San Diego State Aztecs: Keys To The Season, Top Game, Top Transfer, Fun Stats
San Diego State Aztecs: Key To The 2022 Offense
Move … the … chains.
It’s okay that San Diego State doesn’t have a high-powered offense, it’s okay that it all works in a well-defined system. However, everything would be a whole lot smoother if the O could do something on third downs.
The Aztecs converted just 32% of their third down tries making life WAY harder than it had to be.
Yes, they ended up winning anyway, and yes, they were actually great on third downs in the loss to Fresno State. However, being under 30% six times put a whole lot of stress on that D.
San Diego State Aztecs: Key To The 2022 Defense
Keep the pass rush going.
The San Diego State defense is always solid, but it went to another level last year when the pass rush was crushing teams on third downs.
The 2017 defense averaged 1.77 sacks per game. It got better in 2018, got to 2.4 per game in 2019, 2.5 in 2020, and it kept the trend going up with 2.93 sacks per game with the pressure coming from a whole lot of spots.
Do that again – even with Cameron Thomas gone – and it’ll be another huge year.
San Diego State Aztecs: Key Player To The 2022 Season
PK/P Jack Browning, Jr.
Matt Araiza was a decent field goal kicker – he hit 18-of-28 and 50-of-68 for his career – but he was a true weapon as the best punter in college football last season averaging over 51 yards per blast.
For a San Diego State team that lives on a relatively thin margin, field position and field goals are a bigger deal than it is for most.
Browning is a JUCO transfer who’s good at putting the ball when it needs to be, but last year his one big moment came on a fake field goal for a rushing touchdown against Hawaii in the tough 17-10 win.
San Diego State Aztecs: Key Transfer
DT Justus Tavai, Sr.
The actual key transfer is Braxton Burmeister from Virginia Tech, but the Aztecs have quarterbacks who can fit the style and the system. If Tavai does what he’s supposed to do, the defensive front will be a brick wall.
The Hawaii transfer came up with 70 tackles, three sacks, and nine tackles for loss over the last two seasons, and now he’ll be asked to work on the inside so his brother Jonah can see more time as an end. If this works, Justus becomes the anchor of the Mountain West’s best defense.
San Diego State Key Game To The 2022 Season
Boise State, Oct. 1
Muscle flexing time.
The Aztecs showed that they probably were the best team in the Mountain West late last year in a 27-16 win over the Broncos – a week later came the COVID-ruined championship loss to Utah State – and this time around they open up the conference season in Boise.
The date at Fresno State might be bigger, and but this is the one that will show just how strong this year’s SDSU team might be. Win, and the date with the Bulldogs in late October should be for a spot in the conference title game.
San Diego State Aztecs: 2021 Fun Stats
– Rushing Yards Per Game: SDSU 174.9 – Opponents 80.3
– Time of Possession: SDSU 32:05 – Opponents 27:55
– 3rd Quarter Scoring: SDSU 120 – Opponents 59
San Diego State 2022 Preview
Offense, Defense Breakdown
Season Prediction, What Will Happen
San Diego State Top 10 Players | SDSU Schedule