Matt Weiner (@mattweiner20) – Football Beat Reporter
Welcome to “Coach’s Corner,” a safe space for three ridiculous observations made by beat reporter Matt Weine from SJSU head coach Brent Brennan’s weekly press conference. You will find yourself immersed in a splattering of Spartan football-related thoughts. Some intelligent, some well…we’ll let you figure that one out yourself.
A Taste Of Perspective For Spartans
In last week’s Coach’s Corner, Brennan touched on why the Spartans shouldn’t look back upon the past.
“Looking backwards does nothing for you,” said Brent Brennan. “We talk about that a lot with our football team. Let’s look out the windshield and not the rearview.”
It was in reference to the three-game winning streak and all the success they had been having.
Well, that quote will be applied for the exact opposite side of the reason now.
The Spartans’ 17-10 loss to Fresno State was soul-crushing. There was a lot to sulk over between losing to a rival, going 3-of-14 on fourth down and producing three points on three trips to the red zone.
When I asked Brennan for his thoughts on the ebbs and flows of the season he referenced a quote from his playing days.
“My old head coach at UCLA Terry Donahue used to always say, ‘When things are good, they’re not that good. And when things are bad, they’re not that bad,’” said Brennan.
While it’s applicable in any facet and any time period, the lows and highs for athletes are heightened in this new age of social media.
“It’s like, 5,000 fans on social media, so they feel all that love and all that good stuff,” said Brennan.
“Then you go, and you lose to Fresno, right? And then all of a sudden, it’s like, ‘boom’, and everyone’s like, ‘Oh, you suck.’”
Just for reference, this was after the 40-7 drubbing of UNLV:
And this was after the loss to Fresno State:
“When things are good, they’re not that good. And when things are bad, they’re not that bad.”
-Terry Donahue, former UCLA head coach
Far Too Predictable
For the first time all season, the Spartans’ offense was shut out in the second half and scored a season-low 10 points all night.
A lack of diversity in play calling, especially in the back half of the contest, could be one potential reason for the lack of output.
Kairee Robinson didn’t register a single carry past the 6:54 mark in the third quarter and Shamar Garrett’s five-yard carry at the top of the fourth was the last rushing attempt for the Spartans all night. Their 37 rushing yards total comes a week after SJSU poured 203 yards on UNLV.
Brennan’s thought process behind the lack of rushing attempts:
“We had a couple runs called back on holds. That kind of changes some of your thought process there. And then, you know, when Jaime [Navarro] got nicked in the second quarter then we’re trying to find the best way that those pieces can work together up front.”
It’s a scary thought to behold
One player went down and the entire offensive line crumbled to pieces, leading to three sacks (-26 yards lost total) and negative eight rushing yards in the second half.
At the same time, Elijah Cooks was targeted 15 times, eight more than any other receiver, with a majority of them coming on deep shots.
“We’re always going to want to be a team that can throw the ball down the field. With our quarterback, receivers and tight ends, like those guys give us a chance to do those kinds of things.”
Cooks’ frame and catch radius make the heaves both enticing and valuable. It’s why he’s leading the Mountain West in yards (583) and yards per catch (18.3).
Granted, Cooks did stuff the stat sheet with 140 yards and the Spartans’ lone touchdown of the night.
An offense that targets the same receiver and doesn’t run the ball becomes more predictable than a bad soap opera.
Certainly wasn’t the ‘box of chocolates’ offense that used a plethora of tools to produce 40 points the week prior against UNLV.
Impact of Joe Seumalo
Through six games. the Spartans are well on their way to doing something they haven’t done since 2014:
Lead the Mountain West in fewest points allowed.
Through six games opponents have totaled 14.50 against them which is also good for ninth in the nation.
Much of that is due to the defensive line room led by coach Joe Seumalo.
“Coach Seumalo is one of the best D-line coaches in America,” said Brennan.
“This is my fifth stop with Joe Seumalo. We crossed over in Hawaii for a minute. We were at Cal Poly together, we were here together, Oregon State together and now we’re back here together so I’m a big believer in Joe.”
2022 has a strong chance of being Seumalo’s most successful campaign yet.
While no one has amassed gaudy numbers, the pressure they apply has helped the Spartans allow the second least passing yards (1,010) and third least touchdowns (6).
Even without the gaudy numbers, some ridiculous plays are still being made.
This play from Junior Fehoko has to be one of the most athletic feats I’ve ever seen.
He flew past his man off the edge, sacked and stripped Logan Fife, managing to pop the ball out and catch it even after the ball doinked off Cade Hall’s helmet.
In one fell swoop, Fehoko turned into a Kairee Robinson and bobbed and weaved for a 13-yard gain.
Expect the D-line’s feasting to continue against a New Mexico State team that’s rushed for at least 130 yards once this season.
We as a staff hoped Matt Weiner provided you with a bit of insight and perspective.