By Ernie Gonzalez – Football Insider
All the talk around San Jose State football right now points to three things:
Head coach Brent Brennan and 90 percent of the coaching staff’s second year, improving time of possession, which translates to limiting the turnovers and stopping the run.
A lot, though, hasn’t been said about the Spartans’ home opener against UC Davis.
The last position SJSU wants to be in is 0-1 on Friday and have to travel north twice to face two very good PAC-12 teams in hostile environments.
Since the start of fall camp, the entire team has had tunnel vision for the Aggies, and most players are treating Week 1 with a win-or-go-home mindset.
Assuming the Spartans squeak out an unconvincing win Thursday night, say by a field goal, it wouldn’t necessarily tilt heads in terms of the direction the team is headed.
When another Big Sky Conference program, the Cal Poly Mustangs, visited CEFCU Stadium in Week 2 of 2017, the Spartans only led 7-6 at halftime.
SJSU used a 27-7 second half to propel itself over the FCS team on its way to a three-touchdown win, right before the 11-week season-staining victory drought.
How about mixing last year’s Week 2 second half with week 1’s first quarter, where the Spartans invited the at-the-time No. 19 University of South Florida to South Campus.
Remember that roaring 16-0 first-quarter shocker from SJSU against Charlie Strong and his Bulls?
It all boils down to momentum, the same thing the Spartans need before September.
College football experts have SJSU at 1-2 before its Sept. 29 conference opener against Hawai’i. If the Spartans start the season 0-3, it’s probably going to be last year all over again.
If the Spartans find themselves up 14 at the half on Thursday night, Brennan and the rest of his second-year guys need to stay awake and aggressive.
The Spartans cannot sleep on the Aggies, even if they’re up multiple scores. It will be interesting to see how much offensive coordinator Kevin McGiven elects to keep pounding.
The Mountain West Conference is known for running backs, so giving Tyler Nevens or Malike Roberson 30 touches would probably be in the team’s best interest to get their feet wet early in the year.
As for the Aggies, they are predicted to finish ninth of 13 in the Big Sky this season. That prediction should not go overlooked.
Keelan Doss, 2017’s Division I leader in receiving yards, returns to UCD for his senior season and would sure like to impress NFL scouts from start to finish this year.
Another player to keep an eye on Thursday night is Aggie quarterback Jack Maier. The junior led UC Davis to its first conference-leading passing attack with 484.7 yards per game through the air.
With Doss lined up on the outside, the arial game will be crucial, especially since the young Spartan secondary will be hungry to prove itself behind first-year defensive backs coach Aric Williams.
For the home team, Montel Aaron, SJSU’s projected starting quarterback, has to have a monster performance. The key for the redshirt sophomore will be not to throw an interception before his first touchdown.
Again, it all boils down to momentum; and the same goes for the defense. If they can force a turnover and keep its time on the field to a minimum, the team will figure it out against Davis.
The mantra for this team all fall has been “prove it.” Well, prove it. Go out at get a season-pushing win against the Aggies at home.
Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.
Follow Ernie on Twitter @superego1012