GAME INFORMATION
Date: Saturday, August 31
Location: Snapdragon stadium
Kickoff: 5:00 PM PT
TV: truTV / MAX
Aztecs Radio Network: San Diego Sports 760
Live Gameplay updates: Via Twitter/X @TheSDSUPodcast

New head coach Sean Lewis will debut as the 19th head coach in SDSU football history this Saturday at Snapdragon Stadium against Texas A&M-Commerce.

The Red and Black will look very different this season, not only because of a new coaching staff but also because of major changes in all three phases.

“Ready to get the season rolling here,” Lewis said at Monday’s press conference. “Obviously, a lot of anticipation, a lot of work has gone into this. Excited for Saturday to get an opportunity to coach our guys, lead our guys, see our community, and see everyone show up so we can pack Snapdragon and have an unbelievable home atmosphere.”

Offensively, Lewis brings his highly touted fast-paced offense to town. Although SDSU has been a run-first team in the past decade, Lewis’ offense has plenty of talent at the receiver position and a scheme that should allow them to take shots downfield.

When Lewis was in Colorado, they averaged 28.17 PPG and threw the ball 474 times during the year. Last season, SDSU averaged 20.5 PPG and threw the ball 319 times. With the depth at the running back position and talent at tight end and out wide, if the O-line can hold up, SDSU will have the opportunity to spread the ball out.

The Aztec Fast offense has been highly anticipated as coaches and players have mentioned its effect on opposing defenses. The Aztecs have mainly been known for their tough running game, so a fast-paced offense that could take more downfield shots is something new for the fans to be excited about.

True freshman Danny O’Neil will lead the attack at Snapdragon Stadium after a tough quarterback competition. Lewis restocked SDSU with key players from the transfer portal, such as TE Jude Wolfe, RB Marquez Cooper,  WR Ja’Shaun Poke, and WR Jerry McClure, to complement returning stars like WRs Mekhi Shaw and Baylin Brooks. There will be plenty of players to keep an eye on Saturday afternoon.

On defense, Lewis brought Eric Schmidt from Washington to be the new defensive coordinator. Schmidt was the special teams coordinator and coach for the EDGE position during his two seasons with the Huskies. He brings a new look, a 4-2-5 defense, with him that revolves heavily on the EDGE position being a cornerstone of its success.

San Diego State has traditionally had a tough defense. The players who joined from the transfer portal, such as CB Bryce Philips, EDGE Marlem Louis, and LB Tano Letuli, combined with returning players CB Chris Johnson and EDGE Trey White, the physicality isn’t lacking.

The Aztecs gave up an average of 26.8 PPG, 165.8 rushing YPG, and 241.2 passing YPG in 2023, which were high numbers compared to previous seasons. Schmidt will look to get SDSU back into the form they are used to playing in 2024. There is loads of talent to watch on the defense from the interior defensive linemen and EDGEStand o the ball-hawking, hard-hitting secondary.

On special teams, kicking has not been a major concern on The Mesa since Matt Arazia and then Jack Browning handled punts, kickoffs, and place kicking during their back-to-back tenures. However, following Browning’s graduation last season, there was an unfamiliar void to be filled.

The kicking duties will be divided this year, with Tyler Pastula (transfer from Albany) handling punts exclusively and Gabriel Plascencia taking on placekicking and kickoffs. Pastula is the solid starter at punter, but placekicking was awarded to Plascencia for now, although the competition is still close, making that an area of concern going into the first game.

“Control the controllable,” Lewis said about his main message ahead of this Saturday’s game. “There is a ton of variables to this, with all the change that has happened here, all the changes that have happened on their roster… so when the moment comes, we have to make sure we’re controlling the controllable. What’s our mindset, focus, attention to detail? What’s the effort that we’re playing with and doing that consistently for four quarters?”

SDSU PLAYER TO WATCH: DANNY O’NEIL

Quarterback play is extremely important to a team’s success. True freshman Danny O’Neil officially earned the role of starter last Monday. With two full weeks to prepare as the starter for this first game, his role in this offense is crucial.

The fast-paced offense requires a quarterback who not only has the physical talents but the mental aptitude for the game as well. Lewis mentioned O’Neil’s knowledge of the game as his strong suit throughout the quarterback competition. SDSU will rely on O’Neil to get play calls quickly and relay them to his teammates promptly to keep the flow of the game how Lewis intends.

Two important keys for O’Neil in this first game will both be mental. One being his ability to run the offense effectively and the second being minimizing mistakes.

SDSU’s offense depends on signal callers making the right reads. The Aztecs refer to specific “rules” that govern a QB’s play. While they can work outside of the framework, the rules are in place for a reason. According to the staff, O’Neil has done a great job in practice; Saturday will be his first opportunity in a game.

The other key to him having a successful game will be minimizing mistakes. In the two open scrimmages at Snapdragon Stadium, O’Neil struggled with decision-making. He threw three interceptions. For this first game, it will be important for him to stay focused, lean on his supporting cast, and command this offense up and down the field. If he can minimize mistakes and limit turnovers, it will be a big step in the right direction for solidifying his spot as the starter.

“You have that fundamental understanding of what needs to get done and how to operate,” Lewis said when asked how O’Neil’s knowledge of the game will impact his play on Saturday. “Having the new technology that we’ll have at our disposal, with the tablets on the sideline and the in-game communication with the coach to player comms, we’ll be able to help him as well. He’s a very headsy kid. He’s doing an unbelievable job studying and preparing.”

SDSU KEY TO SUCCESS: APPLYING PRESSURE AND PREVENTING PRESSURE

You often hear the game of football is won in the trenches. In this game against Texas A&M Commerce, that should prove true. The Red and Black will need to apply pressure on the opposing offense as well as prevent pressure on the Aztec Fast offense.

The defense has talent in the secondary. Schmidt will be looking to wreak havoc on the offensive line to force TAMCU duel threat QB Eric Rodriguez into making some errant throws that hopefully the secondary can intercept.

During their 2023 season, the Lions averaged 188 passing yards per game and scored an average of 15.9 PPG. If the defense can apply the right amount of pressure and hold the Lions offense to similar numbers, they would be in a good position.

Texas A&M Commerce has many fresh faces on the offensive line, but one key piece is returning. Left tackle Jadin Jones was solid last season and will have his hands full with this Aztec defense. If EDGE coach Rob Aurich can keep his rushers fresh and wear Jones down, that could allow the D-line to apply the pressure the defense will need.

The SDSU D-line will also need to stuff the run and force throws. Texas A&M Commerce averaged a little over 100 yards a game (104.4) rushing. If the Red and Black defensive line can hold its own and allow the secondary some opportunities to create turnovers, that could be the difference maker in the game.

The offensive line for SDSU has been an area of concern this offseason as the depth has been thin. With a new offense that wants to utilize the run and pass game, the O-line will need to perform. The defense is the strength of this Lions’ team so intelligent play will be the key to holding them at bay.

The Lions gave up an average of 32.3 PPG, 162 rushing YPG, and 250.3 passing YPG. If Lewis’ offense can play efficiently behind the offensive line, the plays should open up to allow them to put up decent numbers and get a win in their first game.

Linebacker Brandon Tucker and safety Max Epps are the two key pieces of this opposing defense. If Tucker can be contained and blocked, that will make Epps’ job harder. With time, O’Neil should be able to go through his progressions and make smart throws. If the line allows Tucker to play free, he can cover the entire field and make disruptive plays in both areas of the game.

In 2023, Texas A&M Commerce had 14 players with double-digit solo tackles and intercepted the ball 15 times while forcing 10 fumbles. Winning the turnover battle significantly is likely TAMCU’s only path to victory.

When it comes to the overall success of Lewis’ offense, he needs his O-line to be up for the task. If they can protect O’Neil, the playbook will open up that much more. With a true freshman at quarterback, the offensive line play can make or break this game for the Aztecs.

It’s going to be key,” Lewis frankly stated on the play in the trenches. “They love to run the football, and they work a few play-action passes off of that to stretch the field. So, we have to do a great job killing the run, up front with the D-line and our backers so we can take that advantage away from them. And then being able to establish what we want to do offensively, controlling and winning at the line of scrimmage, a lot gets made of the skill guys, but the game is won in the trenches, so we have to do a good job up front.”

Johnny Olivieri

Johnny is born and raised in San Diego and a diehard fan of all his hometown teams. He is an avid collector of sports memorabilia that help paint a picture of the history of sports in San Diego. He spends a lot of his time attending sports games across San Diego county and enjoys studying the history and spreading knowledge of San Diego’s diverse sports.