Aug. 18, 2014
SAN DIEGO -
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Position previews: As questions persist elsewhere, line is defense's bastion of stability
By Michael Klitzing (@mikeklitzing)
Returners with starting experience: DE Sam Meredith, senior; DE Dontrell Onuoha, senior.
Departures with starting experience: DE Jordan Thomas; DE Cody Galea, senior (moved to OLB).
Overview
This has been an offseason of high drama for two-thirds of the San Diego State defense. The secondary has been a work in progress, as integrating three new starting safeties has seemed a Herculean - and occasionally Sisyphean - challenge. The linebacker position has fallen victim to rotten luck, as rising to the top of the depth chart has proven about as perilous to your health than appearing on the cover of Madden.
The defensive line, though? Steady as a rock.
If you've been following SDSU football closely for the past couple of seasons, names like Dontrell Onuoha, Jon Sanchez, Sam Meredith and Alex Barrett should be quite familiar. All four contributed significantly last season and all four return for 2014, providing a seasoned tip of the spear for the Aztecs 3-3-5.
The Aztecs' surplus of experience up front is so formidable that head coach Rocky Long felt comfortable moving senior Cody Galea - who led all linemen with 36 tackles last season - from defensive end to outside linebacker.
"They've got the potential to be a real productive group," said defensive line coach Osia Lewis. "They can be a real positive for us versus the run, and we have some guys in there who have got some natural pass rushing ability. If we get it all put together, we can have a real good season."
Recapping 2013
Last season wasn't exactly chopped liver, either - especially against the run. Despite injuries that decimated the team at linebacker, the Aztecs surrendered a mere 3.7 yards per carry. SDSU held five opponents to fewer than 100 yards on the ground, including an eye-popping 10 yards on 20 carries against Oregon State. While doing the unglamorous work of paving the way for blitzing linebackers and safeties, SDSU linemen got into the act with 22.5 tackles for loss and 9.5 sacks.
Senior leadership
The fact that football coaches like seniors isn't exactly breaking news. With that in mind, you shouldn't be too surprised that Lewis is feeling good about what he sees at the defensive end position, where he has two seniors boasting a combined 31 starts.
"I think it's very important," he said. "Dontrell and Sam are real important to our success from a leadership standpoint, making sure guys are doing things the way we do things."
Onuoha, who has quickness to go with his 290-pound frame, is in his fifth season with the program and is one of only two returning Aztecs to make starts in each of the past three seasons. Meredith is looking to bounce back from a shoulder injury that cost him the second half of his junior campaign and spring ball this year. But, when healthy in 2012, he may have been the team's best lineman.
Meredith is currently listed as a backup at one of the defensive end spots behind junior Jon Sanchez, who is coming off a strong 2013. Sanchez didn't log a start but made the most of his time on the field, contributing 22 tackles (four for loss) and two sacks.
Pass rushing prodigies
Despite all the known commodities up front, the leader in sacks among SDSU linemen in 2013 was a freshman. Still a teenager at the time, Barrett notched three sacks and 15 tackles as a backup at end, including two in a pivotal comeback win against Air Force. He'll move inside this season, where he is listed as the starter at defensive tackle.
Another youngster with the potential to cause headaches for Mountain West quarterbacks is redshirt freshman Dakota Turner, a quick, athletic end from Hawaii who has impressed Lewis with his steady improvement.
The great unknown
The Aztecs made headlines in February when they announced the signing of defensive tackle Christian Heyward, a USC transfer who was a four-star recruit coming out of Point Loma High. But since the big signing-day splash, Aztecs coaches have been tight-lipped about their big get.
It certainly hasn't helped that Heyward, who is recovering from a dislocated kneecap, has not yet set foot on the practice field. And once he does, Lewis says he hasn't a clue of what to expect.
"None whatsoever," he said. "He was great in high school, but that was a long time ago. When he gets healthy, we'll see."
Projected two-deep
DE-Jon Sanchez, Sam Meredith
DT-Alex Barrett, Kenny Galea'i
DE-Dontrell Onuoha, Dakota Turner