Aug. 20, 2014
SAN DIEGO -
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Position previews: After pulling a season from the ashes, Kaehler's encore awaits
Returners with starting experience: QB Quinn Kaehler, senior
Departures with starting experience: QB Adam Dingwell
By Michael Klitzing (@mikeklitzing)
Overview
Aztecs fans - at least those who haven't purged it from their memory - recall the first three games of last season as a slow rolling disaster. It started with the home loss to Eastern Illinois. Then the 35-point setback at Ohio State. Then, to top it off, snatching defeat from the jaws of victory against Oregon State.
What gets lost in the miraculous recovery that followed, however, is how the fourth game began - when SDSU spotted winless New Mexico State a 16-0 lead, making their season look about as dead as Sanskrit.
Quarterbacks coach Brian Sipe remembers it well. In fact, he pinpoints it as a transformative moment for Quinn Kaehler - a walk on thrust into action in Week 2 who had suffered a woeful fourth quarter to lose the Oregon State game.
"We could have cashed it in, and that really could have crashed the season," Sipe said. "But he put it together in that second half and we did what we had to do to win that game. After that we had an overtime win over Nevada and a fourth quarter win against Air Force. I think at that point, everybody was on board with Quinn."
These days, few seats remain to be claimed on the Kaehler bandwagon. A smart, experienced quarterback who has proven his ability to thrive in SDSU's pro-style offense, he returns for a senior season with a scholarship secured but higher expectations to meet.
Recapping 2013
SDSU entered last season with the mobile Adam Dingwell at the helm. Dingwell, who had guided the Aztecs to a share of the Mountain West title in 2012, fared so poorly that he was replaced after five quarters of action. Kaehler stepped in and exceeded nearly everyone's expectations, throwing for 3,007 yards and 19 scores against only 9 interceptions while compiling an 8-3 record as a starter. He also excelled in close games, presiding over five second-half comebacks and three overtime wins.
"I think that the most memorable thing about Kaehler's 2013 year was the offensive performances in the second half," Sipe said. "We really had a cardiac kids kind of a year, and he made a lot of plays when we needed them."
Adding a little extra polish
What was learned about Kaehler last season is this: What he lacks in arm strength, he makes up for in intelligence and poise (though Sipe contests he's a better athlete than most give him credit for). Kaehler had to shake off a little rust at the start of fall camp after missing spring ball due to injury, but he was able to get back in the groove quickly and turned in a solid performance in Saturday's Family Day scrimmage.
"He's much more comfortable in this role this year," Sipe said. "He understands the offense better, and I expect that he's going to have a quality year. But I thought Quinn had a very good year last year, so we've been doing more polishing than changing. He's a smart quarterback, he manages our offense - and it's a complicated offense - very well."
The kids are alright
In talking to the cerebral Sipe, it's apparent that intelligence is a something he values in his quarterbacks. That should tell you something about Nick Bawden, an 18-year-old true freshman who rose from fourth on the depth chart in spring ball (he graduated high school early so he could compete) to the backup role.
"We have a sophisticated offense - a pro-style, Sunday afternoon offense," Sipe said. "I've been very happy with how quickly he's picked it up, not just learned it, but he can manage it. That's what he's going to have to do for us this year."
The staff has enough confidence in Bawden that they opted to move redshirt freshman Chase Favreau to wide receiver. Another true freshman quick study, Christian Chapman, has impressed Sipe enough to claim the third string role.
Projected two-deep
QB-Quinn Kaehler, Nick Bawden