By Matt Weiner (@mattweiner20) – Spear Reporter // Photo via Christian Vieyra of The Spear
Hello and welcome to Matt’s Monday Mailbag™ your go-to destination for all pressing SJSU football matters.
Enough chit-chatting. Let’s get into it.
Matt Hamilton @MattHamilton19: “This program is in a total meltdown. What are the chances Brennan is gone when his contract expires after this season?”
Jason: @VANDT33: “When are staff changes coming???”
Jack Bowers @jack_t_bowers: “Brennan leveraged the situation in 2020 to get a big contract with promises to build sustainable success. He’s done the opposite, and this is looking like the 2013-14 years. Is the administration taking notice? or are they ok with reverting to the old dysfunction of years past?”
Charles Myer @CharlesMyer_UT: “Are there any whispers that he may be on the hot seat yet? Being that it’s SJSU I would think it would be crazy if there were any rumors of something of this nature.”
Wahidjon @wahidjo: “Fire the coach, we have arrived to the next level and need a higher caliber coach.”
I’m going to keep this short and sweet for the many sour SJSU fans: The chances of Brent Brennan getting fired following the end of this season are slim to none.
Brennan’s contract runs through the 2025 season and his buyout is $4 million. That’s a big chunk of change for a school lacking in donor funding. Any money dedicated to moving Brennan out is better spent on improving the program to lure recruits.
Because if the Spartans had a robust NIL collective, I doubt they’d be sitting at 1-5 after blowing double-digits leads in their last three losses.
And listen I understand why Matt (great name by the way), Jason, Jack, Wahidjon and many others are pushing for his ousting. I’m an SJSU student and soon to be alumnus, so it kills me to see how SJSU’s been outscored a combined 56-7 in the second-half in its last three losses. That is unacceptable.
But firing Brennan isn’t the answer and it’s unfair. Last week, I chronicled why angry SJSU fans should take a step back and reconsider voicing their hopes to have him fired. He’s done too much to get this quick of a hook. Besides, if he can’t then who can?
That doesn’t mean everyone on SJSU’s staff is protected from getting the boot.
This is where things get sticky. What follows is to inform rather than advocate.
Does Brennan cut ties with offensive coordinator Kevin McGiven and defensive coordinator Derrick Odum? Both tagged along with Brennan from Oregon State.
What about SJSU defensive line coach Joe Seumalo? The Spartans have allowed a Mountain West-worst 223 rushing yards per game. Brennan’s coached with Seumalo for 14 years and joked “they’ve outlasted most marriages.” During Seumalo’s time, he brought in and developed some of the best SJSU defensive linemen – Cade Hall and Junior Fehoko – of all time.
Or is this when offensive line coach Josh Oglesby, whose unit has struggled, gets canned? Oglesby is another guy Brennan met during his tenure at Oregon State.
Like I said, I’m not advocating for any changes. I just want fans to understand how complex and awkward these things get. What’s more, there’s still six games left. SJSU will need to win five of them to reach a bowl game. Although that’s unlikely, it’s an opportunity for each staff member to show why they shouldn’t be let go.
Dac “SJSU Duck”: @SJSUDuck: “Would a donation of 500 individually wrapped Kings Hawaiian rolls prevent second half collapses in the future?”
Donating 500 individually wrapped Kings Hawaiian Rolls? Isn’t your shtick to ‘get the bread?’
I feel bad for being snarky. Perhaps SJSU’s second-half woes have left you completely discombobulated.
Duke Blue Check Mark: @2010BAMF: “Why do they continue to embarrass themselves in every second half, of every game, so far this season?”
Ricky Delgado @RickyDe70535587: “It feels like blowing leads is embroidered in this teams DNA now. During the game you could see that “here we go again” look on the players faces. Who’s to blame for a lack of perseverance at the first sign of the opposing team showing any second half pulse?”
Enough with the Hawaiian rolls. It’s time to break down the second-half woes. I mentioned it earlier, but I’ll mention it again: SJSU has been outscored 56-7 in the second-half in its last three losses. To rub salt in the wound, SJSU has surrendered 28 unanswered points in its last two losses.
What’s happening has been made loud and clear. But the why is murky.
For right now, I’m going to focus on the offense. I think Brennan and McGiven ditch the running game way too quickly. Starting running back Kairee Robinson averages 5.9 yards per carry and his seven rushing touchdowns are good for second-best in the conference.
I also understand their urge to go pass heavy. Quarterback Chevan Cordeiro is highly talented and passing is the fastest way to rally back.
However, SJSU’s pass game is unreliable because of its lack of pass catchers and shaky offensive line. The result is SJSU posting quick, unsuccessful drives at the worst time possible.
For example, down 35-27 to Boise State with 3:30 minutes left, the first play of SJSU’s drive was a first down completion from Cordeiro to tight end Dominick Mazotti that got called back because of a hold on left tackle Fernando Carmona Jr. On the next play, Cordeiro threw a pick.
On SJSU’s ensuing drive, still down 35-27, but now with 0:50 left, Cordeiro threw three straight incompletions — one was dropped by running back Quali Conley — and then he got sacked.
If the Spartans are so strapped for time, then maybe it’s best to avoid burning all three timeouts by the 12:37 mark in the fourth quarter.
Charles Myer @CharlesMyer_UT: “There clearly is something going on with this team’s psychology. Has Brennan lost the team?”
I don’t think Brennan’s “lost the team.” Not yet at least. In the post-game press conference, Robinson talked about his efforts to encouraged teammates while SJSU was in the midst of surrendering 35 unanswered points last Saturday night.
Brennan also made a point to mention how the collapse was a production of poor execution — not lacking effort.
SJSU Uni Tracker: @SJSUnis: “Is this a training/endurance thing? A failure to adjust strategically? It’s embarrassing. Like lol embarrassing.”
I wouldn’t necessarily pin this on “training/endurance.” Similar to “mentally weak” I think it’s a quick answer, but a porous one. How can you properly calculate this?
Part 1 from: Johnny b good: @Johnnybgoodd_1: “Offense! You have a great QB who needs time to throw. OL is making sloppy penalties which have killed several drives. OC, Run the dam ball. Robinson is hard to stop this year Bates is doing good on short passing. The first game against SC showed motion with TE. Run Cordeiro“
Part 2 from Johnny b good: “@Johnnybgoodd_1: “Shotgun in 2< yards situation is the dumbest thing. It hasn’t worked at any level. QBsneek. Line up in SG have him come up like he’s changing the play and snap it with a push from the running back. Catch defenders off guard. DL hold the line. Getting pushed back too much.”
Part 3 from Johnny b good: @Johnnybgoodd_1: “Stay in your lane and stop giving up running lanes. Too undisciplined in the stunts opening up gaps for the runner to find lanes. Give Jenkins help. Defense is young and a step away from being really good. LB need to shed blocks and make more tackles. Rotate guys to stay fresh.“
I’ll be honest, this trilogy from Johnny b good was my favorite response from the crop. Because I’m sure Odum, outside linebackers coach Rob Christiansen and inside linebackers coach Scott White haven’t told their group to “make more tackles.”
Ricky Delgado: @RickyDe70535587: “Every post game coach Brennan says he needs to coach the team better. He is a great human being and has done wonders for this program in his time here. But at what point after 7 years does he start figuring out clock management and coaching with a lead.”
Hopefully soon and look, Brennan’s going to fall on the sword after every loss. It’s his job as a coach. He’s too self-aware to point fingers and play the blame game on camera. Which is a good thing because it eliminates conflict. But then it makes him look really bad.
Damned if you do and damned if you don’t.
Easy solution is to just win to avoid that altogether.