Aug. 27, 2014
SAN DIEGO -
Position previews: Aztecs hope to keep the big plays at bay while new safeties find their footing
Returners with starting experience: CB J.J. Whittaker, senior
Departing starters: S Marcus Andrews, S Nat Berhe, S Gabe Lemon, S Eric Pinkins, CB King Holder
By Michael Klitzing (@mikeklitzing)
Overview
If there's any one reason that might cause San Diego State football fans to tug at their collars as the new season approaches it's this: the Aztecs have three new starting safeties scrambling to figure out the litany of run support and coverage assignments in Rocky Long's complex 3-3-5 defense.
And they're sure going to have to figure it out fast. After a tough FCS opponent to start, the next two contests include matchups with dynamic quarterbacks - North Carolina's Marquise Williams and Oregon State's Sean Mannion. Even with that heady challenge looming, safeties coach Danny Gonzales sees reason for optimism to go with the concern.
"I would like them to be a lot further ahead than they are, but they're really talented," he said. "The big thing we've been trying to eliminate over the past two weeks is giving up big plays because of concentration errors. We've improved over the past two weeks - we had a stretch where we gave up a big 80-plus yard touchdown five practices in a row. We've eliminated those so far.
"Hopefully, when the lights go on Saturday, we'll continue to not give up big plays."
Another reason not to panic about the safeties - at least not yet - is that a year ago at this time, the Aztecs were harboring similar fears about the cornerback position. Now, SDSU's starting corners are viewed as two of the defense's most dependable returners.
Recapping 2013
SDSU gave up some gaudy numbers in the passing game in 2013, but a lot of that had to do with the fact it faced some stout passing attacks, including three quarterbacks who would be NFL draft picks. The Aztecs secondary - led by senior "Aztec" safety Nat Berhe and his team-high 99 tackles - usually came up big when it had to. That included Whittaker, whose interception for a score against Boise State helped propel SDSU to the comeback victory. "Warrior" safety Eric Pinkins added 75 tackles, while Kazee forced a team-high four fumbles coming off the bench.
Confident corners
Rocky Long is not really one to give rave reviews, but when assessing his cornerbacks this offseason, he came pretty close.
"I think they're confident and they can play man-to-man," Long said. "We've got young, talented guys at corner who have played. We're pretty good at corner."
While not exactly young, the senior Whittaker certainly meets all the other criteria. The Oceanside product shook off an injury-riddled start to his career to earn an All-Mountain West Honorable Mention in his first season of action last year, snagging a team-best three interceptions. Kazee made his mark as a reserve defender and on special teams, where he had a key blocked kick in SDSU's win over San Jose State.
The Aztecs believe they have solid depth here, as well. With junior Pierre Romain moving to safety, senior David Lamar and sophomore Billy Vaughn Jr. will have a chance to contribute as second-string cornerbacks.
A new Aztec
The tall task of replacing Berhe, who is now playing on Sundays with the New York Giants, falls to sophomore Na'im McGee, a junior college transfer who has impressed ever since he arrived in the spring. He'll be entrusted with the "Aztec" position, a hybrid safety/linebacker role that requires you to cover a team's best receiver man-to-man one play, and take on a 300-pound lineman the next.
"Na'im is a really physical kid who has done a great job of learning what to do," Gonzales said. "He doesn't make assignment errors. We just need to get him to play fast and with confidence."
Untested Warriors
Sophomore Malik Smith is what passes for a grizzled veteran among SDSU's safeties. That means he has about 30 Division I snaps to his credit.
But Smith and redshirt freshman Trey Lomax did enough in fall camp to separate themselves as the starters at the "Warrior" position. Both are extremely athletic and have shown an ability to excel in man-to-man coverage.
"They both have done a good job of covering initial routes and making the quarterback hold the football," Gonzales said. "The big plays we gave up early in camp were in zone coverages. We've gotten better at that."
Depth will be provided by freshly-minted scholarship player Romain and walk-on T.J. Hickman, who will also see considerable time on special teams.
Projected two-deep
CB - J.J. Whittaker, David Lamar
WAR - Malik Smith, Pierre Romain
AZ - Na'im McGee, Brandon Porter
WAR - Trey Lomax, T.J. Hickman
CB - Damontae Kazee, Billy Vaughn Jr.