[SteveAztec]

I made a special effort to sign back up for this board after I read the fan's post.

The poster's observation about his Aztecs' defensive line getting to Costello  startled me.

The Aztecs had a good team last year, but their pass rush was a decided weakness.  FEI ranked its sack rate the 8th worst in the country, and its sack rate on passing downs the 10th worst.  

23 sacks in total last season (in 13 games including bowl). 4 of these came against Stanford, with a yet-again-reshuffled OL and a deer-in-the-headlights-without-any-of-the-pocket-escapability-a-deer-would-have at QB. SDSU rushed 5+ on defense almost every single play. If they try that again it won't go well.

And I think it is important that overall stats not be over used.  The goal of the Aztecs defense is not to get 15 sacks in one game (although that would be nice)...the goal is to surprise the QB, blindside the QB.  Hit the QB often.  It only takes once or twice for a QB to get blindsided on a blitz to change his entire though process.  Getting cracked changes the complexion of the passing game.

We were a little weak on the rush from our down lineman last year, but lets remember that our 3 Line D front is rushing against 5 guys.

[SteveAztec]

I made a special effort to sign back up for this board after I read the fan's post.

The poster's observation about his Aztecs' defensive line getting to Costello  startled me.

The Aztecs had a good team last year, but their pass rush was a decided weakness.  FEI ranked its sack rate the 8th worst in the country, and its sack rate on passing downs the 10th worst.  

23 sacks in total last season (in 13 games including bowl). 4 of these came against Stanford, with a yet-again-reshuffled OL and a deer-in-the-headlights-without-any-of-the-pocket-escapability-a-deer-would-have at QB. SDSU rushed 5+ on defense almost every single play. If they try that again it won't go well.

And I think it is important that overall stats not be over used.  The goal of the Aztecs defense is not to get 15 sacks in one game (although that would be nice)...the goal is to surprise the QB, blindside the QB.  Hit the QB often.  It only takes once or twice for a QB to get blindsided on a blitz to change his entire though process.  Getting cracked changes the complexion of the passing game.

We were a little weak on the rush from our down lineman last year, but lets remember that our 3 Line D front is rushing against 5 guys.