5 Things to Watch: San Jose State at Aztecs

Oct. 19, 2018 4:45 PM PT

Claude Gilbert calls himself a “casual observer” of college football these days. Except this week, when San Jose State and San Diego State meet on the football field.

“Then I’m a double casual observer,” Gilbert said.

Gilbert served as head coach at SDSU (1973-80) and San Jose State (1984-89). He is one of two people (1940s track/football/basketball star Willie Steele is the other) to be inducted into both schools’ Hall of Fame.

Gilbert, 86, would have loved to come here for the game, but he is recovering from hip replacement surgery he had three weeks ago.

“I’m kind of couch-bound right now,” he said from his home in Grass Valley, about 60 miles north of Sacramento. “I like to stay home Saturday and watch all the college games. It’s always fun, especially when my two teams are playing.

“I kind of consider San Jose State my team, but also equally San Diego State because I was there for 19 years. A long time. I had a lot of great kids and a lot of great coaches. That’s my school, too.”

Gilbert played at San Jose State in the late 1950s. His college coaching career took off as defensive coordinator at SDSU under Don Coryell, the man Gilbert replaced as Aztecs head coach. He is tied with Rocky Long for the second-best winning percentage in program history after compiling a 61-26-2 (.697) record.

Gilbert returned to SDSU in the 1990s and served as defensive coordinator for Ted Tollner before retiring. He’s looking forward to watching Saturday night’s game on television.

“To be able to sit back and casually observe that game is a lot of fun for me,” said Gilbert, who is getting acclimated to his new hip. “I’m doing fine. I’m walking around. Without my cane now some already, so I’m on the road to recovery. Another three weeks or a month and I’ll be ready to go again.”

SDSU (5-1, 2-0 Mountain West), which has won five straight games after a season-opening loss at Stanford, is a 27 1/2-point favorite over the Spartans (0-6, 0-2).

Here are five things for Gilbert — and everyone else — to watch in the game:

1. Another lopsided game?

Oddsmakers believe this game will be as lopsided as the previous four meetings — when the Aztecs won by scores of 52-7, 42-3, 30-7 and 38-7.

There’s one problem with that premise — SDSU’s offense has only produced 21.5 points a game this season. That ranks 117th in the nation. The Aztecs have scored as many as 28 points only twice, against Eastern Michigan and Arizona State.

The level of competition, as well as injuries, has played a role in the offense’s (lack of) output. Will that all change against the winless Spartans?

SDSU head coach Rocky Long acknowledged San Jose State has had its struggles, but he expects a competitive game.

“When you watch all the films,” Long said, “they have some quality athletes that in the six games (have given them) a decent to really, really good chance of winning three of the six. So the record is not necessarily indicative of what kind of football team they are. So we’re going to have to prepare well and we’re going to have to play well to win the game.”

2. Spartans offense has had its ups and downs

San Jose State has had its moments on offense. Good and bad.

The Spartans had a 30-point third quarter two weeks ago against Colorado State. They also had a four-fumble third quarter last week against Army. Which offense shows up against the Aztecs remains to be seen.

San Jose State has struggled to score, ranking 115th in the nation with 22.3 points a game. Much of that is because the Spartans haven’t been able to establish a running game, where they rank 129th and last in FBS with 50.3 yards a game.

Crucial will be the health of quarterback Josh Love (74-for-149, 1,030 yards, 8 TDs/5 INTs), who missed last week’s game against Army while under concussion protocol. Two of his wide receivers — Bailey Gaither (16 catches, 327 yards, 3 TDs) and Tre Hartley (11 catches, 227 yards, 2 TDs) — are averaging 20 yards a catch. Tight end Josh Oliver (33 catches, 401 yards, 2 TDs) is Love’s favorite target.

3. Does SDSU running game pick up steam?

SDSU’s run game has been so dominant in recent seasons that it seems like the Aztecs are struggling this year by comparison.

For the first time in five years, SDSU is averaging fewer than 200 yards a game on the ground, checking in at 68th in the nation with 171.8 yards a game. The Aztecs are averaging just 4 yards a carry, the lowest figure since 2009. With only 1,030 yards through six games, a streak of three straight seasons with at least 3,000 yards rushing will come to an end.

Injuries to starting running back Juwan Washington and starting fullback Isaac Lessard haven’t helped matters. Backup running back Chase Jasmin was under concussion protocol this week, but Jasmin was cleared to play in midweek.

The Aztecs already have faced four of the best defenses they will see during the regular season, especially the past two weeks against Boise State and Air Force, which limited SDSU to a season-low 84 yards.

SDSU offensive lineman Ryan Pope admitted that the Aztecs haven’t been as focused up front against the run as they should be when the ball’s snapped.

“It’s a mindset,” Pope said. “Just being physical and coming off the ball. They’re going to load the box anyway, they’ve been doing it for years. It’s just a mindset, just hit them as hard as you can. … Honestly, we’ve become lackadaisical just a tiny bit, but it’s about focusing on it and getting it right in practice and just having it carry over.”

The schedule gets considerably lighter the second half of the season. It begins against a San Jose State defense ranked 94th in the country against the run (182.5 ypg). Fresno State (27th, 121 ypg) and Nevada (52nd, 143.9 ypg) are the only teams left on the schedule ranked among the top 80 rushing defenses.

4. MOJO rising?

SDSU linebacker Kaelin Himphill wore a red tank top during interviews early this week with “MOJO” written on the back between the shoulder blades. The shirt was Himphill’s reward for blocking a punt that was converted into a touchdown last week against Air Force.

“It’s a special teams thing that Coach (Doug) Deakin brought to our team,” Himphill said. “Every single week, whoever had a mojo play would get this jersey.”

Place-kicker John Baron had been collecting the shirts for several of his performances this season, but it was Himphill and teammates Caden McDonald and Trenton Thompson who received them after the Air Force game.

“It’s cool. I’m going to wear it to the basketball games,” said Himphill, adding, “It feels great to help the team in any way possible. You have an opportunity every time you step on the field. Special teams is where I’m trying to make my name right now.”

5. Bowl eligible with a win

SDSU becomes bowl eligible for the ninth straight season with a victory. Only twice during the streak have the Aztecs positioned themselves to be eligible so quickly.

The Aztecs opened last season with six straight victories, the sixth coming in a 41-10 win at UNLV. They won six of their first seven in 2016, becoming eligible with a 42-3 win over San Jose State.

There are 78 bowl berths available this season. So far, 15 teams have secured six wins to become eligible — Alabama, Buffalo, Central Florida, Cincinnati, Clemson, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, LSU, Michigan, North Texas, Notre Dame, Ohio State, South Florida, Texas.

SDSU is among 22 other teams that are one win away.

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