Aug. 3, 2004
Below is part II of a two-part season preview on the 2004 San Diego State football team. Today's story will focus on the team's defense, while the Aztec offensive preview was posted Monday afternoon.
A year ago, San Diego State shocked, well mostly everyone, when it finished the year eighth in the country in total defense just one season after finishing 95th in the country in the same category and allowing 410 yards and 31.6 points per game. The 2003 squad gave up 289 yards and 17.2 points per game. San Diego State had the nation's most improved defense.
The only surprise in 2004 would be if the Aztecs failed to field an even better unit.
Back from the 2003 version of "The Dark Side" are eight starters, including 2003 Mountain West defensive player of the year Kirk Morrison, 2003 Mountain West tackles champion Matt McCoy and six of the back seven defenders.
Defensive Line
There is a blend of experience and youth, along with size and speed, up front.
"We know with the number of players we have returning that we'll have a good defense," said Craft. "We have a solid group of young players that will help push our starters."
Defensive End: Two of San Diego State's three lost starters are at defensive end where Brandon Rager and Ryan Iata have moved on. Rager had 4.5 sacks a year ago to lead the team in that category. Iata was very strong in the second half of the season and he finished the year with seven tackles behind the line of scrimmage.
"We lost two good football players at defensive end," Craft said. "They were active and physically strong."
The Aztecs, however, are not exactly wringing their collective hands. Robert Miller is listed as the starter at one end spot. He is a player who has transformed himself from underweight freshman to a 6-6, 240-pound active junior who can make plays behind the line of scrimmage as well as 20 yards downfield. The coaches are eager to see what he can do with increased playing time. He had 18 tackles last season but three were behind the line of scrimmage.
Miller's backup is another reason that The Dark Side should have a solid encore. Nicholas Osborn is a redshirt freshman that the staff thought could have made a solid contribution last year. He was a standout during the spring and, at 245 pounds, is still growing.
The other side of the field is not quite as settled but no less impressive. Antwan Applewhite, another redshirt freshman, wear's Kabeer Gbaja Biamila's old number and has his athleticism. He is a speed rusher who will be on the field often.
New to the team is Martin Miller, a pleasant signing day surprise who will make his debut this fall. The coaches are confident in his ability to compete for a starting spot.
Blake Lobel has played inside and outside during his career and could also move onto the flank if injuries or circumstances require. Active Kurt Kahui will also be in the rotation.
"The two redshirt freshmen are going to be excellent players," Craft said. "Martin Miller will compete for a spot and Robert Miller lacks only experience."
The Bottom Line: The experience is gone from 2003 but everything else in place for defensive end to be a position of strength for several years.
Defensive Tackle: Brook Miller is gone from the interior of the line but the Aztecs return five other players who have been in the rotation for a season so don't expect much of a dropoff.
Jonathan Bailes anchored the interior of the defense last year as a true freshman. He will top the scales at over 300 pounds come August but he is sleeker and stronger than a year ago. He is often double-teamed but is rarely pushed out of the middle.
Bailes finished his rookie season with just 20 tackles but the Aztec linebacking corps can thank the Florida sophomore for many of their stats.
Entering camp, Va'ati Maka is listed as the second-team tackle, behind Bailes. He was solid in the rotation last season and will be counted on to carry a bigger load in '04.
Blake Lobel has been all over the defensive line during the course of his career and is now the starter at defensive tackle. He is quick but a bit undersized for the inside. However, his speed is an excellent compliment to the power and size of Bailes.
His backup is Derrick Durbin, who, like Maka, was in the rotation last season and the coaching staff isn't hesitant to call his number.
The Bottom Line: The Aztecs will be at least as strong in the middle and with the number of returning players in the rotation up front, things could be improved.
Linebacker
The Aztecs, quite simply, have the best set of linebackers in the Mountain West and among the best in America. The entire two-deep returns from a year ago with some freshmen who wouldn't mind seeing the field for the first time in their careers.
Outside: The Aztecs have "three" returning starters at outside linebacker. That crew is led by junior Matt McCoy. He led the Mountain West last season with 125 tackles as a sophomore. Included in that total were 13 tackles behind the line of scrimmage. McCoy enters his junior season firmly entrenched as one of the league's top players and perhaps its most active defender. It will take some major development by other players in the league to keep the Tustin product off of the league's first team.
Across the field are Heath Farwell and Stephen Larsen. Both players have been on the field throughout their careers and both players are considered starters.
Farwell had 52 tackles last season, including seven behind the line of scrimmage. He has a nose for the ball with five recovered fumbles over the last three seasons and three fumbles forced.
Larsen is also a playmaker. He has broken up 12 passes over the last two seasons and enters his senior campaign with 110 career tackles. His six pass break-ups in 2003 ranked third in the Mountain West. Larsen is a steady and experienced hand.
Middle: San Diego State has the rare luxury of returning a conference player of the year to its lineup in 2004. Kirk Morrison will be entering his senior season as one of the most decorated Aztecs in recent history. A two-time all-conference player and the reigning 2003 Mountain West player of the year, Morrison was listed as the No. 22 player in America, regardless of position, by espn.com
He could end his career as San Diego State's all-time tackles leader and his decision to return for his senior season was announced to a thunderous ovation at halftime of an Aztec men's basketball game.
Backing up Kirk Morrison is one of San Diego State's most athletic defenders. Freddie Keiaho arrived at SDSU as a running back prospect but was moved to defense following his redshirt year. During his first year of play he was a special-teams standout and became SDSU's top kickoff return player.
His sophomore year he was slowed by a preseason knee injury. However, heading into his junior season, Keiaho should be on the field a lot and can provide Morrison with some breathing time.
The Bottom Line: San Diego State's linebacking corps could be the best in the western United States.
Secondary
San Diego State's improvement in defending the pass was one of the key reasons the Aztecs jumped into the top 10 in total defense a year ago. San Diego State also finished fourth in pass defense after concluding 2002 91st in the nation in pass defense.
Three of the four starters in the secondary return and as is the case with any solid defense, depth in place as well.
Cornerback: The only missing starter in the back seven is cornerback Jeff Shoate, who was drafted by the Denver Broncos. He was in place for three years and was a steady player that was rarely challenged by opposing quarterbacks.
Waiting to take his place is Hubert Caliste. A talented athlete who not only played in the secondary last season, but also caught a pass and threw a pass on the offensive side of the ball.
"Hubert can be special," Craft said of the New Orleans senior. "He's a gifted athlete."
Caliste's career to this point has primarily been on the special teams but he was solid in the spring and even if he doesn't become the starter, he will be utilized all over the field in 2004.
Also in the picture at corner is Marcus Demps. For two years he has been a super sub and the coaches feel there is yet to be a secondary position invented that he can't play.
"Marcus is probably going to be on the field somewhere," Craft said bluntly. "He is always around the ball, he's physical but he has corner tools."
Demps took over strong safety duties last season when Josh Dean was sidelined with mononucleosis. He might have stayed there had he not suffered an ankle injury that forced him out of the lineup.
Despite playing in just nine games, Demps ended the season with 39 tackles, second only to Marviel Underwood among the secondary.
Across the field, Jacob Elimimian returns as a starter. In his first year in the lineup he became a playmaker on defense. He had an 85-yard interception return for a touchdown against UTEP, and his interception at Ohio State set up San Diego State's first score. He led the Mountain West with 18 pass break-ups and finished third in the conference and tops on the team with four interceptions.
Backing up Elimimian is sophomore Terrell Maze. He is an athletic sophomore that worked his way into some playing time last season as a redshirt freshman. He will also be heavily involved with special teams.
The Bottom Line: The Aztecs return a starter and a lot of athleticism at corner. SDSU lost Jeff Shoate to the NFL but the corners should hold steady in 2004.
Safety: The last line of defense for the Aztecs is also one of the best lines of defense for San Diego State. The Aztecs return a pair of starters in seniors Marviel Underwood and Josh Dean. Both players are in their third years of starting duty and safety is clearly one of the positions of strength for the squad.
Underwood is the starter at free safety. He may be the fastest player on the team. His performance last season was clearly better than his honorable mention all-conference selection. He is one of the league's premier players.
A year ago he finished third on the team with 68 tackles and was a steady force throughout the season.
His backup is Reggie Grigsby. A talented junior who may be the most physical Aztec in the secondary, Grigsby could be one of the Aztecs to keep an eye on in 2004. He is strong and lacks only playing time before becoming a force on The Dark Side.
At the other safety spot, SDSU has the luxury of yet another player returning for his third season as a starter. Dean is another player that could push for all-league honors after a solid junior season. He had the first two interceptions of his career last season and he has been around the ball throughout his days in the red and black.
Marcus Demps is also in the picture at safety to give San Diego State perhaps the west coast's best two-deep at safety.
The Bottom Line: With two returning starters and two reserves who will push for playing time, the safeties may be the best manned spot on the team for SDSU.