Aug. 23, 2015
The seventh installment of Mick McGrane's season outlook focuses on the defensive line.
Aug. 15 - Preview
Aug. 17 - Quarterbacks
Aug. 18 - Wide Receivers
Aug. 19 - Running Backs
Aug. 20 - Tight Ends
Aug. 21 - Offensive Line
The Aztec Defense
Who starts and who doesn't matters little in Long's defense, which substitutes with greater frequency than a hockey team making line changes.
And if the Aztecs can find some depth at linebacker and in the secondary (the returning starters are quality), there might not be a remedy for the pain this group could potentially inflict.
The same unit that led the MW in scoring defense and total defense a year ago, as well as ranking among the top 25 nationally in both categories (the Aztecs finished No. 13 in allowing 19.8 points and No. 16 in yielding an average of 332.5 yards), returns eight starters.
This from a group that in 2014 featured eight first-time starters in the team's season opener, the highest total on either side of the ball by any team in the country.
"We have to get some depth on the defensive line and find some linebackers," Long said. "We only have two experienced linebackers, Calvin Munson and Jake Fely. We have a whole bunch of guys who haven't played at linebacker. We have a pretty good starting defensive line, but after that it's all young guys. So, they have to prove they can play, too."
As it stands, the Aztecs return two of their three starting defensive linemen from a year ago and their entire starting secondary. Further confirming that Long's 3-3-5 defense can prove as baffling as solving a Rubik's cube with a blindfold, SDSU during the 2014 regular season recorded 68 tackles for loss and 24 sacks, with no fewer than 20 different players registering tackles for loss and 12 posting sacks.
The Aztecs allowed only 252 points last year after surrendering 412 (31.7 points per game) in 2013.
DEFENSIVE LINE
Returning players with starting experience: Alex Barrett *, Christian Heyward, Jon Sanchez *
* - denotes returning starters
When Long, the winningest head coach in Mountain West history, singles out a particular player as being the best in the league at his position, one tends to pay heed.
When that player is moved to a new position to make room for another player of quality, one tends to wonder just how far Long will go in making opposing offenses cry "uncle."
But such is the case in 2015 where Barrett, a junior whom Long calls the best nose tackle in the MW, has been moved to defensive end to make room for senior Christian Heyward.
Heyward, a transfer from USC who came on strong at the end of last season, had knee surgery in March but is expected to be ready for fall camp.
"Alex Barrett is the best nose tackle in the league," said Long, "but we moved him to end because he's a little quicker and Heyward is a little bigger and stronger."
In the Aztecs' three-man front, senior Jon Sanchez, who has played in 39 straight games, is projected to start at the end spot opposite Barrett.
"We have some depth in our defensive line," Long said. "The depth is young, but they are players who have been with us for a while now."
Monday: Linebackers