Aztecs report: Notes, quotes

March 26, 2008
The Sports Xchange

Notes, quotes · Strategy and personnel · Inside slant

SPRING OBJECTIVES
Priority No. 1 is to find a replacement for QB Kevin O'Connell, who not only was athletic, but also was a great leader who put the team on his back and willed a few wins last season. The new starter won't be as athletic as O'Connell and will have to have a better pocket presence to stand in and make plays. Because SDSU faces the prospect of going with a pocket passer, finding starters at both tackle positions is paramount. The unit also must find a consistent running back. On defense, the Aztecs have experience among the front seven but lose Brett Martin, so they should play the run better. Depending on whether the NCAA grants a sixth year of eligibility to safety Corey Boudreaux, SDSU may be looking for a pair of starting safeties.

BUILDING BLOCKS
SDSU also has a talented cast of skill-position players. So even though the Aztecs lost QB Kevin O'Connell and their top two wide receivers, they have two potentially solid replacements at wideout in Darren Mougey and Vincent Brown. LB Russell Allen is an all-conference candidate, and SDSU got significantly better in the defensive backfield as CBs Aaron Moore and Vonnie Holmes now have experience.

SCHEDULE SITUATION
The Aztecs have greatly toned down their nonconference schedule, tackling only one BCS heavyweight -- compared with their customary three of recent years past. SDSU should find out about itself in a Sept. 6 visit to South Bend, Ind., to take on rebuilding Notre Dame. The rest of the nonconference slate, against Cal Poly, San Jose State and Idaho, should keep the Aztecs better prepared physically for the MWC schedule.

QUOTE TO NOTE
"I think the three we have right now are more pocket-type passers. They're different than what you've seen in Kevin O'Connell. They are guys who are able to get to the third and fourth wide receiver. Pocket-type passers who don't run a lot don't have much of a choice, so they learn the progressions. They learn to get the ball to that third or fourth wide receiver. Running quarterbacks sometimes feel like they're the No. 2 or No. 3 guy in the progression, so it's in the back of their minds to run." -- Coach Chuck Long, on the difference between the quarterbacks currently on the roster and former starter Kevin O'Connell.