San Diego Union-Tribune (Sunday)
AZTECS’ SEARCH FOR QB STILL ON
None of three is able to separate himself during spring work
San Diego State’s search for a starting quarterback was the biggest storyline coming into spring practice.
So what did 15 workouts over five weeks do to decide the matter?
Pretty much nothing. The QB search will once again be the primary focus when the Aztecs reconvene for fall camp in August, perhaps extending until game week for the 2021 season opener against New Mexico State.
SDSU’S post-spring depth chart lists the No. 1 quarterback as Lucas Johnson OR Jordon Brookshire OR Jalen Mayden.
“(In the Spring Game), we didn’t play as well for one reason or another at that position.” Brady Hoke • On his QBS
SDSU head coach Brady Hoke and offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Jeff Hecklinski regularly note progress among the quarterbacks as the spring progressed, although none of the QBS was particularly impressive during SDSU’S Spring Game.
Johnson (5-for-14, 88 yards) threw the game’s only touchdown pass, a 72-yard completion to Ethan Dedeaux. That means Johnson amassed only 16 yards through the air during the other eight series in which he was involved.
Brookshire (4-for-11, 55 yards) and Mayden (5for-12, 83 yards) had similar struggles.
This isn’t going to get it done in an era when several quarterbacks now are completing better than 70 percent of their passes (nine FBS quarterbacks in 2020) and dozens (31) are better than 65 percent.
Some incompletions could be explained as balls thrown away during a heavy rush or when receivers were covered.
But there were several occasions where the quarterbacks simply were wide of the mark or overthrew their targets.
“The first 14 days, I thought all three quarterbacks did a lot of good things,” Hoke said. “(In the Spring Game), we didn’t play as well for one reason or another at that position . ...
“We needed to make a little bit more progress. Still have a ton of confidence in each and every one of them,
but I didn’t think we played as well or (could have) made a couple decisions a little better.”
SDSU now has three dual-threat quarterbacks — a fourth will join the group when freshman William Haskell arrives over the summer — competing at the position.
The coach was concerned that they consistently overlooked some plus-yardage runs for low-percentage passing plays.
“When you’ve got three guys who all have a good ability, great ability, with their feet to extend plays and make plays,” Hoke said. “we’ve got to be looking more toward that than trying to make the big play down the field.
“It’s great when you hit those plays, but when you don’t your defense is back on the field. And we like it when (the offense) is on the field. When you’ve got an opportunity, you’ve got to take advantage of it to keep the ball, move the sticks.
Johnson looked like he could be everything the Aztecs want in a QB for two quarters at Nevada last season. He passed and ran for touchdowns in the first half against the Wolf Pack as SDSU built a 21-16 halftime lead.
But Johnson was injured in the game — which SDSU lost 26-21 — and never was the same the remainder of the season. It is that injury history — injuries derailed his career at Georgia Tech and delayed his emergence at SDSU — that makes Johnson a question mark.
Brookshire completed 63 percent of his passes (35 for 55) in two starts last season against Colorado State and BYU.
It was encouraging for a quarterback whose accuracy has been questioned, although too small a sample size to come to any conclusions.
In weekly spring scrimmages, Brookshire often seemed sped up and ineffective when pressured.
Mayden is the wild card in all this.
The 6-foot-3, 225-pound left-hander looks the part when he drops back in the pocket. His issue has been shaking off the rust that accumulated during nearly three years watching from the sidelines.
“He’s got a natural pocket presence,” Hecklinski said midway through spring practice. “He’s got a natural calmness in the pocket . ... His demeanor. He’s just very relaxed and comfortable there.”
Added Hecklinski: “I think Jalen will be a completely different player when we hit August than he is right now.”
How quickly Mayden progresses will be the key in this competition.
The Aztecs already know what they have in Johnson and Brookshire.
What could they have in Mayden? That remains to be seen.
Two possibilities to consider:
1) Johnson maintains his slight edge in the competition and Mayden waits in the wings.
2) Mayden shows something in August that convinces the coaches he can lead the offense to more touchdowns than the others.
Check back at the end of August.
Notable
On the O-line, senior center Alama Uluave and junior right guard William Dunkle are the only linemen starting at the same positions they occupied last season.
Senior Zachary Thomas
moves to left tackle after starting last season at right tackle.
Senior Dominic Gudino,
who missed last season recovering from an injury, remains in a competition at left guard with Chris Martinez, who started at right guard last season.
Sophomore Brandon Crenshaw-dickson has emerged as the starter at right guard.
The competition at middle linebacker — between Andrew Aleki and Seyddrick Lakalaka — and weak-side linebacker — Segun Olubi and Michael Shawcroft — will continue into the fall.
In the secondary, seniors Tayler Hawkins and Trenton Thompson are returning starters at cornerback and one of the safety spots, respectively.
Junior Dallas Branch,
pushed by sophomore Noah Tumblin, has emerged at the other cornerback position. Juniors Patrick Mcmorris and Cedarius Barfield are the other two safeties.
Junior Jacob Raab
takes over snapping duties for the graduated Justin Bernard, who recently signed with Minnesota as an undrafted free agent.
kirk.kenney@sduniontribune.com