By Niles Hall (@n23hall) – Content Editor | Senior defensive lineman Justin Stearns lines up at CEFCU Stadium on Sept.19 (Photo by Marilyn-Bride Anye – Spear Photographer)
After opening the season 2-2, San Jose State football will use its bye week to address weaknesses and build on strengths before a nine-game marathon in hopes of playing in a bowl game.
SJSU is coming off its worst performance of the season, in a 26-10 loss to Fresno State in which senior quarterback Luke Weaver threw 4 interceptions in a fourth-quarter collapse.
Offensively, the Spartans have lacked consistency early in the season. Their one constant has been senior running back Jabari Bates, who has averaged 5.36 yards per carry.
SJSU’s defense continues to show growth after a resilient performance in its loss to Fresno State.
The bye week comes at a perfect time, allowing the Spartans to get healthy, address early concerns and make schematic adjustments.
Luke Weaver’s early-season performance
Weaver’s performance against the Bulldogs looked like an anomaly compared with his previous three starts.
Through four games, Weaver is averaging 264 passing yards, has thrown 9 touchdown passes and is completing 61% of passes per game.
Before Saturday’s game, Weaver had 3 turnovers this season, with 2 fumbles and 1 interception.
A common theme against the Bulldogs was the pressure Weaver faced, getting sacked 5 times and hit four times.
Previously, Weaver had taken two sacks before the matchup against the Bulldogs, and the pressure may have affected his rhythm.
“I think it might have played a little bit into trying to get the ball out too quickly on certain concepts in coverages,” SJSU offensive coordinator Craig Stutzmann said. “Anytime you get hit, get sacked five times in a game, it’s going to play in your mind.”
Before the Fresno State game, Weaver looked in control of the offense, managing the system, finding open receivers and using his legs when needed.
If Weaver doesn’t prove his performance against Fresno was an anomaly and that this level of play continues into conference play, the Spartans may face another quarterback controversy like the one they began the offseason with.
Stutzmann gave Weaver a vote of confidence.
“The sample size of four games shows me that Luke Weaver’s the guy and he had an off game,” Stutzmann said.
Skill positions outlook
One of the biggest questions coming into the season was who would become the next standout Spartan wide receiver.
SJSU has found consistent wide receiver production, but the offense’s standout player has been Bates.
Bates has two games with more than 100 rushing yards and leads the Mountain West, averaging 103 rushing yards per game. He has provided a consistent spark for the offense throughout the season.
Freshman Carson Clark and Junior Cooper Hoch have been the top wide receivers. Clark leads the team in receptions (24) and receiving yards (240). Hoch is a hair behind him with 239 yards.
A key theme throughout the bye week is finding consistency among its playmakers. SJSU has had strong performances from a different player almost every game and will look to find consistency throughout the group.
“The challenge for us this coming week against Hawaii and going forward is consistency; we need to have more than one guy have a breakout game,” Stutzmann said. “We need to have two to three guys play well.”
The SJSU offense is hungry to wipe away the bitter taste of Saturday night’s loss.
“The mentality is just go out there and be us and gain our swagger back,” Clark said.
Defensive standing
SJSU’s defense has been the team’s strong suit through nonconference play, keeping the team within striking distance in almost every game this season.
The team’s defensive line has been productive. It ranks fifth in the Mountain West, averaging 1.75 sacks per game while allowing 3.91 yards per carry.
Junior outside linebacker Dylan Lee leads the team, averaging 8.75 tackles per game, while senior defensive lineman Justin Stearns leads the team with 2 sacks.
SJSU has also forced an interception in three of its four games so far. But the Spartans will look to clean up the leakage in the secondary, which has allowed 237.5 passing yards per game.
“Going into the bye week, we’re confident, but there is stuff we need to clean up. It’s never perfect, so just getting the little things right,” Lee said.
The Spartans will return to action in the Dick Tomey Legacy game against the University of Hawai’i at 9 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 3 at the Clarence T.C. Ching Complex in Honolulu.
