The hex apparently has been lifted from San Diego State's defensive line. Despite having 10 of its players nursing injuries last week, the defensive line turned in “one of the best games they've played” in a 21-13 loss at Notre Dame, coach Chuck Long said.
Better yet for the Aztecs, starting tackle Siaosi Fifita appears ready to come back from his knee injury after missing the first two games, Long said yesterday. His return would enable SDSU to play its originally planned first-team front Saturday at San Jose State: Fifita and Ernie Lawson at tackle, B.J. Williams and Jonathan Soto at end.
In Fifita's absence, Soto has had to play at tackle. Because of other injuries, linebacker Russell Allen had to play Saturday at end.
With more depth on the way, Long said it was encouraging for his defense, which has struggled the past two years. Fifita was “having a great camp, he really was,” Long said. “It's too bad he got hurt at the end of it. That would be great for us to move Jon Soto back inside, where we wanted him to begin with.”
Lawson aggravated a foot injury late in the game but should be ready this week, Long said.
Clockwork
A missed PAT and a fumble at the goal line weren't the only things that hurt San Diego State's chances Saturday. SDSU's clock management can be added to the list – at least according to second-guessers, including the NBC television commentators.
The sequence in question happened when the Aztecs got the ball at their 16-yard line with a 7-0 lead and 1:59 left before halftime. Instead of running the ball to run out the clock and keep a halftime lead, SDSU threw two incomplete passes and ran it once out of bounds, stopping the clock each time. The possession lasted just 28 seconds and gave Notre Dame plenty of time to tie it at halftime 7-7, after blocking SDSU's ensuing punt. The Fighting Irish never had to use their last timeout of the half.
On first down, SDSU quarterback Ryan Lindley threw deep down the sideline to receiver Darren Mougey, who almost caught it.
“Less than two minutes and you're throwing the ball downfield. Wow. That's confidence in your passing game,” NBC announcer Pat Haden said.
On second down, running back Brandon Sullivan ran out of bounds. After an incomplete pass on third-and-4, NBC's Tom Hammond said the play was “even better (for Notre Dame) because it stops the clock.”
Haden said it was a “mistake for San Diego State to give the Irish a lot more time.”
Yesterday, Long said the idea on the series was to “attack” and score again. If Mougey had caught the ball, Long said, it would have been a touchdown.
“It's one of those risks you take,” Long said. “But we felt we had a shot at this one play.”
Long said he did not want Sullivan to go out of bounds on second down and that the Aztecs thought they could convert the third down by throwing.
Notes
Safeties
T.J. McKay (Achilles') and
Corey Boudreaux (shoulder) were banged up but should be OK, Long said. . . . Long said a review of the tape yesterday didn't reveal much about Sullivan's fourth-quarter fumble at the goal line. Did he cross the plane of the goal and score? “We couldn't tell,” Long said. “It could have gone either way.”
Brent Schrotenboer: (619) 293-1368; brent.schrotenboer@uniontrib.com
