In the San Diego State football team’s first two scrimmages, the offense looked like a juggernaut.
SDSU moved the ball easily, averaging more than 360 yards in the first two contests of spring footballl and imposing its will on a defense that seemed to struggle with learning the scheme of its new coordinator Bob Elliott.
But if the events of Saturday’s third scrimmage of spring drills, held at the SDSU on-campus practice facility, are any indication, the Aztec defense has caught up.
The defense derailed the offensive freight train, holding its counterparts to a mere 175 yards on 50 plays while forcing a number of mistakes for the offense.
“I don’t think our offense played that bad today,” head coach Chuck Long said. “I think our defense was just that good. The defense just did a great job.”
The highlight of that job was sophomore linebacker Russell Allen’s interception of redshirt freshman quarterback Darren Mougey and Allen’s subsequent 84-yard return for a touchdown.
“That’s the kind of play you dream about,” Allen said. “But, to be honest, I got sucked into the play action and was just trying to recover.”
The key to the defense’s recovery, at least in Allen’s mind, was a quick start.
“The previous two scrimmages, we’ve been coming out slow,” Allen said. “We have to come out fast, and we came out a lot more fired up today.”
Even more important than intensity, however, was a defense that showed signs of finally being comfortable in its new system.
“Even though we’ve kept some of the things the same, it’s a new system with a new terminology,” Allen said. “I feel like it’s starting to come along now, like we’re starting to get it.”
The offense had just four plays over 10 yards, but did manage to string together a 13-play drive under Mougey, capped off by junior running back Brandon Bornes 1-yard touchdown run.
Mougey was 6-of-7 passing and did lead the offenses only touchdown drive, but Long said that no one has stood out in the search for a starting quarterback.
“I told all the coaches that unless someone is really out in front we should try to keep every position open,” Long said. “Darren had a good day but so did (redshirt freshman Kevin Craft and junior Kevin O’Connell).”
SDSU will finish spring drills with the annual Red and Black game 10 a.m. Saturday at Torrey Pines High School, which will be open to the public free of charge.
