all passing of course), but turned the ball over 4 times and allowed a KO return for a TD.
(Other teams that moved the ball on SDSU were Wyoming (a balanced offense - they played twice, with Wyoming winning and playing much better the first time) and Colorado State who went nuts on them (mostly running). SDSU's best win was their bowl game vs Houston, 34-10.)
One would think that an extra safety and a not particularly brobdingnagian set of DL would not match up particularly well to a power run game, though I do note they seem to be going for more size on the DL this year as they've moved their 265# NT to DE and have first and second string NT at 295#.
SDSU's own offense was rush heavy, not surprising with Pumphrey. The run game had 65% of their yards and 71% of their plays. Those both are considerably more than Stanford last year at 57% and 61%.
I haven't watched SDSU a lot. I think they run sort of a simplified pro-style, run first offense. Not nearly as many formations and personnel changes as Stanford, sticking more often with the RB-FB-TE and two WR sets. They don't play particularly quickly, so the game may have some of the fewest total plays in the whole season.Â
Stanford will and should be favoured, but if SDSU has their replacement pipeline set, it could be a tough game.
I just saw three articles about San Diego State on SBNation.
This one is a run down on their (kind of) unique 3-3-5 defense.
https://www.footballstudyhall.com/2017/7...long-3-3-5
The other is a quick look at depth and returning starters.
https://www.mwcconnection.com/2017/3/9/1...the-aztecs
And, as always, one of the better previews is by Bill Connelly
https://www.sbnation.com/college-footbal...ule-roster
On the road, sandwiched between games vs USC and UCLA, against an in-state team that finished #25 last year in both AP and Coaches polls - this would seem to have the makings of a surprisingly tough matchup.
Last year, the hype was all for their star RB, Donnell Pumphrey. (Pumphrey actually had more all purpose yards (total) than McCaffrey last year, but he played in three more games.) Despite the hype, the strength of the team was its defense. In all of Division 1, SDSU ranked #11 in both total defense and yds allowed per play; #17 in scoring defense; #24 in defensive S&P+, and #26 in FEI defense. All considerably better than their middle of the road offensive stats.
From last year, SDSU loses 6 of 11 from offense and 5 of 11 from defense. Among the losses are the Mountain West offensive player of the year Pumphrey [fourth round pick Eagles] and MW defensive player of the year cornerback Damontae Kazee [fifth round pick Falcons]. Among the losses were 4/5 of the OL and 2/3 of the DL.Â
That's a lot to lose.
Stanford was similar in losing its best player on both offense and defense. In addition, there is reason to think both Stanford's incoming top RB and SDSU's (Penny, 1018 yds) are pretty good. But, Stanford only lost 3 starters on offense (McCaffrey, Rector, Caspers) and 2/3 on defense (Thomas, Lloyd, and Hoffpaiur started several games).
The article on the 3-3-5 defense basically describes it being designed to handle spread offenses by hiding an extra safety in the middle of the field (the Aztec), thus freeing that player up to come make plays on the otherwise free ball carrier. As noted above, their defensive stats were very good last year. However, the only Power 5 team they played was Cal, a game SDSU won in a shootout, 45-40. Cal put up 604 yards (almost all passing of course), but turned the ball over 4 times and allowed a KO return for a TD.
(Other teams that moved the ball on SDSU were Wyoming (a balanced offense - they played twice, with Wyoming winning and playing much better the first time) and Colorado State who went nuts on them (mostly running). SDSU's best win was their bowl game vs Houston, 34-10.)
One would think that an extra safety and a not particularly brobdingnagian set of DL would not match up particularly well to a power run game, though I do note they seem to be going for more size on the DL this year as they've moved their 265# NT to DE and have first and second string NT at 295#.
SDSU's own offense was rush heavy, not surprising with Pumphrey. The run game had 65% of their yards and 71% of their plays. Those both are considerably more than Stanford last year at 57% and 61%.
I haven't watched SDSU a lot. I think they run sort of a simplified pro-style, run first offense. Not nearly as many formations and personnel changes as Stanford, sticking more often with the RB-FB-TE and two WR sets. They don't play particularly quickly, so the game may have some of the fewest total plays in the whole season.Â
Stanford will and should be favoured, but if SDSU has their replacement pipeline set, it could be a tough game.